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SALT LAKE CITY — Public land managers weighing the environmental impacts of a controversial pipeline that would tap groundwater from the Snake Valley aquifer have extended the comment deadline by a month more.
Those who want to weigh in on the draft environmental impact statement analyzing the Las Vegas pipeline plan now have until Oct. 11, rather than Sept. 9, to give input.
We appreciate the BLM being responsive to the many requests they received from organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens.
–Rob Mrowka
Pressure from critics opposed to the plan or by those who simply wanted more time to read the voluminous document led to the extension.
"We appreciate the BLM being responsive to the many requests they received from organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens," said Rob Mrowka, spokesman for the Great Basin Water Network, one of the lead critics.
Among those who urged an extension were 22 members of the Utah Senate and 50 members of the House of Representatives after lobbying by the Great Basin network during last week's special session of the Utah Legislature.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority has applied for water rights in multiple basins, including Snake Valley, which straddles the border of Nevada and Utah. The water is in support of a 285-mile pipeline that would convey water from eastern Nevada to Las Vegas.
Both Nevada and Utah were on the brink of entering into a water sharing agreement that has since been put on hold because of a court decision that forced a re-start of the water rights applications process.
In the interim, the BLM has proceeded with its analysis, releasing a draft study earlier this summer.
Critics of the authority's plans to tap the aquifer fear there is not sufficient groundwater to sustain the withdrawals. Negative consequences for such an area dependent on ground-fed springs include dust events, threatened harm to threatened or endangered species and impacts to agriculture.
Residents may request a hard copy of the document's executive summary and compact disks of the full DEIS by mail at:
Bureau of Land Management
Groundwater Projects Office
P.O. Box 12000
Reno, NV 89520-0006
Or by emailing nvgwprojects@blm.gov. The report also can be accessed at www.blm.gov/5w5c.
Email: aodonoghue@ksl.com
