BDD Construction
Environment
The Buckman Direct Diversion (BDD) project is required to apply for and obtain a number of permits designed to ensure that people, animals, plants, air, water and quality of life are protected now and in the future. In fact, the BDD must obtain more than 30 permits involving about a dozen state and federal agencies and numerous private parties. These permits range from permission to build arroyo crossings from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to permission to divert the water from the river from the Office of the State Engineer.
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD)
The permit most familiar to the public is the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS must be filed by any federal agency for a major project planned on federal land or requiring major federal action. Both the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are involved in the BDD project as “lead agencies.”
The environmental study process started with collecting information on the purpose and need for the proposed project. The public and interested groups were invited to comment on the scope of environmental study. This “scoping” step was intended to seek out and understand any concerns the public may have about the project. The results of the scoping step were used to focus the EIS on the issues of most concern to the public.
The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management notified the public and held scoping meetings and field trips for the Buckman EIS in July 2002. A process called consultation was also been completed. In the case of the BDD, consultation involved consulting with federal agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Reclamation. State agencies including the New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, as well as Pueblos, were also consulted.
The next step included gathering data on all possible ways the project could affect the environment and developing alternatives to the project, along with an assessment of the possible social, economic and environmental effects of the project and the alternatives. All of that information, along with plans for avoiding or minimizing harm to the environment, was put into a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for review by the public. The Buckman draft report was issued in December 2004.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (12.33MB pdf) published in May 2007 includes the preferred alternatives and responses to any issues raised by the public and agencies who consulted on the project. The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (which both own part of the land the project is planned to be located on) have announced the Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) on February 11, 2008 that describes the decision the agencies have made based on the information provided in the FEIS.
In the ROD, the agencies selected the BDD as the best alternative because it addresses the “immediate need for a sustainable means of accessing surface water supplies for the City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, and Las Campanas Limited Partnership.” The ROD further states the selected alternative has “beneficial effects to ground water resources, as it provides a means of managing municipal water supply in a way to allow ground water ‘resting’ while surface supplies are used.” The selected alternative also has the “least adverse impacts” to resources managed by the federal agencies, avoids creating new utility corridors through otherwise open space, and allows for maximum flexibility of the applicants to work out solutions together.
The Record of Decision does not go into effect for at least 45 days after it is issued to provide an opportunity for individuals and organizations to appeal, or challenge, the decision. The Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for the Buckman Direct Diversion Project are expected to be finalized in early 2008.