GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The Bureau of Reclamation is extending the public comment period on a draft Environmental Impact Statement that analyzes alternatives to reduce salinity in the Colorado River from sources in the Paradox Valley in western Colorado. The public comment period now closes Feb. 19, 2020.
Currently, the Paradox Valley Unit in Montrose County, Colorado, is intercepting naturally occurring brine and injecting it 16,000 feet underground via a deep injection well. The PVU began operating in 1996 and is nearing the end of its useful life. The United States has a water quality obligation to control salt in the Colorado River, in compliance with the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act and a 1944 treaty with Mexico.
Reclamation is preparing an EIS and has released a draft for public review and comment. Alternatives analyzed in the draft EIS include a new injection well; evaporation ponds; zero liquid discharge technology; and no action, which would result in no salinity control in the Paradox Valley.
The draft Environmental Impact Statement is available online at www.usbr.gov/uc/progact/paradox/index.html or a copy can be requested by contacting Reclamation.
Reclamation will consider all comments received by 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Feb. 19, 2020. Those interested may submit comments by email to paradoxeis@usbr.gov or to Ed Warner, Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, 445 West Gunnison Avenue, Suite 221, Grand Junction, CO 81501.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
