The Delta-Montrose Electric Association and the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association are proposing to construct and operate a hydropower project on the South Canal, a feature of the Bureau of Reclamation's Uncompahgre Irrigation Project. Hydropower development would be permitted through a "Lease of Power Privilege" (LOPP) which allows a non-Federal party to develop a hydropower resource at a Reclamation dam, reservoir, or canal.

Federal policy encourages non-federal development of environmentally sustainable hydropower potential on federal water resource projects. The LOPP would ensure that the development of hydropower would be consistent and compatible with existing operations and purposes of the Uncompahgre Project.

The draft environmental assessment is available online at www.usbr.gov/uc/ under environmental documents or by contacting Steve McCall with Reclamation in Grand Junction at (970) 248-0638. with Reclamation at (970) 248-0638.

Reclamation will consider all comments received prior to preparing a final environmental assessment. Comments can be submitted to the email address above or to: Carol DeAngelis, Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, 2764 Compass Drive, Suite 106, Grand Junction, CO 81506. Comments are due by January 30, 2012.