The Bureau of Reclamation conducted three public meetings last week in Sandy, Lehi and Provo cities. The purpose of the meetings was to give information to the public on the "Proposed Title Transfer of the Provo Reservoir Canal, the Salt Lake Aqueduct, and 3.79 acres of Property with Improvements in Pleasant Grove, Utah." In addition, approximately 2,000 scoping letters were mailed to citizens and groups who might have an interest in remaining informed on the issue.

The proposed action is to transfer title of the Provo Reservoir Canal, commonly known as the Murdock Canal, the Provo River Water Users Association (PRWUA) office complex, and 3.79 acres of adjoining land from the Bureau of Reclamation to the PRWUA, in addition to the proposed transfer of the Salt Lake Aqueduct to the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy (MWDSLS).

The purpose of the proposed action is to transfer title of facilities which could possibly be more efficiently managed by non-Federal entities. Reclamation must follow a six point process to consider such proposed actions and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to analyze potential impacts of the proposed action.

Comments on scope and issues that should be addressed in the EA may be provided to Reclamation's Provo Area Office office until Wednesday, November 26, 2003. Written comments should be addressed to Bureau of Reclamation, Attention, Tennille Flint, 302 East, 1860 South, Provo Utah, 84606. Comments may also be submitted to tflint@uc.usbr.gov.