Response to Public Comment

Listed below are summaries of comments by Ray Roessel for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western Region, followed by a response from USGS. The summary of each comment is linked to the original document submitted by Ray Roessel.

Comments from Ray Roessel for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western Region

Complete letter from Ray Roessel (pdf)

RR1. How was the study area for the BARCAS determined?

What were the criteria for selection of basins to be included: hydrogeologiy, potential water development, DOI interests, legislation, etc.

RESPONSE

The study area for the BARCAS was determined using Federal legislation (Section 301(e) of Public Law 108-424) to conduct a water-resources study in White Pine County and adjacent areas of Nevada and Utah.  The study area was defined as including hydrographic areas in White Pine County.  Entire hydrographic areas were included in the study.  By including entire HAs, the study area boundary extended into surrounding counties in Utah and Nevada.

RR2. What DOI Bureaus, if any were contacted to participate and participated in the formulation of the BARCAS scope of work and initial determination of extent of the study?

RESPONSE

Numerous public meetings were announced and held in White Pine County, Nevada (Ely and Baker) and in Trout Creek, Utah. These meetings were announced in the print media and through County Commissioner, Water Board meetings. A dialog among all interested parties was encouraged during the scoping process for the BARCAS study.

RR3. Were any Indian Tribes contacted regarding access to resources (springs, wells, etc) or for participation in the process? 

RESPONSE

I do not believe that any tribes were specifically contacted for access to water resource features; however, as stated above, a dialog among all interested parties was encouraged during the scoping process for the BARCAS study.

RR4. If further BARCAS-related work is proposed suggest expanding the study area to include Deep Creek Valley and Railroad Valley North. 

Not only do these basins contain Indian reservations which the BIA have an interest in, but it will “fill out” and make the study area more contiguous.

RESPONSE

It is recognized that the current BARCAS study area did not include entire regional ground-water flow systems hampering the ability to perfectly balance water budgets (inflow = outflow). At this time, there is no active outside interest for the USGS to conduct additional phases of BARCAS.  Future work, if requested from the USGS, likely will include entire regional ground-water flow systems (if regional in scale) or focus on detailed research in areas of interest (local scale) as needed by our DOI sister agencies.