MOSES LAKE - The comment period for the Odessa Subarea Special Study's draft environmental impact statement (EIS) was extended to Jan. 31.

The extension is because the agencies involved received a number of requests asking for an extension, explained Derek Sandison, director of the state Department of Ecology's Columbia River Office.

"It's a pretty large document with a lot of attachments and the comment period ends right after Christmas," he said.

There are provisions in state and federal laws under both environmental policy acts for deadline extensions, he said.

The study looks at alternatives to replace irrigation groundwater in the Odessa subarea with surface water.

Comments can be e-mailed to odessa@usbr.gov or by fax to 509-454-5650.

Text telephone users may dial 711 to obtain a toll-free text telephone relay or send comments by mail to Chuck Carnohan, US Bureau of Reclamation, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA 98901-2058.

For more information about the draft EIS, visit www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ucao_misc/odessa/index.html.

For more information about the DOE's Office of the Columbia River, visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/cwp/crwmp.html.