Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Hold Public Scoping Meetings for the Municipal and Industrial (M&I) Water Shortage Policy (WSP), Central Valley Project (CVP), 12755-12756 [2011-5153]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2011 / Notices was also placed at the 16th Street and Constitution Avenue entrance to the Ellipse. Since that time there has been a continued, temporary closure of the roadways to unauthorized vehicular traffic. The USSS will determine whether to change the status of the closure from temporary to permanent and to integrate durable, more aesthetic security elements in place of the temporary security elements identified above. The intent is to integrate durable, more aesthetic security elements that not only help satisfy the requirement to maintain the historic and iconic character of President’s Park South, but also improve the experience of visitors moving through the area to enter or view the White House and its grounds. The EA will assess a range of alternatives establishing a permanent closure of E Street and associated roadways and the installation of redesigned security elements resulting in changes to the area, along with a noaction alternative for continuing the current closure using the existing, temporary security elements. The Plan was developed as an EIS and it will serve as a foundation for this EA, and the EA will also review the Plan’s treatment of President’s Park South. In 2008, the NCPC Security Task Force recommended, and the NPS and USSS agreed, that NCPC, through its Task Force, would manage a limited competition to generate creative and thoughtful design concepts that incorporate necessary USSS security elements while improving the experience of visitors moving through the area to enter or view the White House and its grounds. The NCPC is a Federal agency whose mission includes serving as the central planning agency for the Federal activities in the greater Washington, DC area. The design concepts generated through this process may become alternatives in the EA. Dated: December 22, 2010. Peggy O’Dell, Regional Director, National Capital Region. [FR Doc. 2011–5253 Filed 3–7–11; 8:45 am] srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 4312–54–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:12 Mar 07, 2011 Jkt 223001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Hold Public Scoping Meetings for the Municipal and Industrial (M&I) Water Shortage Policy (WSP), Central Valley Project (CVP) Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent and public scoping meetings. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation MidPacific Region (Reclamation) proposes to prepare an EIS to analyze the potential effects of an update to the M&I WSP. The policy would be implemented by Reclamation during water short years. Reclamation previously developed, in consultation with the CVP M&I Water Service contractors, a draft CVP M&I WSP in 2001, and in 2005 prepared an Environmental Assessment (2005 EA). The 2005 EA was published on October 2005 and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed in December 2005. The 2001 M&I WSP was modified by, and is being implemented in accordance with, Alternative 1B in the 2005 EA. Since the publication of the 2005 EA, Reclamation received additional comments from several CVP water service contractors. The contractors expressed a need for clarity on certain aspects of the 2001 M&I WSP, as modified. Other comments received by Reclamation suggested consideration of alternatives to the 2001 M&I WSP. The comments coupled with recent significant changes in the Bay-Delta and CVP/State Water Project operations, has impelled Reclamation to evaluate alternatives and provide an M&I WSP that best recognizes the needs of various segments of the water user community and how those needs could be addressed in times of water shortages. DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS will be accepted until May 9, 2011. Four public scoping meetings will be held to solicit public input on the scope of the environmental document, alternatives, concerns, and issues to be addressed in the EIS. The scoping meeting dates are: • Monday, March 21, 2011, 2–4 p.m., Sacramento, CA. • Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 6–8 p.m., Willows, CA. • Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 6–8 p.m., Fresno, CA. • Thursday, March 24, 2011, 6–8 p.m., Oakland, CA. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12755 Send written comments on the scope of the M&I WSP EIS to Tamara LaFramboise, Natural Resource Specialist, Mid-Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP–410, Sacramento, CA 95825; or e-mail tlaframboise@usbr.gov. Scoping meetings will be held at: • Sacramento— Best Western Expo Inn and Suites, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95825. • Willows—Veteran’s Memorial Hall Building of Willows, 525 W. Sycamore Street, Willows, CA 95988. • Fresno—Piccadilly Inn Express, 5115 E. McKinley Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727. • Oakland— Red Lion Hotel Oakland International Airport, 150 Hegenberger Road, Oakland, CA 94621. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Rust, Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, via e-mail at trust@usbr.gov or at (916) 978–5516; or Mike Chotkowski, Chief, Division of Environmental Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, via e-mail at mchotowski@usbr.gov or at (916) 978– 5025. ADDRESSES: The CVP is operated under Federal statutes authorizing the CVP, and by the terms and conditions of water rights acquired pursuant to California law. During any year, constraints may occur on the availability of CVP water for M&I water service contractors. The cause of the water shortage may be drought, unavoidable causes, or restricted operations resulting from legal and environmental obligations or mandates. Those legal and environmental obligations include, but are not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), and conditions imposed on CVP’s water rights by the California State Water Resources Control Board. The 2001 M&I WSP, as modified, establishes the terms and conditions regarding the constraints on availability of water supply for the CVP M&I water service contracts. Allocation of CVP water supplies for any given water year is based upon forecasted reservoir inflows and Central Valley hydrologic conditions, amounts of storage in CVP reservoirs, regulatory requirements, and management of Section 3406(b)(2) resources and refuge water supplies in accordance with CVPIA. In some cases, M&I water shortage allocations may differ between CVP divisions due to regional CVP water supply availability, system capacity, or other operational constraints. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\08MRN1.SGM 08MRN1 12756 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2011 / Notices The purpose of the update to the 2001 M&I WSP, as modified, is to provide detailed, clear, and objective guidelines for the distribution of CVP water supplies during water shortage conditions, thereby allowing CVP water users to know when, and by how much, water deliveries may be reduced in drought and other low water supply conditions. The increased level of predictability that will be provided by the update to the 2001 M&I WSP is needed by water managers and the entities that receive CVP water to better plan for and manage available CVP water supplies, and to better integrate the use of CVP water with other available Non-CVP water supplies. The update to the 2001 M&I WSP is also needed to clarify certain terms and conditions with regard to its applicability and implementation. The proposed action is the adoption of an updated 2001 M&I WSP, as modified, and its respective implementation guidelines. The EIS will be used to develop and evaluate alternatives to the 2001 M&I WSP, as modified, and will include analysis of the adverse and beneficial effects on the quality of the human and physical environment. Issues to be addressed may include, but are not limited to, CVP water supply availability, impacts on biological resources, historic and archaeological resources, hydrology, groundwater, water quality, air quality, safety, hazardous materials and waste, visual resources, socioeconomics, including real estate, agriculture and environmental justice. At this time, there are no known or possible Indian trust assets or environmental justice issues associated with the Proposed Action. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Special Assistance for Public Scoping Meetings If special assistance is required at the scoping meetings, please contact Mr. Louis Moore at (916) 978–5106, or via e-mail at wmoore@usbr.gov. Please notify Mr. Moore as far in advance as possible to enable Reclamation to secure the needed services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be notified. A telephone device for the hearing impaired (TDD) is available at (916) 978–5608. Public Disclosure Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment including your personal identifying information may be made publicly available at any time. VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:12 Mar 07, 2011 Jkt 223001 While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Dated: January 21, 2011. Anastasia T. Leigh, Acting Regional Environmental Officer, MidPacific Region. [FR Doc. 2011–5153 Filed 3–7–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Water Management Plans Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The following Water Management Plans are available for review: • Truckee-Carson Irrigation District. • Goleta Water District. • Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District. • Feather Irrigation District. To meet the requirements of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 (CVPIA) and the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982, the Bureau of Reclamation developed and published the Criteria for Evaluating Water Management Plans (Criteria). For the purpose of this announcement, Water Management Plans (Plans) are considered the same as Water Conservation Plans. The above entities have each developed a Plan, which Reclamation has evaluated and preliminarily determined to meet the requirements of these Criteria. Reclamation is publishing this notice in order to allow the public to review the plans and comment on the preliminary determinations. Public comment on Reclamation’s preliminary (i.e., draft) determination is invited at this time. DATES: All public comments must be received by April 7, 2011. ADDRESSES: Please mail comments to Ms. Christy Ritenour, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP– 410, Sacramento, California 95825, or contact at 916–978–5281 (TDD 978– 5608), or e-mail at critenour@usbr.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To be placed on a mailing list for any subsequent information, please contact Ms. Christy Ritenour at the e-mail address or telephone number above. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are inviting the public to comment on our preliminary (i.e., draft) determination of SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 Plan adequacy. Section 3405(e) of the CVPIA (Title 34 Pub. L. 102–575), requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish and administer an office on Central Valley Project water conservation best management practices that shall ‘‘* * * develop criteria for evaluating the adequacy of all water conservation plans developed by project contractors, including those plans required by section 210 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982.’’ Also, according to Section 3405(e)(1), these criteria must be developed ‘‘* * * with the purpose of promoting the highest level of water use efficiency reasonably achievable by project contractors using best available cost-effective technology and best management practices.’’ These criteria state that all parties (Contractors) that contract with Reclamation for water supplies (municipal and industrial contracts over 2,000 acre-feet and agricultural contracts over 2,000 irrigable acres) must prepare a Plan that contains the following information: 1. Description of the District. 2. Inventory of Water Resources. 3. Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Agricultural Contractors. 4. BMPs for Urban Contractors. 5. Plan Implementation. 6. Exemption Process. 7. Regional Criteria. 8. Five-Year Revisions. Reclamation will evaluate Plans based on these criteria. A copy of these Plans will be available for review at Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Regional Office located in Sacramento, California, and the local area office. Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review. Public Disclosure Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. If you wish to review a copy of these Plans, please contact Ms. Christy Ritenour to find the office nearest you. Dated: March 2, 2011. Richard J. Woodley, Regional Resources Manager, Mid-Pacific Region, Bureau of Reclamation. [FR Doc. 2011–5163 Filed 3–7–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P E:\FR\FM\08MRN1.SGM 08MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12755-12756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5153]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and Hold Public Scoping Meetings for the Municipal and Industrial 
(M&I) Water Shortage Policy (WSP), Central Valley Project (CVP)

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and public scoping meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation 
Mid-Pacific Region (Reclamation) proposes to prepare an EIS to analyze 
the potential effects of an update to the M&I WSP. The policy would be 
implemented by Reclamation during water short years. Reclamation 
previously developed, in consultation with the CVP M&I Water Service 
contractors, a draft CVP M&I WSP in 2001, and in 2005 prepared an 
Environmental Assessment (2005 EA). The 2005 EA was published on 
October 2005 and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed 
in December 2005. The 2001 M&I WSP was modified by, and is being 
implemented in accordance with, Alternative 1B in the 2005 EA.
    Since the publication of the 2005 EA, Reclamation received 
additional comments from several CVP water service contractors. The 
contractors expressed a need for clarity on certain aspects of the 2001 
M&I WSP, as modified. Other comments received by Reclamation suggested 
consideration of alternatives to the 2001 M&I WSP. The comments coupled 
with recent significant changes in the Bay-Delta and CVP/State Water 
Project operations, has impelled Reclamation to evaluate alternatives 
and provide an M&I WSP that best recognizes the needs of various 
segments of the water user community and how those needs could be 
addressed in times of water shortages.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS will be accepted until 
May 9, 2011.
    Four public scoping meetings will be held to solicit public input 
on the scope of the environmental document, alternatives, concerns, and 
issues to be addressed in the EIS. The scoping meeting dates are:
     Monday, March 21, 2011, 2-4 p.m., Sacramento, CA.
     Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 6-8 p.m., Willows, CA.
     Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 6-8 p.m., Fresno, CA.
     Thursday, March 24, 2011, 6-8 p.m., Oakland, CA.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the scope of the M&I WSP EIS to 
Tamara LaFramboise, Natural Resource Specialist, Mid-Pacific Regional 
Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-410, Sacramento, CA 
95825; or e-mail tlaframboise@usbr.gov.
    Scoping meetings will be held at:
     Sacramento-- Best Western Expo Inn and Suites, 1413 Howe 
Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95825.
     Willows--Veteran's Memorial Hall Building of Willows, 525 
W. Sycamore Street, Willows, CA 95988.
     Fresno--Piccadilly Inn Express, 5115 E. McKinley Avenue, 
Fresno, CA 93727.
     Oakland-- Red Lion Hotel Oakland International Airport, 
150 Hegenberger Road, Oakland, CA 94621.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Rust, Program Manager, Bureau of 
Reclamation, via e-mail at trust@usbr.gov or at (916) 978-5516; or Mike 
Chotkowski, Chief, Division of Environmental Affairs, Bureau of 
Reclamation, via e-mail at mchotowski@usbr.gov or at (916) 978-5025.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CVP is operated under Federal statutes 
authorizing the CVP, and by the terms and conditions of water rights 
acquired pursuant to California law. During any year, constraints may 
occur on the availability of CVP water for M&I water service 
contractors. The cause of the water shortage may be drought, 
unavoidable causes, or restricted operations resulting from legal and 
environmental obligations or mandates. Those legal and environmental 
obligations include, but are not limited to, the Endangered Species 
Act, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), and conditions 
imposed on CVP's water rights by the California State Water Resources 
Control Board. The 2001 M&I WSP, as modified, establishes the terms and 
conditions regarding the constraints on availability of water supply 
for the CVP M&I water service contracts.
    Allocation of CVP water supplies for any given water year is based 
upon forecasted reservoir inflows and Central Valley hydrologic 
conditions, amounts of storage in CVP reservoirs, regulatory 
requirements, and management of Section 3406(b)(2) resources and refuge 
water supplies in accordance with CVPIA. In some cases, M&I water 
shortage allocations may differ between CVP divisions due to regional 
CVP water supply availability, system capacity, or other operational 
constraints.

[[Page 12756]]

    The purpose of the update to the 2001 M&I WSP, as modified, is to 
provide detailed, clear, and objective guidelines for the distribution 
of CVP water supplies during water shortage conditions, thereby 
allowing CVP water users to know when, and by how much, water 
deliveries may be reduced in drought and other low water supply 
conditions.
    The increased level of predictability that will be provided by the 
update to the 2001 M&I WSP is needed by water managers and the entities 
that receive CVP water to better plan for and manage available CVP 
water supplies, and to better integrate the use of CVP water with other 
available Non-CVP water supplies. The update to the 2001 M&I WSP is 
also needed to clarify certain terms and conditions with regard to its 
applicability and implementation. The proposed action is the adoption 
of an updated 2001 M&I WSP, as modified, and its respective 
implementation guidelines.
    The EIS will be used to develop and evaluate alternatives to the 
2001 M&I WSP, as modified, and will include analysis of the adverse and 
beneficial effects on the quality of the human and physical 
environment.
    Issues to be addressed may include, but are not limited to, CVP 
water supply availability, impacts on biological resources, historic 
and archaeological resources, hydrology, groundwater, water quality, 
air quality, safety, hazardous materials and waste, visual resources, 
socioeconomics, including real estate, agriculture and environmental 
justice.
    At this time, there are no known or possible Indian trust assets or 
environmental justice issues associated with the Proposed Action.

Special Assistance for Public Scoping Meetings

    If special assistance is required at the scoping meetings, please 
contact Mr. Louis Moore at (916) 978-5106, or via e-mail at 
wmoore@usbr.gov. Please notify Mr. Moore as far in advance as possible 
to enable Reclamation to secure the needed services. If a request 
cannot be honored, the requestor will be notified. A telephone device 
for the hearing impaired (TDD) is available at (916) 978-5608.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should 
be aware that your entire comment including your personal identifying 
information may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: January 21, 2011.
Anastasia T. Leigh,
Acting Regional Environmental Officer, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-5153 Filed 3-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P
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