Notice of Availability of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California WaterFix Partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Announcement of Public Meetings, 39797-39799 [2015-16903]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 132 / Friday, July 10, 2015 / Notices Isle Royale is an island archipelago in the northwestern portion of Lake Superior. Organisms that live on islands have dynamic populations and are subject to immigration and extinction events. Local extirpation is natural and expected, as is establishment and reestablishment of new populations. Wolves were first documented on Isle Royale through identification of tracks in 1949–50 and by 1957 the island supported an estimated 25 wolves. The first systematic research on Isle Royale wolves was conducted in the 1950s and has continued largely unabated. The research on the ‘‘Wolves of Isle Royale’’ is now world-renowned. Like many mainland wolf populations, the island population has fluctuated widely over this time, though on Isle Royale they have always been protected and never hunted or subjected to control efforts. Population variation on the island is related to inherent dynamic wolf ecology, island biogeography, and presence of disease in the wolf population. Wolves on Isle Royale have recently declined and the primary cause is thought to be genetic inbreeding leading to low productivity. With currently less than 10 individual wolves on the island, scientists differ on what will happen to the population in the short-term (25 years). Many believe that their persistence is doubtful unless new wolves emigrate or are introduced to the island. The moose population on Isle Royale (which arrived on the island in the early 1900s) has fluctuated dramatically (500 to several thousand) over the past century. Moose have important effects on island vegetation including forest cover and wolves are the only moose predator on the island. The park lies within a temperateboreal forest transition zone where temperate tree species are at or near their northern range limits and boreal trees are near their southern range limits. Recent trends suggest the beginning of a shift from boreal to temperate vegetation. The relatively short-lived boreal paper birch and aspen, which established widely on lands disturbed by European settlement activities, are reaching the end of their natural lifespans and rapid successional changes in favor of more shade-tolerant tree species are underway. Successional trends on the island indicate that recent conditions favored temperate hardwood species, which expanded and replaced boreal trees. Since moose favor some boreal tree species such as balsam fir for food, this succession may alter the available moose forage in the future. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:07 Jul 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 The wolf-moose-vegetation food web is tightly coupled. Since the wolf population at Isle Royale is very low and local extirpation of wolves is possible in the near future (e.g. only one gender remains on the island; the pack has been non-reproductive for three to five years; or there are no remaining wolves), the moose population is likely to continue to increase, resulting in impacts to vegetation and forest cover from moose herbivory. A plan is needed to address environmental impacts that could occur to the moose population and vegetation from the potential extirpation of wolves. The purpose of the plan is to provide direction for managing the Isle Royale moose and wolf populations for at least the next 20 years in light of the dynamic changes occurring on the island. In this context, we must determine allowable types of change. Specifically, we need to decide whether to intervene with a declined or extirpated wolf population in order to perpetuate the role wolves play with regard to the moose population through predation and spatial distribution (wolf management actions); whether to directly intervene with an increased moose population (moose management actions); and whether to intervene to manage vegetation to mitigate impacts from moose herbivory as temperate species replace the historical boreal forest (vegetation management actions). For each of these decisions, we must determine the type and extent of intervention appropriate in a designated wilderness given a changing climate. While specific alternatives have not yet been developed, options available include: (1) not actively managing moose, wolves, or vegetation; (2) managing moose abundance and distribution; (3) managing wolf abundance by supplementing the current wolf population or introducing wolves following extirpation; and (4) managing vegetation through the use of fire, direct restoration, or other tools. Interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are encouraged to provide written comments regarding the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS, alternative approaches to managing wolves, moose, or vegetation on Isle Royale, and other concerns regarding this conservation planning and environmental impact analysis process. Within the comment period, we intend to hold public scoping meetings on the EIS in the vicinity of the park, including Houghton, Michigan. Specific dates, times and locations of the public scoping meetings will be made available via a press release to local media, a public scoping brochure to be mailed or PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 39797 emailed to interested parties and on the NPS’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ISRO. The NPS will provide additional opportunities for the public to offer written comments upon publication and release of the draft plan/EIS. If you wish to comment during the public comment period, you may use any one of several methods. The preferred method for submitting comments is at the PEPC Web site address given above. You may also mail or hand-deliver your comments to the Superintendent or the Chief of Natural Resources at the address given above. Written comments will also be accepted during scheduled public meetings. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Before including your address, phone number, email 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: February 13, 2015. Patricia S. Trap, Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region. This document was received at the Office of the Federal Register on Monday, July 06, 2015. [FR Doc. 2015–16851 Filed 7–9–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MA–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [RR02800000, 15XR0687ND, RX.18527914.2050100] Notice of Availability of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California WaterFix Partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Announcement of Public Meetings Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice announces the availability of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California WaterFix Partially Recirculated Draft SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM 10JYN1 39798 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 132 / Friday, July 10, 2015 / Notices Environmental Impact Report/ Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIR/SDEIS) for public review and comment. The RDEIR/SDEIS has been prepared jointly between the Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources to describe and analyze refinement of the resource area analyses, alternatives, and actions, including three additional alternatives that describe conveyance options not containing all the elements of a Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan described in the previously circulated Draft EIR/EIS released on December 13, 2013. Based on project revisions and in consideration of comments received on the Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan, Draft EIR/EIS, and Draft Implementing Agreement, the State and Federal lead agencies recognize that additional information is appropriate to address comments and to enhance the environmental analysis. DATES: Comments on the RDEIR/SDEIS must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on August 31, 2015. Two public meetings will be held to provide an overview of the project and allow public comment and discussion on the RDEIR/SDEIS: • Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 3:00 p.m.– 7:00 p.m., Sacramento, CA. • Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 3:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m., Walnut Grove, CA. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by one of the following methods: 1. By email: Submit comments to BDCPComments@icfi.com. 2. By hard-copy: Submit comments by U.S. mail to BDCP/WaterFix Comments, P.O. Box 1919, Sacramento, CA 95812. The two public meetings will be held at the following locations: • Sacramento—Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, Magnolia Room, 1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. • Walnut Grove—Jean Harvie Community Center, 14273 River Road, Walnut Grove, CA 95690. To view or download the RDEIR/ SDEIS, or for a list of locations to view hard-bound copies, go to www.baydeltaconservationplan.com. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Banonis, Bureau of Reclamation, (916) 930–5676. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On January 24, 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS on the Bay Delta VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:51 Jul 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 Conservation Plan (BDCP or Plan) (73 FR 4178). The NOI was re-issued on April 15, 2008, to include the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) as a co-lead Federal agency, update the status of the planning process, and provide updated information related to scoping meetings (73 FR 20326). The April 15, 2008, NOI identified scoping meeting locations and stated that written comments would be accepted until May 30, 2008. Additional information was later developed to describe the proposed BDCP, and subsequent scoping activities were initiated on February 13, 2009, with the publication of a revised NOI (74 FR 7257). The NOI identified scoping meeting locations and stated that written comments would be accepted until May 14, 2009. In 2008, ten public scoping meetings were held throughout California. In spring 2009, a summary update was produced and distributed about the development of the Plan to interested members of the public, including details of individual elements of the Plan (referred to in the Plan as ‘‘conservation measures’’) that were being considered as part of the conservation strategy. Twelve additional public scoping meetings were then held throughout California, seeking input about the scope of covered activities and potential alternatives to the proposed action. In December 2010, the California Natural Resources Agency disseminated to the public a summary of the BDCP, its status, and a list of outstanding issues. In 2011 and 2012, public meetings continued in Sacramento, California, to update stakeholders and the public on elements of the draft BDCP and EIR/EIS that were being developed. On December 13, 2013, the Draft BDCP and associated Draft EIR/EIS were released to the public and a 120-day public comment period was opened through notification in the Federal Register (78 FR 75939). That notice described the proposed action and a reasonable range of alternatives. Twelve more public meetings were held in California in early 2014. In response to requests from the public, the comment period was extended for an additional 60 days and closed on June 13, 2014 (79 FR 17135; March 27, 2014). A Draft Implementing Agreement was also made available to the public on May 30, 2014, for a 60-day review and comment period, which closed on July 29, 2014. The comment period of the Draft EIR/ EIS was also extended to the later date. All draft documents are available at www.baydeltaconservationplan.com. As a result of considering comments on the Draft BDCP, Draft EIR/EIS, and PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Draft Implementing Agreement, Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources have proposed three additional conveyance alternatives for analysis in the RDEIR/ SDEIS. These new alternatives 2D, 4A, and 5A, each contain fewer Conservation Measures than the conveyance alternatives circulated in the Draft EIR/EIS. Specifically, the new alternatives no longer contain the following Conservation Measures: CM– 2 Yolo Bypass Fisheries Enhancement; CM–5 Seasonally Inundated Floodplain Restoration; CM–13 Invasive Aquatic Vegetation Control; CM–14 Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel Dissolved Oxygen Levels; CM–17 Illegal Harvest Reduction; CM–18 Conservation Hatcheries; CM–19 Urban Stormwater Treatment; CM–20 Recreational Users Invasive Species Program; and CM–21 Non-project Diversions. The new alternatives contain modified versions of the following Conservation Measures (referred to as Environmental Commitments in the RDEIR/SDEIS): CM–3 Natural Communities Protection and Restoration; CM–4 Tidal Natural Communities Restoration; CM–6 Channel Margin Enhancement; CM–7 Riparian Natural Community Restoration; CM–8 Grassland Natural Community Restoration; CM–9 Vernal Pool and Alkali Seasonal Wetland Complex Restoration; CM–10 Nontidal Marsh Restoration; CM–11 Natural Communities Enhancement and Management; CM–12 Methylmercury Management; CM–15 Localized Reduction of Predatory Fishes; and CM– 16 Non-Physical Fish Barriers. The new alternatives are not structured as a Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan but are structured to achieve compliance with the Federal Endangered Species Act through consultation under Section 7 and the California Endangered Species Act through the incidental take permit process under Section 2081(b) of the California Fish & Game Code. The California Department of Water Resources has identified Alternative 4A (known as the California WaterFix) as their proposed project and Reclamation has selected Alternative 4A as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) preferred alternative. This alternative will consist of a water conveyance facility with three intakes, habitat restoration measures necessary to minimize or avoid project effects, and the previously described Conservation Measures. Alternative 4A is proposed to make physical and operational improvements to the State Water Project system in the Delta necessary to restore E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM 10JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 132 / Friday, July 10, 2015 / Notices and protect ecosystem health, water supplies of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project south-of-Delta, and water quality within a stable regulatory framework, consistent with statutory and contractual obligations. The RDEIR/SDEIS will also analyze the impacts for two additional new alternatives: Alternative 2D, which will consist of a water conveyance facility with five intakes, and Alternative 5A, which will consist of a water conveyance facility with one intake. Both of these alternatives will contain the habitat protection and restoration measures necessary to minimize or avoid project effects, and the previously described Conservation Measures listed above. In addition, the RDEIR/SDEIS will describe and analyze project modifications and refinement of the resource area analyses, alternatives, and actions. Reclamation will be the Federal lead agency and NMFS, USFWS, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, by virtue of their regulatory review requirements, will be cooperating agencies for the RDEIR/SDEIS. All other entities identified as Cooperating Agencies through prior agreements will retain their status for the RDEIR/SDEIS. Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1502.9(c)) do not require any additional scoping for a supplement to a Draft EIS, and the lead agencies are not proposing any scoping process for this RDEIR/SDEIS in addition to the scoping that has already been done for the EIR/EIS as described above. For further background information, see the December 13, 2013, Federal Register notice (78 FR 75939). mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Public Disclosure of Comments 19:51 Jul 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 Next Steps Reclamation will compile and review all public comments on the RDEIR/ SDEIS submitted to them prior to preparation of a final EIR/EIS. A decision by Reclamation on Central Valley Project operations consistent with the RDEIR/SDEIS will be made no sooner than 30 days after the publication of the final EIR/EIS. The decision will be documented with the completion of the Record of Decision. Special Accommodations The public meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Michelle Banonis, Bureau of Reclamation, (916) 930–5676 at least 5 working days prior to the meeting date. Dated: July 2, 2015. Willie R. Taylor, Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2015–16903 Filed 7–9–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4332–90–P INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 337–TA–921] Marine Sonar Imaging Devices, Including Downscan and Sidescan Devices, Products Containing the Same, and Components Thereof; Notice of Request for Statements on the Public Interest U.S. International Trade Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice is provided pursuant to NEPA. Reclamation is furnishing this notice to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to review and comment on this RDEIR/SDEIS. All comments received will become part of the public record for this action. Comments on the RDEIR/SDEIS should be submitted to the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. Before including your address, phone number, email 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 may 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. Comments submitted to the above address will be reviewed and VerDate Sep<11>2014 considered by all of the cooperating agencies. Notice is hereby given that the presiding administrative law judge has issued a final initial determination and recommended determination on remedy and bonding in the abovecaptioned investigation. The Commission is soliciting comments on public interest issues raised by the recommended relief, specifically a limited exclusion order against certain marine sonar imaging devices, including downscan and sidescan devices, products containing the same, and components thereof, imported by respondents Garmin International, Inc., Garmin USA, Inc., each of Olathe, Kansas, and Garmin (Asia) Corporation of New Taipei City, Taiwan, and a cease and desist order against the domestic respondents. This notice is soliciting SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 39799 public interest comments from the public only. Parties are to file public interest submissions pursuant to 19 CFR 210.50(a)(4). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy Grace D. Noyola, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205–3438. The public version of the complaint can be accessed on the Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov, and will be available for inspection during official business hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205–2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed on EDIS at https:// edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission’s TDD terminal on (202) 205–1810. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 provides that if the Commission finds a violation it shall exclude the articles concerned from the United States: unless, after considering the effect of such exclusion upon the public health and welfare, competitive conditions in the United States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the United States, and United States consumers, it finds that such articles should not be excluded from entry. 19 U.S.C. 1337(d)(1). A similar provision applies to cease and desist orders. 19 U.S.C. 1337(f)(1). The Commission is interested in further development of the record on the public interest in this investigation. Accordingly, members of the public are invited to file submissions of no more than five pages, inclusive of attachments, concerning the public interest in light of the administrative law judge’s recommended determination on remedy and bonding issued in this investigation on July 2, 2015. Comments should address whether issuance of a limited exclusion order and cease and desist order in this investigation would affect the public health and welfare in the United States, competitive conditions in the United States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the United States, or United States consumers. In particular, the Commission is interested in comments that: E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM 10JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39797-39799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16903]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR02800000, 15XR0687ND, RX.18527914.2050100]


Notice of Availability of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan/
California WaterFix Partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact 
Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and 
Announcement of Public Meetings

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Bay Delta 
Conservation Plan/California WaterFix Partially Recirculated Draft

[[Page 39798]]

Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (RDEIR/SDEIS) for public review and comment. The RDEIR/SDEIS 
has been prepared jointly between the Bureau of Reclamation and the 
California Department of Water Resources to describe and analyze 
refinement of the resource area analyses, alternatives, and actions, 
including three additional alternatives that describe conveyance 
options not containing all the elements of a Habitat Conservation Plan/
Natural Communities Conservation Plan described in the previously 
circulated Draft EIR/EIS released on December 13, 2013.
    Based on project revisions and in consideration of comments 
received on the Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan, Draft EIR/EIS, and 
Draft Implementing Agreement, the State and Federal lead agencies 
recognize that additional information is appropriate to address 
comments and to enhance the environmental analysis.

DATES: Comments on the RDEIR/SDEIS must be received or postmarked by 5 
p.m. Pacific Time on August 31, 2015.
    Two public meetings will be held to provide an overview of the 
project and allow public comment and discussion on the RDEIR/SDEIS:
     Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Sacramento, 
CA.
     Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 3:00 p.m.--7:00 p.m., Walnut 
Grove, CA.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by one of the following 
methods:
    1. By email: Submit comments to BDCPComments@icfi.com.
    2. By hard-copy: Submit comments by U.S. mail to BDCP/WaterFix 
Comments, P.O. Box 1919, Sacramento, CA 95812.
    The two public meetings will be held at the following locations:
     Sacramento--Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, Magnolia 
Room, 1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
     Walnut Grove--Jean Harvie Community Center, 14273 River 
Road, Walnut Grove, CA 95690.
    To view or download the RDEIR/SDEIS, or for a list of locations to 
view hard-bound copies, go to www.baydeltaconservationplan.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Banonis, Bureau of 
Reclamation, (916) 930-5676.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 24, 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a Notice of Intent 
(NOI) to prepare an EIS on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP or 
Plan) (73 FR 4178). The NOI was re-issued on April 15, 2008, to include 
the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) as a co-lead Federal agency, 
update the status of the planning process, and provide updated 
information related to scoping meetings (73 FR 20326). The April 15, 
2008, NOI identified scoping meeting locations and stated that written 
comments would be accepted until May 30, 2008. Additional information 
was later developed to describe the proposed BDCP, and subsequent 
scoping activities were initiated on February 13, 2009, with the 
publication of a revised NOI (74 FR 7257). The NOI identified scoping 
meeting locations and stated that written comments would be accepted 
until May 14, 2009.
    In 2008, ten public scoping meetings were held throughout 
California. In spring 2009, a summary update was produced and 
distributed about the development of the Plan to interested members of 
the public, including details of individual elements of the Plan 
(referred to in the Plan as ``conservation measures'') that were being 
considered as part of the conservation strategy. Twelve additional 
public scoping meetings were then held throughout California, seeking 
input about the scope of covered activities and potential alternatives 
to the proposed action.
    In December 2010, the California Natural Resources Agency 
disseminated to the public a summary of the BDCP, its status, and a 
list of outstanding issues. In 2011 and 2012, public meetings continued 
in Sacramento, California, to update stakeholders and the public on 
elements of the draft BDCP and EIR/EIS that were being developed.
    On December 13, 2013, the Draft BDCP and associated Draft EIR/EIS 
were released to the public and a 120-day public comment period was 
opened through notification in the Federal Register (78 FR 75939). That 
notice described the proposed action and a reasonable range of 
alternatives. Twelve more public meetings were held in California in 
early 2014. In response to requests from the public, the comment period 
was extended for an additional 60 days and closed on June 13, 2014 (79 
FR 17135; March 27, 2014). A Draft Implementing Agreement was also made 
available to the public on May 30, 2014, for a 60-day review and 
comment period, which closed on July 29, 2014. The comment period of 
the Draft EIR/EIS was also extended to the later date. All draft 
documents are available at www.baydeltaconservationplan.com.
    As a result of considering comments on the Draft BDCP, Draft EIR/
EIS, and Draft Implementing Agreement, Reclamation and the California 
Department of Water Resources have proposed three additional conveyance 
alternatives for analysis in the RDEIR/SDEIS. These new alternatives 
2D, 4A, and 5A, each contain fewer Conservation Measures than the 
conveyance alternatives circulated in the Draft EIR/EIS. Specifically, 
the new alternatives no longer contain the following Conservation 
Measures: CM-2 Yolo Bypass Fisheries Enhancement; CM-5 Seasonally 
Inundated Floodplain Restoration; CM-13 Invasive Aquatic Vegetation 
Control; CM-14 Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel Dissolved Oxygen 
Levels; CM-17 Illegal Harvest Reduction; CM-18 Conservation Hatcheries; 
CM-19 Urban Stormwater Treatment; CM-20 Recreational Users Invasive 
Species Program; and CM-21 Non-project Diversions. The new alternatives 
contain modified versions of the following Conservation Measures 
(referred to as Environmental Commitments in the RDEIR/SDEIS): CM-3 
Natural Communities Protection and Restoration; CM-4 Tidal Natural 
Communities Restoration; CM-6 Channel Margin Enhancement; CM-7 Riparian 
Natural Community Restoration; CM-8 Grassland Natural Community 
Restoration; CM-9 Vernal Pool and Alkali Seasonal Wetland Complex 
Restoration; CM-10 Nontidal Marsh Restoration; CM-11 Natural 
Communities Enhancement and Management; CM-12 Methylmercury Management; 
CM-15 Localized Reduction of Predatory Fishes; and CM-16 Non-Physical 
Fish Barriers. The new alternatives are not structured as a Habitat 
Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan but are 
structured to achieve compliance with the Federal Endangered Species 
Act through consultation under Section 7 and the California Endangered 
Species Act through the incidental take permit process under Section 
2081(b) of the California Fish & Game Code.
    The California Department of Water Resources has identified 
Alternative 4A (known as the California WaterFix) as their proposed 
project and Reclamation has selected Alternative 4A as the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) preferred alternative. This alternative 
will consist of a water conveyance facility with three intakes, habitat 
restoration measures necessary to minimize or avoid project effects, 
and the previously described Conservation Measures. Alternative 4A is 
proposed to make physical and operational improvements to the State 
Water Project system in the Delta necessary to restore

[[Page 39799]]

and protect ecosystem health, water supplies of the State Water Project 
and Central Valley Project south-of-Delta, and water quality within a 
stable regulatory framework, consistent with statutory and contractual 
obligations.
    The RDEIR/SDEIS will also analyze the impacts for two additional 
new alternatives: Alternative 2D, which will consist of a water 
conveyance facility with five intakes, and Alternative 5A, which will 
consist of a water conveyance facility with one intake. Both of these 
alternatives will contain the habitat protection and restoration 
measures necessary to minimize or avoid project effects, and the 
previously described Conservation Measures listed above. In addition, 
the RDEIR/SDEIS will describe and analyze project modifications and 
refinement of the resource area analyses, alternatives, and actions. 
Reclamation will be the Federal lead agency and NMFS, USFWS, and the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, by virtue of their regulatory review 
requirements, will be cooperating agencies for the RDEIR/SDEIS. All 
other entities identified as Cooperating Agencies through prior 
agreements will retain their status for the RDEIR/SDEIS.
    Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA 
(40 CFR 1502.9(c)) do not require any additional scoping for a 
supplement to a Draft EIS, and the lead agencies are not proposing any 
scoping process for this RDEIR/SDEIS in addition to the scoping that 
has already been done for the EIR/EIS as described above.
    For further background information, see the December 13, 2013, 
Federal Register notice (78 FR 75939).

Public Disclosure of Comments

    This notice is provided pursuant to NEPA. Reclamation is furnishing 
this notice to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to 
review and comment on this RDEIR/SDEIS. All comments received will 
become part of the public record for this action. Comments on the 
RDEIR/SDEIS should be submitted to the address listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this document. Before including your address, phone number, 
email 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 may 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. Comments submitted to the above address will be 
reviewed and considered by all of the cooperating agencies.

Next Steps

    Reclamation will compile and review all public comments on the 
RDEIR/SDEIS submitted to them prior to preparation of a final EIR/EIS. 
A decision by Reclamation on Central Valley Project operations 
consistent with the RDEIR/SDEIS will be made no sooner than 30 days 
after the publication of the final EIR/EIS. The decision will be 
documented with the completion of the Record of Decision.

Special Accommodations

    The public meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Michelle Banonis, Bureau of 
Reclamation, (916) 930-5676 at least 5 working days prior to the 
meeting date.

    Dated: July 2, 2015.
Willie R. Taylor,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2015-16903 Filed 7-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P

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