Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project, Merced County, California, 28979-28980 [2020-10296]

Download as PDF jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 94 / Thursday, May 14, 2020 / Notices On November 30, 1983, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were removed from a house in Mesa, Maricopa County, AZ. These individuals were found by a construction crew, who alerted the Mesa Police Department. The human remains were determined to be associated with a prehistoric site. Subsequently, they were donated to the Arizona Museum of Natural History. No known individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object is a shell bracelet. Based on current archeological evidence, the region where these human remains were collected was occupied in prehistoric times by people belonging to the Hohokam Material Culture. Based on archeological and ethnographic evidence, these people are ancestral to the Four Southern Tribes of Arizona (i.e., the Tohono O’odham Nation, Gila River Indian Community, Salt RiverPima Maricopa Indian Community, and Ak-Chin Indian Community) and the Hopi Tribe. The Mesa area is primarily Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community ancestral land. From 1979 to 1991, human remains representing, at minimum, 75 individuals were removed from Park of the Canals in Mesa, Maricopa County, AZ. This portion of the site was excavated by the Southwest Archaeological Team, led by Sam Baar. No known individuals were identified. The eight associated funerary objects are ceramic vessels. Based on the style of the ceramics and the location of the site, the human remains and objects are related to people belonging to the Hohokam Material Culture. Based on current archeological and ethnographic evidence, these people are ancestral to the Four Southern Tribes of Arizona (i.e., the Tohono O’odham Nation, Gila River Indian Community, Salt RiverPima Maricopa Indian Community, and Ak-Chin Indian Community) and the Hopi Tribe. The Mesa area is primarily Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community ancestral land. In 2005, 2010, and 2011, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals were removed from the Riverview site in Mesa, Maricopa County, AZ. No known individuals were identified. The two associated funerary objects are one ceramic bowl and one lot of sherds. Based on the style of the ceramics and the location of the site, the human remains and objects are related to people belonging to the Hohokam Material Culture. Based on current archeological and ethnographic evidence, these people are ancestral to the Four Southern Tribes of Arizona VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:29 May 13, 2020 Jkt 250001 (i.e., the Tohono O’odham Nation, Gila River Indian Community, Salt RiverPima Maricopa Indian Community, and Ak-Chin Indian Community) and the Hopi Tribe. The Mesa area is primarily Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community ancestral land. Prior to 2018, human remains representing, at minimum, 11 individuals were removed from AZ. The human remains were found during the cleaning of an archeological lab at the Arizona Museum of Natural History used for studying prehistoric Hohokam Material Culture. No known individuals were identified. The nine associated funerary objects are one lot of corn, one lot of beans, two lots of stones, one lot of possible asbestos, one ceramic bowl, two lots of sherds, and one lot of soil associated with cremation. Based on the lab’s use, the human remains and objects are related to people belonging to the prehistoric Hohokam Material Culture. Based on archeological and ethnographic evidence, these people are ancestral to the Four Southern Tribes of Arizona (i.e., the Tohono O’odham Nation, Gila River Indian Community, Salt RiverPima Maricopa Indian Community, and Ak-Chin Indian Community) and the Hopi Tribe. Sometime prior to 1982, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from Mesa Grande in Mesa, Maricopa County, AZ. The human remains were excavated by Midvale and donated to the Arizona Museum of Natural History in 1982. No known individual was identified. The two associated funerary objects are one burn corn and one lot of ceramic sherds. Based on the style of the ceramics and location of the site, the human remains and objects are related to people belonging to the prehistoric Hohokam Material Culture. Based on current archeological and ethnographic evidence, theses people are ancestral to the Four Southern Tribes of Arizona (i.e., the Tohono O’odham Nation, Gila River Indian Community, Salt RiverPima Maricopa Indian Community, and Ak-Chin Indian Community) and the Hopi Tribe. The Mesa Grande site is primarily Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community ancestral land. Determinations Made by the Arizona Museum of Natural History Officials of the Arizona Museum of Natural History have determined that: • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 98 individuals of Native American ancestry. PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 28979 • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 28 objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony. • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and the Ak-Chin Indian Community (previously listed as Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona); Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona (hereafter referred to as ‘‘The Tribes’’). Additional Requestors and Disposition Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request with information in support of the request to Melanie Deer, Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N MacDonald, Mesa, AZ 85201, telephone (480) 644–4381, email melanie.deer@ mesaaz.gov, by June 15, 2020. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed. The Arizona Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published. Dated: March 25, 2020. Melanie O’Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2020–10344 Filed 5–13–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [RR02910000, XXXR0680R1, RR.17529652.2900012] Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project, Merced County, California Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\14MYN1.SGM 14MYN1 28980 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 94 / Thursday, May 14, 2020 / Notices The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project. Reclamation is requesting public and agency comment to identify significant issues or other alternatives to be addressed in the SEIS. DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the SEIS on or before June 15, 2020. ADDRESSES: Provide written scoping comments, requests to be added to the mailing list, or requests for other special assistance needs to Ms. Casey Arthur, Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Willows Construction Office, 1140 W. Wood Street Willows, CA, 95988. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Casey Arthur, Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Willows Construction Office, 1140 W. Wood Street Willows, CA, 95988.; telephone (530) 892–6202; facsimile (530) 934–7679; email carthur@usbr.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) at 1–800–877–8339 TTY/ ASCII to contact the above individual during normal business hours or to leave a message or question after hours. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation is issuing this notice pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA, 43 CFR parts 1500 through 1508; and the Department of the Interior’s NEPA regulations, 43 CFR part 46. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Background B.F. Sisk Dam is an earth-filled gravity embankment dam with a crest height of 382 feet and an overall length of about 3.5 miles, impounding San Luis Reservoir with a capacity of 2,041,000 acre-feet (AF). The dam is located near Santa Nella, California, along Pacheco Pass. Although the dam was constructed and is owned by Reclamation, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) operates the facilities, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation manages the recreational resources associated with San Luis Reservoir. San Luis Reservoir is an offstream reservoir within Reclamation’s Central Valley Project (CVP) and DWR’s State Water Project. Reclamation’s Safety of Dams Office completed a risk analysis of B.F. Sisk Dam that evaluated dam stability in the event of seismic activity that proposed VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:29 May 13, 2020 Jkt 250001 a structural solution, which included a crest raise. Reclamation and DWR prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS)/environmental impact report (EIR) analyzing the effects from a No Action Alternative, Operational Alternative, and Crest Raise Alternative, and noticed the availability of the Final EIS/EIR to the public via the Federal Register on August 23, 2019 (84 FR 44295). In December 2019, Reclamation signed a Record of Decision providing the rationale for choosing the Crest Raise Alternative (https:// www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_ details.php?Project_ID=34281). Reclamation is currently designing the Crest Raise Alternative under the B.F. Sisk Safety of Dams (SOD) Modification Project. As a connected action to the B.F. Sisk SOD Modification Project, Reclamation and San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority (SLDMWA) seek to evaluate an increase in storage capacity of the San Luis Reservoir. The increased storage capacity would be achieved by an additional 10-foot raise of the B.F. Sisk Dam embankment across the entire dam crest above the level proposed for dam safety purposes (Proposed Action). This additional 10 feet of dam embankment could add approximately 120,000 AF of water storage to San Luis Reservoir. SLDMWA, in coordination with Reclamation, is conducting a feasibility study to evaluate the Proposed Action and a potential costshare in accordance with the Reclamation SOD Act (43 U.S.C. 506 et seq.), as amended by Public Law 114– 113, and Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act (Pub. L. 114–322). The Reclamation SOD Act of November 2, 1978, was amended to include authority for Reclamation to develop additional project benefits in conjunction with a SOD modification. Pursuant to Section 5.B. of the SOD Act, as amended, Reclamation must determine that additional project benefits are necessary and in the interest of the United States prior to developing any additional project benefits, consistent with Reclamation law. Furthermore, it must be determined that the development of additional project benefits will not negatively impact the SOD Modification Project. As a potential funder for the Proposed Action under the WIIN Act, and in accordance with the amended SOD Act, Reclamation’s preliminary purpose and need is to evaluate the feasibility report and determine if SLDMWA’s request to increase storage capacity as an additional benefit in conjunction with the current SOD Modification Project is PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 consistent with Reclamation Law, can support a Secretary of the Interior’s finding of feasibility, has Federal benefits pursuant to the WIIN Act, and can be accomplished without negatively impacting the SOD Modification Project. In addition to a feasibility study, Reclamation intends to complete a SEIS pursuant to NEPA to consider potential environmental effects from implementing the Proposed Action. This environmental document is supplemental to the Final EIS/EIR previously developed for the SOD Modification Project entitled B.F. Sisk Dam Safety of Dams Modification Project (84 FR 44295). Reclamation will focus the SEIS on analyzing effects to resources where a potentially significant impact exists. The resources intended to be discussed include: Water quality, surface water supply, geology and soils, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, visual resources, noise, traffic and transportation, hazards and hazardous materials, terrestrial resources, recreation, and cultural resources including tribal cultural resources. Agencies and the public are encouraged to provide input regarding potentially significant issues to be addressed in the SEIS, or to identify potential alternatives that would meet the purpose of the Proposed Action. Public Disclosure 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. Richard Welsh, Principal Deputy Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Interior Region 10— California-Great Basin. [FR Doc. 2020–10296 Filed 5–13–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4332–90–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [RR06450000, 19XR0680A4, RX.08254998.0010010] Off-Road Vehicle Designation for the San Angelo Project, Texas AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. E:\FR\FM\14MYN1.SGM 14MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28979-28980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10296]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR02910000, XXXR0680R1, RR.17529652.2900012]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project, 
Merced County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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

[[Page 28980]]

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to prepare a 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the B.F. Sisk 
Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project. Reclamation is requesting 
public and agency comment to identify significant issues or other 
alternatives to be addressed in the SEIS.

DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the SEIS on or before 
June 15, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Provide written scoping comments, requests to be added to 
the mailing list, or requests for other special assistance needs to Ms. 
Casey Arthur, Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Willows 
Construction Office, 1140 W. Wood Street Willows, CA, 95988.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Casey Arthur, Project Manager, 
Bureau of Reclamation, Willows Construction Office, 1140 W. Wood Street 
Willows, CA, 95988.; telephone (530) 892-6202; facsimile (530) 934-
7679; email [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) at 1-
800-877-8339 TTY/ASCII to contact the above individual during normal 
business hours or to leave a message or question after hours. You will 
receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation is issuing this notice pursuant 
to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) 
regulations for implementing NEPA, 43 CFR parts 1500 through 1508; and 
the Department of the Interior's NEPA regulations, 43 CFR part 46.

Background

    B.F. Sisk Dam is an earth-filled gravity embankment dam with a 
crest height of 382 feet and an overall length of about 3.5 miles, 
impounding San Luis Reservoir with a capacity of 2,041,000 acre-feet 
(AF). The dam is located near Santa Nella, California, along Pacheco 
Pass. Although the dam was constructed and is owned by Reclamation, the 
California Department of Water Resources (DWR) operates the facilities, 
and the California Department of Parks and Recreation manages the 
recreational resources associated with San Luis Reservoir. San Luis 
Reservoir is an off-stream reservoir within Reclamation's Central 
Valley Project (CVP) and DWR's State Water Project.
    Reclamation's Safety of Dams Office completed a risk analysis of 
B.F. Sisk Dam that evaluated dam stability in the event of seismic 
activity that proposed a structural solution, which included a crest 
raise. Reclamation and DWR prepared an environmental impact statement 
(EIS)/environmental impact report (EIR) analyzing the effects from a No 
Action Alternative, Operational Alternative, and Crest Raise 
Alternative, and noticed the availability of the Final EIS/EIR to the 
public via the Federal Register on August 23, 2019 (84 FR 44295). In 
December 2019, Reclamation signed a Record of Decision providing the 
rationale for choosing the Crest Raise Alternative (https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=34281). 
Reclamation is currently designing the Crest Raise Alternative under 
the B.F. Sisk Safety of Dams (SOD) Modification Project.
    As a connected action to the B.F. Sisk SOD Modification Project, 
Reclamation and San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority (SLDMWA) 
seek to evaluate an increase in storage capacity of the San Luis 
Reservoir. The increased storage capacity would be achieved by an 
additional 10-foot raise of the B.F. Sisk Dam embankment across the 
entire dam crest above the level proposed for dam safety purposes 
(Proposed Action). This additional 10 feet of dam embankment could add 
approximately 120,000 AF of water storage to San Luis Reservoir. 
SLDMWA, in coordination with Reclamation, is conducting a feasibility 
study to evaluate the Proposed Action and a potential cost-share in 
accordance with the Reclamation SOD Act (43 U.S.C. 506 et seq.), as 
amended by Public Law 114-113, and Section 4007 of the Water 
Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act (Pub. L. 114-
322).
    The Reclamation SOD Act of November 2, 1978, was amended to include 
authority for Reclamation to develop additional project benefits in 
conjunction with a SOD modification. Pursuant to Section 5.B. of the 
SOD Act, as amended, Reclamation must determine that additional project 
benefits are necessary and in the interest of the United States prior 
to developing any additional project benefits, consistent with 
Reclamation law. Furthermore, it must be determined that the 
development of additional project benefits will not negatively impact 
the SOD Modification Project.
    As a potential funder for the Proposed Action under the WIIN Act, 
and in accordance with the amended SOD Act, Reclamation's preliminary 
purpose and need is to evaluate the feasibility report and determine if 
SLDMWA's request to increase storage capacity as an additional benefit 
in conjunction with the current SOD Modification Project is consistent 
with Reclamation Law, can support a Secretary of the Interior's finding 
of feasibility, has Federal benefits pursuant to the WIIN Act, and can 
be accomplished without negatively impacting the SOD Modification 
Project.
    In addition to a feasibility study, Reclamation intends to complete 
a SEIS pursuant to NEPA to consider potential environmental effects 
from implementing the Proposed Action. This environmental document is 
supplemental to the Final EIS/EIR previously developed for the SOD 
Modification Project entitled B.F. Sisk Dam Safety of Dams Modification 
Project (84 FR 44295). Reclamation will focus the SEIS on analyzing 
effects to resources where a potentially significant impact exists. The 
resources intended to be discussed include: Water quality, surface 
water supply, geology and soils, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, 
visual resources, noise, traffic and transportation, hazards and 
hazardous materials, terrestrial resources, recreation, and cultural 
resources including tribal cultural resources. Agencies and the public 
are encouraged to provide input regarding potentially significant 
issues to be addressed in the SEIS, or to identify potential 
alternatives that would meet the purpose of the Proposed Action.

Public Disclosure

    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.

Richard Welsh,
Principal Deputy Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Interior 
Region 10--California-Great Basin.
[FR Doc. 2020-10296 Filed 5-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4332-90-P

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