Bureau of Reclamation July 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC), as joint lead agencies, have prepared and made available to the public a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 42 United States Code 4332.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare a supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Milltown Hill Project. Reclamation filed the FEIS for the project with the Environmental Protection Agency on August 14, 1992 and completed a Record of Decision (ROD) on November 7, 1992. The FEIS was prepared in conjunction with Douglas County's (County) application for a Small Reclamation Projects Act loan and grants to develop a dam and reservoir at the Milltown Hill site on Elk Creek above Drain, Oregon. The County's loan and grant application was subsequently approved but the project was never constructed. The County has recently indicated that it wishes to re- activate its Small Reclamation Projects Act loan and grant application. Reclamation believes that due to the time lapse since the FEIS was completed and the ROD was signed, it is appropriate to update the information in the 1992 EIS to determine if it still correctly describes the affected environment and environmental consequences of the project. The proposed action and the no action alternative will be evaluated in the supplement to the FEIS.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to prepare an EIS for the Delta-Mendota Canal/California Aqueduct Intertie (Intertie). A primary purpose of the Intertie is to allow for operation and maintenance activities on the Tracy pumping plant and fish facility, the Delta- Mendota Canal, and the O'Neill pumping plant and intake canal. A Draft EIS is expected to be available in May 2007. The Intertie consists of constructing and operating a pumping plant and pipeline connection between the Delta Mendota Canal (DMC) and the California Aqueduct. The Intertie would be used in a number of ways to achieve multiple benefits, including meeting current water supply demands, allowing for the maintenance and repair of the Central Valley Project (CVP) Delta export and conveyance facilities, and providing operational flexibility to respond to emergencies related to both the CVP and State Water Project (SWP). Reclamation decided to withdraw the recently published Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Intertie and to initiate an EIS based on public challenge to the EA content and conclusions.