Bureau of Reclamation September 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation, we) intends to submit a request for renewal (with revisions) of an existing approved information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Right-of-Use Application (Form 7-2540), OMB Control Number: 1006-0003. Title 43 CFR part 429 requires that applicants for certain uses of Bureau of Reclamation land apply using Form 7-2540. We request your comments on specific aspects of the revised Right-of-Use Application Form.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) intend to prepare an EIS/EIR for the Franks Tract Project. Reclamation is the lead Federal agency under NEPA and DWR is the lead State agency under CEQA for preparation of the EIS/EIR. The Franks Tract Project is designed to address water quality and fish protection issues in the central and southern Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Delta). The project would consist of the construction of barriers around Franks Tract to prevent salinity intrusion and the movement of sensitive fish species into the central and southern Delta.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers (Corps) propose to jointly prepare an EIS that analyzes and discloses effects associated with modifications to Intake Diversion Dam. The proposed Federal action is to modify Intake Diversion Dam and canal headworks, features of Reclamation's Lower Yellowstone Project, to improve passage and reduce entrainment for endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish in the lower Yellowstone River. Reclamation and the Corps will serve as joint lead Federal agencies in the preparation of the Intake Diversion Dam Modification EIS. Reclamation will act as administrative lead for NEPA compliance activities during preparation of the EIS. Reclamation and the Corps will each consider and approve a Record of Decision regarding actions and decisions for which the respective agencies are responsible.