Bureau of Reclamation March 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Reclamation (we, our, or us) intends to seek renewal of the following approved information collection set to expire on August 31, 2011: Recreation Visitor Use Surveys. We will use several distinct forms to collect different types of recreation information. Before submitting the information collection requestOMB No. 1006- 0028to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal, we are soliciting comments on specific aspects of the information collection.

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.