Bureau of Reclamation 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation proposes to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 20- year extension (March 1, 2015 through February 28, 2034) of the existing 2005 Mendota Pool 10-year Exchange Agreements. The Mendota Pool 10-year Exchange Agreements that are currently in place span the years 2005 to 2014, and an extension of the agreements is necessary for Mendota Pool Group farmers to continue this exchange after 2014. The proposed extension would allow Mendota Pool Group farmers in the Mendota Pool area to continue to pump up to 26,250 acre-feet per year of groundwater of suitable quality into the Mendota Pool for exchange of up to 25,000 acre-feet per year Central Valley Project water delivered to the San Luis Canal for use by Mendota Pool Group farmers in the San Luis Canal service area of San Luis Water District and Westlands Water District when the existing agreements expire.

The following Water Management Plans are available for review: Orange Vale Water District City of Folsom Santa Clara Water Valley Water District El Dorado Irrigation District Lower Tule River Irrigation District City of Roseville East Bay Municipal Utility District Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District Fair Oaks Water District Pixley Irrigation District Porterville Irrigation District To meet the requirements of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 (CVPIA) and the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982, the Bureau of Reclamation developed and published the Criteria for Evaluating Water Management Plans (Criteria). For the purpose of this announcement, Water Management Plans (Plans) are considered the same as Water Conservation Plans. The above entities have each developed a Plan, which Reclamation has evaluated and preliminarily determined to meet the requirements of these Criteria. Reclamation is publishing this notice in order to allow the public to review the Plans and comment on the preliminary determinations. Public comment on Reclamation's preliminary (i.e., draft) determination of Plan adequacy is invited at this time.

The Bureau of Reclamation has forwarded the following Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Diversions, Return Flow, and Consumptive Use of Colorado River Water in the Lower Colorado River Basin (OMB Control Number 1006-0015).

The Bureau of Reclamation intends to submit a request for renewal (with revisions) of an existing approved information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Forms to Determine Compliance by Certain Landholders, 43 CFR part 426, OMB Control Number: 1006-0023.

The Bureau of Reclamation intends to submit a request for renewal (with revisions) of an existing approved information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Individual Landholder's and Farm Operator's Certification and Reporting Forms for Acreage Limitation, 43 CFR part 426 and 43 CFR part 428, OMB Control Number: 1006-0005.

The Bureau of Reclamation, in cooperation with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), the joint lead agency, is notifying the public that they have prepared a final environmental impact statement and has made it available to the public for review.

The Bureau of Reclamation has made available for public review and comment the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Arkansas Valley Conduit and Long-Term Excess Capacity Contract, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado. The proposed Arkansas Valley Conduit, conveyance contract for the Pueblo Dam north-south outlet works interconnect, and long-term excess capacity master contract to store water in available space in Pueblo Reservoir would deliver high quality water that would meet Environmental Protection Agency and state water quality requirements and help water providers throughout the Arkansas River Basin in Colorado reliably meet existing and future water demands.

The Bureau of Reclamation, on behalf of the Department of the Interior, as a natural resource trustee, announces the release of the Injury Assessment Plan for the Upper Columbia River Site. The Injury Assessment Plan describes the activities that constitute the natural resource trustees' (Department of the Interior, State of Washington, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians) currently proposed approach to conducting the assessment of natural resources exposed to hazardous substances, including heavy metals, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, established by the Secretary of the Interior, will hold a public meeting. The Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group is a Federal advisory committee that provides technical advice and counsel to the Secretary of the Interior and Washington State on the structure, implementation, and oversight of the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program.

The Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior concerning Glen Canyon Dam operations and other management actions to protect resources downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection Act. The AMWG meets two to three times a year.

The Bureau of Reclamation intends to submit a request for renewal of an existing approved information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Reclamation Rural Water Supply Program (OMB Control Number 1006-0029). Title 43 CFR part 404 requires entities interested in participating in the Rural Water Supply Program (Rural Water Program) to submit information to allow Reclamation to evaluate and prioritize requests for financial or technical assistance.

The Bureau of Reclamation has forwarded the following Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Lower Colorado River Well Inventory, OMB Control Number: 1006-0014. The Information Collection Request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost burden.

The Bureau of Reclamation intends to seek an extension of the information collection, with minor revisions, for the Recreation Use Data Report, OMB Control Number 1006-0002. As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, Reclamation invites other Federal agencies, State, local, or tribal governments that manage recreation sites at Reclamation projects; concessionaires and not-for- profit organizations who operate concessions on Reclamation lands; and the public, to comment on this information collection.

The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council (Council) was established by the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-320) (Act) to receive reports and advise Federal agencies on implementing the Act. In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Bureau of Reclamation announces that the Council will meet as detailed below. The meeting of the Council is open to the public.

The Bureau of Reclamation intends to prepare an environmental impact statement for modifications to the continued long-term operation of the Central Valley Project, in a coordinated manner with the State Water Project, that are likely to avoid jeopardy and destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. We are seeking suggestions and information on the alternatives and topics to be addressed and any other important issues related to the proposed action.

The Bureau of Reclamation has forwarded the following Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Bureau of Reclamation Use Authorization Application (Form 7-2540), OMB Control Number: 1006-0003. The Information Collection Request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost burden.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Federal agency responsible for operation of the Aspinall Unit, announces the availability of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) on proposed Aspinall Unit operations, Gunnison and Montrose Counties, Colorado.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is announcing the availability of its updated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Handbook. This handbook is intended for use as guidance by Reclamation's NEPA practitioners. It provides a quick reference for existing laws, regulations, policies, and other guidance. It is a guidance document, and as such, does not create or alter any policy or otherwise implement any law and should not be cited as a source of authority. Reclamation is announcing the availability of its NEPA Handbook to assure transparency of its efforts to the public.

The Bureau of Reclamation intends to seek an extension of the information collection for the Lower Colorado River Well Inventory (1006-0014). The current OMB approval expires on May 31, 2012.