Bureau of Reclamation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Reclamation has prepared a Final EIS for the Lake Berryessa Visitor Services Plan (VSP). The Final EIS outlines the proposed project alternatives that seek to address issues related to the VSP, including the type and level of facilities and services that are appropriate for future uses on Federal land. Of the seven concession contracts at Lake Berryessa, six contracts expire in 2008/ 2009 and one interim contract expires in 2007. The VSP will be used as a basis for future concession contracts.

The Bureau of Reclamation will hold an additional public scoping meeting to solicit input on the scope of the environmental document, alternatives, concerns, and issues to be addressed in the EIS to be prepared. The notice of intent to prepare the EIS and notice of public scoping meetings was published in the Federal Register on October 7, 2005 (70 FR 58744).

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation proposes to prepare an EIS for the Shasta Lake Water Resources Investigation (SLWRI). Authorization for the investigation comes from Pub. L. 96-375, 1980; which directs the Secretary of the Interior to engage in feasibility studies related to enlarging Shasta Dam and Reservoir. Other directing legislation includes Title 34 of Pub. L. 102-575, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act and Pub. L. 108-137, the Energy and Water Development Act. In addition, enlargement of Shasta Dam was identified in the CALFED Programmatic Environmental Impact Report/Statement and Record of Decision (ROD) and in Pub. L. 108-361, the CALFED Bay-Delta authority.

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given that the Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, Yakima, Washington, established by the Secretary of the Interior, will hold a public meeting. The purpose of the Conservation Advisory Group is to provide technical advise 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.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to conduct public scoping meetings and prepare an EIS for the development of Lower Colorado River Basin Shortage Guidelines and Coordinated Management Strategies for Operation of Lake Powell and Lake Mead Under Low Reservoir Conditions. The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) has directed Reclamation to develop additional Colorado River management strategies to address operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead under low reservoir conditions. The proposed action is to develop these guidelines and strategies. Through the NEPA process initiated by this Federal Register notice, Reclamation is considering development of: (1) Specific guidelines that will identify those circumstances under which the Department of the Interior (Department) would reduce annual water deliveries from Lake Mead to the Lower Basin States below the 7.5 million acre-feet (maf) Lower Basin apportionment and the manner in which those deliveries would be reduced, and (2) coordinated management strategies for the operation of Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Alternatives to be analyzed in the EIS have not been developed at this time and will be developed through the NEPA process, including through the upcoming EIS scoping meetings.

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. Dates and Location: The Council will conduct its annual meeting at the following time and location: Tuesday, October 25, 2005Riverside, CaliforniaThe meeting will be held in the Mission Inn located at 3649 Mission Inn Avenue. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m., recess at approximately 1 p.m., and reconvene briefly the following day at 1 p.m.

The Bureau of Reclamation is issuing this proposed rulemaking to establish regulations regarding public access to and conduct on all Reclamation projects, waters, and real property subject to the jurisdiction or administration of Reclamation or in its custody. Reclamation is required by law to issue this rule in order to maintain law and order and protect persons and property on its projects. This proposed rule would supersede the existing Public Conduct rule, and amend provisions located elsewhere to ensure consistency.

The Bureau of Reclamation is extending the public review and comment period for the Draft EIS to Thursday, September 1, 2005. The notice of availability of the Draft EIS and notice of public hearings was published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2005, (70 FR 32370). The public review period was originally scheduled to end on August 1, 2005.

The Adaptive Management Program (AMP) was implemented as a result of the Record of Decision on the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Final Environmental Impact Statement to comply with consultation requirements of the Grand Canyon Protection Act (Pub. L. 102-575) of 1992. The AMP includes a federal advisory committee (AMWG), a technical work group (TWG), a monitoring and research center, and independent review panels. The 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 TWG is a subcommittee of the AMWG and provides technical advice and recommendations to the AMWG. Date and Location: The AMWG will conduct the following public meeting: Phoenix, ArizonaAugust 30-31, 2005. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. on the first day and will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. on the second day. The meeting will be held at the Arizona Department of Water Resources, 500 N. Third Street, Conference Rooms A&B, Phoenix, Arizona. Agenda: The purpose of the meeting will be to review the Fiscal Year 2005 budget expenditures, approve and recommend the FY06 Draft Budget and Work Plan, receive updates on plans currently in development, and other monitoring and research reports. Other topics of discussion will include Glen Canyon Dam operations and maintenance schedule, status of humpback chub efforts, basin hydrology, public outreach, as well as other administrative and resource issues pertaining to the AMP. Time will be allowed for any individual or organization wishing to make formal oral comments (limited to 5 minutes) at the meeting. To allow full consideration of information by the AMWG members, written notice must be provided to Dennis Kubly, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office, 125 South State Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84138; telephone (801) 524-3715; faxogram (801) 524-3858; e-mail at dkubly@uc.usbr.gov at least five (5) days prior to the meeting. Any written comments received will be provided to the AMWG and TWG members.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; this notice announces the intentions of the Bureau of Reclamation to seek extension of the information collection for the Lower Colorado River Well Inventory. The current OMB approval expires on January 31, 2006.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet on August 10, September 7, October 12, and November 9, 2005. These meetings will focus on the State's intense effort to fulfill the Governor's mandate for an independent fiscal and management review of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program by the end of 2005. Discussions will include a refocus of CALFED on resolving conflicts in the Delta, priority setting, and development of an action plan to finance CALFED over the next 10 years.

This notice is published in accordance with Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-463). Following consultation with the General Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) is renewing the charter for the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee (Committee). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary on implementation of the CALFED Bay- Delta Program (Program) as described in the Programmatic Record of Decision which outlines the long-term comprehensive solution for addressing the problems affecting the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary, Public Law 108-361, and other applicable law. Specific responsibilities of the Committee include: (1) Making recommendations on annual priorities and coordination of Program actions to achieve balanced implementation of the Program elements; (2) providing recommendations on effective integration of Program elements to provide continuous, balanced improvement of each of the Program objectives (ecosystem restoration, water quality, levee system integrity, and water supply reliability); (3) evaluating implementation of Program actions, including assessment of Program area performance; (4) reviewing and making recommendations on Program Plans and Annual Reports describing implementation of Program elements as set forth in the ROD to the Secretary; (5) recommending Program actions taking into account recommendations from the Committee's subcommittees; and (6) liaison between the Committee's subcommittees, the State and Federal agencies, the Secretary, and the Governor. The Committee consists of 20 to 30 members who are appointed by the Secretary, in consultation with the Governor.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces the following Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment: Certification Summary Form and Reporting Summary Form for Acreage Limitation, 43 CFR part 426 and 43 CFR part 428, OMB Control Number: 1006-0006. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended) the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as lead Federal agency, has prepared a FEIS for the Central Valley Project Long-Term Water Service Contract RenewalsAmerican River Division. The FEIS describes and presents the environmental effects of four alternatives, including no action, for renewal of water service contracts to American River Division contractors that include; the City of Roseville, East Bay Municipal District, El Dorado Irrigation District, Placer County Water Agency, Sacramento County Water Agency, Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, and San Juan Water District. A Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2005 (70 FR 3066). The written comment period on the DEIS ended on March 21, 2005. The FEIS contains responses to all comments received and reflects comments and any additional information received during the review period.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to participate and serve as the lead agency under NEPA in the preparation of a joint EIS/EIR on the Lower Yuba River Accord (Yuba Accord). The Yuba County Water Agency (YCWA), a local public water agency, is proposing the project and will serve as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The purpose of the Yuba Accord is to resolve instream flow issues associated with operation of the Yuba River Development Project (Yuba Project) in a way that protects and enhances lower Yuba River fisheries and local water-supply reliability, while providing revenues for local flood-control and water-supply projects, water for the CALFED Program to use for protection and restoration of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) fisheries, and improvements in state-wide water supply management, including supplemental water for the Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP). This notice is published in accordance with NEPA regulations found in 40 CFR 1501.7. The purpose of this notice is to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS/EIR. A similar notice is being published by YCWA in accordance with CEQA. Comments and participation in the scoping process are encouraged.

The following Water Management Plans are available for review: James Irrigation District Lindmore Irrigation District City of Lindsay Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District Suisan Solano Water Authority Tranquillity 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 (Reclamation) has developed and published the Criteria for Evaluating Water Management Plans (Criteria).

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet on June 8, 2005. The second half of the meeting will be held jointly with the California Bay-Delta Authority. The agenda for the Committee meeting will include an orientation for the new Committee members and reports from several of its Subcommittees. The agenda for the joint meeting will include reports from the Director and the Lead Scientist and discussions on short- and long-term funding for the CALFED Bay- Delta Program with State and Federal agency representatives.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Folsom Dam Road Restricted Access action. The action would entail a long-term decision on the closure of Folsom Dam Road to public access. A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on Friday, December 3, 2004 (69 FR 70278). The written comment period on the Draft EIS ended on Tuesday, January 18, 2005. The Final EIS contains responses to all comments received and reflects comments and any additional information received during the review period.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to extend a current information collection approved by the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB). The collection is entitled Summary of Water Requirements for Crops Grown on Eligible Land, OMB No. 1006-0024. Before submitting the information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for approval, Reclamation is soliciting comments on specific aspects of that form.

This notice is issued in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(I). The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is contemplating the granting of an exclusive license in the United States to practice the invention embodied in U.S. Patent No. 6,466,009 B1, entitled, ``Flexible Printed Circuit Magnetic Flux Probe.'' The exclusive license is to be granted to Iris Power Engineering having a place of business in Toronto, Canada. Iris Power Engineering is owned by Koch Industries, Inc. of Wichita, Kansas. The patent rights in this invention have been assigned to the United States of America. The prospective exclusive license will be royalty-bearing and will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. While the primary purpose of this notice is to announce Reclamation's intent to grant an exclusive license to practice the above listed patent, it also serves to publish the availability of this patent for licensing in accordance with law. The prospective license may be granted unless Reclamation receives written evidence and argument which establish that the grant of the license would not be consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.

The purpose of this action is to provide public notice that the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) has made a number of limited modifications to the text of the Operating Criteria developed pursuant to section 602 of the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968. The bases for the changes are: (1) Specific change in Federal law applicable to the Operating Criteria, (2) language in the current text of the Operating Criteria that is outdated, and (3) specific modifications to Article IV(b) of the Operating Criteria that reflect actual operating experience. The review of the Operating Criteria has been conducted through a public review process, including consultation with the seven Colorado River Basin States, tribal representatives, and interested parties and stakeholders.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee will meet jointly with the California Bay-Delta Authority on April 13 and 14, 2005. The agenda for the joint meeting will include reports from the Director, the Lead Scientist, and the Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee Subcommittees; updates on the Delta Improvements Package and the State Water Plan; and discussions leading to recommendations on several grant awards, the Finance Plan, and the Multi-Year Program Plans with State and Federal agency representatives.

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and were pending through December 31, 2004, and contract actions that have been completed or discontinued since the last publication of this notice on October 4, 2004. From the date of this publication, future quarterly notices during this calendar year will be limited to new, modified, discontinued, or completed contract actions. This annual notice should be used as a point of reference to identify changes in future notices. This notice is one of a variety of means used to inform the public about proposed contractual actions for capital recovery and management of project resources and facilities consistent with section 9(f) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939. Additional announcements of individual contract actions may be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in the areas determined by Reclamation to be affected by the proposed action.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), CEQ NEPA Regulations (40 CFR 1502.9[c][1]), and Public Resources Code, sections 21000-21177 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15088.5 of the CEQA Guidelines, the Bureau of Reclamation the lead Federal agency, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a cooperating Federal agency, and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), the lead State agency, have made available for public review and comment a Draft SEIS/REIR for the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project (Restoration Project). The notice of availability of the original joint Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report) (Draft EIS/ EIR) and notice of public workshop and notice of public hearing was published in the Federal Register on Friday July 18, 2003 (68 FR 42758). Numerous comments addressing a wide range of issues were received on the Draft EIS/EIR, with some warranting circulation of supplemental/revised information to the original joint environmental document. The Draft SEIS/REIR will disclose a new environmental analysis and propose mitigation regarding the increased risk of fish disease infection at private aquaculture facilities through the increase of naturally-spawning Battle Creek salmon and steelhead species under the Restoration Project. In addition, the Draft SEIS/REIR will disclose the potentially significant environmental effects of spreading certain harmful fish diseases from Battle Creek via private trout aquaculture operations that transfer trout from facilities in the Project Area to other State waters. The Draft SEIS/REIR will also disclose information regarding the 8 Dam Removal alternative and its dismissal from further consideration.

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given that the Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, Yakima, Washington, established by the Secretary of the Interior, cancelled a public meeting. The purpose of the Conservation Advisory Group is to provide 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.