Reclamation Bureau 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 and the Water Resources Development Act of 1974 require an annual determination of a discount rate for Federal water resources planning. The discount rate for Federal water resources planning for fiscal year 2007 is 4.875 percent. Discounting is to be used to convert future monetary values to present values.

In a Federal Register notice published on November 6, 2006 (71 FR 64982-64983), and pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and 40 CFR 1508.22, the Department of the Interior (Department), acting through the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), provided notice that the Department intends to prepare an EIS and conduct public scoping meetings for the adoption of a Long-Term Experimental Plan for the operation of Glen Canyon Dam and other associated management activities. This Federal Register notice, prepared pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22, provides information on additional public scoping meetings, the purpose and need for the proposed action, and additional background on the Long-Term Experimental Plan. The purpose of the Long-Term Experimental Plan is to increase understanding of the ecosystem downstream from Glen Canyon Dam and to improve and protect important downstream resources. The NEPA process would evaluate the implications and impacts of each of the alternatives on all of the purposes and benefits of Glen Canyon Dam as well as on downstream resources. The proposed plan would implement a structured, long-term program of experimentation (including dam operations, modifications to Glen Canyon Dam intake structures, and other non-flow management actions, such as removal of non-native fish species) and monitoring in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. The proposed Long-Term Experimental Plan is intended to ensure a continued, structured application of adaptive management in such a manner as to protect, mitigate adverse impacts to, and improve the values for which Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area were established, including, but not limited to natural and cultural resources and visitor use, consistent with applicable Federal law. The Long-Term Experimental Plan will build on a decade of scientific experimentation and monitoring that has taken place as part of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, and will build on the knowledge gained by experiments, operations, and management actions taken under the program. Accordingly, Reclamation intends to tier from earlier NEPA compliance documents prepared as part of the Department's Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Program efforts, see 40 CFR 1500.4(i), 1502.20, and 1508.20(b), such as the 2002 Environmental Assessment prepared on adaptive management experimental actions at Glen Canyon Dam (Proposed Experimental Releases from Glen Canyon Dam and Removal of Non-Native Fish). Dates and Addresses: Two additional public scoping meetings will be held to solicit comments on the scope of the Long-Term Experimental Plan and the issues and alternatives that should be analyzed. The meetings will serve to expand upon the input received from the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program meetings and the recommendations of the Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG), a federal advisory committee. Oral and written comments will be accepted at the meetings to be held at the following locations: Thursday, January 4, 20076 p.m. to 8 p.m., Embassy Suites Phoenix Airport at 44th Street, 1515 North 44th Street, Cholla Room, Phoenix, Arizona. Friday, January 5, 20076 p.m. to 8 p.m., Hilton Salt Lake City Center, 255 South West Temple, Salon 1, Salt Lake City, Utah. Written comments on the proposed development of the Long-Term Experimental Plan may be sent by close of business on Wednesday, February 28, 2007, to: Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, Attention: UC-402, 125 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84318-1147, faxogram at (801) 524-3858, or e-mail at GCDExpPlan@uc.usbr.gov.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet on December 14, 2006. This meeting will be held jointly with the California Bay-Delta Authority. The agenda for the joint meeting will include discussions with State and Federal agency representatives on end of Stage 1 decisions and planning for Stage 2 actions for the CALFED Bay-Delta Program (Program); and recommendations on Year 6 Program Performance and Accomplishments, Year 7 Priorities and Program Plans, and Program Performance and Balance. The meeting will also include reports form the Lead Scientist and the Independent Science Board, along with updates on the Delta Vision, Delta Risk Management Strategy, Pelagic Organisms Decline Action Plan, and Program Performance and Tracking.

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, modified, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice on August 2, 2006. 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.

The following Water Management Plans are available for review: Patterson Irrigation District. Porterville Irrigation District. Pixley Irrigation District. Lower Tule River 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) developed and published the Criteria for Evaluating Water Management Plans (Criteria).

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) have prepared a Final EIR/EIS for the proposed Contra Costa Water District Alternative Intake Project. The Draft EIR/ EIS evaluated the potential environmental effects of five alternatives: the No-Action Alternative and four action alternatives. The Final EIR/ EIS contains responses to comments received on the Draft EIR/EIS. A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR/EIS was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 (71 FR 27275). The public review period on the Draft EIR/EIS ended on Monday, June 26, 2006.

The following Water Management Plans are available for review: Santa Clara Valley Water District City of Fairfield Solano County Water Agency City of Roseville Suisun-Solano 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 has developed and published the Criteria for Evaluating Water Management Plans (Criteria).

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 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.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended) and Section 21061 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and El Dorado County Water Agency (EDCWA) intend to prepare a joint EIS/EIR for a Municipal and Industrial (M&I) water service contract from the Central Valley Project (CVP), California. The proposed project consists of a long term water supply contract under which Reclamation would provide up to 15,000 acre-feet per annum (AFA) to the EDCWA for diversion from Folsom Reservoir or for exchange upstream on the American River. The EDCWA proposes to sub-contract this water equally between El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) and Georgetown Divide Public Utility District (GDPUD). EID proposes to take its supply from Folsom Reservoir. GDPUD proposes to take its supply upstream by way of a water exchange with Placer County Water Agency (PCWA). The GDPUD diversion facility is at the American River Pump Station which is currently under construction.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet on September 13, 2006. The agenda for the Committee meeting will include discussions with State and Federal agency representatives on the end of Stage 1 decisions and the planning for State 2 of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, Program Plans, and the restructuring of the Committee subcommittees. The meeting will also include updates on science, Delta Vision, Delta Risk Management Strategy, and the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan.

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. The AMWG will conduct the following conference call: Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2006. The call will begin at 2 p.m. (EDT), 12 p.m. (MDT) and 11 a.m. (PDT, and Arizona) and conclude two (2) hours later in the respective time zones. The telephone numbers are: 801-524-3860 for Federal participants and 1-888-264-8816 for non- Federal participants and members of the public. Agenda: The purpose of the meeting will be to review and discuss the TWG recommended Fiscal Year 2007, hydrograph, budget, and workplan, to facilitate making a recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior. Time will be allowed for any individual or organization wishing to make formal oral comments on the call. 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 call. Any written comments received will be provided to the AMWG members.

To comply with the requirements of Public Law 106-377, the Mid-Pacific Region of the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) will be billing Central Valley Project (CVP) water contractors for their share of the Trinity Public Utilities District (TPUD) assessment. This will be an interim process until supplementary rate setting policies are established that ensure full recovery of the assessment without further appropriation as required in the law. Billings will be prepared with payment due within 30 days and the billing period will cover the TPUD assessment for Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007.

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, modified, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice on May 25, 2006. 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.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and State of North Dakota's designee, Garrison Diversion Conservancy District (Garrison Diversion), as joint lead agencies preparing the DEIS, are continuing work under the National Environmental Policy Act on the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Red River Valley Water Supply Project, located in North Dakota and Minnesota. This notice is being published to provide information related to the current status of the DEIS and preparation of a SDEIS.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below (OMB No. 1006-0015) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the following Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Recreation Use Data Report, OMB No. 1006-0002. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

The California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee meeting noticed in the Federal Register on June 15, 2006 (71 FR 34643) has been cancelled. The subject meeting will be rescheduled at a later date which is yet to be determined.

The Bureau of Reclamation is holding a meeting to inform the public about the Managing for Excellence project. This meeting is the first of three meetings to inform the public about the action items, progress, and results of the Managing for Excellence project and to seek broad feedback. Subsequent meetings will likely be held in September and November 2006 in other metropolitan areas of the Western United States.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended), the Bureau of Reclamation has prepared a Final EIS for the San Luis Drainage Feature Reevaluation. Under section 1502.14(e) of the NEPA regulations, the Council for Environmental Quality requires identification of a preferred alternative in the Final EIS. To comply with this requirement and in accordance with the Federally-mandated Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation Studies, Reclamation has identified the National Economic Development alternative, the In-Valley/Drainage-Impaired Area Land Retirement Alternative, as the preferred alternative.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, 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 the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as joint lead agencies have prepared a final programmatic environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (Program). This FEIS also serves as the Biological Assessment necessary for consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In 1997, the States of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado and the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) signed a Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species Habitats Along the Central Platte River, Nebraska (Cooperative Agreement). In this document, the signatories agreed to pursue a basinwide, cooperative approach to improve and maintain habitat for four threatened and endangered species which use the Platte River in Nebraska: whooping crane (Grus americana), interior least tern (Sterna antillarum), piping plover (Charadrius melodus), and pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). This Program will provide ESA compliance for Service and Reclamation water projects in the Platte River Basin for the four target species, as well as for other participating projects which require Federal permits.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet on May 25, 2006. The agenda for the Committee meeting will include discussions with State and Federal agency representatives on the status of the revitalization of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program including the 10- Year Action Plan and Program Plans, priority setting, the changing roles of the CALFED agencies, and the restructuring of the Committee Subcommittees.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to seek approval of the following proposed new information collection: Recreation Survey, New Melones Lake Project, Sonora, CA. Before submitting the information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for approval, Reclamation is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the information collection.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Federal agency responsible for operation of the Navajo Unit (Navajo Dam and Reservoir) has 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 (NEPA), as amended, 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 4332.