Reclamation Bureau – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and were pending through December 31, 2007, and contract actions that have been completed or discontinued since the last publication of this notice on November 30, 2007. 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.

The Bureau of Reclamation published a notice in the Federal Register on September 8, 2003, (68 FR 52953) announcing commencement of work under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on an environmental impact statement for the Southern Delivery System project (SDS). We are now notifying the public that Reclamation has completed the Draft EIS which is now available for public review and comment. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are cooperating agencies in preparing the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS provides information and analyses on seven alternatives that were developed for the project based on key issues. Ten key issues relevant to the proposed SDS associated with water flow and quality, stream channel morphology, sedimentation, water rights, fish and aquatic life, wetlands, wildlife, socioeconomics, and recreation are addressed in the analysis. Significant effects on natural resources are examined and mitigation measures, where appropriate to avoid or minimize impacts, are incorporated into the alternatives. The Draft EIS includes appendices with technical analyses and supporting documentation of the analysis findings and summaries.

The Bureau of Reclamation is announcing a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the Northwest Area Water Supply Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Water Treatment. The originally announced comment period ends on February 26, 2008, but has been extended until March 26, 2008. The original notice of availability of the DEIS, notice of the public hearings, and additional information on the DEIS were published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2007.

The Bureau of Reclamation's New Melones Recreation Resource Office will change public use of the Mark Twain Recreation Area Lake Access, located within a special use area, near the Park Administration and Visitor Center at new Melones Lake. The public use will change from launching of trailered boats of any size to launching of small boats by hand only. Boats will be limited to canoes, kayaks, rowboats, skiffs, or small boats with up to a ten horsepower motor that can be hand carried. With this change in use, vehicles, including motorcycles, will no longer be permitted to drive to the water's edge to launch boats or for other purposes. The location of vehicle access will vary due to fluctuating water level of the lake, irregularity of the shoreline and eroded nature of the former roadway which is used for lake access. However, Reclamation intends to manage vehicle access to allow public vehicles to within approximately 100-200 feet of the water. Other authorized recreation activities will not be affected. This change in use will serve to enhance public safety and water quality, while providing for recreation and protection of cultural and natural resources in the area.

In a Federal Register notice published on November 6, 2006 (71 FR 64982-64983), and pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and 40 CFR 1508.22, the Department of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), provided notice of its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (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 provides updated information and additional background on the status and development of the Long- Term Experimental Plan, as well as information regarding shorter term proposed flow experiments related to the operation of Glen Canyon Dam.

The Bureau of Reclamation is holding a workshop to inform the public about the close-out of the Managing for Excellence project. The meeting to be held will inform the public about the results of the Managing for Excellence action plan and seek final public input and feedback.

The Glen Canyon Dam 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.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is notifying the public that Reclamation and the State of North Dakota have prepared a Final EIS for the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP). The purpose of the RRVWSP is to supply water to meet the water needs of the people and industries in the Red River Valley through the year 2050. The project's needs were established by Congress in the Dakota Water Resources Act of 2000. The project needs are defined as municipal, rural, and industrial supplies; water quality; aquatic environment; and water conservation measures. Reclamation published a Draft EIS on December 30, 2005. Following public comments on the Draft EIS and the addition of new information, Reclamation published a Supplemental Draft EIS on January 31, 2007. The comment period for the Draft EIS started on December 30, 2005 and continued through April 25, 2007 with review of the Supplemental Draft EIS. Revisions were made to the Final EIS to incorporate responses to comments on the Supplemental Draft EIS and new information. However, these revisions do not significantly impact the analysis or results presented in the Supplemental Draft EIS. The primary changes are inclusion of a final biological assessment prepared in compliance with the Endangered Species Act, an analysis of forecasted depletions and sedimentation on the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system, and a literature review of the best available climate change information. The Final EIS includes written responses to all public comments on both the DEIS and SDEIS. It also identifies the GDU Import to Sheyenne River Alternative as Reclamation's and the State of North Dakota's preferred alternative.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Yuba County Water Agency (YCWA) have prepared the Final EIR/EIS for the Proposed Lower Yuba River Accord (Yuba Accord). The Final EIR/EIS contains responses to comments received on the Draft EIR/EIS. 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. At the same time, it would provide 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 statewide water supply management, including supplemental water for the Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP). A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR/EIS was published in the Federal Register on Monday, July 2, 2007 (72 FR 36036). The public review period on the Draft EIR/EIS ended on August 24, 2007.

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 2008 is 4.875 percent. Discounting is to be used to convert future monetary values to present values.

This notice lists programs or portions of programs that are eligible for inclusion in Fiscal Year 2008 funding agreements with self-governance tribes and lists programmatic targets pursuant to section 405(c)(4) of the Tribal Self-Governance Act.

The Bureau of Reclamation is holding a meeting to inform the public about the Managing for Excellence project. This meeting is the fourth to be held in 2007 to inform the public about the action items, progress, and results of the Managing for Excellence project and to seek broad public input and feedback. Subsequent meetings are anticipated and will be held in collaboration with the public.

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 the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare an EIS for the proposed Madera Irrigation District (MID) Water Supply Enhancement Project (Project), in which MID would construct a groundwater bank on the property known as Madera Ranch, west of the City of Madera, Madera County, CA. The Federal actions include approval from Reclamation for MID to bank a portion of their Central Valley Project (CVP) Friant Division contract water supply outside of its service area in the newly constructed groundwater bank at Madera Ranch and approval to extend the Reclamation-owned 24.2 Canal.

On September 18, 2007, the Commissioner of Reclamation adopted the Amended Navajo Power Marketing Plan (Amended Plan) on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), pursuant to section 107 of the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984 (98 Stat. 1333). The Amended Plan is to provide for the future marketing of the United States' entitlement to generation from the Navajo Generating Station (Navajo) which is in excess of the pumping requirements of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) and certain needs for desalting and protective pumping facilities. The Amended Plan was developed in consultation with representatives of the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Western Area Power Administration (Western), the Governor of Arizona, and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) as required by the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984 (Act). At the request of Reclamation, Western published a notice in the Federal Register on August 14, 2006, to initiate and obtain public comments on the proposed Amended Plan. Western held public information forums on September 19, 2006, in Phoenix, Arizona, and on September 22, 2006, in Ontario, California. Western accepted oral and written comments on the proposed Amended Plan at public comment forums on October 10, 2006, in Phoenix, Arizona, and on October 11, 2006 in Ontario, California, and thereafter until November 13, 2006, the end of the public comment period. Additional public information forums will be held in advance of the time of the actual marketing of Navajo Surplus under the Amended Plan to address the procedures to be used in the actual marketing process. Public comments were received both with respect to the terms of the proposed Amended Plan and with respect to Western's presentations at the public forums relating to the implementation of the plan. Written comments were received from Aha Macav Power Service, Arizona Power Authority, Arizona Tribal Energy Association, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Ralph E. Hitchcock and Associates, Moyes Storey Law Offices, Santa Cruz Water & Power Districts Association, and Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District. Oral comments were received from the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, Ralph E. Hitchcock and Associates, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Comments and responses, paraphrased for brevity, are presented below. Reclamation considered all comments prior to the adoption of the Amended Plan. Reclamation determined that no modifications to the proposed Amended Plan were necessary as a result of the comments and in light of the proposed Amended Plan's flexible framework. Nevertheless, Reclamation has made edits to the proposed Amended Plan for clarification purposes.

The Bureau of Reclamation is canceling plans to prepare a final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the environmental impacts of proposed modifications to the main channel of the Rio Grande and Low Flow Conveyance Channel system. The reason for canceling is that seven years have elapsed since publication of the draft EIS and the recently issued final EIS and Record of Decision for the Upper Rio Grande Basin Water Operations Review considers the impacts of continuing the operation of the Low Flow Conveyance Channel as a passive drain with no diversion from the Rio Grande.

The following Water Management Plans are available for review: West Stanislaus Irrigation District. Contra Costa Water District. Stockton East Water District. City of Vallejo. Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District. Dunnigan Water 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). For the purpose of this announcement, Water Management Plans (Plans) are considered the same as Water Conservation Plans. The above entities have 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 is invited at this time.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare an environmental document for the purpose of evaluating options for management of natural resources within the Newlands Project. The purpose of the action is to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the lands managed in association with the Newlands Project. The RMP will be used to foster proper stewardship of public lands. The goal of Reclamation's RMP is to create a balance of resource development, recreation, and protection of natural and cultural resources for the lands and waters being managed. The plan will outline Reclamation management actions that will be implemented over a 10-year planning span.

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) propose to prepare a PEIS/EIR for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (Program). The proposed Program is expected to be implemented by Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), and the DWR.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Yuba County Water Agency (YCWA) have made available for public review and comment the Draft EIR/EIS for the Proposed Lower Yuba River Accord (Yuba Accord). Two public hearings will be held to provide interested individuals and organizations with an opportunity to comment verbally and in writing on the Draft EIR/EIS. 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. At the same time, it would provide 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 statewide water supply management, including supplemental water for the Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces the Bureau of Reclamation (we, our, or us) has forwarded the following Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Certification Summary Form, Reporting Summary Form for Acreage Limitation, 43 CFR part 426 and 43 CFR part 428, OMB Control Number: 1006-0006. This information collection is required under the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (RRA), Acreage Limitation Rules and Regulations, 43 CFR part 426, and Information Requirements for Certain Farm Operations In Excess of 960 Acres and the Eligibility of Certain Formerly Excess Land, 43 CFR part 428. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

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.

This rule makes public conduct at Hoover Dam subject to the same rules governing public conduct at other Bureau of Reclamation facilities. In order to do this, Reclamation is removing from the Code of Federal Regulations the existing 43 CFR part 421 (Rules of Conduct at Hoover Dam) and making public conduct on all Reclamation projects subject to 43 CFR part 423 (Public Conduct on Bureau of Reclamation Facilities, Lands, and Waterbodies).

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 February 27, 2007. 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 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. Dates and Addresses: The AMWG will conduct the following conference call: Date: Tuesday, May 22, 2007. The call will begin at 12 noon (EDT), 10 a.m. (MDT) and 9 a.m. (PDT and Arizona) and conclude three (3) hours later in the respective time zones. The telephone numbers are: 1-801- 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 for the AMWG to receive updates and discuss the following items: (1) Roles Ad Hoc Group Report and recommendations; (2) the Beach/Habitat Building Flow Science Plan; (3) Draft Fiscal Year 2008 budget; (4) the Long-Term Experimental Plan Environmental Impact Statement; and (5) the Monitoring and Research Plan. The AMWG also will consider a motion by the TWG that recommends the Secretary of the Interior secure resources to direct the development and prompt implementation of risk assessment, education, prevention/containment, and science elements in order to limit the wide-ranging damages that may be caused by quagga mussel invasion of the Colorado River system. To view a copy of the draft agenda, please visit Reclamation's Web site at: https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/amp/amwg/ mtgs/06may22/. Time will be allowed for any individual or organization wishing to make formal oral comments on the call. To allow for 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; facsimile 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.