80 FR 15030 - Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for Long-Term Water Transfers, Central Valley and Bay Area, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 54 (March 20, 2015)

Page Range		15030-15031
FR Document		2015-06409

The Bureau of Reclamation and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority have prepared the Long-Term Water Transfers Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR). The Final EIS/EIR addresses water transfers to Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors south of the Delta and in the San Francisco Bay area from CVP and non-CVP sources from north of the Delta using Delta pumps (both CVP and State Water Project (SWP) facilities). Water transfers could occur through various methods such as groundwater substitution, cropland idling, reservoir release, and conservation, and could include individual and multiyear transfers from 2015 through 2024.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15030-15031]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06409]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR02015200, 15XR0687NA, RX185279294000000]


Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report for Long-Term Water Transfers, 
Central Valley and Bay Area, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota 
Water Authority have prepared the Long-Term Water Transfers Final 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR). 
The Final EIS/EIR addresses water transfers to Central Valley Project 
(CVP) contractors south of the Delta and in the San Francisco Bay area 
from CVP and non-CVP sources from north of the Delta using Delta pumps 
(both CVP and State Water Project (SWP) facilities). Water transfers 
could occur through various methods such as groundwater substitution, 
cropland idling, reservoir release, and conservation, and could include 
individual and multiyear transfers from 2015 through 2024.

DATES: Reclamation will not make a decision on the proposed action 
until at least 30 days after the release of the Final EIS/EIR. After 
the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of 
Decision (ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be implemented 
and will discuss all factors leading to the decision.

ADDRESSES: Send written correspondence or requests for copies to Mr. 
Brad Hubbard, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 
95825; or via email to [email protected].
    To request a compact disc of the Final EIS/EIR, please contact Mr. 
Brad Hubbard as indicated above, or call (916) 978-5204. The Final EIS/
EIR may be viewed at the Bureau of Reclamation's Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=18361. See 
Supplementary Information section for locations where copies of the 
Final EIS/EIR are available for public review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brad Hubbard, Project Manager, 
Bureau of Reclamation, via email at [email protected], or at (916) 978-
5204; or Ms. Frances Mizuno, Assistant Executive Director, San Luis & 
Delta-Mendota Water Authority, via email at [email protected], 
or at (209) 832-6200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hydrologic conditions, climatic variability, 
and regulatory requirements for operation of water projects commonly 
affect water supply availability in California. Project supplies are 
often the primary source of water for south of Delta users, and the 
complex factors constraining operational decisions not only strain 
total annual water supplies, but regularly create mismatched timing 
between planting decisions and announcement of final water supply 
allocations, making advance planning for water shortages necessary and 
routine. These conditions and resulting shortages create a need for 
water transfers to help meet water demands.
    The purpose of the Long-Term Water Transfers EIS/EIR is to 
facilitate voluntary water transfers from willing sellers upstream of 
the Delta to water users south of the Delta and in the San Francisco 
Bay Area. The maximum approvable quantity transferable to any 
contractor cannot exceed that contractor's total contract supply, but 
instead helps to make up for shortages. Such transfers need to be 
implementable within narrow annual windows for decisions on each end 
and flexible enough to address highly

[[Page 15031]]

variable shortages and annual differences in farming decisions north 
and south of the Delta.
    The EIS/EIR analyzes four alternative actions. Alternative 1 is No 
Action. Alternative 2, Full Range of Transfers, is the Proposed Action. 
This alternative combines all potential transfer measures that met the 
purpose and need and were carried forward through the screening 
process. Alternative 3, No Cropland Modifications, includes 
conservation, groundwater substitution, and reservoir release. 
Alternative 4, No Groundwater Substitution, includes conservation, 
cropland idling transfers-- rice, field and grains, crop shifting, and 
reservoir release.
    Transfers of CVP supplies and transfers that require use of CVP 
facilities are subject to review by the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) in accordance with the Central Valley Project Improvement 
Act of 1992, Reclamation's water transfer guidelines, and California 
State law. Pursuant to Federal and State law and subject to separate 
written agreement, Reclamation and the Department of Water Resources 
would facilitate water transfers involving CVP contract water supplies 
and CVP and SWP facilities. Buyers and sellers would be responsible for 
negotiating the terms of the transfers, including amount of water for 
transfer, method to make water available, and price.
    The EIS/EIR identifies potential selling parties in northern 
California, methods by which water could be made available for 
transfer, and maximum amounts of water available through each method. 
The EIS/EIR also identifies potential purchasing agencies south of the 
Delta and the proposed use of transfer water.
    The EIS/EIR analyzes alternative transfer methods to make water 
available through operational flexibility of the existing system. 
Groundwater substitution transfers occur when sellers forego diversion 
of their surface water supplies and pump an equivalent amount of 
groundwater as an alternative supply. The purchasing agency would 
receive the foregone surface water supply. The quantity of water 
available for transfer would account for potential stream flow losses 
as a result of groundwater-surface water interaction. Cropland idling 
would make water available for transfer that would have been used for 
agricultural irrigation without the transfer. Typically, the proceeds 
from the water transfer would pay farmers to idle land that they would 
have placed in production. Reservoir release transfers would involve 
releasing water from non-Project entities (not part of the CVP or SWP) 
for transfer that would have otherwise remained in storage. 
Conservation transfers involve actions to reduce the diversion of 
surface water by the transferring entity by reducing irrecoverable 
water losses.
    Water transfers under the Proposed Action involving conveyance 
through the Delta would be implemented within the operational 
parameters of the existing system, which includes Biological Opinions 
on the Continued Long-term Operations of the CVP/SWP and any other 
regulatory restrictions in place at the time of implementation of the 
water transfers. Current operational parameters applicable to the 
transfer water include use of the SWP's Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant 
and CVP's C.W. ``Bill'' Jones Pumping Plant during July through 
September only.
    A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR was published in the 
Federal Register on September 30, 2014 (79 FR 58802). The comment 
period on the Draft EIS/EIR ended on December 1, 2014. The Final EIS/
EIR contains responses to all comments received and reflects comments 
and any additional information received during the review period.
    Copies of the Final EIS/EIR are available for public review at the 
following locations:
    1. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Regional Library, 
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.
    2. Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 
C Street NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 20240-0001.
    3. San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, 842 6th Street, Los 
Banos, CA 93635.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in any correspondence, you 
should be aware that your entire correspondence--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can ask us in your correspondence to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: February 23, 2015.
Pablo R Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-06409 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P

15030 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 54 / Friday, March 20, 2015 / Notices

Dated: March 9, 2015. Plan, Southern Nevada Public Land DATES: Reclamation will not make a
Lance J. Bishop, Management Act and Transmission decision on the proposed action until at
Chief Cadastral Surveyor, California. Corridors. least 30 days after the release of the
[FR Doc. 2015–06393 Filed 3–19–15; 8:45 am] • July 16–17 (Caliente)—Ash Springs Final EIS/EIR. After the 30-day waiting
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P Recreation Area, and Mountain Biking period, Reclamation will complete a
and Trails Systems. Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will
• September 17 (Beatty)—Battle state the action that will be
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mountain District Resource implemented and will discuss all factors
Management Plan, and Mountain Biking leading to the decision.
Bureau of Land Management and Trails Systems. ADDRESSES: Send written
[LLNV912000 L12100000.PH0000 Managers’ reports of field office correspondence or requests for copies to
LXSS0006F0000; 12–08807; activities will be given at each meeting. Mr. Brad Hubbard, Bureau of
MO#4500077623; TAS: 14X1109] The Council may raise other topics at Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way,
the meetings. Sacramento, CA 95825; or via email to
Notice of Public Meetings: Mojave- Final agendas will be posted on-line bhubbard@usbr.gov.
Southern Great Basin Resource at the BLM Mojave-Southern Great To request a compact disc of the Final
Advisory Council, Nevada Basin RAC Web site at http://bit.ly/ EIS/EIR, please contact Mr. Brad
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, MOSORAC and will be published in Hubbard as indicated above, or call
Interior. local and regional media sources at least (916) 978–5204. The Final EIS/EIR may
14 days before each meeting. be viewed at the Bureau of
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
Individuals who need special Reclamation’s Web site at http://
SUMMARY: In accordance with the assistance such as sign language www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_
Federal Land Policy and Management interpretation or other reasonable projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=18361. See
Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory accommodations, or who wish to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. receive a copy of each agenda, may locations where copies of the Final EIS/
Department of the Interior, Bureau of contact Chris Hanefeld no later than 10 EIR are available for public review.
Land Management (BLM) Mojave- days prior to each meeting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Southern Great Basin Resource Rudy Evenson, Brad Hubbard, Project Manager, Bureau
Advisory Council (RAC), will hold three of Reclamation, via email at bhubbard@
Deputy Chief, Office of Communications.
meetings in Nevada in fiscal year 2015. usbr.gov, or at (916) 978–5204; or Ms.
[FR Doc. 2015–06394 Filed 3–19–15; 8:45 am]
The meetings are open to the public. Frances Mizuno, Assistant Executive
Dates and Times: April 24, BLM BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
Director, San Luis & Delta-Mendota
Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 Water Authority, via email at
N. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada; frances.mizuno@sldmwa.org, or at (209)
July 16–17, BLM Ely District, Caliente DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
832–6200.
Field Office, 1400 S. Front Street, Bureau of Reclamation SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Caliente, Nevada; and Sept. 17, Beatty Hydrologic conditions, climatic
Community Center, 100 A Avenue [RR02015200, 15XR0687NA, variability, and regulatory requirements
South, Beatty, Nevada. Meeting times RX185279294000000]
for operation of water projects
will be published in local and regional commonly affect water supply
media sources at least 14 days before Notice of Availability for the Final
Environmental Impact Statement/ availability in California. Project
each meeting. All meetings will include supplies are often the primary source of
a public comment period. Environmental Impact Report for Long-
Term Water Transfers, Central Valley water for south of Delta users, and the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: complex factors constraining
and Bay Area, California
Chris Hanefeld, Public Affairs operational decisions not only strain
Specialist, Ely District Office, 702 N. AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, total annual water supplies, but
Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301, Interior. regularly create mismatched timing
telephone: (775) 289–1842, email: ACTION: Notice. between planting decisions and
chanefel@blm.gov. Persons who use a announcement of final water supply
telecommunications device for the deaf SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation allocations, making advance planning
(TDD) may call the Federal Information and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota for water shortages necessary and
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 Water Authority have prepared the routine. These conditions and resulting
to contact the above individual during Long-Term Water Transfers Final shortages create a need for water
normal business hours. The FIRS is Environmental Impact Statement/ transfers to help meet water demands.
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR). The purpose of the Long-Term Water
to leave a message or question with the The Final EIS/EIR addresses water Transfers EIS/EIR is to facilitate
above individual. You will receive a transfers to Central Valley Project (CVP) voluntary water transfers from willing
reply during normal business hours. contractors south of the Delta and in the sellers upstream of the Delta to water
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15- San Francisco Bay area from CVP and users south of the Delta and in the San
member Council advises the Secretary non-CVP sources from north of the Delta Francisco Bay Area. The maximum
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

of the Interior, through the BLM, on a using Delta pumps (both CVP and State approvable quantity transferable to any
variety of planning and management Water Project (SWP) facilities). Water contractor cannot exceed that
issues associated with public land transfers could occur through various contractor’s total contract supply, but
management in Nevada. Topics for methods such as groundwater instead helps to make up for shortages.
discussion at each meeting will include, substitution, cropland idling, reservoir Such transfers need to be
but are not limited to: release, and conservation, and could implementable within narrow annual
• April 24 (Las Vegas)—Southern include individual and multiyear windows for decisions on each end and
Nevada District Resource Management transfers from 2015 through 2024. flexible enough to address highly

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 54 / Friday, March 20, 2015 / Notices 15031

variable shortages and annual (not part of the CVP or SWP) for transfer DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
differences in farming decisions north that would have otherwise remained in
and south of the Delta. storage. Conservation transfers involve Bureau of Land Management
The EIS/EIR analyzes four alternative actions to reduce the diversion of
actions. Alternative 1 is No Action. surface water by the transferring entity [LLCO956000 L14400000.BJ0000]
Alternative 2, Full Range of Transfers, is by reducing irrecoverable water losses.
the Proposed Action. This alternative Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey;
combines all potential transfer measures Water transfers under the Proposed
Action involving conveyance through Colorado
that met the purpose and need and were
carried forward through the screening the Delta would be implemented within
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
process. Alternative 3, No Cropland the operational parameters of the
Interior.
Modifications, includes conservation, existing system, which includes
groundwater substitution, and reservoir Biological Opinions on the Continued ACTION: Notice of Filing of Plats of
release. Alternative 4, No Groundwater Long-term Operations of the CVP/SWP Survey; Colorado
Substitution, includes conservation, and any other regulatory restrictions in
cropland idling transfers— rice, field place at the time of implementation of SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
and grains, crop shifting, and reservoir the water transfers. Current operational Management (BLM) Colorado State
release. parameters applicable to the transfer Office is publishing this notice to
Transfers of CVP supplies and water include use of the SWP’s Harvey inform the public of the intent to
transfers that require use of CVP O. Banks Pumping Plant and CVP’s officially file the survey plat listed
facilities are subject to review by the C.W. ‘‘Bill’’ Jones Pumping Plant during below and afford a proper period of time
Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in July through September only. to protest this action prior to the plat
accordance with the Central Valley filing. During this time, the plat will be
Project Improvement Act of 1992, A Notice of Availability of the Draft
EIS/EIR was published in the Federal available for review in the BLM
Reclamation’s water transfer guidelines,
Register on September 30, 2014 (79 FR Colorado State Office.
and California State law. Pursuant to
Federal and State law and subject to 58802). The comment period on the DATES: Unless there are protests of this
separate written agreement, Reclamation Draft EIS/EIR ended on December 1, action, the filing of the plat described in
and the Department of Water Resources 2014. The Final EIS/EIR contains this notice will happen on April 20,
would facilitate water transfers responses to all comments received and 2015.
involving CVP contract water supplies reflects comments and any additional
and CVP and SWP facilities. Buyers and information received during the review ADDRESSES: BLM Colorado State Office,
sellers would be responsible for period. Cadastral Survey, 2850 Youngfield
negotiating the terms of the transfers, Street, Lakewood, CO 80215–7093.
including amount of water for transfer, Copies of the Final EIS/EIR are
method to make water available, and available for public review at the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
price. following locations: Randy Bloom, Chief Cadastral Surveyor
The EIS/EIR identifies potential 1. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific for Colorado, (303) 239–3856.
selling parties in northern California, Region, Regional Library, 2800 Cottage Persons who use a
methods by which water could be made Way, Sacramento, CA 95825. telecommunications device for the deaf
available for transfer, and maximum (TDD) may call the Federal Information
2. Natural Resources Library, U.S.
amounts of water available through each Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
method. The EIS/EIR also identifies Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street
NW., Main Interior Building, to contact the above individual during
potential purchasing agencies south of normal business hours. The FIRS is
the Delta and the proposed use of Washington, DC 20240–0001.
available 24 hours a day, seven days a
transfer water. 3. San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water
week, to leave a message or question
The EIS/EIR analyzes alternative Authority, 842 6th Street, Los Banos, CA
transfer methods to make water with the above individual. You will
93635.
available through operational flexibility receive a reply during normal business
of the existing system. Groundwater Public Disclosure hours.
substitution transfers occur when sellers SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The plat
Before including your address, phone
forego diversion of their surface water and field notes of the dependent
number, email address, or other
supplies and pump an equivalent resurvey and survey in Township 19
amount of groundwater as an alternative personal identifying information in any
correspondence, you should be aware South, Range 71 West, Sixth Principal
supply. The purchasing agency would Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on
receive the foregone surface water that your entire correspondence—
including your personal identifying March 5, 2015.
supply. The quantity of water available
for transfer would account for potential information—may be made publicly Randy Bloom,
stream flow losses as a result of available at any time. While you can ask Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Colorado.
groundwater-surface water interaction. us in your correspondence to withhold
[FR Doc. 2015–06395 Filed 3–19–15; 8:45 am]
Cropland idling would make water your personal identifying information
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
from public review, we cannot
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

available for transfer that would have
been used for agricultural irrigation guarantee that we will be able to do so.
without the transfer. Typically, the Dated: February 23, 2015.
proceeds from the water transfer would
Pablo R Arroyave,
pay farmers to idle land that they would
have placed in production. Reservoir Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
release transfers would involve [FR Doc. 2015–06409 Filed 3–19–15; 8:45 am]
releasing water from non-Project entities BILLING CODE 4332–90–P

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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:34:52
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:34:52

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Reclamation will not make a decision on the proposed action until at least 30 days after the release of the Final EIS/EIR. After the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be implemented and will discuss all factors leading to the decision.
Contact		Mr. Brad Hubbard, Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, via email at [email protected]r.gov, or at (916) 978- 5204; or Ms. Frances Mizuno, Assistant Executive Director, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, via email at [email protected], or at (209) 832-6200.
FR Citation		80 FR 15030

80 FR 15030 - Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for Long-Term Water Transfers, Central Valley and Bay Area, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Reclamation

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 54 (March 20, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation