80 FR 39797 - Notice of Availability of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California WaterFix Partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Announcement of Public Meetings
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 132 (July 10, 2015)
Bureau of Reclamation
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 132 (July 10, 2015)
| Page Range | 39797-39799 | |
| FR Document | 2015-16903 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 39797-39799] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-16903] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [RR02800000, 15XR0687ND, RX.18527914.2050100] Notice of Availability of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan/ California WaterFix Partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Announcement of Public Meetings AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California WaterFix Partially Recirculated Draft [[Page 39798]] Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIR/SDEIS) for public review and comment. The RDEIR/SDEIS has been prepared jointly between the Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources to describe and analyze refinement of the resource area analyses, alternatives, and actions, including three additional alternatives that describe conveyance options not containing all the elements of a Habitat Conservation Plan/ Natural Communities Conservation Plan described in the previously circulated Draft EIR/EIS released on December 13, 2013. Based on project revisions and in consideration of comments received on the Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan, Draft EIR/EIS, and Draft Implementing Agreement, the State and Federal lead agencies recognize that additional information is appropriate to address comments and to enhance the environmental analysis. DATES: Comments on the RDEIR/SDEIS must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on August 31, 2015. Two public meetings will be held to provide an overview of the project and allow public comment and discussion on the RDEIR/SDEIS:Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Sacramento, CA. Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 3:00 p.m.--7:00 p.m., Walnut Grove, CA. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by one of the following methods: 1. By email: Submit comments to [email protected]. 2. By hard-copy: Submit comments by U.S. mail to BDCP/WaterFix Comments, P.O. Box 1919, Sacramento, CA 95812. The two public meetings will be held at the following locations: Sacramento--Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, Magnolia Room, 1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Walnut Grove--Jean Harvie Community Center, 14273 River Road, Walnut Grove, CA 95690. To view or download the RDEIR/SDEIS, or for a list of locations to view hard-bound copies, go to www.baydeltaconservationplan.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Banonis, Bureau of Reclamation, (916) 930-5676. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On January 24, 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP or Plan) (73 FR 4178). The NOI was re-issued on April 15, 2008, to include the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) as a co-lead Federal agency, update the status of the planning process, and provide updated information related to scoping meetings (73 FR 20326). The April 15, 2008, NOI identified scoping meeting locations and stated that written comments would be accepted until May 30, 2008. Additional information was later developed to describe the proposed BDCP, and subsequent scoping activities were initiated on February 13, 2009, with the publication of a revised NOI (74 FR 7257). The NOI identified scoping meeting locations and stated that written comments would be accepted until May 14, 2009. In 2008, ten public scoping meetings were held throughout California. In spring 2009, a summary update was produced and distributed about the development of the Plan to interested members of the public, including details of individual elements of the Plan (referred to in the Plan as ``conservation measures'') that were being considered as part of the conservation strategy. Twelve additional public scoping meetings were then held throughout California, seeking input about the scope of covered activities and potential alternatives to the proposed action. In December 2010, the California Natural Resources Agency disseminated to the public a summary of the BDCP, its status, and a list of outstanding issues. In 2011 and 2012, public meetings continued in Sacramento, California, to update stakeholders and the public on elements of the draft BDCP and EIR/EIS that were being developed. On December 13, 2013, the Draft BDCP and associated Draft EIR/EIS were released to the public and a 120-day public comment period was opened through notification in the Federal Register (78 FR 75939). That notice described the proposed action and a reasonable range of alternatives. Twelve more public meetings were held in California in early 2014. In response to requests from the public, the comment period was extended for an additional 60 days and closed on June 13, 2014 (79 FR 17135; March 27, 2014). A Draft Implementing Agreement was also made available to the public on May 30, 2014, for a 60-day review and comment period, which closed on July 29, 2014. The comment period of the Draft EIR/EIS was also extended to the later date. All draft documents are available at www.baydeltaconservationplan.com. As a result of considering comments on the Draft BDCP, Draft EIR/ EIS, and Draft Implementing Agreement, Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources have proposed three additional conveyance alternatives for analysis in the RDEIR/SDEIS. These new alternatives 2D, 4A, and 5A, each contain fewer Conservation Measures than the conveyance alternatives circulated in the Draft EIR/EIS. Specifically, the new alternatives no longer contain the following Conservation Measures: CM-2 Yolo Bypass Fisheries Enhancement; CM-5 Seasonally Inundated Floodplain Restoration; CM-13 Invasive Aquatic Vegetation Control; CM-14 Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel Dissolved Oxygen Levels; CM-17 Illegal Harvest Reduction; CM-18 Conservation Hatcheries; CM-19 Urban Stormwater Treatment; CM-20 Recreational Users Invasive Species Program; and CM-21 Non-project Diversions. The new alternatives contain modified versions of the following Conservation Measures (referred to as Environmental Commitments in the RDEIR/SDEIS): CM-3 Natural Communities Protection and Restoration; CM-4 Tidal Natural Communities Restoration; CM-6 Channel Margin Enhancement; CM-7 Riparian Natural Community Restoration; CM-8 Grassland Natural Community Restoration; CM-9 Vernal Pool and Alkali Seasonal Wetland Complex Restoration; CM-10 Nontidal Marsh Restoration; CM-11 Natural Communities Enhancement and Management; CM-12 Methylmercury Management; CM-15 Localized Reduction of Predatory Fishes; and CM-16 Non-Physical Fish Barriers. The new alternatives are not structured as a Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan but are structured to achieve compliance with the Federal Endangered Species Act through consultation under Section 7 and the California Endangered Species Act through the incidental take permit process under Section 2081(b) of the California Fish & Game Code. The California Department of Water Resources has identified Alternative 4A (known as the California WaterFix) as their proposed project and Reclamation has selected Alternative 4A as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) preferred alternative. This alternative will consist of a water conveyance facility with three intakes, habitat restoration measures necessary to minimize or avoid project effects, and the previously described Conservation Measures. Alternative 4A is proposed to make physical and operational improvements to the State Water Project system in the Delta necessary to restore [[Page 39799]] and protect ecosystem health, water supplies of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project south-of-Delta, and water quality within a stable regulatory framework, consistent with statutory and contractual obligations. The RDEIR/SDEIS will also analyze the impacts for two additional new alternatives: Alternative 2D, which will consist of a water conveyance facility with five intakes, and Alternative 5A, which will consist of a water conveyance facility with one intake. Both of these alternatives will contain the habitat protection and restoration measures necessary to minimize or avoid project effects, and the previously described Conservation Measures listed above. In addition, the RDEIR/SDEIS will describe and analyze project modifications and refinement of the resource area analyses, alternatives, and actions. Reclamation will be the Federal lead agency and NMFS, USFWS, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, by virtue of their regulatory review requirements, will be cooperating agencies for the RDEIR/SDEIS. All other entities identified as Cooperating Agencies through prior agreements will retain their status for the RDEIR/SDEIS. Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1502.9(c)) do not require any additional scoping for a supplement to a Draft EIS, and the lead agencies are not proposing any scoping process for this RDEIR/SDEIS in addition to the scoping that has already been done for the EIR/EIS as described above. For further background information, see the December 13, 2013, Federal Register notice (78 FR 75939). Public Disclosure of Comments This notice is provided pursuant to NEPA. Reclamation is furnishing this notice to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to review and comment on this RDEIR/SDEIS. All comments received will become part of the public record for this action. Comments on the RDEIR/SDEIS should be submitted to the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments submitted to the above address will be reviewed and considered by all of the cooperating agencies. Next Steps Reclamation will compile and review all public comments on the RDEIR/SDEIS submitted to them prior to preparation of a final EIR/EIS. A decision by Reclamation on Central Valley Project operations consistent with the RDEIR/SDEIS will be made no sooner than 30 days after the publication of the final EIR/EIS. The decision will be documented with the completion of the Record of Decision. Special Accommodations The public meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Michelle Banonis, Bureau of Reclamation, (916) 930-5676 at least 5 working days prior to the meeting date. Dated: July 2, 2015. Willie R. Taylor, Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2015-16903 Filed 7-9-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4332-90-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 132 / Friday, July 10, 2015 / Notices 39797
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Isle The wolf-moose-vegetation food web emailed to interested parties and on the
Royale is an island archipelago in the is tightly coupled. Since the wolf NPS’s Planning, Environment and
northwestern portion of Lake Superior. population at Isle Royale is very low Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at
Organisms that live on islands have and local extirpation of wolves is http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ISRO. The
dynamic populations and are subject to possible in the near future (e.g. only one NPS will provide additional
immigration and extinction events. gender remains on the island; the pack opportunities for the public to offer
Local extirpation is natural and has been non-reproductive for three to written comments upon publication and
expected, as is establishment and re- five years; or there are no remaining release of the draft plan/EIS.
establishment of new populations. wolves), the moose population is likely If you wish to comment during the
Wolves were first documented on Isle to continue to increase, resulting in public comment period, you may use
Royale through identification of tracks impacts to vegetation and forest cover any one of several methods. The
in 1949–50 and by 1957 the island from moose herbivory. preferred method for submitting
supported an estimated 25 wolves. The A plan is needed to address comments is at the PEPC Web site
first systematic research on Isle Royale environmental impacts that could occur address given above. You may also mail
wolves was conducted in the 1950s and to the moose population and vegetation or hand-deliver your comments to the
has continued largely unabated. The from the potential extirpation of wolves. Superintendent or the Chief of Natural
research on the ‘‘Wolves of Isle Royale’’ The purpose of the plan is to provide Resources at the address given above.
is now world-renowned. Like many direction for managing the Isle Royale Written comments will also be accepted
mainland wolf populations, the island moose and wolf populations for at least during scheduled public meetings.
population has fluctuated widely over the next 20 years in light of the dynamic Comments will not be accepted by fax,
this time, though on Isle Royale they changes occurring on the island. email, or any other way than those
have always been protected and never In this context, we must determine specified above. Bulk comments in any
hunted or subjected to control efforts. allowable types of change. Specifically, format (hard copy or electronic)
Population variation on the island is we need to decide whether to intervene submitted on behalf of others will not be
with a declined or extirpated wolf accepted. Before including your
related to inherent dynamic wolf
population in order to perpetuate the address, phone number, email address,
ecology, island biogeography, and
role wolves play with regard to the or other personal identifying
presence of disease in the wolf
moose population through predation information in your comment, you
population. Wolves on Isle Royale have
and spatial distribution (wolf should be aware that your entire
recently declined and the primary cause
management actions); whether to comment—including your personal
is thought to be genetic inbreeding
directly intervene with an increased identifying information—may be made
leading to low productivity. With
moose population (moose management publicly available at any time. While
currently less than 10 individual wolves
actions); and whether to intervene to you can ask us in your comment to
on the island, scientists differ on what
manage vegetation to mitigate impacts withhold your personal identifying
will happen to the population in the from moose herbivory as temperate information from public review, we
short-term (25 years). Many believe that species replace the historical boreal cannot guarantee that we will be able to
their persistence is doubtful unless new forest (vegetation management actions). do so.
wolves emigrate or are introduced to the For each of these decisions, we must
island. Dated: February 13, 2015.
determine the type and extent of
The moose population on Isle Royale Patricia S. Trap,
intervention appropriate in a designated
(which arrived on the island in the early Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region.
wilderness given a changing climate.
1900s) has fluctuated dramatically (500 While specific alternatives have not yet This document was received at the Office
to several thousand) over the past been developed, options available of the Federal Register on Monday, July 06,
century. Moose have important effects include: (1) not actively managing 2015.
on island vegetation including forest moose, wolves, or vegetation; (2) [FR Doc. 2015–16851 Filed 7–9–15; 8:45 am]
cover and wolves are the only moose managing moose abundance and BILLING CODE 4310–MA–P
predator on the island. distribution; (3) managing wolf
The park lies within a temperate- abundance by supplementing the
boreal forest transition zone where current wolf population or introducing DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
temperate tree species are at or near wolves following extirpation; and (4)
their northern range limits and boreal Bureau of Reclamation
managing vegetation through the use of
trees are near their southern range fire, direct restoration, or other tools. [RR02800000, 15XR0687ND,
limits. Recent trends suggest the Interested individuals, organizations, RX.18527914.2050100]
beginning of a shift from boreal to and agencies are encouraged to provide
temperate vegetation. The relatively written comments regarding the scope Notice of Availability of the Bay Delta
short-lived boreal paper birch and of issues to be addressed in the EIS, Conservation Plan/California WaterFix
aspen, which established widely on alternative approaches to managing Partially Recirculated Draft
lands disturbed by European settlement wolves, moose, or vegetation on Isle Environmental Impact Report/
activities, are reaching the end of their Royale, and other concerns regarding Supplemental Draft Environmental
natural lifespans and rapid successional this conservation planning and Impact Statement and Announcement
changes in favor of more shade-tolerant environmental impact analysis process. of Public Meetings
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
tree species are underway. Successional Within the comment period, we intend AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation,
trends on the island indicate that recent to hold public scoping meetings on the Interior.
conditions favored temperate hardwood EIS in the vicinity of the park, including ACTION: Notice.
species, which expanded and replaced Houghton, Michigan. Specific dates,
boreal trees. Since moose favor some times and locations of the public SUMMARY: This notice announces the
boreal tree species such as balsam fir for scoping meetings will be made available availability of the Bay Delta
food, this succession may alter the via a press release to local media, a Conservation Plan/California WaterFix
available moose forage in the future. public scoping brochure to be mailed or Partially Recirculated Draft
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 132 / Friday, July 10, 2015 / Notices 39799
and protect ecosystem health, water considered by all of the cooperating public interest comments from the
supplies of the State Water Project and agencies. public only. Parties are to file public
Central Valley Project south-of-Delta, interest submissions pursuant to 19 CFR
Next Steps
and water quality within a stable 210.50(a)(4).
regulatory framework, consistent with Reclamation will compile and review FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
statutory and contractual obligations. all public comments on the RDEIR/ Lucy Grace D. Noyola, Office of the
The RDEIR/SDEIS will also analyze SDEIS submitted to them prior to General Counsel, U.S. International
the impacts for two additional new preparation of a final EIR/EIS. A Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
alternatives: Alternative 2D, which will decision by Reclamation on Central Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
consist of a water conveyance facility Valley Project operations consistent 205–3438. The public version of the
with five intakes, and Alternative 5A, with the RDEIR/SDEIS will be made no complaint can be accessed on the
which will consist of a water sooner than 30 days after the Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS)
conveyance facility with one intake. publication of the final EIR/EIS. The at http://edis.usitc.gov, and will be
Both of these alternatives will contain decision will be documented with the available for inspection during official
the habitat protection and restoration completion of the Record of Decision. business hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.)
measures necessary to minimize or Special Accommodations in the Office of the Secretary, U.S.
avoid project effects, and the previously International Trade Commission, 500 E
described Conservation Measures listed The public meetings are physically Street SW., Washington, DC 20436,
above. In addition, the RDEIR/SDEIS accessible to people with disabilities. telephone (202) 205–2000. General
will describe and analyze project Requests for sign language information concerning the Commission
modifications and refinement of the interpretation or other auxiliary aids may also be obtained by accessing its
resource area analyses, alternatives, and should be directed to Ms. Michelle Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov).
actions. Reclamation will be the Federal Banonis, Bureau of Reclamation, (916) The public record for this investigation
lead agency and NMFS, USFWS, and 930–5676 at least 5 working days prior may be viewed on EDIS at http://
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, by to the meeting date. edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired
virtue of their regulatory review Dated: July 2, 2015. persons are advised that information on
requirements, will be cooperating Willie R. Taylor, this matter can be obtained by
agencies for the RDEIR/SDEIS. All other Director, Office of Environmental Policy and contacting the Commission’s TDD
entities identified as Cooperating Compliance. terminal on (202) 205–1810.
Agencies through prior agreements will [FR Doc. 2015–16903 Filed 7–9–15; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
retain their status for the RDEIR/SDEIS. BILLING CODE 4332–90–P 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 provides
Council on Environmental Quality that if the Commission finds a violation
regulations for implementing NEPA (40 it shall exclude the articles concerned
CFR 1502.9(c)) do not require any INTERNATIONAL TRADE from the United States:
additional scoping for a supplement to COMMISSION unless, after considering the effect of such
a Draft EIS, and the lead agencies are exclusion upon the public health and
not proposing any scoping process for [Investigation No. 337–TA–921]
welfare, competitive conditions in the United
this RDEIR/SDEIS in addition to the States economy, the production of like or
Marine Sonar Imaging Devices,
scoping that has already been done for directly competitive articles in the United
Including Downscan and Sidescan States, and United States consumers, it finds
the EIR/EIS as described above.
Devices, Products Containing the that such articles should not be excluded
For further background information,
Same, and Components Thereof; from entry.
see the December 13, 2013, Federal
Notice of Request for Statements on
Register notice (78 FR 75939). 19 U.S.C. 1337(d)(1). A similar
the Public Interest
provision applies to cease and desist
Public Disclosure of Comments orders. 19 U.S.C. 1337(f)(1).
AGENCY: U.S. International Trade
This notice is provided pursuant to Commission. The Commission is interested in
NEPA. Reclamation is furnishing this ACTION: Notice. further development of the record on
notice to allow other agencies and the the public interest in this investigation.
public an opportunity to review and SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Accordingly, members of the public are
comment on this RDEIR/SDEIS. All the presiding administrative law judge invited to file submissions of no more
comments received will become part of has issued a final initial determination than five pages, inclusive of
the public record for this action. and recommended determination on attachments, concerning the public
Comments on the RDEIR/SDEIS should remedy and bonding in the above- interest in light of the administrative
be submitted to the address listed in the captioned investigation. The law judge’s recommended
ADDRESSES section of this document. Commission is soliciting comments on determination on remedy and bonding
Before including your address, phone public interest issues raised by the issued in this investigation on July 2,
number, email address, or other recommended relief, specifically a 2015. Comments should address
personal identifying information in your limited exclusion order against certain whether issuance of a limited exclusion
comment, you should be aware that marine sonar imaging devices, including order and cease and desist order in this
your entire comment—including your downscan and sidescan devices, investigation would affect the public
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
personal identifying information—may products containing the same, and health and welfare in the United States,
be made publicly available at any time. components thereof, imported by competitive conditions in the United
While you may ask us in your comment respondents Garmin International, Inc., States economy, the production of like
to withhold your personal identifying Garmin USA, Inc., each of Olathe, or directly competitive articles in the
information from public review, we Kansas, and Garmin (Asia) Corporation United States, or United States
cannot guarantee that we will be able to of New Taipei City, Taiwan, and a cease consumers.
do so. Comments submitted to the above and desist order against the domestic In particular, the Commission is
address will be reviewed and respondents. This notice is soliciting interested in comments that:
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Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:15:38
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:15:38
| 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 | Comments on the RDEIR/SDEIS must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on August 31, 2015. | |
| Contact | Ms. Michelle Banonis, Bureau of Reclamation, (916) 930-5676. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 39797 |
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