80 FR 54589 - Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Central Valley Project Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy, Central Valley, California
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 175 (September 10, 2015)
Bureau of Reclamation
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 175 (September 10, 2015)
| Page Range | 54589-54590 | |
| FR Document | 2015-22787 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 175 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 54589-54590] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-22787] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [RR02054000, 15XR0680A1, RX.02148943.3320900] Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Central Valley Project Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy, Central Valley, California AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Central Valley Project Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy. The Final EIS addresses updating the Central Valley Project Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy and implementation guidelines. The Central Valley Project Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy would be used by Reclamation to: (1) Define water shortage terms and conditions for applicable Central Valley Project water service contractors, as appropriate; (2) establish Central Valley Project water supply allocations that, together with the municipal and industrial water service contractors' drought water conservation measures and other water supplies, would assist the municipal and industrial water service contractors in their efforts to protect public health and safety during severe or continuing droughts; and (3) provide information to water service contractors for their use in water supply planning and development of drought contingency plans. DATES: The Bureau of Reclamation will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency releases the Final EIS. After the 30-day period, the Bureau of Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision. The Record of Decision 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 of the Final EIS to Mr. Tim Rust, Bureau of Reclamation, Resources Management Division, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, or via email to trust@usbr.gov. To request a compact disc of the Final EIS, please contact Mr. Tim Rust as indicated above, or call (916) 978-5516. The Final EIS may be viewed at the Bureau of Reclamation's Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp/mandi/index.html. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for locations where copies of the Final EIS are available for public review. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tim Rust, Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, via email at trust@usbr.gov, or at (916) 978-5516. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Central Valley Project is operated under Federal statutes authorizing the Central Valley Project, and by the terms and conditions of water rights acquired pursuant to California law. During any year, constraints may occur on the availability of Central Valley Project water for municipal and industrial water service contractors. The cause of the water shortage may be drought, unavoidable causes, or restricted operations resulting from legal and environmental obligations or mandates. Those legal and environmental obligations include, but are not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), and conditions imposed on Central Valley Project water rights by the California State Water Resources Control Board. The 2001 draft Central Valley Project Municipal & Industrial Water Shortage Policy, as modified by Alternative 1 B of the 2005 draft environmental assessment (EA), establishes the terms and conditions regarding the constraints on availability of water supply for the Central Valley Project municipal and industrial water service contracts. Allocation of Central Valley Project water supplies for any given water year is based upon forecasted reservoir inflows and Central Valley hydrologic conditions, amounts of storage in Central Valley Project reservoirs, regulatory requirements, and management of Section 3406(b)(2) resources and refuge water supplies in accordance with CVPIA. In some cases, municipal and industrial allocations in water shortage years may differ between Central Valley Project divisions due to regional Central Valley Project water supply availability, system capacity, or other operational constraints. The purpose of the update to the 2001 Central Valley Project Municipal & Industrial Water Shortage Policy, as modified by Alternative 1 B of the 2005 draft EA, is to provide detailed, clear, and objective guidelines for the distribution of Central Valley Project water supplies during water shortage conditions, thereby allowing Central Valley Project water users to know when, and by how much, water deliveries may be reduced in drought and other low water supply conditions. The increased level of clarity and understanding that will be provided by the update to the 2001 draft Central Valley Project Municipal & Industrial Water Shortage Policy is needed by water managers and the entities that receive Central Valley Project water to better plan for and manage available Central Valley Project water supplies, and to better integrate the use of Central Valley Project water with other available non-Central Valley Project water supplies. The update to the 2001 draft Central Valley Project Municipal & Industrial Water Shortage Policy is also needed to clarify certain terms and conditions with regard to its applicability and implementation. The proposed action is the adoption of an updated Central Valley Project Municipal & Industrial Water Shortage Policy and its implementation guidelines. The EIS analyzes five alternative actions. Alternative 1 is No Action, and represents the current 2001 draft Central Valley Project Municipal & Industrial Water Shortage Policy, as modified by Alternative 1 B of the 2005 EA, which [[Page 54590]] is currently guiding Reclamation's allocation of water to agricultural and municipal and industrial water service contractors during water shortage years. Alternative 2, Equal Agricultural and Municipal & Industrial Allocation, provides municipal and industrial and agricultural water service contractors with equal allocation percentages during water shortage conditions. Alternative 3, Full Municipal & Industrial Allocation Preference, provides municipal and industrial contractors with 100 percent of their contract allocation until Central Valley Project supplies are not available to meet those demands, while agricultural water service contractor deliveries are reduced as needed. Alternative 4, Updated Municipal & Industrial Water Shortage Policy [PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE], modifies Alternative 1 to provide a different definition of unconstrained years used in calculating historical use, and provides higher level of deliveries to municipal and industrial water service contractors by attempting to provide minimum unmet public health and safety demand without a guarantee. Alternative 5, Municipal & Industrial Contractor Suggested Water Shortage Policy, is similar to Alternative 4 but attempts to meet unmet public health and safety demands. A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on November 19, 2014 (79 FR 68912). Reclamation filed a Notice of Public Review and Comment Period Extension in the Federal Register on January 9, 2015 (80 FR 1431). The comment period for the Draft EIS ended on March 13, 2015. The Final EIS contains responses to all comments received and reflects comments and any additional information received during the review period. Copies of the Final EIS 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 Public Disclosure Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in any communication, you should be aware that your entire communication--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your communication to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Dated: July 1, 2015. Pablo R. Arroyave, Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region. [FR Doc. 2015-22787 Filed 9-9-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4332-90-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 175 / Thursday, September 10, 2015 / Notices 54589
information is useful; (ii) evaluate the shortage terms and conditions for the California State Water Resources
accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the applicable Central Valley Project water Control Board. The 2001 draft Central
burden of the proposed information service contractors, as appropriate; (2) Valley Project Municipal & Industrial
collection; (iii) enhance the quality, establish Central Valley Project water Water Shortage Policy, as modified by
usefulness, and clarity of the supply allocations that, together with Alternative 1 B of the 2005 draft
information to be collected; and (iv) the municipal and industrial water environmental assessment (EA),
minimize the burden on the service contractors’ drought water establishes the terms and conditions
respondents, including the use of conservation measures and other water regarding the constraints on availability
automated collection techniques or supplies, would assist the municipal of water supply for the Central Valley
other forms of information technology. and industrial water service contractors Project municipal and industrial water
It should be noted that as a result of the in their efforts to protect public health service contracts.
Commission reviewing its own records and safety during severe or continuing Allocation of Central Valley Project
that track the number of tribal and/or droughts; and (3) provide information to water supplies for any given water year
management contractor submissions water service contractors for their use in is based upon forecasted reservoir
and after surveying tribal gaming water supply planning and development inflows and Central Valley hydrologic
operators, TGRAs, and management of drought contingency plans. conditions, amounts of storage in
contractors regarding the Commission’s DATES: The Bureau of Reclamation will Central Valley Project reservoirs,
submission and recordkeeping not issue a final decision on the regulatory requirements, and
requirements, many of the previously proposal for a minimum of 30 days after management of Section 3406(b)(2)
published burden estimates have the date that the Environmental resources and refuge water supplies in
changed since the publication of the Protection Agency releases the Final accordance with CVPIA. In some cases,
Commission’s 60-day notice on June 5, EIS. After the 30-day period, the Bureau municipal and industrial allocations in
2015. If you wish to comment in of Reclamation will complete a Record water shortage years may differ between
response to this notice, you may send of Decision. The Record of Decision will Central Valley Project divisions due to
your comments to the office listed under state the action that will be regional Central Valley Project water
the ADDRESSES section of this notice by implemented and will discuss all factors supply availability, system capacity, or
October 13, 2015. leading to the decision. other operational constraints.
Comments submitted in response to The purpose of the update to the 2001
ADDRESSES: Send written
this second notice will be summarized Central Valley Project Municipal &
correspondence or requests for copies of
and become a matter of public record. Industrial Water Shortage Policy, as
the Final EIS to Mr. Tim Rust, Bureau
The NIGC will not request nor sponsor modified by Alternative 1 B of the 2005
of Reclamation, Resources Management
a collection of information, and you draft EA, is to provide detailed, clear,
Division, 2800 Cottage Way,
need not respond to such a request, if and objective guidelines for the
Sacramento, CA 95825, or via email to
there is no valid OMB Control Number. distribution of Central Valley Project
trust@usbr.gov. To request a compact
Dated: September 4, 2015. water supplies during water shortage
disc of the Final EIS, please contact Mr.
conditions, thereby allowing Central
Shannon O’Loughlin, Tim Rust as indicated above, or call
Valley Project water users to know
Chief of Staff. (916) 978–5516. when, and by how much, water
[FR Doc. 2015–22847 Filed 9–9–15; 8:45 am] The Final EIS may be viewed at the
deliveries may be reduced in drought
Bureau of Reclamation’s Web site at
BILLING CODE 7565–01–P and other low water supply conditions.
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp/mandi/ The increased level of clarity and
index.html. See the SUPPLEMENTARY understanding that will be provided by
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR INFORMATION section for locations where
the update to the 2001 draft Central
copies of the Final EIS are available for Valley Project Municipal & Industrial
Bureau of Reclamation public review. Water Shortage Policy is needed by
[RR02054000, 15XR0680A1, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. water managers and the entities that
RX.02148943.3320900] Tim Rust, Program Manager, Bureau of receive Central Valley Project water to
Reclamation, via email at trust@ better plan for and manage available
Notice of Availability for the Final usbr.gov, or at (916) 978–5516. Central Valley Project water supplies,
Environmental Impact Statement for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The and to better integrate the use of Central
the Central Valley Project Municipal Central Valley Project is operated under Valley Project water with other available
and Industrial Water Shortage Policy, Federal statutes authorizing the Central non-Central Valley Project water
Central Valley, California Valley Project, and by the terms and supplies. The update to the 2001 draft
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, conditions of water rights acquired Central Valley Project Municipal &
Interior. pursuant to California law. During any Industrial Water Shortage Policy is also
ACTION: Notice. year, constraints may occur on the needed to clarify certain terms and
availability of Central Valley Project conditions with regard to its
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation water for municipal and industrial applicability and implementation. The
has prepared a Final Environmental water service contractors. The cause of proposed action is the adoption of an
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Central the water shortage may be drought, updated Central Valley Project
Valley Project Municipal and Industrial unavoidable causes, or restricted Municipal & Industrial Water Shortage
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Water Shortage Policy. The Final EIS operations resulting from legal and Policy and its implementation
addresses updating the Central Valley environmental obligations or mandates. guidelines.
Project Municipal and Industrial Water Those legal and environmental The EIS analyzes five alternative
Shortage Policy and implementation obligations include, but are not limited actions. Alternative 1 is No Action, and
guidelines. The Central Valley Project to, the Endangered Species Act, the represents the current 2001 draft Central
Municipal and Industrial Water Central Valley Project Improvement Act Valley Project Municipal & Industrial
Shortage Policy would be used by (CVPIA), and conditions imposed on Water Shortage Policy, as modified by
Reclamation to: (1) Define water Central Valley Project water rights by Alternative 1 B of the 2005 EA, which
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![54590 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 175 / Thursday, September 10, 2015 / Notices
is currently guiding Reclamation’s your personal identifying information OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov, or via
allocation of water to agricultural and from public review, we cannot facsimile at (202) 395–5806. Also, send
municipal and industrial water service guarantee that we will be able to do so. a copy of your comments to John A.
contractors during water shortage years. Dated: July 1, 2015. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining
Alternative 2, Equal Agricultural and Pablo R. Arroyave,
Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951
Municipal & Industrial Allocation, Constitution Avenue NW., Room 203
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
provides municipal and industrial and SIB, Washington, DC 20240, or via email
agricultural water service contractors [FR Doc. 2015–22787 Filed 9–9–15; 8:45 am]
at jtrelease@osmre.gov.
with equal allocation percentages BILLING CODE 4332–90–P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
during water shortage conditions. For the proposed rule: Dennis G. Rice,
Alternative 3, Full Municipal & Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
Industrial Allocation Preference, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
and Enforcement, U.S. Department of
provides municipal and industrial Office of Surface Mining Reclamation the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue
contractors with 100 percent of their NW., Washington, DC 20240.
and Enforcement
contract allocation until Central Valley Telephone: 202–208–2829.
Project supplies are not available to [Docket ID: OSM–2010–0018; OSM–2010– For the draft environmental impact
meet those demands, while agricultural 0021; OSM–2015–0002 S1D1
statement: Robin T. Ferguson, Office of
water service contractor deliveries are SS08011000SX064A000156S180110;
S2D2SS08011000SX064A00015X501520] Surface Mining Reclamation and
reduced as needed. Alternative 4, Enforcement, U.S. Department of the
Updated Municipal & Industrial Water Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Stream Protection Rule
Shortage Policy [PREFERRED Washington, DC 20240. Telephone:
ALTERNATIVE], modifies Alternative 1 AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining 202–208–2802.
to provide a different definition of Reclamation and Enforcement, For the draft regulatory impact
unconstrained years used in calculating Department of the Interior. analysis: Mark Gehlhar, Office of
historical use, and provides higher level ACTION: Notice, extension of comment Surface Mining Reclamation and
of deliveries to municipal and industrial period. Enforcement, U.S. Department of the
water service contractors by attempting Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW.,
to provide minimum unmet public SUMMARY: We, the Office of Surface Washington, DC 20240. Telephone:
health and safety demand without a Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 202–208–2716.
guarantee. Alternative 5, Municipal & (OSMRE), are announcing extension of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Industrial Contractor Suggested Water the comment period on the proposed
Shortage Policy, is similar to Alternative On July 16, 2015, we announced that
stream protection rule and the draft
4 but attempts to meet unmet public the proposed rule, DEIS, and draft RIA
environmental impact statement (DEIS)
health and safety demands. were available for review at
and draft regulatory impact analysis
A Notice of Availability of the Draft www.regulations.gov, on our Web site
(RIA) prepared in connection with that
EIS was published in the Federal (www.osmre.gov), and at selected
rule.
Register on November 19, 2014 (79 FR OSMRE offices.
DATES: We will accept electronic or On July 17, 2015, we published a
68912). Reclamation filed a Notice of written comments on the proposed rule,
Public Review and Comment Period notice in the Federal Register
DEIS, and RIA that we receive on or announcing the availability of the DEIS
Extension in the Federal Register on
before October 26, 2015. for public review. See 80 FR 42535–
January 9, 2015 (80 FR 1431). The
comment period for the Draft EIS ended ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 42536. The notice reiterated that the
on March 13, 2015. The Final EIS by any of the following methods: DEIS was available for review at
contains responses to all comments Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov, www.osmre.gov,
received and reflects comments and any www.regulations.gov. The Docket ID for and the OSMRE offices listed in the
additional information received during the proposed rule is OSM–2010–0018, notice. The comment period for the
the review period. while the Docket ID for the draft DEIS was scheduled to close on
Copies of the Final EIS are available environmental impact statement is September 15, 2015.
for public review at the following OSM–2010–0021 and the docket ID for On July 27, 2015, we published the
locations: the draft regulatory impact analysis is proposed stream protection rule in the
1. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific OSM–2015–0002. Please follow the Federal Register. See 80 FR 44436–
Region, Regional Library, 2800 online instructions for submitting 44698. That document reiterated that
Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA comments. the proposed rule, DEIS, and draft RIA
95825 Mail/Hand-Delivery/Courier: Office of were available for review at
2. Natural Resources Library, U.S. Surface Mining Reclamation and www.regulations.gov, www.osmre.gov,
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Enforcement, Administrative Record, and the OSMRE offices listed in Part XII
Street NW., Main Interior Building, Room 252 SIB, 1951 Constitution of that document (80 FR 44580). The
Washington, DC 20240–0001 Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20240. comment period for the proposed rule
Please include the appropriate Docket and draft RIA was scheduled to close on
Public Disclosure ID: OSM–2010–0018 for the proposed September 25, 2015.
Before including your address, phone rule, OSM–2010–0021 for the draft In response to requests for additional
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
number, email address, or other environmental impact statement, or time to review and prepare comments
personal identifying information in any OSM–2015–0002 for the draft regulatory on all three documents, we are
communication, you should be aware impact analysis. extending the comment period for the
that your entire communication— If you wish to comment on the proposed rule, DEIS, and RIA through
including your personal identifying information collection aspects of this October 26, 2015. Please follow the
information—may be made publicly proposed rule, submit your comments to instructions for submission of
available at any time. While you can ask the Department of the Interior Desk comments in Part XII of the proposed
us in your communication to withhold Officer at OMB—OIRA, via email at rule. See 80 FR 44580 (Jul. 27, 2015).
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:04:13
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:04:13
| 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 | The Bureau of Reclamation will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency releases the Final EIS. After the 30-day period, the Bureau of Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision. The Record of Decision will state the action that will be implemented and will discuss all factors leading to the decision. | |
| Contact | Mr. Tim Rust, Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, via email at [email protected], or at (916) 978-5516. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 54589 |
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