[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 23842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09042]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[RR02030000, 20XR0680I1, RX.08637907.6000000]
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir Project, Stanislaus County, California
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Del Puerto Canyon
Reservoir Project. Reclamation is requesting public and agency comment
to identify significant issues or other alternatives to be addressed in
the EIS.
DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the EIS on or before May
29, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Provide written scoping comments, requests to be added to
the mailing list, or requests for other special assistance needs to Ms.
Allison Jacobson, Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Division of
Planning, 2800 Cottage Way CGB-700, Sacramento, CA 95825.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Allison Jacobson, Bureau of
Reclamation, Division of Planning, 2800 Cottage Way CGB-700,
Sacramento, CA 95825; telephone (916) 978-5075; facsimile (916-978-
5094); email [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) at 1-
800-877-8339 TTY/ASCII to contact the above individual during normal
business hours or to leave a message or question after hours. You will
receive a reply during normal business hours. Information on this
project may also be found at: https://www.delpuertocanyonreservoir.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation is issuing this notice pursuant
to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ)
regulations for implementing NEPA, 43 CFR parts 1500 through 1508; and
the Department of the Interior's NEPA regulations, 43 CFR part 46.
Background
Del Puerto Water District (DPWD), in partnership with the San
Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority (SJRECWA), proposes
to construct a reservoir located on Del Puerto Creek in the foothills
of the Coast Range Mountains west of Patterson, California and
Interstate 5. The Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir Project (Project) is a
State-led effort under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the
Nation Act (WIIN Act) Public Law 114-322, Sec. 4007. The proposed
reservoir would provide approximately 82,000 acre-feet (AF) of locally
owned off-stream storage south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The
purpose of the proposed Project is to develop additional South of Delta
water storage to maximize the management and efficient use of existing
water supplies in both DPWD and the SJRECWA service areas and to serve
environmental purposes, including water supply for wildlife refuges
designated under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act. Water
would be conveyed from the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC) to be stored in
the proposed reservoir and later discharged back into the DMC. The
proposed Project includes construction of a main dam, three saddle
dams, a spillway, inlet/outlet works, conveyance facilities (including
a diversion facility on the DMC, a pumping plant, underground pipeline
and energy dissipation facilities at the DMC outfall, along with
related appurtenant components), and electrical facilities (power
supply line and electrical substation). The proposed Project also
includes relocating existing and proposed utilities that run north-
south through the Project area and the relocation of Del Puerto Canyon
Road, which runs east-west through the Project area.
The Project sponsors developed an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act for the Project
and released that EIR for public review on December 12, 2019. The
review period ended January 27, 2020. Effects to many of the resources
discussed in the EIR were mitigated to less-than-significant levels,
though there were significant and unavoidable effects remaining after
mitigation. Reclamation's action would be to fund up to 25 percent of
total project costs pursuant to the WIIN Act, proportional to the
Federal benefits developed. Reclamation will use much of the analysis
and evaluate the alternatives presented in the EIR. Additional
information will be developed in the EIS with respect to several
resources, including energy use, traffic and transportation, air
quality, biological resources, cultural resources, and Central Valley
Project operations. Agencies and the public are encouraged to review
the EIR provided at https://www.delpuertocanyonreservoir.com, and
provide input regarding potentially significant issues to be addressed,
or to identify potential alternatives that would meet the purpose of
the Project.
Public Disclosure
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.
Richard Welsh,
Principal Deputy Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Interior
Region 10--California-Great Basin.
[FR Doc. 2020-09042 Filed 4-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4332-90-P