[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 246 (Friday, December 22, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66554-66555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31027]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
[FES-95-40]
Cachuma Project Contract Renewal, Santa Barbara County, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability on the final environmental impact
statement/final environmental impact report.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969 (as amended) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),
the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Cachuma Project Authority
(Authority) and the Santa Barbara County Water Agency (Agency) have
prepared a joint final environmental impact statement/final
environmental impact report (FEIS/FEIR) for the Cachuma Project
contract renewal. The proposed action of the lead agencies is the
continuation of the member units' entitlement to water from the Cachuma
Project by means of a renewed water service contract. The proposed
action exercises the provisions of several Federal laws as applicable
to Reclamation.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS/FEIR are available for public inspection
and review at the following locations:
Bureau of Reclamation, Program Analysis Office, Room 7456,
1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240; telephone: (202) 208-4662.
Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67,
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225;
telephone: (303) 236-6963.
Bureau of Reclamation, Regional Director, Attention: MP-
152, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA 95825-1898; telephone: (916) 979-
5129.
Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area
Office, Attention: SCC-412, 2666 N. Grove Industrial Drive, Suite 106,
Fresno CA 93727-1551; telephone: (209) 487-5137.
Cachuma Project Authority, 3301 Laurel Canyon Road, Santa
Barbara CA 93105-2017; telephone: (805) 569-1391.
Santa Barbara County Water Agency, 123 E. Anapamu Street,
Santa Barbara CA 93101-2058; telephone: (805) 568-3542.
Libraries: Copies will also be available for inspection at public
libraries located in Carpinteria, Montecito, Santa Barbara, Goleta,
Solvang, Buellton, Vandenberg Village, Lompoc, and Santa Maria,
California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert May, Program Manager, SCC-
412, Bureau of Reclamation, 2666 N. Grove Industrial Drive, Suite 106,
Fresno CA 93727-1551; telephone: (209) 487-5137; or Mr. Chris
Dahlstrom, Project Coordinator, Cachuma Project Authority, 3301 Laurel
Canyon Road, Santa Barbara CA 93105-2017; telephone: (805) 569-1391; or
Mr. Robert Almy, Santa Barbara County Water Agency, 123 E. Anapamu
Street, Santa Barbara CA 93101-2058; telephone: (805) 568-3542.
[[Page 66555]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS/FEIR considers the effects of
renewing the Cachuma Project Contract under which water service has
been provided to the member units. The original Cachuma Project
Contract (No. I75r-1802) was executed on September 12, 1949, for
irrigation, and municipal and industrial purposes under the provisions
of section 9(c)(2) and 9(e) of the 1939 Reclamation Project Act. The
authority for contract renewal is pursuant to the Act of July 2, 1956,
70 Stat. 483, and the Act of June 21, 1963, 77 Stat. 68, requiring the
Secretary of the Department of the Interior, upon request, to renew
long-term contracts.
The Cachuma Project has been the principal water supply for the
majority of the member units since initial deliveries began in 1955.
These member units include the City of Santa Barbara, Goleta Water
District, Montecito Water District, Summerland Water District,
Carpinteria County Water District, and the Santa Ynez River Water
Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1. The original Cachuma
Project Contract had a term of 40 years and expired on May 14, 1995.
A Phase I Renewal Contract was executed on April 25, 1995, for
purposes of continuing the rights and obligations under the original
Contract until April 15, 1996, to allow the contract renewal
negotiation process to be completed. A proposed Cachuma Project Long-
Term Renewal Contract was made available to the public for a 60-day
review period beginning November 14, 1995.
The proposed Cachuma Project Long-term Renewal Contract is a water
service contract with a term of 25 years. It will be retroactively
effective to extend from May 15, 1995, through September 30, 2020, even
though the contract requires repayment of the remaining Cachuma Project
capital costs within 20 years.
The FEIS/FEIR evaluates several alternatives, including the no
action alternative, and also describes the existing environment and
environmental consequences of contract renewal. The FEIS/FEIR considers
the following issues: environmental improvement and restoration with
respect to biological resources, including fisheries, wildlife, and
riparian vegetation, surface water hydrology, groundwater hydrology,
flood control, water supply and demand, water pricing and delivery
practices, increased operational efficiency, increased conservation,
conjunctive use, water exchanges and transfers, recreational
enhancement and land use policies, agriculture, socioeconomic
conditions, cultural resources, and Indian Trust Assets.
The terms and conditions of the proposed Cachuma Long Term Renewal
Contract represents the lead agencies' preferred alternative. It
combines features of the original Contract with higher water rates and
a ``renewal fund'' that may be used for various environmental
restoration purposes. Relative to the ``no action'' alternative, there
are no significant environmental, socioeconomic, or agricultural
impacts under the proposed contract/preferred alternative, and current
operations of the Cachuma Project are unchanged. In addition, there
will be opportunities to restore riparian and other habitats along the
Santa Ynez River using the renewal fund. Therefore, no mitigation
measures are required for renewal of the Cachuma Project Contract.
The Santa Ynez Indian Reservation, the Southern California Area
Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Sacramento Area
Office of the BIA have been contacted by Reclamation regarding Indian
Trust Assets (ITAs) that may be affected by the proposed action. No
potentially affected ITAs have been identified by the BIA.
The Draft EIS/EIR (DEIS/DEIR) was issued November 16, 1994.
Responses to comments received from interested organizations and
individuals on the DEIS/DEIR are addressed in the FEIS/FEIR. No
decision will be made on the proposed action until 30 days after the
release of the FEIS/FEIR. 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.
Dated: December 8, 1995.
Franklin E. Dimick,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-31027 Filed 12-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P