[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12501-12502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6517]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report 
on the Draft Truckee River Operating Agreement

AGENCY: Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability for a draft environmental impact 
statement /draft environmental impact report; INT-DES-98-8.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as 
amended) and the California Environmental Quality Act, the Bureau of 
Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California 
Department of Water Resources have jointly prepared a draft 
environmental impact statement/environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) on 
the potential impacts of implementing a Truckee River Operating 
Agreement (TROA). Public Law 101-618 directs the Secretary of the 
Interior (Secretary) to negotiate an agreement for the operation of the 
Truckee River reservoirs with the

[[Page 12502]]

States of Nevada and California (States), after consultation with other 
parties designated by the Secretary or the States. In accordance with 
Public Law 101-618, the TROA cannot take effect unless it is signed by 
the United States, California, Nevada, Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian 
Tribe, and Sierra Pacific Power Company.
    The draft EIS/EIR evaluates the proposed action (TROA Alternative) 
and the No Action Alternative.

DATES: Written comments on the draft EIS/EIR should be submitted to the 
Bureau of Reclamation no later than May 29, 1998. A series of informal 
public information meetings will be held to present information about 
the draft agreement and accompanying draft EIS/EIR. There will also be 
formal public hearings on the environmental document. See the 
Supplementary Information section for public meeting and hearing dates.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the draft EIS/EIR should be addressed 
to: TROA Draft EIS/EIR Comments, Mr. David Overvold, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Lahontan Basin Area Office, PO Box 640, Carson City NV 
89702-0640. See Supplementary Information section for locations where 
the draft EIS/EIR may be inspected, and for public meeting and hearing 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Overvold, Bureau of 
Reclamation, PO Box 640, Carson City NV 89702-0640, telephone (702) 
882-3436; Mr. Chet Buchanan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4600 
Kietzke Lane, Reno NV 89502-5093, telephone (702) 784-5227; or Mr. Paul 
Dabbs, California Department of Water Resources, 3251 S Street, 
Sacramento CA 95816, telephone (916) 227-7564.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The TROA was negotiated to resolve conflicts 
over available waters and reservoir storage of Lake Tahoe and other 
public and private reservoirs in the Truckee River basin. If 
implemented, the TROA will modify operation of five Federal and two 
non-Federal reservoirs to facilitate distribution of water in the 
Truckee River basin and implement the congressional allocation of Lake 
Tahoe, Truckee River, and Carson River waters between the States of 
California and Nevada. The provisions of the TROA would also create 
opportunities for:
     Increased municipal and industrial drought water supplies 
in the Truckee River basin;
     Enhanced spawning flows for endangered and threatened 
Pyramid Lake fishes;
     Enhanced river habitat for local fish populations by 
increasing seasonal releases from Lake Tahoe, Prosser Creek Reservoir, 
Donner Lake, Independence Lake, and Stampede Reservoir;
     Increased recreational opportunities at upper Truckee 
River basin reservoirs; and
     Improved seasonal Truckee River water quality downstream 
from Reno, Nevada.
    All comments sent to the Bureau of Reclamation will be compiled for 
consideration by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California 
Department of Water Resources, as well as the Bureau of Reclamation.
    A copy of the comment document may be requested from the above 
address or via telephone by calling the Bureau of Reclamation at (702) 
882-3436 or the California Department of Water Resources at (916) 227-
7564.
    Copies of the draft EIS/EIR are available for inspection at the 
following locations:
     Office of the Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Room 
7612, 1849 C Street, Northwest, Washington DC
     Mid-Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 
Library Room W-1522, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA
     Lahontan Basin Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 705 
North Plaza Street, Carson City NV
     U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reno Fish and Wildlife 
Office, 4600 Kietzke Lane, Building C, Room 125, (after March 23, 1998, 
1340 Financial Boulevard) Reno NV
 Truckee Carson Coordination Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, 
Carson City NV
 California Department of Water Resources, Room D-17, 3251 S 
Street, Sacramento CA
 Town of Truckee Public Library, 10031 Levon, Truckee CA
 El Dorado County Public Library, 1000 Rufus Allen Boulevard, 
South Lake Tahoe CA
 Placer County Public Library, 740 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe 
City CA (Executive Summary only)
 Kings Beach Branch Library, 301 Secline, Kings Beach CA
 Nevada State Library, 100 South Stewart Street, Carson City NV
 University of Nevada, Business and Government Information 
Center Library, 1664 North Virginia, Reno NV
 Washoe County Library, 301 South Center, Reno NV
 Lyon County Library, 20 Nevin Way, Yerrington NV
 Churchill County Library, 553 South Maine Street, Fallon NV

Public Meetings

    A series of public meetings will be held to present information 
about the draft agreement and accompanying draft EIS/EIR. Dates and 
locations follow.
    Dates and locations for public meetings:

 March 16, 1998, 7-9 p.m., Heavenly Ski Resort, California Base 
Lodge, Freel Peak Room, 3860 Saddle Road, South Lake Tahoe CA
 March 17, 1998, 7-9 p.m., Tahoe City Public Utilities District 
Board Room, 221 Fairway Drive, Tahoe City CA
 March 18, 1998, 7-9 p.m., Pyramid Lake Tribal Council 
Chambers, 210 Capitol Hill, Nixon NV
 March 19, 1998, 7-9 p.m., Sparks City Council Chambers, 431 
Prader Way, Sparks NV
 March 23, 1998, 7-9 p.m., Fernley Town Complex, 595 Silver 
Lace, Fernley NV
 March 24, 1998, 7-9 p.m., Truckee-Donner Public Utilities 
District Board Room, 11571 Donner Pass Road, Truckee CA
 March 25, 1998, 7-9 p.m., Fallon Convention Center, 160 Campus 
Parkway, Fallon NV

Public Hearings

    Formal public hearings on the environmental document are scheduled 
for the locations and dates listed below. Organizations and individuals 
may present oral or written comments at the public hearings by signing 
up when arriving at the hearing.
    Dates and locations for public hearings:

 May 11, 1998, 6--9 p.m., Truckee--Donner Public Utilities 
District Board Room, 11571 Donner Pass Road, Truckee CA
 May 13, 1998, 6--9 p.m., Pyramid Lake Tribal Council Chambers, 
210 Capitol Hill, Nixon NV
 May 14, 1998, 6--9 p.m., Fernley Town Complex, 595 Silver 
Lace, Fernley NV
 May 15, 1998, 6--9 p.m., Sparks City Council Chambers, 431 
Prader Way, Sparks NV

    Dated: March 5, 1998.
Willie R. Taylor,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-6517 Filed 3-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P