[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 44637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22388]



[[Page 44637]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Bay-Delta Advisory Council Meeting and Bay-Delta Advisory 
Council's Ecosystem Roundtable Meeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Bay-Delta Advisory Council (BDAC) will meet to discuss and 
advise the CALFED Bay-Delta Program on the implementation approach 
described in the document entitled ``Selecting a Draft Preferred 
Alternative.'' BDAC members will also be briefed on the current status 
of the CALFED conservation strategy. On the evening of September 10, 
BDAC members will participate in a public meeting sponsored by CALFED 
on issues of concern to residents of the Delta. In addition, BDAC 
members will be briefed on the Water Quality Program, and will hear 
highlights from the expert panel on bromides which will have met on 
September 8 and 9 in Sacramento. Finally, BDAC members will received a 
status report on the Ecosystem Restoration Program, and will consider 
the final fiscal year 1999 selections for the Restoration Coordination 
Program The Bay-Delta Advisory Council's (BDAC) Ecosystem Roundtable 
will meet to discuss several issues including: an implementation and 
tracking system update, status of the 1998 Proposal Solicitation 
Package, the development of other directed funding programs, the 
planning process for FY 99, water acquisition, funding coordination, 
and other issues. The meeting are open to the public. Interested 
persons may make oral statements to the BDAC and Ecosystem Roundtable 
or may file written statements for consideration.

DATES: The Bay-Delta Advisory Council meeting will be held from 9:00 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, 1998, and 8:30 a.m.-Noon 
on Friday, September 11, 1998. The BDAC Ecosystem Roundtable meeting 
will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, August 31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The Bay-Delta Advisory Council will meet at the Stockton 
Inn, 4219 Waterloo Road, Stockton, California, (209) 931-3131. The 
Ecosystem Roundtable will meet at the Resources Building, 1416 Ninth 
Street, Room 1131, Sacramento, CA 95814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For the Bay-Delta Advisory Council Meeting, Mary Selkirk, CALFED Bay-
Delta Program, at (916) 657-2666; for the Ecosystem Roundtable, Cindy 
Darling, CALFED Bay-Delta Program, at (916) 657-2666. If reasonable 
accommodation is needed due to a disability, please contact the Equal 
Employment Opportunity Office at (916) 653-6952 or TDD (916) 653-6934 
at least one week prior to the meeting.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin 
Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta system) is a critically important part of 
California's natural environment and economy. In recognition of the 
serious problems facing the region and the complex resource management 
decisions that must be made, the state of California and the Federal 
government are working together to stabilize, protect, restore, and 
enhance the Bay-Delta system. The State and Federal agencies will 
management and regulatory responsibilities in the Bay-Delta system are 
working together as CALFED to provide policy direction and oversight 
for the process.
    One area of Bay-Delta management includes the establishment of a 
joint State-Federal process to develop long-term solutions to problems 
in the Bay-Delta system related to fish and wildlife, water supply 
reliability, natural disasters, and water quality. The intent is to 
develop a comprehensive and balanced plan which addresses all of the 
resource problems. This effort, the CALFED Bay-Delta Program (Program), 
is being carried out under the policy direction of CALFED. The Program 
is exploring and developing a long-term solution for a cooperative 
planning process that will determine that most appropriate strategy and 
actions necessary to improve water quality, restore health to the Bay-
Delta ecosystem, provide for the variety of beneficial uses, and 
minimize Bay-Delta system vulnerability. A group of citizen advisors 
representing California's agricultural, environmental, urban, business, 
fishing, and other interests who have a stake in finding long term 
solutions for the problems affecting the Bay-Delta system has been 
chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) as Advisory 
Council BDAC to advise CALFED on the program mission, problems to be 
addressed, and objectives for the Program. BDAC provides a forum to 
help ensure public participation, and will review reports and other 
materials prepared by CALFED staff. BDAC has established a subcommittee 
called the Ecosystem Roundtable to provide input on annual workplans to 
implement ecosystem restoration projects and programs.
    Minutes of the meeting will be maintained by the Program, Suite 
1155, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, and will be available 
for public inspection during regular business hours, Monday through 
Friday within 30 days following the meeting.

    Dated: August 19, 1998.
Roger Patterson,
Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 98-22388 Filed 8-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M