[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3974-3975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1681]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Contra Costa Water District's Future Use and Operation of Contra 
Loma Reservoir Project, Contra Costa County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft environmental impact 
report/draft environmental impact statement (DEIR/DEIS). INT--DES 99-1.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the California Environmental Quality Act, the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) and Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) have prepared a 
joint DEIR/DEIS for CCWD's future use and operation of Contra Loma 
Reservoir Project. The proposed action is for CCWD to comply with a 
California State Department of Health Services order requiring either 
that recreational body contact activities in Contra Loma Reservoir 
(Reservoir) cease, or that CCWD stop using the reservoir for domestic 
water supply storage. CCWD's proposal would permanently stop body 
contact activities in the Reservoir in September 1999, and would 
construct a lagoon within the existing Reservoir to allow swimming and 
certain other activities. This project would enable CCWD to continue 
using the Reservoir for its historic domestic water supply purposes, 
including use for meeting peaking requirements and for system 
reliability during shutdowns and other emergencies. Action taken by 
Reclamation would allow CCWD to implement the proposal on lands owned 
by the United States at the reservoir. The DEIR/DEIS describes and 
presents the environmental effects of five alternatives, including two 
no-action alternatives. A public hearing will be held to receive 
comments from interested parties, organizations, and individuals on the 
environmental impacts of the proposal.

DATES: Submit written comments on the DEIR/DEIS on or before March 25, 
1999. Comments may be submitted to Reclamation or CCWD at the addresses 
provided below. The public hearing on the DEIR/DEIS will be held on 
February 18, 1999, at 7:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Antioch Senior 
Center, 415 W. Second Street in Antioch, California.
    Written comments on the DEIR/DEIS should be addressed to Ms. Fran 
Garland, Contra Costa Water District, 2300 Stanwell Drive, Suite A, 
Concord CA 94524, or to Mr. Bob Eckart at the Bureau of Reclamation, 
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.
    Copies of the DEIR/DEIS may be requested from Ms. Garland at the 
above address or by calling (925) 688-8312.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for locations where copies of 
the DEIR/DEIS are available for public inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bob Eckart, Bureau of Reclamation, 
at (916) 978-5051, or Ms. Fran Garland, Contra Costa Water District, at 
(925) 688-8312.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action includes the continued 
use of Contra Loma Reservoir

[[Page 3975]]

(Reservoir) as a drinking water supply and the construction of a 
separate swimming lagoon (lagoon) within the existing reservoir 
footprint. A concrete-covered earthen berm would physically separate 
the lagoon from the main portion of the 80-acre reservoir. Water in the 
lagoon would be pumped, filtered, and treated to appropriate water 
quality standards for recreation use. This project would allow existing 
drinking water and swimming uses to continue at the Reservoir.
    The action is proposed in response to an Order from the California 
State Department of Health Services requiring CCWD, as the water 
supplier, to either cease using the reservoir as a drinking water 
supply or eliminate body contact recreation activities occurring in it. 
The purpose of this action is to respond to the Order while allowing 
existing drinking water supply use to continue and maintaining the 
existing recreation activities at the Reservoir to the extent feasible. 
Recreation facilities at Contra Loma Reservoir are operated by the East 
Bay Regional Park District under an agreement with Reclamation.
    Action alternatives evaluated in the DEIR/DEIS include construction 
of a water treatment plant, and connecting to East Bay Municipal 
Utility District's Mokelumne Aqueduct. No-Action alternatives evaluated 
include: (1) Stop use of the Reservoir for drinking water and allow 
body contact to continue, and (2) Stop use of the Reservoir for body 
contact activities and continue use as a drinking water supply.
    Copies of the DEIR/DEIS are available for public inspection and 
review at the following locations:
     Contra Costa Water District at 2300 Stanwell Drive, Suite 
A in Concord, CA 94524; telephone: (925) 688-8312.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Program Analysis Office, Room 7456 
at 1849 C Street NW in Washington DC 20240; telephone: (202) 208-4662.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, 
Room 167 at the Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling in Denver, CO 
80225; telephone: (303) 445-2064.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Regional Director, Attention: MP-
140 at 2800 Cottage Way in Sacramento, CA 95825-1898; telephone: (916) 
978-5100.
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the Interior 
at 1849 C Street NW, Main Interior Building in Washington, DC 20240-
0001.
     Antioch Branch Library at 501 W-18th Street in Antioch, CA 
94509.
     Bay Point Branch Library at 205 Pacifica Avenue in 
Pittsburg, CA 94565.
     Pittsburg Branch Library at 80 Power Avenue in Pittsburg, 
CA 94565.
     Oakley Branch Library at 118 East Ruby in Oakley, CA 
94561.
     Concord Branch Library at 2900 Salvio in Concord, CA 
94519.
     Contra Costa County Public Library at 1750 Oak Park 
Boulevard in Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.

Hearing Process Information

    CCWD staff will make a brief presentation to describe the proposed 
project, its purpose and need, alternatives considered, and scenarios 
for construction and operation. The public may comment on environmental 
issues addressed in the DEIR/DEIS. If necessary due to large 
attendance, comments will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker. Written 
comments will also be accepted.

    Dated: January 13, 1999.
Michael Ryan,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 99-1681 Filed 1-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P