[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23855-23856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11104]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[(CA-610-5101-01-B109) CACA-40467]


Cadiz Groundwater Storage and Dry-Year Supply Program Proposed 
Pipeline and California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment, San 
Bernardino County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, Needles 
Field Office.

ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), in cooperation with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern 
California (MWD) will conduct a public meeting to discuss and solicit 
public input concerning a proposed Cadiz Water Storage and Dry-Year 
Supply Program (Project) and a plan amendment to the California Desert 
Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan. The public meeting will be held on May 
10, 1999, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Needles City Council Chambers, 
1111 Bailey Avenue, Needles, California. A Notice of Intent to prepare 
a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report 
(EIS/EIR) for the proposed project on Federal and private lands in the 
Mojave Desert Region of San Bernardino County, California, was 
published March 1, 1999, in the Federal Register Vol. 64, No. 39, Page 
10011. The deadline to provide comments concerning the scope of 
analysis of the draft EIS/EIR is extended from March 31, 1999, to May 
24, 1999.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project proponents are MWD and Cadiz, 
Inc. (CI). The Project would consist of: (1) A proposed right-of-way 
for the construction and operation of a six-foot diameter pipeline from 
MWD's Iron Mountain Pumping Plant on the Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) 
to CI's property in the Cadiz/Fenner area, approximately 35 miles to 
the northeast; (2) pumping of CRA water supplies to the Cadiz/Fenner 
area including the possible need to modify a pump at the Iron Mountain 
Pumping Plant; (3) construction and operation of a series of spreading 
basins (approximately 200-300 acres) to recharge the groundwater 
aquifer via infiltration at the Cadiz/Fenner area, and (4) construction 
and operation of a well field for extraction of groundwater in the 
Cadiz/Fenner area. Three alternative Project configurations are 
currently being considered, along with the No Project alternative. An 
open aqueduct along a portion of the alignment in lieu of an 
underground pipeline may also be considered. The BLM will be asked to 
issue right-of-way permits for the construction of portions of the 
water conveyance facility and other facilities which are proposed to 
occupy Federal lands. All three alternative Project configurations 
involve lands currently managed by BLM.
    The proposed action will also include a proposed plan amendment to 
the California Desert Conservation Area Plan. The proposed project 
pipeline alignment alternatives are outside of established Planning 
Corridors and contingent corridors identified in the CDCA Plan. The 
CDCA Plan allows the designation of corridors which address certain 
types of utility facilities, including all pipelines with diameters 
greater than 12 inches and major aqueducts or canals for interbasin 
transfers of water. The CDCA Plan allows utility needs which do not 
conform to established corridors to be processed by means of a Plan 
Amendment in conjunction with necessary permit hearings required by 
other agencies.
    The proposed project begins near the MWD Iron Mountain Pumping 
Plant in southeast San Bernardino County. The proposed 35-mile pipeline 
alignment would be north to the Cadiz area. The aquifer system which 
underlies a portion of the Project area, located in the Cadiz and 
Fenner valleys (``Cadiz/Fenner area'') has been identified as a 
potential site for underground storage of Colorado River water. This 
water would be delivered to the Cadiz/Fenner area west of the Ship 
Mountains from the CRA by way of an underground pipeline or aqueduct. 
The stored Colorado River water would be subsequently withdrawn when 
needed and returned to the CRA via the pipeline or aqueduct to meet 
MWD's water supply needs. In addition, indigenous groundwater in the 
area of the stored water would also be pumped and transferred utilizing 
the

[[Page 23856]]

same facilities. The Project would have a term of 50 years and would 
then be reclaimed. MWD supplies supplemental imported water from the 
State Water Project and the Colorado River to its member agencies in 
Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura 
Counties.

DATES: Written comments are requested concerning the scope of the 
proposed project. Comments must be received on or before May 24, 1999. 
It is important that those interested in the management of the BLM 
properties within the Project area provide input at this time. A Notice 
of Availability will be published when the joint Draft EIS/EIR is 
available for public review.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments in writing to James Williams, 
Supervisory Realty Specialist, Bureau of Land Management, California 
Desert District, 6221 Box Springs Boulevard, Riverside. California, 
92507, (909) 697-5390.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Williams at the above address.

    Dated: April 27, 1999.
George Meckfessel,
Acting Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-11104 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-U