[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 11364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6021]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Increasing the Storage Capacity of Gerber Reservoir, Klamath 
Project, OR

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 
proposes to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on 
increasing the storage capacity of Gerber Reservoir, Klamath Project, 
Oregon.
    Reclamation will develop several alternatives to increase the 
storage capacity of Gerber Reservoir while improving water quality, 
consistent with protecting fish and wildlife. This potential increase 
in water supply is needed to help meet the growing water needs in the 
Klamath River basin, to improve water quality, to facilitate the 
efforts of the State of Oregon to resolve water rights claims in the 
Upper Klamath River basin, including facilitation of Klamath tribal 
water rights claims, and to reduce conflicts over water between the 
Upper and Lower Klamath River basins.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gary Baker, Program Manager, 
Klamath Basin Area Office, 6600 Washburn Way, Klamath Falls, OR 97603; 
telephone (541) 883-6935.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

Background

    Reclamation is studying the feasibility of increasing the storage 
capacity of Gerber Reservoir, a feature of the Klamath Project. The 
Klamath Project is a Federal reclamation project in southern Oregon and 
northern California. Reclamation is undertaking this feasibility study 
under the authority of Section 2 of the Klamath Basin Water Supply 
Enhancement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-498) (hereafter referred to as the 
Enhancement Act). The Enhancement Act authorizes and directs the 
Secretary of the Interior to engage in feasibility studies of 
increasing the storage capacity and/or yield of Klamath Project 
facilities, including Gerber Reservoir.
    Reclamation's Technical Service Center engineers in Denver, 
Colorado, completed a preliminary evaluation in May 1999 to increase 
the height of Gerber Dam to raise the maximum surface level of the 
reservoir by up to 3 feet. Reclamation then initiated an appraisal 
study in October 2000. After the Enhancement Act was enacted, 
Reclamation discontinued the appraisal study and proceeded directly to 
a feasibility study. The feasibility study now underway will evaluate 
the May 1999 study in detail and will consider a range of increased 
surface levels for the reservoir to increase the storage capacity. 
Alternatives will be bounded by engineering, economic, and/or 
environmental considerations.

Public Scoping Process

    Scoping for this project began in June 2001 and continued into 
early fall. News releases and scoping information packets announced 
public open houses and invited public comments from individuals and 
groups throughout the Klamath Basin Project area. Later, other news 
releases and information packets cancelled the informal open houses and 
extended the date to provide written scoping comments. The extension 
would allow the written scoping comments to be included in a scoping 
summary. As a result of the comments received, Reclamation developed a 
report entitled, ``Scoping Summary, Feasibility Study of Increasing the 
Storage Capacity of Gerber Reservoir, Klamath Project, Oregon, January 
2002.'' (Summary). During the spring of 2002, Reclamation will solicit 
public review and comments on the Summary to ensure that significant 
issues have not been overlooked.

    Dated: February 25, 2002.
Frank Michny,
Environmental Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-6021 Filed 3-12-02; 8:45 am]
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