[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 146 (Wednesday, July 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44811-44812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19307]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Sacramento River Water Reliability Study

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement/
environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) and notice of scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) 
propose to prepare a joint EIS/EIR for the Sacramento River Water 
Reliability Study (SRWRS). Reclamation is the Lead Federal Agency for 
NEPA and PCWA is Lead State Agency for CEQA. PCWA, Sacramento Suburban 
Water District (SSWD), and the cities of Roseville, and Sacramento are 
cost-sharing partners.

DATES: A series of public scoping meetings will be held to solicit 
public input on the alternatives, concerns, and issues to be addressed 
in the EIS/EIR as follows:
    [sbull] Monday, September 15, 2003, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sacramento, 
CA.
    [sbull] Monday, September 15, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sacramento, 
CA.
    [sbull] Wednesday, September 17, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Willows, 
CA.
    [sbull] Monday, September 22, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Yuba City, 
CA.
    [sbull] Tuesday, September 23, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Stockton, 
CA.
    [sbull] Wednesday, September 24, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Rocklin, 
CA.
    Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR may be mailed to 
Reclamation or PCWA at the addresses below by Monday, October 12, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
    [sbull] In Sacramento, Best Western Expo Inn, 1413 Howe Avenue, 
Expo Room.
    [sbull] In Willows, Memorial Hall, 525 West Sycamore.
    [sbull] In Yuba City, Sutter County Veterans Hall, 1425 Veterans 
Memorial Drive.
    [sbull] In Stockton, Radisson Hotel, Delta IV Room, 2323 Grand 
Canal Blvd., Stockton, CA 95207.
    [sbull] In Rocklin, Rocklin City Council Chambers, 3970 Rocklin 
Road, Rocklin, CA 95677.
    Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR should be sent to: Ms. 
Mona Jefferies-Soniea, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-700, 
Sacramento, CA 95825 or Mr. Steve Yaeger, c/o Ms. Darcy Granieri, 
Placer County Water Agency, P.O. Box 6570, Auburn, CA 95604-6570.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jefferies-Soniea at the above 
address, at 916-978-5068, or via fax at 916-978-5094 or e-mail at 
[email protected]; or Mr. Yaeger at the above address or at 
530-823-4962. Additional information is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/srwrs. If special assistance is required, please call 
Ms. Sammie Cervantes, Reclamation, at 915-978-5104, TDD 916-978-5608, 
or via e-mail at [email protected] no less than 5 working days 
prior to the meetings.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SRWRS cost-sharing partners have 
identified their long-term needs for additional water supplies to meet 
growing water supply demands and reliability objectives in their 
respective service areas. The goal of the SRWRS is to develop a water 
supply plan that is consistent with the Water Forum Agreement (April 
24, 2000) objectives of pursuing a Sacramento River diversion to meet 
water supply needs of the Placer-Sacramento region and promoting 
ecosystem preservation along the lower American River. The project 
location is the greater Sacramento metropolitan area, encompassing 
portions of southern Sutter County, northern Sacramento County, and 
western and southern Placer County.

Project Description

    To meet the water supply needs of the cost-sharing partners, the 
SRWRS will identify a package of water supply infrastructure 
components, including new or expanded diversion(s) from the Sacramento, 
Feather, or American Rivers, and new or expanded water treatment and 
pumping facilities, storage tanks, and major transmission and 
distribution pipelines.
    The SRWRS will include a feasibility study and an EIS/EIR for 
identified water supply alternatives as the basis for seeking necessary 
biological opinions and permits from the responsible resource agencies 
to allow execution of necessary agreements and construction of the 
recommended water supply infrastructure. Development of the SRWRS will 
be consistent with the following principles:
    [sbull] Satisfying requirements stipulated in Public Law 106-554, 
the congressional authorizing legislation for this study, to complete a 
feasibility study for a Sacramento River diversion that is consistent 
with the Water Forum Agreement and includes the following components: 
(1) Development of a range of reasonable options, (2) an environmental 
evaluation, and (3) consultation with Federal and state resource 
management agencies regarding potential impacts and mitigation 
measures. Furthermore, the Congress requires the SRWRS to be developed 
in coordination with CALFED.
    [sbull] Observing existing applicable laws, regulations, water 
rights, contracts and legal agreements, and Federal planning 
guidelines, including, but not limited to, NEPA, ``Economic and 
Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land 
Resources Implementation Studies,'' guidelines, CEQA, California Water 
Laws, obligations of the cost-sharing partners in their charters, and 
as defined in California laws.
    [sbull] Minimizing overall impact on the environment to the extent 
feasible, being cost-effective, and complementing and enhancing the 
overall reliability of the Placer-Sacramento region's water supply 
system through increased interconnectivity and source redundancy.
    The SRWRS plan will be consistent with the Water Forum Agreement in 
pursuing a Sacramento River diversion to accomplish the following 
objectives envisioned in the agreement: (1) Meeting the needs of 
planned future growth within the Placer-Sacramento region, (2) 
maintaining a reliable water supply while reducing diversions of 
surface water from the American River in future dry years to preserve 
the river ecosystem, and (3) enhancing groundwater conjunctive 
management to help sustain the quality and availability of groundwater 
for the future.

Project Alternatives

    The proposed project (Elkhorn Diversion alternative) encompasses 
constructing a joint diversion from the Sacramento River and treatment 
facilities to serve the cost-sharing partners. The diversion facility 
would consist of expanding the existing Elkhorn Diversion owned by the 
Natomas Mutual Water Company (NMWC) on the east bank of the Sacramento 
River, upstream of the mouth of the American River at approximately 
river mile 73.3, or constructing a new diversion near the existing 
Elkhorn Diversion. Water

[[Page 44812]]

treatment, storage, and pumping facilities would be located near the 
river. Also, a transmission line would connect to the west end of the 
existing Cooperative Transmission Pipeline/Northridge Transmission 
Pipeline in Antelope to serve SSWD, and an extension of that line would 
be built north to the service areas of Roseville and PCWA. A separate 
transmission line would extend south to connect to Sacramento's 
existing distribution system.
    The five alternatives currently under consideration in the SRWRS 
include the No Project/No Action Alternative and four additional 
alternatives. For these four alternatives, the partners may share 
facilities to a greater or lesser degree.
    [sbull] The No Project/No Action Alternative would include only 
currently approved and permitted surface water resources for the cost-
sharing partners. To meet projected water supply demands, the cost-
sharing partners would reallocate available surface water and 
groundwater resources between municipal and industrial (M&I) and 
agricultural uses (PCWA only), and among different wholesale and retail 
areas.
    [sbull] A Sankey Diversion alternative assumes that PCWA, SSWD, and 
Roseville would divert water from the Sacramento River near the 
confluence of the Sacramento River and the Natomas Cross Canal and 
build separate treatment, storage, and transmission facilities to meet 
their needs. This diversion would be located at or near the second 
diversion that NMWC is developing under its CALFED-supported diversion 
consolidation effort. Sacramento would use groundwater to meet 
projected unmet demand or would divert separately from the Sacramento 
River at the Elkhorn site, and construct its own treatment and 
transmission facilities to serve its needs.
    [sbull] A Feather River alternative assumes that PCWA, SSWD, and 
Roseville would divert water from the Feather River and build separate 
treatment, storage, and transmission facilities to meet their needs. 
Sacramento would use groundwater to meet projected unmet demand or 
would divert separately from the Sacramento River at the Elkhorn site, 
and construct its own treatment and transmission facilities to serve 
its needs.
    [sbull] An American River Pump Station alternative assumes that 
PCWA would expand its American River Pump Station near Auburn and 
construct new treatment and transmission facilities to serve its needs. 
SSWD would divert from the existing San Juan Water District (SJWD) 
diversion facilities at Folsom Dam. Roseville would increase use of 
groundwater to satisfy its needs in this alternative, but not have any 
additional surface water diversions. Sacramento would use groundwater 
to meet projected unmet demand or would divert separately from the 
Sacramento River at the Elkhorn site, and construct its own treatment 
and transmission facilities to serve its needs.
    [sbull] A Folsom Dam alternative assumes that PCWA and SSWD would 
use the existing or expanded diversion, treatment, and transmission 
facilities of SJWD at Folsom Dam. Roseville would increase use of 
groundwater to satisfy its needs in this alternative, but not have any 
additional surface water diversions. Sacramento would use groundwater 
to meet projected unmet demand or would divert separately from the 
Sacramento River at the Elkhorn site, and construct its own treatment 
and transmission facilities to serve its needs.

Changes in Entitlements

    Implementing a Sacramento River diversion for the cost-sharing 
partners would require a change in the point of diversion for PCWA's 
Central Valley Project contract and for Sacramento's Sacramento River 
water right permit, and an exchange agreement between PCWA and 
Reclamation for Roseville and SSWD diversions under their contract 
entitlements from PCWA's Middle Fork Project.

Water Delivery Quantities

    The additional water supplies considered in the SRWRS for each 
cost-sharing partner include: (1) Additional water supply of up to 
35,000 acre-feet for PCWA's M&I demand with a treatment capacity of 65 
million gallons per day (mgd), (2) additional water supply of up to 
29,000 acre-feet in Water Forum average, drier, and driest years for 
SSWD's M&I demand and groundwater stabilization program with a 
treatment capacity of 15 mgd, (3) additional water supply of up to 
7,100 acre-feet for Roseville's M&I demand with a treatment capacity of 
10 mgd, and (4) additional water supply of up to 58,000 acre-feet (see 
note below) with a water treatment capacity of 165 mgd for Sacramento's 
M&I demand.
    Note on Sacramento's additional diversion: The Water Forum 
Agreement does not establish a volumetric limitation for Sacramento's 
total diversion, and the estimated additional water supply to meet its 
projected demand is about 58,000 acre-feet, based on the difference 
between the demand and the projected average diversion for Sacramento 
that could be realized in 2020 level of development using then-existing 
diversion facilities on the American and Sacramento rivers. (The 2030 
level of statewide demand projection is currently under development by 
California Department of Water Resources.) However, Sacramento could 
divert up to 81,800 acre-feet under its water rights on the Sacramento 
River at the Elkhorn site by reducing the diversion under its 
Sacramento River water rights at its existing Sacramento River Water 
Treatment Plant downstream of the confluence with the American River.

Indian Trust Assets

    There are Indian Trust Assets located in Placer County, held in 
trust by the United States for the United Auburn Indian Community of 
the Auburn Rancheria. Direct association between these assets and the 
proposed action are unknown at this time. There are no assets located 
in the greater Sacramento metropolitan area, southern Sutter County, or 
northern Sacramento County.
    Written comments, including names and home addresses of 
respondents, will be made available for public review. Individual 
respondents may request that their home address be withheld from public 
disclosure, which will be honored to the extent allowable by law. There 
may be circumstances in which respondents' identity may also be 
withheld from public disclosure, as allowable by law. If you wish to 
have your name and/or address withheld, you must state this prominently 
at the beginning of your comment. All submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be 
made available for public disclosure in their entirety.

    Dated: July 2, 2003.
Robert Eckart,
Chief, Environmental Compliance Branch, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 03-19307 Filed 7-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P