[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43862-43863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15013]



[[Page 43862]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project, Tehama and 
Shasta Counties, CA

AGENCIES: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior; Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and Public Resources Code, sections 21000-
21177 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation), the lead Federal agency; the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC), a cooperating Federal agency; and the 
California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), the 
lead State agency; have prepared a joint Final Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Final EIS/EIR) for the Battle 
Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project (Restoration Project). 
The Restoration Project proposed action considered by the lead agencies 
is the five-dam removal alternative that includes the decommissioning 
and removal of five small hydropower diversion dams, construction of 
new fish screens at the intakes and fish ladders at three other dams, 
and the modification of several hydropower facilities to ensure 
continued hydropower operations. This action will require a FERC 
license amendment of the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project, owned and 
operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

DATES: No decision will be made on the proposed action until 30 days 
after the release of the Final EIS/EIR. After the 30-day waiting 
period, Reclamation and the State Water Board will complete their 
respective Record of Decision (ROD) and CEQA Findings. The ROD and CEQA 
Findings will identify the recommended action to be implemented 
including any measures found necessary to avoid, reduce or mitigate any 
significant adverse project effects to less than significant. FERC will 
then make its own independent decision regarding the proposed Battle 
Creek Hydroelectric Project license amendment and any measures it may 
find necessary to avoid, reduce or mitigate any significant adverse 
project effects.

ADDRESSES: Requests for a compact disk or a bound copy of the Final 
EIS/EIR should be addressed to Ms. Rosemary Stefani, Bureau of 
Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, telephone: (916) 
978-5309, TDD (916) 978-5608, or e-mail: [email protected]. The 
final EIS/EIR is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/battlecreek/documents.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Marshall, Bureau of 
Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, telephone: (916) 
978-5248, TDD (916) 978-5608, e-mail: [email protected]; or Mr. Jim 
Canaday, California State Water Resources Control Board, 1001 I Street, 
Sacramento, CA 95814, telephone: (916) 341-5308, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Restoration Project is to 
restore approximately 48 miles of salmonid habitat in Battle Creek and 
its tributaries and to facilitate the safe passage for, and the growth 
and recovery of, naturally-produced anadromous fish populations, 
including three federally-listed runs: the Central Valley spring-run 
chinook salmon, the Central Valley steelhead trout, and the Sacramento 
River winter-run chinook salmon. The Restoration Project's proposed 
action (five-dam removal alternative) stems from the 1999 Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) to pursue a restoration project for Battle Creek 
that modifies both Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project facilities and 
water management operations, while at the same time minimizing loss of 
renewable energy produced. The MOU is signed by Reclamation, the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, the 
California Department of Fish and Game, and PG&E.
    The Restoration Project Final EIS/EIR discusses the project purpose 
and need, project description, project background, and related 
projects. The Final EIS/EIR evaluates a ``No Action'' alternative and 
several action alternatives, which consist of various combinations of 
dam decommissioning and removals, fish screen/fish ladder improvements, 
and increased in-stream flows, and also describes the affected 
environment and environmental consequences of the Restoration Project 
alternatives. The proposed action (five-dam removal alternative) 
combines the decommissioning and removal of five small hydropower 
diversion dams and construction of new fish screens/ladders on another 
three dams, with modification of several hydropower facilities to 
ensure continued hydropower operations. The Final EIS/EIR addresses the 
impacts of project construction and operation on fisheries; botanical, 
wetland and wildlife resources; hydrology; water quality; groundwater; 
land use; geology and soils; aesthetics and visual resources; 
transportation; noise; air quality; public health and safety; public 
services and utilities; recreation; cultural resources; power 
generation and economics; socioeconomics; environmental justice; and 
Indian trust assets.
    The Notice of Availability of the original joint Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIS/
EIR), notice of public workshop, and notice of public hearing was 
published in the Federal Register on July 18, 2003. Two public 
information workshops and a public hearing were held on July 23 and 
August 12, and August 27, 2003, respectively; all meetings occurred in 
Manton, CA. A Draft Supplemental EIS/Revised EIR (Draft SEIS/REIR) was 
released on March 1, 2005 for a 60-day public review and comment 
period. Responses to all comments received from interested 
organizations and individuals on the Draft EIS/EIR and the Draft SEIS/
REIR during the public review periods and at the public hearing are 
addressed in the Final EIS/EIR.
    Copies of the Final EIS/EIR are available at the following 
locations:
     Tehama County Library, 645 Madison, Red Bluff, CA 96080, 
(530) 527-0604
     Shasta County Library, 1855 Shasta Street, Redding, CA 
96001, (530) 225-5769
     Susanville Library, Lassen County, 1618 Main Street, 
Susanville, CA 96130, (530) 251-8127
     Bureau of Reclamation, Red Bluff Field Office, 22500 
Altube Avenue, Red Bluff, CA 96080, (530) 529-3890
     Bureau of Reclamation, Office of Public Affairs, 2800 
Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825-1898, (916) 978-5100
     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, 
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225, 
(303) 445-2072
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 
20240-0001
     California State Water Resources Control Board, Division 
of Water Rights, 1001 I Street, 14th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 
341-5300


[[Page 43863]]


    Dated: May 19, 2005.
Kirk C. Rodgers,
Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
    Dated: May 16, 2005.
Joseph D. Morgan,
Director, Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission.
[FR Doc. 05-15013 Filed 7-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P