[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72757-72758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24822]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Grassland Bypass Project Extension, Merced and Fresno Counties, 
CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

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

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the San Luis & 
Delta-Mendota Water Authority (Authority) are preparing a joint EIS/
EIR, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and the 
California Environmental Quality Act, to evaluate effects of extending 
the Grassland Bypass Project (Project) until December 31, 2019. The 
Project's use of the San Luis Drain (Drain) was only authorized until

[[Page 72758]]

December 31, 2009. Additionally, subsurface drainage flows discharged 
to Mud Slough (North) were to have met water quality objectives by 
October 1, 2010, as required by the Regional Water Quality Control 
Board, Central Valley Region's (CVRWQCB) 1998 Water Quality Control 
Plan (Basin Plan) for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River 
Basins. However, difficulty in acquiring final funding has delayed the 
development and availability of treatment and disposal technology to 
reduce selenium loads to meet the 2010 deadline. It is anticipated that 
the extension to 2019 would allow enough time to acquire funds and 
develop feasible treatment technology to meet Basin Plan objectives and 
Waste Discharge Requirements.
    A scoping meeting will be held to solicit input on alternatives, 
concerns, and issues to be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Written comments 
may also be sent.

DATES: A scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2008 
from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Los Banos, CA.
    Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR should be sent by 
January 25, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting location is the San Luis & Delta-Mendota 
Water Authority, Board Room, 842 Sixth Street, Suite 7, Los Banos, CA 
93635.
    Send written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR to Ms. Laura 
Myers, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 
1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721, via e-mail to [email protected], or 
faxed to 559-487-5130.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Laura Myers, 559-487-5179.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior to 1996 when the interim Project was 
implemented, subsurface agricultural drainage water was conveyed 
through channels that were also used to deliver water to wetland 
habitat areas. This dual use limited Reclamation's ability to deliver 
fresh water to the wetlands.
    The interim Project was implemented in November 1995 through an 
``Agreement for Use of the San Luis Drain'' (Use Agreement) (Agreement 
No. 6-07-20-w1319) between Reclamation and the Authority. A Finding of 
No Significant Impact (FONSI No. 96-1-MP) was approved by Reclamation 
for the interim Project, and the environmental commitments set forth in 
the FONSI were made an integral component of the initial Use Agreement. 
The Use Agreement and its renewal in 1999 allowed for use of the Drain 
for a 5-year period that concluded September 30, 2001.
    A new Use Agreement (Agreement No. 01-WC-20-2075) was completed on 
September 28, 2001, for the period through December 31, 2009. This 
original Project, as well as the proposed extension, consolidates 
subsurface drainage flows on a regional basis (from the 97,000-acre 
Grassland Drainage Area); applies the drainage to salt tolerant crops 
to reduce the volume; utilizes a 4-mile channel to place it into the 
Drain at a point near Russell Avenue (Milepost 105.72, Check 19); and 
utilizes a 28-mile segment of the San Luis Drain to convey the 
remaining drainage flows around wetland habitat areas which it 
discharges it to Mud Slough (North) and subsequently to the San Joaquin 
River.
    The actions to be analyzed in the EIS/EIR include continued use of 
the Grassland Bypass Channel and a 28-mile segment of the San Luis 
Drain, continued discharges to Mud Slough (North), sediment management 
options within that San Luis Drain segment; ongoing use and development 
of areas utilized for application of subsurface drainage on salt 
tolerant crops, and programmatic consideration of future phases of the 
treatment and disposal program. The Project extension also includes a 
monitoring program with biological, water quality, and sediment 
components. Results of the monitoring program are currently reviewed by 
an Oversight Committee quarterly, or as necessary, to implement the Use 
Agreement.
    In order to continue to discharge into Mud Slough (North) in the 
State's China Island Wildlife Area, the Authority would need to extend 
or amend a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department 
of Fish and Game, Reclamation would need to extend the Use Agreement 
with the Authority for the continued use of the San Luis Drain after 
2009, the CVRWQCB would need to revise their Basin Plan objectives for 
2010 and amend the existing Waste Discharge Requirements in order to 
allow for anticipated drainage discharge into Mud Slough North, and 
Reclamation and the Authority would need to remove existing and future 
sediments from the affected portion of the Drain.

Special Assistance for Public Scoping Meeting

    If special assistance is required at the scoping meetings, please 
contact Susan Mussett at 209-826-9696, or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. Please notify as far in advance of the 
meeting as possible to secure the needed services. If a request cannot 
be honored, the requestor will be notified. A telephone device for the 
hearing impaired (TDD) is available at 559-487-5933.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should 
be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: December 17, 2007.
Susan M. Fry,
Regional Environmental Officer, Mid-Pacific Region.
 [FR Doc. E7-24822 Filed 12-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P