[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 144 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43472-43473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17072]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Cachuma Lake Resource Management Plan (RMP), Santa Barbara
County, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) and notice of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as the National
Environmental Policy Act Federal lead agency, has made available for
public review and comment the Cachuma Lake draft EIS. The draft EIS
describes and presents the effects of the No-Action Alternative and two
(2) Action Alternatives on the development and management of the Plan
Area. A public hearing will be held to receive comments from
individuals and organizations on the draft EIS.
DATES: Written comments on the draft EIS will be accepted on or before
September 23, 2008.
A public hearing has been scheduled to receive oral or written
comments regarding environmental effects. The
[[Page 43473]]
hearing will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 26, 2008, in
Solvang, CA.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the draft EIS to Mr. Robert
Epperson, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721. The
public hearing will be held at the Veterans Memorial Hall, 1745 Mission
Drive, Solvang, CA 93463.
Copies of the draft EIS may be requested from Mr. Robert Epperson,
by writing to Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno CA 93721; by
calling 559-269-4518 (TDD 559-487-5933); or by e-mailing
[email protected]. The draft EIS is also accessible from the
following Web site: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cachuma/docs/index.html. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Section for locations where copies of the
draft EIS are available for public review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Epperson, Bureau of
Reclamation, at 559-269-4518 (TDD 559-487-5933) or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft EIS documents the direct,
indirect, and cumulative effects to the physical, biological, and
socioeconomic environment that may result from various resource
management alternatives at Cachuma Lake.
The Cachuma Lake draft EIS evaluates the existing resource
management of Cachuma Lake. The project purpose consists of: (1)
Protecting the water supply and water quality functions of Cachuma
Lake; (2) protecting and enhancing natural and cultural resources in
the Recreation Area, consistent with Federal law and Reclamation
policies; and (3) providing recreational opportunities and facilities
consistent with the original Cachuma Project purposes, and Reclamation
policies.
Cachuma Lake is an existing reservoir formed by Bradbury Dam, and
located in Santa Barbara County, California. The dam, which provides
irrigation, domestic, and municipal and industrial water supplies to
the City of Santa Barbara, Goleta Water District, Montecito Water
District, Carpinteria Valley Water District, and Santa Ynez River Water
Conservation District, was constructed in the 1950s. The Cachuma
Project has delivered an average of 25,000 acre-feet per year over the
past 45 years and encompasses approximately 9,250 acres. In 1956,
operation and maintenance of the Cachuma project was transferred from
Reclamation to the Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board. Reclamation
still retains ownership of all project facilities and is responsible
for the operation of the dam.
The new RMP will have a planning horizon of 20 years, which will
begin when a new agreement is reached between Reclamation and a local
managing partner. The new RMP would (1) Ensure timely delivery of high-
quality water to water users while enhancing natural resources and
recreational opportunities; (2) provide recreational opportunities to
meet the demands of a growing, diverse population; (3) ensure
recreational diversity and the quality of the experience; (4) protect
natural resources, while providing resource education opportunities and
stewardship; and (5) provide updated management for establishing a new
management agreement with a managing partner.
The draft EIS outlines the formulation and evaluation of
alternatives designed to address issues through a representation of the
varied interests at the Plan Area. Alternative 1 (No Action) would
continue current management practices. Alternative 2 (Enhanced
Recreation) would balance natural resource protection with recreational
opportunities. Alternative 3 (Expanded Recreation) would emphasize
expanded recreation opportunities.
The draft EIS has been developed within the authorities provided by
Congress through the Reclamation Recreation Management Act of 1992
(Pub. L. 102-575, Title 28, 16 U.S.C. 460L), Reclamation Act, Federal
Water Project Recreation Act, and other applicable Federal agency and
U.S. Department of the Interior policies.
Copies of the draft EIS are available for public review at the
following locations:
Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Regional
Library, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.
Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area
Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno CA 93721.
Cachuma Lake State Recreation Area, Highway 154, Santa
Barbara, CA 93105.
Santa Maria Public Library, 420 South Broadway Avenue,
Santa Maria, CA 93454.
Santa Barbara Public Library, Central Location, 40 East
Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67,
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225.
Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the
Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC
20240-0001.
Public Hearings
A brief presentation, including a project overview, will open the
public hearing. This will be followed by an open house during which
individual concerns and questions will be addressed through interaction
with the project team.
If special assistance is required at the public hearings, please
contact Mr. Robert Epperson at 559-269-4518, (TDD 559-487-5933) or by
e-mailing [email protected]. Please notify Mr. Epperson as far in
advance as possible to enable Reclamation to secure the needed
services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be
notified.
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: July 3, 2008.
John F. Davis,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. E8-17072 Filed 7-24-08; 8:45 am]
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