[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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