[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 144 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43473-43474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17074]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Millerton Lake Resource Management Plan/General Plan (RMP/GP), 
Madera and Fresno Counties, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft Environmental Impact. 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and notice of public 
hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as the National 
Environmental Policy Act Federal lead agency, and the California 
Department of Parks & Recreation (CDPR), as the California 
Environmental Quality Act State lead agency, have made available for 
public review and comment the Millerton Lake draft EIS/EIR. The draft 
EIS/EIR describes and presents the environmental effects of the No-
Action Alternative and three (3) Action

[[Page 43474]]

Alternatives. A public hearing will be held to receive comments from 
individuals and organizations on the draft EIS/EIR.

DATES: Written comments on the draft EIS/EIR 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 hearing will be held from 
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 14, 2008 in Friant, CA.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the draft EIS/EIR to Mr. Robert 
Epperson, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721.
    The public hearing will be held at the Friant Learning Academy, 
17200 Burroughs, Friant, CA 93626.
    Copies of the draft EIS/EIR 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/EIR is also accessible from the 
following Web site: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/millerton/docs/index.html. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Section for locations where copies of the 
draft EIS/EIR 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/EIR documents the direct, 
indirect, and cumulative effects to the physical, biological, and 
socioeconomic environment that may result from various resource 
management alternatives at Millerton Lake.
    The Millerton Lake draft EIS/EIR evaluates the existing resource 
management of Millerton Lake. The project purpose consists of: (1) 
Identifying the current and most appropriate future uses of land and 
water resources within the Plan Area; (2) identifying the long-term 
resource programs and implementation guidelines to manage and develop 
recreation, natural, and cultural resources; and (3) developing 
strategies and approaches to protect and preserve the natural, 
recreational, aesthetic, and cultural resources.
    Millerton Lake is an existing reservoir formed by Friant Dam, and 
located in Fresno and Madera Counties, CA. The dam, which regulates the 
normal flow of the San Joaquin River and stores floodwaters for 
irrigation diversion into the Friant-Kern and Madera Canals, was 
completed in 1947. Millerton Lake has a storage capacity of 520,500 
acre-feet and a surface area of 4,900 acres. Through agreements with 
Reclamation and the California Department of Fish and Game, the CDPR 
manages the entire Plan Area.
    The most recent General Plan for the Plan Area was completed by 
CDPR in 1983, and projected recreation trends and deficiencies through 
1990. Since the adoption of this plan, several changes to the physical 
and regulatory environment have resulted in the need for an updated 
plan. The new joint Resource Management Plan/General Plan (RMP/GP) will 
have a planning horizon through the year 2035.
    The new plan will: (1) Enhance natural resources and recreational 
opportunities without interrupting reservoir operations; (2) provide 
recreational opportunities to meet the demands of a growing, diverse 
population; (3) ensure recreational diversity and quality; (4) protect 
natural, cultural, and recreational sources while providing resource 
education opportunities and stewardship; and (5) provide updated 
management for establishing a new management agreement with the State 
of California.
    The draft EIS/EIR outlines the formulation and evaluation of 
alternatives designed to address these issues through a representation 
of the varied interests at the Plan Area. The No Action Alternative 
would result in the continuation of current management practices. 
Action Alternative 1 (Recreation Expansion) emphasizes expanded 
recreation opportunities and includes additional campsites. Action 
Alternative 2 (Enhancement) balances natural and cultural resource 
protection and recreation opportunities. Action Alternative 3 (Resource 
Protection) emphasizes resource protection and limits some recreation 
opportunities.
    The draft EIS/EIR 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) and other 
applicable agency and U.S. Department of Interior policies.
    Copies of the draft EIS/EIR 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.
     Millerton Lake State Recreational Area, 5290 Millerton 
Road, Friant, CA 93626.
     Fresno County Public Library, Central Location, 2420 
Mariposa, Fresno, CA 93721.
     Madera County Public Library, Headquarters, 121 North G 
Street, Madera, CA 93637.
     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. E8-17074 Filed 7-24-08; 8:45 am]
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