[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21341-21342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9428]


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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 Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR).

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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 (CEQA) State lead agency, have prepared a 
Final EIS/EIR for the Millerton Lake RMP/GP. The RMP/GP involves 
alternatives for future use of the project area for recreation and 
resource protection and management.
    A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR was published in the 
Federal Register on July 25, 2008 (73 FR 43473). The formal comment 
period on the Draft EIS/EIR ended on September 23, 2008. The Final EIS/
EIR contains responses to all comments received and reflects comments 
and any additional information received during the review period.

DATES: Reclamation will not make a decision on the proposed action 
until at least 30 days after release of the Final EIS/EIR. After the 
30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision 
(ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be

[[Page 21342]]

implemented and will discuss all factors leading to the decision.
    The California State Parks and Recreation Commission Hearing on the 
Final RMP/GP EIS/EIR will be held on May 12, 2010. A Notice of 
Determination will be filed after the Commission Hearing. This action 
will trigger a 30-day appeal period under CEQA.

ADDRESSES: Send requests for a compact disc copy of the Final EIS/EIR 
to Mr. Jack Collins, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 
93721.
    Copies of the Final RMP/EIS will be available at: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=546. See the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for locations where copies of the 
Final EIS/EIR are available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Collins, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., at (559) 349-4544 
(TDD (559) 487-5933) or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Millerton Lake Final 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 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 population 
with diverse interests; (3) ensure diversity of recreational 
opportunities and quality of the recreational experience; (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 Final EIS/EIR contains a program-level analysis of the 
potential impacts associated with adoption of the RMP/GP. The Final 
EIS/EIR outlines the formulation and evaluation of alternatives 
designed to address issues through a representation of the varied 
interests in the Plan Area and identifies Alternative 2 (Enhancement) 
as the preferred Alternative. The RMP/GP is intended to be 
predominately self-mitigating through implementation of management 
actions and strategies, but also includes mitigation measures to reduce 
potential adverse effects.
    The Final 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-31) and other 
applicable agency and the U.S. Department of the Interior policies.
    Copies of the Final EIS/EIR are available 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 Disclosure

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

    Dated: March 18, 2010.
Pablo R. Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Regional Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-9428 Filed 4-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P