[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46518-46519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19021]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Draft Resource Management Plan/General Plan Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement/Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the San 
Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area, Merced County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation, as the National Environmental 
Policy Act Federal lead agency, and the California Department of Parks 
and Recreation (CDPR), as the California Environmental Quality Act 
State lead agency, have made available for public review and comment 
the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area Resource Management Plan/
General Plan (RMP/GP) Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Revised 
Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR). The Draft RMP/GP EIS/EIR 
describes and presents the environmental effects of the No Action/No 
Project Alternative and three Action Alternatives. A public meeting 
will be held to receive comments from individuals and organizations on 
the Draft RMP/GP EIS/EIR.

DATES: Submit written comments on the Draft RMP/GP EIS/EIR on or before 
October 2, 2012.
    A public meeting has been scheduled to receive oral or written 
comments regarding environmental effects. The meeting will be held from 
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on August 23, 2012, in Gustine, California.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the Draft RMP/GP EIS/EIR to Mr. 
Dave Woolley, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721, 
or by email to [email protected]. Written comments also may be 
submitted during the public meeting.
    The public meeting will be held at the San Luis Reservoir State 
Recreation Area Headquarters, 31426 Gonzaga Road, Gustine, CA 95322.
    Copies of the Draft RMP/GP EIS/EIR may be requested from Mr. Dave 
Woolley, by writing to: Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, 
CA 93721; by calling 559-487-5049 (TDD 559-487-5933); or by emailing 
[email protected]. The Draft EIS/EIR is also accessible from the 
following Web site: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=548. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section below for locations where copies of the Draft RMP/GP EIS/EIR 
are available for public review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dave Woolley, Bureau of 
Reclamation, at 559-487-5049 (TTY 1-800-735-2929) or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft RMP/GP EIS/EIR analyzes the 
direct, indirect, and cumulative effects to the physical, biological, 
and socioeconomic environment that may result from various resource 
management alternatives contained in the subject document.
    The purposes of the RMP/GP EIS/EIR include: (1) Identifying the 
current and most appropriate future uses of land and water resources 
within the RMP/GP 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.
    The RMP/GP was initially released with a Draft EIR in 2005 for 
compliance with California Environmental Quality Act. The RMP/GP is 
being reissued with a joint Draft EIS/Revised Draft EIR for the 
purposes of both National Environmental Policy Act and California 
Environmental Quality Act compliance.
    The RMP/GP area consists of over 27,000 acres owned by the Bureau 
of Reclamation (Reclamation) and includes the water surfaces of San 
Luis Reservoir, O'Neill Forebay, Los Banos Creek Reservoir, and 
adjacent recreation lands

[[Page 46519]]

within the vicinity of Los Banos, California. The general project 
location is south of State Route 152 between U.S. 101 and Interstate 5, 
approximately two hours southeast from San Francisco.
    The RMP/GP area is owned by Reclamation and was built as part of 
the water storage and delivery system of reservoirs, aqueducts, power 
plants, and pumping stations operated under the California State Water 
Project and Central Valley Project. Construction began on San Luis 
Reservoir in 1963 and was completed in 1967 with planned joint-use by 
the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project. The California 
Department of Parks and Recreation was given the responsibility to 
plan, design, construct, maintain, and operate the recreation areas 
surrounding the reservoirs.
    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 direction for establishing a new management agreement with 
the State of California.
    The Draft EIS/Revised Draft 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/
No Project Alternative (Alternative 1) would result in the continuation 
of current management practices. Action Alternative 2 (Limited New 
Access and Development) emphasizes resource protection and limited new 
development. Action Alternative 3 (Moderate New Access and Development) 
balances natural and cultural resource protection and recreation 
opportunities. Action Alternative 4 (Maximum New Access and 
Development) provides the most overall recreation facility development.
    The Draft RMP/GP 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 Department of the Interior policies.
    Copies of the Draft RMP/GP 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.
     Four Rivers Sector Office, 31426 Gonzaga Road, Gustine, CA 
95322
     Los Banos Library, 1312 South 7th Street, Los Banos, CA 
93635.
     California Department of Parks and Recreation, Northern 
Service Center, One Capitol Mall, Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95814.
     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 Meeting

    A brief presentation, including a project overview, will open the 
public meeting. 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 meeting, please 
contact Mr. Dave Woolley at 559-487-5049, (TTY 1-800-735-2929), or by 
emailing [email protected]. Please notify Mr. Woolley as far in advance 
as possible to enable Reclamation staff enough time to secure the 
needed services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be 
notified.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your address, phone number, email 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: May 17, 2012.
Pablo R. Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-19021 Filed 8-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P