[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39315-39316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15659]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[N12-1852-7904-600-00-0-0-2, 2030000]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and Notice of Public Workshops and Hearings for the Shasta 
Lake Water Resources Investigation, Shasta and Tehama Counties, 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation has made available for public review 
and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the 
Shasta Lake Water Resources Investigation (SLWRI). The purpose of the 
proposed action is to improve operational flexibility of the 
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed system by modifying the existing 
Shasta Dam and Reservoir to meet specified objectives. Primary 
objectives are to increase the survival of anadromous fish populations 
in the upper Sacramento River and increase water supply and water 
supply reliability. Secondary planning objectives are to: conserve, 
restore, and enhance ecosystem resources in the primary study area; 
reduce flood damage along the Sacramento River; develop additional 
hydropower generation capabilities; maintain and increase recreation 
opportunities; and maintain or improve water quality conditions in the 
Sacramento River downstream from Shasta Dam and in the Sacramento-San 
Joaquin Delta.

DATES: Submit written comments on the DEIS on or before September 30, 
2013.
    Three public workshops and three public hearings will be held. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for workshop and hearing dates.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to Ms. Katrina Chow, Bureau of 
Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, or by email to 
[email protected]">bor-mpr-[email protected]. Written comments also may be submitted during 
the public hearings. Please see Supplementary Information section for 
workshop and hearing addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Katrina Chow, Reclamation Project 
Manager, at the above address, at 916-978-5067, TDD 916-978-5608; via 
fax at 916-978-5094; or by email to [email protected]">bor-mpr-[email protected]. Further 
information on the SLWRI can be found on the SLWRI Web site, at 
www.usbr.gov/mp/slwri.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Shasta Dam was completed in 1945 to serve 
multiple purposes, including flood control; water supply for 
agricultural, municipal and industrial, and environmental purposes; and 
hydropower generation. In addition, extensive recreational 
opportunities in and around Shasta Lake significantly contribute to the 
regional economy.
    Authorization for the investigation comes from Public Law (Pub. L.) 
96-375, 1980, directing the Secretary of the Interior to engage in 
feasibility studies related to enlarging Shasta Dam and Reservoir. 
Related legislation includes Title 34 of Public Law 102-575 (the 
Central Valley Project Improvement Act) and Public Law 108-361, the 
CALFED Bay-Delta Authorization Act. In addition, enlargement of Shasta 
Dam was identified in the CALFED Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Report/Statement and Record of Decision.
    In February 2012, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) released 
a Draft Feasibility Report and Preliminary DEIS for the SLWRI to inform 
the public, stakeholders, and decision makers about the results of the 
SLWRI at that time. The Draft Feasibility Report describes the water 
resources needs and opportunities, purpose of the proposed action, 
planning objectives and constraints, the plan formulation and 
evaluation process and criteria, and the potential effects, costs, and 
benefits of five action alternatives and the No Action Alternative.
    After release of the DEIS for public review and comment, the Final 
Feasibility Report and EIS will be prepared and processed together to 
support decision making for any related future recommendations, 
approvals, or authorizations that may result. The following planning 
objectives apply to the proposed action/project modification.

Planning Objectives

     Primary Planning Objectives. (1) increase the survival of 
anadromous fish populations in the Sacramento River, primarily upstream 
from the Red Bluff Diversion Dam, and (2) increase water supply and 
water supply reliability for agricultural, municipal and industrial, 
and environmental purposes to help meet future water demands, with a 
focus on enlarging Shasta Dam and Reservoir. Action alternatives were 
formulated to address these primary planning objectives.
     Secondary Planning Objectives. The following actions, 
operations, or features are included to the extent possible and 
consistent with the primary planning objectives: (1) Conserve, restore, 
and enhance ecosystem resources in the Shasta Lake area and along the 
upper Sacramento River, (2) reduce flood damage along the Sacramento 
River, (3) develop additional hydropower generation capabilities at 
Shasta Dam, (4) maintain and increase recreation opportunities at 
Shasta Lake, and (5) maintain or improve water quality conditions in 
the Sacramento River downstream from Shasta Dam and in the Sacramento-
San Joaquin Delta.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

    The DEIS documents a reasonable range of alternatives and evaluates 
the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of 
alternative plans. Evaluation of six alternatives is documented in the 
DEIS, including a No-Action Alternative and five action alternatives. 
The DEIS displays the potential project-related impacts, including the 
effects of project construction and operation on the following resource 
areas: geology, air quality, hydrology, water quality, noise, hazards 
and hazardous materials, important agricultural lands, fish, vegetation 
and wildlife, cultural resources, Indian Trust Assets, socioeconomics, 
land use, recreation, visual resources, traffic and circulation, 
utilities, public services, power and energy, environmental justice, 
and wild and scenic rivers.
    Potential project-related impacts include the construction-related 
effects of the dam enlargement, reservoir area relocations, and other 
alternative features; water operations-related effects within the 
reservoir area (e.g., including additional inundation areas); and 
associated effects to operations of other Central Valley Project and 
State Water Project facilities. Project operations may directly or 
indirectly affect the resources of the Sacramento River, its 
tributaries, the San Joaquin River, its tributaries, and the 
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The DEIS also evaluates potential growth-
inducing impacts for the Central Valley Project and State Water Project 
water service areas. Potential cumulative effects associated with 
reasonably foreseeable actions are also evaluated for each resource 
area.
    Copies of the DEIS are available for public review at the following 
locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, Regional Library, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, CA 95825
     Bureau of Reclamation, Northern California Area Office, 
16349 Shasta Dam Boulevard, Shasta Lake, CA 96019
     Natural Resources Library, Department of the Interior, 
1849 C Street

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NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 20240
     Shasta County Main Library, 1855 Shasta Street, Redding, 
CA 96001
    Copies of the DEIS are also available on-line via the SLWRI Web 
site, at: www.usbr.gov/mp/slwri.

Public Workshops and Hearings

    Reclamation will hold three public workshops to provide an overview 
of the project and allow public comment and discussion:
     Tuesday, July 16, 2013, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Holiday Inn Hotel, 
Palomino Room, 1900 Hilltop Drive, Redding, California 96002.
     Wednesday, July 17, 2013, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Cal Expo Quality 
Inn Hotel & Suites, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, California, 95825.
     Thursday, July 18, 2013, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Merced County 
Fairgrounds, Germino Building, 403 F Street, Los Banos, California, 
93635.
    Reclamation will also hold three public hearings to receive oral or 
written comments on the DEIS:
     Tuesday, September 10, 2013, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Holiday Inn 
Hotel, Palomino Room, 1900 Hilltop Drive, Redding, California 96002.
     Wednesday, September 11, 2013, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Cal Expo 
Quality Inn Hotel & Suites, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, California, 
95825.
     Thursday, September 12, 2013, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Merced 
County Fairgrounds, Germino Building, 403 F Street, Los Banos, 
California, 93635.

Special Assistance for Public Workshops and Hearings

    If special assistance is required to participate in the above 
public workshops and hearings, please contact Ms. Katrina Chow at 916-
978-5067, or by email at [email protected]; or Mr. Louis Moore at 916-978-
5106, or by email at [email protected]. Please notify Ms. Chow or Mr. 
Moore 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. A telephone device for the hearing impaired (TDD) is 
available at 916-978-5608.

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 30, 2013.
Pablo R. Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-15659 Filed 6-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P