[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22530-22531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09085]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[14XR5173F7, RX120560500000004, RR02142500]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Notice of Scoping Meeting for 
the Proposed North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of 
Reclamation, and the Del Puerto Water District, propose to prepare a 
draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/
EIR) for the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program. The North 
Valley Regional Recycled Water Program would provide recycled water 
from the Cities of Turlock and Modesto via the Central Valley Project's 
Delta-Mendota Canal to the Del Puerto Water District for irrigation 
purposes, and could further provide annual Incremental Level 4 water to 
south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Central Valley Project 
Improvement Act designated wildlife refuges for wetlands.

DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the draft EIS/EIR by May 
28, 2014.
    A public scoping meeting will be held on May 13, 2014, 3:00-7:00 
p.m., in Modesto, California.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the draft EIS/EIR should be 
sent to Mr. Benjamin Lawrence, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, 
SCC-412, Fresno, California 93721, or via email to [email protected].
    The public scoping meeting will be held at the Modesto City Hall, 
1010 10th Street, Modesto, CA 95354.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Benjamin Lawrence, Natural 
Resources Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation at the above address, via 
email at [email protected], or at 559-487-5039. Information about the 
project is also available on the project Web site: http://www.nvr-recycledwater.org/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Del Puerto Water District (DPWD) and the 
Cities of Turlock and Modesto (Cities) (Partner Agencies) propose to 
implement a regional solution to address water supply shortages within 
DPWD's service area on the west side of the San Joaquin River in San 
Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties, south of the Sacramento-San 
Joaquin River Delta (Delta). Specifically, the project proposes to 
deliver 59,000 acre feet per year of recycled water produced by the 
Cities via the Delta-Mendota Canal. Recycled water would be conveyed 
from Modesto and Turlock through pipelines from their wastewater 
treatment facilities, crossing the San Joaquin River, and ending at the 
Delta-Mendota Canal. The recycled water would then be conveyed directly 
to DPWD customers or to San Luis Reservoir for storage during low water 
demand periods. In addition to uses within DPWD's service area, this 
project also proposes to provide water to Central Valley Project 
Improvement Act (CVPIA)-designated Refuges located south of the Delta 
to meet their need for water supply. This draft EIS/EIR assesses the 
environmental effects of the North Valley Regional Recycled Water 
Program (or Proposed Action).
    The objective of the Proposed Action is to maximize use of a 
sustainable, alternative water supply for the region that addresses 
reductions in water supplies from the Central Valley Project (CVP) and 
offsets pressure on groundwater use. Specifically, the objectives of 
the project are as follows:
     Establish an alternative, reliable, long-term water supply 
of 59,000 acre feet per year of recycled water for DPWD;
     Maximize the beneficial use of recycled water to DPWD 
customers and south of Delta CVPIA wildlife refuges;
     Maximize Project Partners' control of operations and 
delivery of water;
     Maximize use of existing facilities for treatment/delivery 
of recycled water;
     Acquire a long-term reliable Incremental Level 4 water 
supply, as defined in CVPIA Section 3406(d)(2), for south of Delta 
CVPIA wildlife refuges;
     Avoid or minimize, through incorporation of design 
constraints and management practices, impacts to environmental 
resources such as surface water, groundwater levels, land subsidence, 
groundwater quality and biological resources including sensitive 
species;
     Deliver agricultural water to DPWD at a cost that supports 
regional economic sustainability.

Purpose and Need

    One of the authorized purposes of CVP is to provide water for 
irrigation and domestic use within California's Central Valley. In 
recent years, south of the Delta CVP contractors and CVPIA wildlife 
refuges have experienced a reduction in CVP water allocations from 
historical amounts due to drought conditions and Delta pumping 
restrictions. As a CVP contractor, DPWD has a need to establish 
alternative, reliable long-term agricultural water supplies to offset 
this reduction in supply. Also CVPIA Section 3406(d)(2) directs the 
Bureau of Reclamation to acquire and provide Incremental Level 4 water 
to all CVPIA designated wildlife refuges in the Central Valley. The 
purpose of making the Cities' recycled water available to DPWD is to 
provide an additional source of water south of the Delta, which can be 
used to meet both agricultural and Refuge wildlife needs.

Environmental Issues and Resources To Be Examined

    The draft EIS/EIR will include analysis and disclosure of the 
effects on the quality of the human and physical environment that may 
occur as a result of implementation of the project. Issues to be 
addressed may include, but are not limited to, impacts on biological 
resources, hydrology, water quality, historic and archaeological 
resources, air quality, noise, traffic, safety, hazardous materials and 
waste, visual resources, socioeconomics, and environmental justice.

Special Assistance for Public Meetings

    If special assistance is required to participate in the scoping 
meeting, please contact Mr. Benjamin Lawrence at 559-487-5039, or via 
email at [email protected]. A telephone device for the hearing 
impaired (TTY) is available at 800-735-2929.

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.


[[Page 22531]]


    Dated: March 11, 2014.
Anastasia T. Leigh,
Regional Environmental Officer, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-09085 Filed 4-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P