[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 51 (Thursday, March 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16279-16280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05381]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_CA_FRN_MO4500169857]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the 
Whitewater River Groundwater Replenishment Facility, Riverside County, 
CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared the 
Record of Decision (ROD) for the Whitewater River Groundwater 
Replenishment Facility located in the Palm Springs-South Coast Field 
Office. The ROD constitutes the decision of the BLM.

DATES: The Palm Springs-South Coast Field Manager signed the ROD on 
March 14, 2023. Issuance of the ROD initiates a 30-day appeal period 
ending April 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: The ROD is available via the internet at https://go.usa.gov/x6KsM. Copies of the Whitewater River Groundwater Replenishment 
Facility ROD are available at the Palm Springs South Coast Field Office 
at 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Appeals must be 
submitted to this address, in accordance with the regulations contained 
in 43 CFR part 4.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandon G. Anderson, Assistant 
District Manager, telephone: (760) 422-9120; email: [email protected]; 
address Bureau of Land Management, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm 
Springs, CA 92262. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, 
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 
(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. 
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services 
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) 
applied for a right-of-way (ROW) grant from the BLM for its existing 
groundwater replenishment facility in North Palm Springs that is 
partially located on public lands managed by the BLM. The BLM issued 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement on August 12, 2022. After 
careful consideration of the environmental impacts, the BLM selects 
Alternative 1: Proposed Action (Selected Alternative). Consistent with 
43 CFR 2801.10, this decision remains in effect pending appeal. The 
Selected Alternative would issue CVWD a ROW grant for existing water 
control berms, intake structures, conveyance structures, and 19 
infiltration ponds over approximately 690 acres of BLM-managed public 
lands. The facility also includes 1,480 acres of lands held by CVWD. 
The Selected Alternative increases water recharge volumes to 511,000-
acre feet per year of water, which represents the full annual capacity 
of the facility.
    This decision may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land Appeals 
(IBLA), Office of the Secretary, in accordance with the regulations 
contained in 43 CFR part 4. If an appeal is filed, your notice of 
appeal must be filed as noted in the ADDRESSES section within 30 days 
from receipt of this decision. The

[[Page 16280]]

appellant has the burden of showing that the decision appealed from is 
in error. Copies of the notice of appeal and any associated petition 
for a stay must also be submitted to each party named in this decision, 
to the IBLA, and to the Regional Solicitor, Pacific Southwest Region, 
U.S. Department of the Interior, 2800 Cottage Way, E-1712, Sacramento, 
CA 95825 (see 43 CFR 4.413) at the same time the original documents are 
filed with this office. If a statement of reasons for the appeal is not 
included with the notice, it must be filed with the Interior Board of 
Land Appeals, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 801 North Quincy St., Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203 within 
30 days after the notice of appeal is filed with the Authorized 
Officer.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6)

Karen E. Mouritsen,
BLM California State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-05381 Filed 3-15-23; 8:45 am]
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