[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35524-35525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17236]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency's Water Supply Project,
Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, California
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact
statement and notice of scoping meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to
prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Pajaro Valley
Water Management Agency's (PVWMA) Water Supply Project. The PVWMA's
Water Supply Project involves the use of diverse imported water
supplies, including Central Valley Project (CVP) water supplies, within
the PVWMA's service area (along the Central California Coast) for
agricultural irrigation purposes and for the management of seawater
intrusion into the Pajaro Valley groundwater basin. The action also
includes the use of San Felipe Project facilities for the conveyance of
imported water supplies to proposed PVWMA facilities and physical
connection of an imported water supply to the San Felipe Project.
Analysis of the use of imported water suppliers will be programmatic
and will include water from diverse sources such as: State water
project transfer, water rights purchase, and CVP transfer, contract, or
contract assignment and purchase. This action will be evaluated in
accordance with the legislative requirements of the Central Valley
Project Improvement Act, the Warren Act, NEPA, and other relevant
regulations. PVWMA is also preparing two environmental impact reports
(EIR's) on the project, pursuant to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA).
DATES: Scoping meetings are proposed for the project. However, the
schedule and location for these meetings have not as yet been
determined. There will be ample notice given in the local papers of the
times and locations of all scoping meetings.
[[Page 35525]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steve Edmondson, Bureau of
Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 2666 N. Grove
Industrial Drive, Suite 106, Fresno, CA 93727; telephone (209) 487-
5049.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PVWMA has identified and evaluated
several water supply alternatives to meet its future water supply needs
and manage seawater intrusion into the Pajaro Valley groundwater basin.
These alternatives were evaluated in the Final Program Environmental
Impact Report for the Basin Management Plan, under CEQA, State Clearing
House No. 9302-3035, and certified in 1993. The findings and
recommendations of this document will be incorporated by reference in
preparation of site-specific analysis of the Water Supply Project
components. The alternatives to be considered for this DEIS include:
A long-term water supply contract for CVP water.
The purchase and assignment of long-term CVP water supply
contracts from willing sellers.
Transfer of CVP water supply to PVWMA.
The acquisition of imported water supplies from non-CVP
sources sources possibly including the California State Water Project
and purchase of water rights south of the Delta.
No Action.
The alternatives to be considered at a site-specific level include:
Use of San Felipe Project for conveyance of imported
supplies and No Action.
Physical connection of the proposed imported water supply
pipeline to the San Felipe Project and No Action.
The imported water supply component of the water supply project
will allow PVWMA to meet its projected annual water supply needs from
various imported and local sources, including water conservation,
managed groundwater pumping, development of local supplies, and
importation of new supplies. Imported water supplies will be conveyed
using the San Felipe Project facilities and the existing turnout on the
San Felipe Project.
The PVWMA is preparing two EIR's. One EIR will analyze development
of local water supply projects and a distribution system. The other EIR
will analyze construction of an import water supply pipeline and a
change in the place of use for CVP and other imported water rights.
The PVWMA held scoping meetings on the above water supply project
environmental review documents on February 11, 12, and 13, 1997.
Dated: June 23, 1997.
Susan Kelly,
Acting Area Manager, South-Central California Area Office.
[FR Doc. 97-17236 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P
