Environmental statements; notice of intent: Contra Costa County, CA; Contra Loma Reservoir; future use and operations,

[Federal Register: April 13, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 70)]

[Notices]

[Page 18035]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr13ap98-78]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

Future Use and Operations of Contra Loma Reservoir, Contra Costa County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement/ environmental impact report and notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and Section 21061 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare an environmental impact statement/ environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) for the Future Use and Operations of Contra Loma Reservoir Project, Contra Costa County, California.

The purpose of the EIS/EIR is to allow Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) to comply with a California State Department of Health Services (DOHS) order while maintaining the operational benefits currently derived from Contra Loma Reservoir (Reservoir), including meeting peaking requirements and providing system reliability.

DATES: A scoping meeting will be held on May 7, 1998, at 7:00 p.m., to solicit information from interested parties to assist in determining the scope of the EIS/EIR and to identify the significant issues related to this proposed action.

Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR may be submitted to the Bureau of Reclamation at the address provided below by May 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held at the Antioch Senior Center, 415 W. Second Street, Antioch, CA 94509.

Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Mr. Robert Eckart, Bureau of Reclamation, MP-150, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Eckart, telephone (916) 978-5051.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Contra Loma Dam and Reservoir were constructed by Reclamation in 1967 as part of the Central Valley Project for the purpose of providing peaking requirements and system reliability for the Contra Costa Canal system. CCWD has a contract with Reclamation for water supply and for operations and maintenance of the Contra Costa Canal system, including Contra Loma Dam and Reservoir.

The California State DOHS issued an order that requires CCWD to either cease use of the reservoir for a drinking water supply or cease use of the reservoir for water body contact. CCWD held a scoping meeting on November 13, 1997, regarding this order.

The proposed action includes the continued use of the Reservoir as a drinking water supply and the construction of a separate swimming lagoon within the existing reservoir footprint. The lagoon would be physically separated from the main portion of the 80-acre reservoir with a cement-covered earthen berm. Water in the lagoon would be pumped, filtered, and treated to appropriate water quality standards for recreation use. This Proposed Action would allow existing drinking water and swimming uses to continue at the Reservoir.

Two ``No Action'' alternatives will be evaluated in the EIS/EIR: (1) No Action--Stop using the Reservoir for water supply; water body contact recreation continues; and (2) No Action--Stop using the reservoir for water body contact recreation; use of Reservoir for drinking water supply continues.

Other alternatives under consideration include those that would allow water body contact to continue while meeting peaking and system reliability requirements through either new or existing facilities.

Dated: April 6, 1998. Robert Stackhouse, Acting for Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 98-9617Filed4-10-98; 8:45 am]

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