Environmental statements; notice of intent: Placer County Water Agency American River Pump Station Project, CA,

[Federal Register: June 18, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 117)]

[Notices]

[Page 32889-32890]

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

[DOCID:fr18jn99-85]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

Placer County Water Agency American River Pump Station Project, Placer County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement/ environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) and notice of scoping meeting.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) intend to prepare a joint EIS/EIR for development of a year-round water supply diversion of up to 35,000 acre-feet annually (AFA) from PCWA's Middle Fork Project on the American River (MFP) with water entitlements from the North Fork of the American River. The proposed project, which is subject to review during the EIS/EIR process, consists of constructing a diversion and intake structure, pump station and associated facilities including: pipelines, access roads, power lines, and safety features. The proposed location of the diversion structure is approximately 150 feet upstream of the Auburn Dam bypass tunnel.

Reclamation and PCWA are negotiating a contract that will define the terms and conditions upon which ownership of the facilities would be transferred to PCWA, including responsibilities for operation, maintenance, and related activities for the project.

DATES: A public scoping meeting to help identify environmental concerns to be addressed in the EIS/EIR will be held on July 8, 1999, at 7:00pm at the Placer County Water Agency (see address below). Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR should be sent to Reclamation at the address below by July 30, 1999. Requests for special services at the meeting must be received no later than July 2, 1999 (see special services section for more details).

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held at Placer County Water Agency, American River Room, 144 Ferguson Road, Auburn, California.

Please send written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR to Mr. Rod Hall, Environmental Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, California 95630-1799, by July 30, 1999. Please include your name and address so that Reclamation can contact you directly if clarification is needed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rod Hall, telephone: (916) 989- 7279.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

PCWA provides municipal and agricultural water to cities and landowners in western Placer County. PCWA holds appropriative rights to divert 120,000 AFA from the MFP under water right permit numbers 13856 and 13858, as authorized by the State Water Resources Control Board. In the late 1960's, PCWA built a 50 cubic feet per second (cfs) pump station on the North Fork of the American River to convey its MFP water supplies to the Auburn Ravine Tunnel for delivery to PCWA's service area. However, before pump station operations began, PCWA's pump station was removed by Reclamation, under a Land Purchase Contract as supplemented (Contract). Under certain terms and conditions, the Contract requires Reclamation to make water deliveries to PCWA. Reclamation has met these water delivery obligations through installation and removal of a seasonal pump station on an as-needed basis since 1977. Also, during initial construction of Auburn Dam, the river was diverted through a bypass tunnel away from the previous pump station site.

PCWA also has a contractual entitlement of Yuba/Bear River water supplies, under an agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). PCWA uses MFP supplies from the American River to supplement Yuba/Bear supplies and to provide backup supplies when PG&E's Yuba/Bear system is not operating.

Beginning in 1990, PCWA has required access to its American River supply every year to meet its system demands, and Reclamation has responded with the seasonal re-installation and removal of the pump station. In addition, PCWA's service area needs for water have exceeded the 100,000 AFA supply of the PG&E Yuba/Bear system, and the demand is projected to increase. By the early 2000's, PCWA will require access to its American River supply beyond the seasonal (July through October) operating period of the pumps. The seasonal pumps, however, have become increasingly expensive to install and maintain, and are limited in use to the summer and fall. High winter and spring riverflows sometimes inundate the site of the seasonal pump station and pipeline, rendering them unreliable for water diversions. Further, because of pumping capacity limitations (50 cfs), timing of seasonal diversions, demand patterns, and applicable permits and other requirements, the maximum diversion capacity for the seasonal pumps is approximately 20,000 AFA. As a result, Reclamation can no longer provide PCWA with a reliable water supply to meet PCWA's system demands in accordance with the Contract.

Alternatives Being Considered

In addition to the upstream diversion alternative described above, the EIS/EIR will include evaluation of a ``no project'' alternative of continuing the present seasonal pump station operation. Also evaluated will be a flood-proofing alternative, which involves raising the existing pump station to a higher elevation to reduce flooding risks and

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allow Reclamation to meet its obligations under the Contract. In addition, an evaluation will be made of a mid-channel alternative of setting a permanent diversion intake structure within the currently de- watered portion of the river channel. The mid-channel alternative includes restoration of the de-watered river channel and closure of the bypass tunnel. The other alternatives do not include closure of the bypass tunnel, but would not preclude its possible closure in the future.

Environmental Issues

The EIS/EIR will address potential impacts to the environment that may result from construction, operation and maintenance of the project. PCWA and Reclamation have identified standard best management practices as part of the project, thereby minimizing potential construction- related impacts. These will also be discussed in the EIS/EIR.

In addition, the EIS/EIR will address potential impacts to the area watercourses associated with PCWA's exercise of its American River water entitlement. Historically, only a portion of PCWA's current entitlements have been diverted from the American River. Hydrologic impact analyses will consider the effects of PCWA's increasing its entitlement diversion under varying hydrologic conditions and the impacts of the diversions on the potentially affected hydrologic system, including the North Fork of the American River, Folsom Reservoir, lower American River, and other Central Valley Project (CVP) system components.

Potential impacts to water supplies, fisheries and other aquatic resources, wetland and riparian communities, special-status species, recreational activities, and flood control will be assessed. Also addressed will be growth inducement as a potential secondary impact associated with PCWA's exercise of its existing entitlements within the service area. The cumulative impacts of the proposed project and other ongoing and anticipated future projects on the environment, specifically upstream and downstream American River resources, will be examined in the EIS/EIR.

No adverse impacts to Indian Trust Assets are anticipated with this project. No disproportionately high or adverse human health or environmental impacts to minority or low-income communities are anticipated with this project.

Environmental Process

The lead agencies began evaluation of the environmental effects of the proposed project with an Environmental Assessment/Initial Study (EA/IS). They also held several public meetings for the EA/IS. Evaluation of this and other proposals within the CVP raised concerns of significant cumulative impacts on resources of the lower American River and other portions of the hydrologic system. In response to these concerns and potential significant impacts, the lead agencies decided to prepare an EIS/EIR. A draft version of the EIS/EIR is expected to be available for review and comment in the fall of 1999.

Special Services

If special services are required at the meeting, please contact Ms. Gay Howe at (530) 823-4889. Please notify Ms. Howe as far in advance of the meeting as possible, but no later than July 2, 1999, so that she will have time to secure the needed services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be notified.

Dated: June 11, 1999. Kirk C. Rodgers, Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 99-15378Filed6-17-99; 8:45 am]

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