Environmental statements; notice of intent: Tracy Fish Facility, Central Valley Project, CA,
[Federal Register: February 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 33)]
[Notices]
[Page 8401-8402]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19fe99-118]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Tracy Fish Facility Improvement Program, New Tracy Fish Facility, Central Valley Project, California
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental documents (environmental assessment and initial study or environmental impact statement and environmental impact report) and notice of public meetings.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and Public Resources Code, Sections 21000- 21178.1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the lead Federal agency, and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the lead State agency, propose to prepare environmental documents for the purpose of constructing and testing new fish screens and salvage facilities associated with a new Tracy Fish Facility (TFF), Central Valley Project, California. The environmental documents will evaluate the effects of the development and testing of a new TFF at or near the existing Tracy Fish Collection Facility.
A new TFF will provide timely information on critical issues related to new fish protection facilities at the State of California's diversion at Clifton Court Forebay (CCF), Tracy, and the North Delta. The project intent is to build, operate, and evaluate a best available technology facility that will screen a portion of Tracy flows until a decision is made on screening the full Tracy pumping capacity. The new facilities would screen about 2,500 cfs at an approach velocity of 0.2 fps and would meet other appropriate fish agency criteria. The facility would have the structural and operational flexibility to optimize screening operations for multiple species in the challenging south Delta environment. The old Tracy Fish Collection Facility would be improved and remain in place to screen the remainder of the flow, until a decision is made to screen the remainder of the Tracy flow at Tracy and/or the CCF.
At present, it is not clear whether the scope of the action and anticipated project impacts will require preparation of an environmental impact statement and environmental impact report (EIS/ EIR) instead of an environmental assessment and initial study (EA/IS). However, to ensure the timely and appropriate level of NEPA and CEQA compliance and to limit potential future delays to the project schedule, Reclamation and the DWR are proceeding, at this time, as if the project impacts would require preparation of an EA/IS. Reclamation and the DWR will reevaluate the need for an EIS/EIR after obtaining written and oral comments on the project scope, alternatives and impacts during the scoping process. Reclamation and the DWR will publish a notice of change if, as a result of scoping, a decision is made to prepare an EIS/EIR rather than an EA/IS. However, the scoping process to be conducted will suffice for either course of action.
There are no known Indian Trust Asset or environmental justice issues associated with the proposed action.
[[Page 8402]]
DATES: Two scoping meetings will be held to solicit comments from interested parties to assist in determining the scope of the environmental analysis and to identify the significant issues related to this proposed action. The meeting dates are:
‹bullet› Wednesday, March 17, 1999, at 8:30 a.m., in Sacramento, California
‹bullet› Thursday, March 18, 1999, at 7:00 p.m., in Tracy, California
Written comments on the scope of the environmental documents should be submitted to Reclamation by April 5, 1999.
ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
‹bullet› Sacramento--Red Lion Sacramento Inn, Comstock II Room, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815, (916) 922-8041
‹bullet› Tracy--Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1537, 430 West Grantline Road, Tracy CA 95376, (209) 839-1537
Send written comments on the scope of the environmental documents to Mr. Richard Raines, Environmental Document Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Technical Service Center, Attention: D-8210, P.O. Box 25007, Denver CO 80225-0007.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for electronic mail addresses and Internet site address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Raines, telephone: (303) 445-2237; or Ms. Lynnette Wirth, Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Public Affairs Office, Attention: MP-140, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA; telephone: (916) 978-5102. Additional information regarding the new TFF can be obtained from the Mid-Pacific Regional Office ``Grapevine'' at 1-800-742-9474.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tracy Fish Facility Improvement Program has been identifying and making physical improvements and operational changes, assessing fishery conditions, and monitoring fish salvage operations per numerous agency agreements. On October 30, 1992, Pub. L. 102-575, the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, was enacted. Title 34, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Section 3406(b)(4), states in part that the Secretary of the Interior will ``develop and implement a program to mitigate for fishery impacts associated with operations of the Tracy Pumping Plant. Such a program shall include, but not be limited to, improvement or replacement of the fish screens and fish recovery facilities and practices associated with the Tracy Pumping Plant.''
To significantly improve the Tracy Fish Collection Facility, new approaches and development and experimentation of new technologies will be required. Importantly, improvements must be made while not threatening the existing contracted water deliveries through the Tracy Pumping Plant. Presently, the Tracy Fish Facility Improvement Program is constrained by these daily water deliveries which prevent significant modification of the facilities. Because of this, Reclamation proposes to develop the new TFF to be located adjacent to the existing Tracy Fish Collection Facility. Several conceptual alternatives are being investigated. The new TFF will be designed initially for testing and demonstrating new technology. Successful components will ultimately be used to replace the present Tracy Fish Collection Facility, and this action will require additional environmental documentation.
The new TFF will also provide timely information on critical issues related to new fish protection facilities for the State of California's diversion at Clifton Court Forebay (CCF), and/or for a diversion in the North Delta being considered as a part of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. The CALFED Bay-Delta Program (a cooperative effort among State and Federal agencies and California's environmental, urban, and agricultural communities) is supportive of efforts to develop new fish screen and salvage technology that can be applied at Tracy and other locations. Currently, Reclamation is working with the CALFED Bay-Delta Program agencies to develop a Project Management Agreement for the preferred design approach, facility specifications, and process for incorporating input from participating agencies. The new TFF is presently supported by a professional team of fishery scientists, engineers, and management staff now working with the Tracy Fish Facility Improvement Program.
Electronic Mail Addresses and Internet Site
You may submit comments and data by sending electronic mail (e- mail) or faxograms to the following addresses:
‹bullet› Mr. Richard Raines, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado; electronic mail address: rraines@do.usbr.gov; facsimilie number: (303) 445-6328.
‹bullet› Ms. Lynnette Wirth, Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region; electronic mail address: lwirth@mp.usbr.gov; facsimilie number: (916) 978-5114.
Additional information regarding the new TFF can be obtained from the Mid-Pacific Regional Office Internet web site (http:// www.mp.usbr.gov/tffdir.html).
Special Services
A headphone device for the hearing impaired will be available at the meetings. Persons requiring other special services should contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at (916) 978-5102. Please notify Ms. Wirth as far in advance of the particular meeting as possible, but no later than 3 working days prior to the meeting to enable Reclamation to secure the services. If a request cannot be honored, the requester will be notified.
Dated: February 12, 1999. Kirk C. Rodgers, Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 99-4087Filed2-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P
