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Sacramento River Water Reliability Study
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: July 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 146)]
[Notices]
[Page 44811-44812]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jy03-81]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Sacramento River Water Reliability Study
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement/
environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) and notice of scoping meetings.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA)
propose to prepare a joint EIS/EIR for the Sacramento River Water
Reliability Study (SRWRS). Reclamation is the Lead Federal Agency for
NEPA and PCWA is Lead State Agency for CEQA. PCWA, Sacramento Suburban
Water District (SSWD), and the cities of Roseville, and Sacramento are
cost-sharing partners.
DATES: A series of public scoping meetings will be held to solicit
public input on the alternatives, concerns, and issues to be addressed
in the EIS/EIR as follows:
? Monday, September 15, 2003, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sacramento, CA.
? Monday, September 15, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sacramento, CA.
? Wednesday, September 17, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Willows, CA.
? Monday, September 22, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Yuba City, CA.
? Tuesday, September 23, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Stockton, CA.
? Wednesday, September 24, 2003, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Rocklin, CA.
Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR may be mailed to
Reclamation or PCWA at the addresses below by Monday, October 12, 2003.
ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
? In Sacramento, Best Western Expo Inn, 1413 Howe Avenue,
Expo Room.
? In Willows, Memorial Hall, 525 West Sycamore.
? In Yuba City, Sutter County Veterans Hall, 1425 Veterans
Memorial Drive.
? In Stockton, Radisson Hotel, Delta IV Room, 2323 Grand
Canal Blvd., Stockton, CA 95207.
? In Rocklin, Rocklin City Council Chambers, 3970 Rocklin
Road, Rocklin, CA 95677.
Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR should be sent to: Ms.
Mona Jefferies-Soniea, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-700,
Sacramento, CA 95825 or Mr. Steve Yaeger, c/o Ms. Darcy Granieri,
Placer County Water Agency, P.O. Box 6570, Auburn, CA 95604-6570.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jefferies-Soniea at the above
address, at 916-978-5068, or via fax at 916-978-5094 or e-mail at
mjefferies-soniea@mp.usbr.gov; or Mr. Yaeger at the above address or at
530-823-4962. Additional information is available online at http://www.
usbr.gov/mp/srwrs. 
If special assistance is required, please
call Ms. Sammie Cervantes, Reclamation, at 915-978-5104, TDD 916-978-5608,
or via e-mail at scervantes@mp.usbr.gov no less than 5 working days
prior to the meetings.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SRWRS cost-sharing partners have
identified their long-term needs for additional water supplies to meet
growing water supply demands and reliability objectives in their
respective service areas. The goal of the SRWRS is to develop a water
supply plan that is consistent with the Water Forum Agreement (April
24, 2000) objectives of pursuing a Sacramento River diversion to meet
water supply needs of the Placer-Sacramento region and promoting
ecosystem preservation along the lower American River. The project
location is the greater Sacramento metropolitan area, encompassing
portions of southern Sutter County, northern Sacramento County, and
western and southern Placer County.
Project Description
To meet the water supply needs of the cost-sharing partners, the
SRWRS will identify a package of water supply infrastructure
components, including new or expanded diversion(s) from the Sacramento,
Feather, or American Rivers, and new or expanded water treatment and
pumping facilities, storage tanks, and major transmission and
distribution pipelines.
The SRWRS will include a feasibility study and an EIS/EIR for
identified water supply alternatives as the basis for seeking necessary
biological opinions and permits from the responsible resource agencies
to allow execution of necessary agreements and construction of the
recommended water supply infrastructure. Development of the SRWRS will
be consistent with the following principles:
? Satisfying requirements stipulated in Public Law 106-554,
the congressional authorizing legislation for this study, to complete a
feasibility study for a Sacramento River diversion that is consistent
with the Water Forum Agreement and includes the following components:
(1) Development of a range of reasonable options, (2) an environmental
evaluation, and (3) consultation with Federal and state resource
management agencies regarding potential impacts and mitigation
measures. Furthermore, the Congress requires the SRWRS to be developed
in coordination with CALFED.
? Observing existing applicable laws, regulations, water
rights, contracts and legal agreements, and Federal planning
guidelines, including, but not limited to, NEPA, ``Economic and
Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land
Resources Implementation Studies,'' guidelines, CEQA, California Water
Laws, obligations of the cost-sharing partners in their charters, and
as defined in California laws.
? Minimizing overall impact on the environment to the extent
feasible, being cost-effective, and complementing and enhancing the
overall reliability of the Placer-Sacramento region's water supply
system through increased interconnectivity and source redundancy.
The SRWRS plan will be consistent with the Water Forum Agreement in
pursuing a Sacramento River diversion to accomplish the following
objectives envisioned in the agreement: (1) Meeting the needs of
planned future growth within the Placer-Sacramento region, (2)
maintaining a reliable water supply while reducing diversions of
surface water from the American River in future dry years to preserve
the river ecosystem, and (3) enhancing groundwater conjunctive
management to help sustain the quality and availability of groundwater
for the future.
Project Alternatives
The proposed project (Elkhorn Diversion alternative) encompasses
constructing a joint diversion from the Sacramento River and treatment
facilities to serve the cost-sharing partners. The diversion facility
would consist of expanding the existing Elkhorn Diversion owned by the
Natomas Mutual Water Company (NMWC) on the east bank of the Sacramento
River, upstream of the mouth of the American River at approximately
river mile 73.3, or constructing a new diversion near the existing
Elkhorn Diversion. Water
[[Page 44812]]
treatment, storage, and pumping facilities would be located near the
river. Also, a transmission line would connect to the west end of the
existing Cooperative Transmission Pipeline/Northridge Transmission
Pipeline in Antelope to serve SSWD, and an extension of that line would
be built north to the service areas of Roseville and PCWA. A separate
transmission line would extend south to connect to Sacramento's
existing distribution system.
The five alternatives currently under consideration in the SRWRS
include the No Project/No Action Alternative and four additional
alternatives. For these four alternatives, the partners may share
facilities to a greater or lesser degree.
? The No Project/No Action Alternative would include only
currently approved and permitted surface water resources for the cost-
sharing partners. To meet projected water supply demands, the cost-
sharing partners would reallocate available surface water and
groundwater resources between municipal and industrial (M&I) and
agricultural uses (PCWA only), and among different wholesale and retail
areas.
? A Sankey Diversion alternative assumes that PCWA, SSWD, and
Roseville would divert water from the Sacramento River near the
confluence of the Sacramento River and the Natomas Cross Canal and
build separate treatment, storage, and transmission facilities to meet
their needs. This diversion would be located at or near the second
diversion that NMWC is developing under its CALFED-supported diversion
consolidation effort. Sacramento would use groundwater to meet
projected unmet demand or would divert separately from the Sacramento
River at the Elkhorn site, and construct its own treatment and
transmission facilities to serve its needs.
? A Feather River alternative assumes that PCWA, SSWD, and
Roseville would divert water from the Feather River and build separate
treatment, storage, and transmission facilities to meet their needs.
Sacramento would use groundwater to meet projected unmet demand or
would divert separately from the Sacramento River at the Elkhorn site,
and construct its own treatment and transmission facilities to serve
its needs.
? An American River Pump Station alternative assumes that
PCWA would expand its American River Pump Station near Auburn and
construct new treatment and transmission facilities to serve its needs.
SSWD would divert from the existing San Juan Water District (SJWD)
diversion facilities at Folsom Dam. Roseville would increase use of
groundwater to satisfy its needs in this alternative, but not have any
additional surface water diversions. Sacramento would use groundwater
to meet projected unmet demand or would divert separately from the
Sacramento River at the Elkhorn site, and construct its own treatment
and transmission facilities to serve its needs.
? A Folsom Dam alternative assumes that PCWA and SSWD would
use the existing or expanded diversion, treatment, and transmission
facilities of SJWD at Folsom Dam. Roseville would increase use of
groundwater to satisfy its needs in this alternative, but not have any
additional surface water diversions. Sacramento would use groundwater
to meet projected unmet demand or would divert separately from the
Sacramento River at the Elkhorn site, and construct its own treatment
and transmission facilities to serve its needs.
Changes in Entitlements
Implementing a Sacramento River diversion for the cost-sharing
partners would require a change in the point of diversion for PCWA's
Central Valley Project contract and for Sacramento's Sacramento River
water right permit, and an exchange agreement between PCWA and
Reclamation for Roseville and SSWD diversions under their contract
entitlements from PCWA's Middle Fork Project.
Water Delivery Quantities
The additional water supplies considered in the SRWRS for each
cost-sharing partner include: (1) Additional water supply of up to
35,000 acre-feet for PCWA's M&I demand with a treatment capacity of 65
million gallons per day (mgd), (2) additional water supply of up to
29,000 acre-feet in Water Forum average, drier, and driest years for
SSWD's M&I demand and groundwater stabilization program with a
treatment capacity of 15 mgd, (3) additional water supply of up to
7,100 acre-feet for Roseville's M&I demand with a treatment capacity of
10 mgd, and (4) additional water supply of up to 58,000 acre-feet (see
note below) with a water treatment capacity of 165 mgd for Sacramento's
M&I demand.
Note on Sacramento's additional diversion: The Water Forum
Agreement does not establish a volumetric limitation for Sacramento's
total diversion, and the estimated additional water supply to meet its
projected demand is about 58,000 acre-feet, based on the difference
between the demand and the projected average diversion for Sacramento
that could be realized in 2020 level of development using then-existing
diversion facilities on the American and Sacramento rivers. (The 2030
level of statewide demand projection is currently under development by
California Department of Water Resources.) However, Sacramento could
divert up to 81,800 acre-feet under its water rights on the Sacramento
River at the Elkhorn site by reducing the diversion under its
Sacramento River water rights at its existing Sacramento River Water
Treatment Plant downstream of the confluence with the American River.
Indian Trust Assets
There are Indian Trust Assets located in Placer County, held in
trust by the United States for the United Auburn Indian Community of
the Auburn Rancheria. Direct association between these assets and the
proposed action are unknown at this time. There are no assets located
in the greater Sacramento metropolitan area, southern Sutter County, or
northern Sacramento County.
Written comments, including names and home addresses of
respondents, will be made available for public review. Individual
respondents may request that their home address be withheld from public
disclosure, which will be honored to the extent allowable by law. There
may be circumstances in which respondents' identity may also be
withheld from public disclosure, as allowable by law. If you wish to
have your name and/or address withheld, you must state this prominently
at the beginning of your comment. All submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be
made available for public disclosure in their entirety.
Dated: July 2, 2003.
Robert Eckart,
Chief, Environmental Compliance Branch, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 03-19307 Filed 7-29-03; 8:45 am]