[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21341-21342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9428]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Millerton Lake Resource Management Plan/General Plan (RMP/GP),
Madera and Fresno Counties, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement, Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as the National
Environmental Policy Act Federal lead agency, and the California
Department of Parks & Recreation (CDPR), as the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) State lead agency, have prepared a
Final EIS/EIR for the Millerton Lake RMP/GP. The RMP/GP involves
alternatives for future use of the project area for recreation and
resource protection and management.
A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR was published in the
Federal Register on July 25, 2008 (73 FR 43473). The formal comment
period on the Draft EIS/EIR ended on September 23, 2008. The Final EIS/
EIR contains responses to all comments received and reflects comments
and any additional information received during the review period.
DATES: Reclamation will not make a decision on the proposed action
until at least 30 days after release of the Final EIS/EIR. After the
30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision
(ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be
[[Page 21342]]
implemented and will discuss all factors leading to the decision.
The California State Parks and Recreation Commission Hearing on the
Final RMP/GP EIS/EIR will be held on May 12, 2010. A Notice of
Determination will be filed after the Commission Hearing. This action
will trigger a 30-day appeal period under CEQA.
ADDRESSES: Send requests for a compact disc copy of the Final EIS/EIR
to Mr. Jack Collins, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA
93721.
Copies of the Final RMP/EIS will be available at: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=546. See the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for locations where copies of the
Final EIS/EIR are available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Collins, Bureau of
Reclamation, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., at (559) 349-4544
(TDD (559) 487-5933) or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Millerton Lake Final EIS/EIR evaluates
the existing resource management of Millerton Lake. The project purpose
consists of: (1) Identifying the current and most appropriate future
uses of land and water resources within the Plan Area; (2) identifying
the long-term resource programs and implementation guidelines to manage
and develop recreation, natural, and cultural resources; and (3)
developing strategies and approaches to protect and preserve the
natural, recreational, aesthetic, and cultural resources.
Millerton Lake is an existing reservoir formed by Friant Dam, and
located in Fresno and Madera Counties, CA. The Dam, which regulates the
normal flow of the San Joaquin River and stores floodwaters for
irrigation diversion into the Friant-Kern and Madera Canals, was
completed in 1947. Millerton Lake has a storage capacity of 520,500
acre-feet and a surface area of 4,900 acres. Through agreements with
Reclamation and the California Department of Fish and Game, the CDPR
manages the entire Plan Area.
The most recent General Plan for the Plan Area was completed by
CDPR in 1983, and projected recreation trends and deficiencies through
1990. Since the adoption of this plan, several changes to the physical
and regulatory environment have resulted in the need for an updated
plan. The new joint RMP/GP will have a planning horizon through the
year 2035.
The new plan will: (1) Enhance natural resources and recreational
opportunities without interrupting reservoir operations; (2) provide
recreational opportunities to meet the demands of a growing population
with diverse interests; (3) ensure diversity of recreational
opportunities and quality of the recreational experience; (4) protect
natural, cultural, and recreational sources while providing resource
education opportunities and stewardship; and (5) provide updated
management for establishing a new management agreement with the State
of California.
The Final EIS/EIR contains a program-level analysis of the
potential impacts associated with adoption of the RMP/GP. The Final
EIS/EIR outlines the formulation and evaluation of alternatives
designed to address issues through a representation of the varied
interests in the Plan Area and identifies Alternative 2 (Enhancement)
as the preferred Alternative. The RMP/GP is intended to be
predominately self-mitigating through implementation of management
actions and strategies, but also includes mitigation measures to reduce
potential adverse effects.
The Final EIS/EIR has been developed within the authorities
provided by Congress through the Reclamation Recreation Management Act
of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-575, Title 28, 16 U.S.C. 460l-31) and other
applicable agency and the U.S. Department of the Interior policies.
Copies of the Final EIS/EIR are available at the following
locations:
Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Regional
Library, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.
Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area
Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721.
Millerton Lake State Recreational Area, 5290 Millerton
Road, Friant, CA 93626.
Fresno County Public Library, Central Location, 2420
Mariposa, Fresno, CA 93721.
Madera County Public Library, Headquarters, 121 North G
Street, Madera, CA 93637.
Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67,
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225.
Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the
Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC
20240-0001.
Public Disclosure
Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address,
or other personal identifying information in any correspondence, you
should be aware that your entire correspondence--including your
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any
time. While you can ask us in your correspondence to withhold your
personal identifying information from public view, we cannot guarantee
that we will be able to do so.
Dated: March 18, 2010.
Pablo R. Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Regional Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-9428 Filed 4-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P