Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 89 / Thursday, May 8, 1997 / Notices 25205

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR available for public review in the • 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) summer of 1997. from October 15 through the end of Bureau of Land Management February; ADDRESSES: Written comments on the • project scope should be sent to Kurt 3,000 cfs from March 1 through [(ES±960±9800±12) ES±48649, Group 88, Ladensack, EBMUD, MS 305, P.O. Box June; and • 1,750 cfs from July 1 through Arkansas] 24055, Oakland , 94623–1055. October 15. Notice of Filing of Plat of Survey; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt In its decision, the court also required Arkansas, Suspended Ladensack, EBMUD, MS 305, P.O. Box that use of the Reclamation contract 24055, Oakland California, 94623–1055; water is to be limited to meeting water On Thursday, March 13, 1997, there telephone (510) 287–1154; or Cecil supply needs of EBMUD customers was published in the Federal Register, Lesley, Reclamation, 7794 Folsom within its service area. Volume 62, Number 49, on pages 11916 Road, Folsom California, 95630; Reclamation and EBMUD are and 11917, a notice entitled, ‘‘Notice of telephone (916) 989–7221; TDD (916) considering alternatives for diversion Filing of Plat of Survey; Arkansas.’’ Said 989–7285. and conveyance of notice referenced the filing of the plat of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1970, water by EBMUD. These alternatives the dependent resurvey of the north, include: south and east boundaries, and the EBMUD entered into a water service contract with Reclamation to obtain up 1. The no-action alternative. subdivisional lines of Township 2 2. A joint project between EBMUD, South, Range 24 West, Fifth Principal to 150,000 acre-feet of water annually from the CVP as a supplementary water the City of Sacramento, and the Meridian, Arkansas, accepted March 5, Sacramento County Water Agency, 1997. supply for its customers. CVP water would be diverted by EBMUD from the which would involve the construction This plat officially filed on April 21, of a new intake-pumping facility and 1997, is hereby suspended pending the Folsom South Canal (FSC). The FSC is a conveyance facility owned by the fish screens on the American River near consideration of a protest against the its confluence with the Sacramento survey. United States and operated by Reclamation in southeastern River, a pipeline from this diversion to Dated: April 28, 1997. Sacramento County. The canal the City’s E.A. Fairbairn Water Corwyn J. Rodine, originates at Nimbus Diversion Works Treatment Plant, a pipeline henceforth Acting Chief Cadastral Surveyor. (Nimbus) on the American River at Lake to the FSC, and a connection from the FSC to EBMUD’s Mokelumne [FR Doc. 97–11952 Filed 5–7–97; 8:45 am] Natoma and extends south Aqueducts. This alternative would BILLING CODE 4310±GJ±P approximately 26 miles. A turnout near Grant Line Road in Sacramento County, require a change in the point of delivery approximately 12 miles south of of water to EBMUD and an amendment DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Nimbus, is the point of water delivery to the existing Reclamation contract. 3. A pipeline connection from the specified in the EBMUD-Reclamation FSC at the current contract turnout Bureau of Reclamation water service contract. Currently, no location near Grant Line Road to the facilities are in place to allow EBMUD Proposed East Bay Municipal Utility EBMUD Mokelumne Aqueducts. This to take water under this contract. District's Supplemental Water Supply alternative could be implemented Project, Lower American River, A lawsuit (EDF v. EBMUD, Alameda without amending the existing California County Case No. 425,955) filed in 1972 Reclamation contract. by the Environmental Defense Fund 4. A pipeline connection from the AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, (EDF), and intervened by Sacramento terminus of the FSC to the EBMUD Department of the Interior. County, Save the American River Mokelumne Aqueducts near Clements, ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Association, the California Department California. This alternative would Environmental Impact Statement/ of Fish and Game, and the California require a change in the point of delivery Environmental Impact Report. State Lands Commission, sought to of water for EBMUD and an amendment prevent EBMUD from taking delivery of to the existing Reclamation contract. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National American River water through the FSC 5. A pipeline connection from the Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as as provided in the EBMUD-Reclamation terminus of the FSC to the EBMUD amended) and the California water service contract. The plaintiffs’ Mokelumne Aqueducts near Stockton, Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the contention was that delivery of water to California. This alternative would Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) EBMUD from the FSC under EBMUD’s require a change in the point of delivery and the East Bay Municipal Utility federal contract would reduce of water for EBMUD and an amendment District (EBMUD) propose to prepare a downstream flows to the extent that to the existing Reclamation contract. joint Environmental Impact Statement/ fisheries and other instream resources of Scoping is an early and open process Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) the lower American River would be designed to determine the significant on EBMUD’s Supplemental Water harmed. issues and alternatives to be addressed Supply Project (Project). The Project is On January 2, 1990, the Alameda in the EIS/EIR. The following significant intended to enable EBMUD to receive County Superior Court issued a decision issues have been identified by delivery of (CVP) that affirmed EBMUD’s right to take Reclamation to date: lower American Water under its water service contract delivery under its contract with River fishery effects; water quality; with Reclamation to improve EBMUD’s Reclamation subject to minimum flows agricultural and municipal water supply water supply and reliability. being met in accordance with the terms quality; lower American River DATES: Written comments on the scope of a Physical Solution. The minimum recreation opportunities; construction- of alternatives and impacts to be instream flow levels required under the related effects on the lower American considered should be sent to Physical Solution for the protection of River, urban areas, and natural habitats; Reclamation by June 16, 1997. It is fisheries and other instream resources and, wetland, upland, and aquatic estimated that the draft EIS/EIR will be are: habitats.