[Federal Register: September 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 185)] [Notices] [Page 51786-51787] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr24se99-102] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [FES 99-31] Contra Costa Water District's Future Use and Operation of Contra Loma Reservoir Project, Contra Costa County CA AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of the final environmental impact report/final environmental impact statement (FEIR/FEIS). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) prepared a joint FEIR/FEIS for CCWD's Future Use and Operation of Contra Loma Reservoir Project. In 1997, the California State Department of Health Services (DOHS) issued a compliance order to CCWD requiring either that recreational body contact activities in Contra Loma Reservoir (Reservoir) cease, or that CCWD stop using the Reservoir for domestic water supply storage. The proposed action is to continue to use the Reservoir for its historic domestic water supply purposes and to construct a separate swimming lagoon within the existing Reservoir footprint to allow swimming and wading to continue. Action taken by Reclamation would allow CCWD to construct the swimming lagoon on lands owned by the United States at the Reservoir. DATES: Reclamation will not make a decision on the proposed action until 30 days after release of the FEIR/FEIS. After the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be implemented and will discuss all factors leading to the decision. ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIR/FEIS may be requested from Ms. Frances I. Garland, Principal Planner, CCWD, 2300 Stanwell Drive, Concord CA 94524; telephone: (925) 688-8312. Copies of the FEIR/FEIS are available for public inspection and review. These locations are listed in the ``Supplementary Information'' section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Frances I. Garland, CCWD, 2300 Stanwell Drive, Concord CA 94524; telephone: (925) 688-8312; or Mr. Robert B. Eckart, Environmental Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA 95825; telephone: (916) 978-5051. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to continue to use the Reservoir for its historic domestic water supply purposes and to construct a separate swimming lagoon within the existing Reservoir footprint to allow swimming and wading to continue. A concrete-covered earthen berm would physically separate the lagoon from the main portion of the 80-acre reservoir. Water in the lagoon would be pumped, filtered and treated to appropriate water quality standards for recreation use. This project would allow existing drinking water and swimming uses to continue at the Reservoir. The proposed action does not affect other existing recreation uses at the Reservoir such as fishing, boating, hiking, and picnicking. Contra Loma Reservoir was built as part of the Contra Costa Canal unit of the Central Valley Project in 1967. The purpose of the Reservoir was to provide peaking and stand-by storage. CCWD has used the Reservoir for these purposes since 1967. A secondary purpose of the Reservoir is recreation. Recreation facilities at the Reservoir are operated by the East Bay Regional Park District under an agreement with Reclamation. The FEIR/FEIS evaluates in detail five alternatives, including two no-action alternatives, and also describes the existing environment and environmental consequences of the proposed action. The FEIR/FEIS considers the environmental effects of the five alternatives in all topical areas required under NEPA and CEQA. Of particular importance for this project are the following topics: public health, surface-water quality, recreation, biological resources, aesthetics, socioeconomic environment, and cumulative impacts. Both Reclamation and CCWD have selected the proposed action as their preferred alternative. The proposed action was determined to provide a public health benefit and to minimize the impacts on recreation of complying with the DOHS order. Notice of the draft environmental impact report/draft environmental impact statement (DEIR/DEIS) was published in the Federal Register on January 26, 1999 (64 FR 3974). A public hearing was held on February 18, 1999. The written comment period closed on March 25, 1999. The FEIR/FEIS contains responses to all comments received and changes made to the text of the DEIR/DEIS as a result of those comments. [[Page 51787]] Locations for Inspecting/Reviewing the FEIR/FEIS Bureau of Reclamation, Office of Policy, Room 7456, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington DC 20240; telephone: (202) 208-4662. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, Room 167, at the Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling in Denver CO 80225; telephone: (303) 445-2064. Bureau of Reclamation, Public Affairs Office, 2800 Cottage Way in Sacramento CA 95825-1898; telephone: (916) 978-5100. Contra Costa Water District, Public Reading Room at 1331 Concord Ave in Concord CA 94524; telephone: (925) 688-8312. Antioch Branch Library at 501 W. 18th Street in Antioch CA 94509. Bay Point Branch Library at 205 Pacifica Avenue in Pittsburg CA 94565. Pittsburg Branch Library at 80 Power Avenue in Pittsburg CA 94565. Oakley Branch Library at 118 East Ruby in Oakley CA 94561. Concord Branch Library at 2900 Salvio in Concord CA 94519. Contra Costa County Public Library at 1750 Oak Park Boulevard in Pleasant Hill CA 94523. Dated: September 9, 1999. Kirk C. Rodgers, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 99-24963 Filed 9-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-94-P