[Federal Register: July 29, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 43862-43863]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jy05-90]
[[Page 43862]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project, Tehama and
Shasta Counties, CA
AGENCIES: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior; Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement/Environmental Impact Report.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and Public Resources Code, sections 21000-
21177 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation), the lead Federal agency; the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC), a cooperating Federal agency; and the
California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), the
lead State agency; have prepared a joint Final Environmental Impact
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Final EIS/EIR) for the Battle
Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project (Restoration Project).
The Restoration Project proposed action considered by the lead agencies
is the five-dam removal alternative that includes the decommissioning
and removal of five small hydropower diversion dams, construction of
new fish screens at the intakes and fish ladders at three other dams,
and the modification of several hydropower facilities to ensure
continued hydropower operations. This action will require a FERC
license amendment of the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project, owned and
operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
DATES: No decision will be made on the proposed action until 30 days
after the release of the Final EIS/EIR. After the 30-day waiting
period, Reclamation and the State Water Board will complete their
respective Record of Decision (ROD) and CEQA Findings. The ROD and CEQA
Findings will identify the recommended action to be implemented
including any measures found necessary to avoid, reduce or mitigate any
significant adverse project effects to less than significant. FERC will
then make its own independent decision regarding the proposed Battle
Creek Hydroelectric Project license amendment and any measures it may
find necessary to avoid, reduce or mitigate any significant adverse
project effects.
ADDRESSES: Requests for a compact disk or a bound copy of the Final
EIS/EIR should be addressed to Ms. Rosemary Stefani, Bureau of
Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, telephone: (916)
978-5309, TDD (916) 978-5608, or e-mail: rstefani@mp.usbr.gov. The
final EIS/EIR is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/battlecreek/documents.html
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Marshall, Bureau of
Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, telephone: (916)
978-5248, TDD (916) 978-5608, e-mail: mmarshall@mp.usbr.gov; or Mr. Jim
Canaday, California State Water Resources Control Board, 1001 I Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814, telephone: (916) 341-5308, e-mail:
jcanaday@waterboards.ca.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Restoration Project is to
restore approximately 48 miles of salmonid habitat in Battle Creek and
its tributaries and to facilitate the safe passage for, and the growth
and recovery of, naturally-produced anadromous fish populations,
including three federally-listed runs: the Central Valley spring-run
chinook salmon, the Central Valley steelhead trout, and the Sacramento
River winter-run chinook salmon. The Restoration Project's proposed
action (five-dam removal alternative) stems from the 1999 Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to pursue a restoration project for Battle Creek
that modifies both Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project facilities and
water management operations, while at the same time minimizing loss of
renewable energy produced. The MOU is signed by Reclamation, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, the
California Department of Fish and Game, and PG&E.
The Restoration Project Final EIS/EIR discusses the project purpose
and need, project description, project background, and related
projects. The Final EIS/EIR evaluates a ``No Action'' alternative and
several action alternatives, which consist of various combinations of
dam decommissioning and removals, fish screen/fish ladder improvements,
and increased in-stream flows, and also describes the affected
environment and environmental consequences of the Restoration Project
alternatives. The proposed action (five-dam removal alternative)
combines the decommissioning and removal of five small hydropower
diversion dams and construction of new fish screens/ladders on another
three dams, with modification of several hydropower facilities to
ensure continued hydropower operations. The Final EIS/EIR addresses the
impacts of project construction and operation on fisheries; botanical,
wetland and wildlife resources; hydrology; water quality; groundwater;
land use; geology and soils; aesthetics and visual resources;
transportation; noise; air quality; public health and safety; public
services and utilities; recreation; cultural resources; power
generation and economics; socioeconomics; environmental justice; and
Indian trust assets.
The Notice of Availability of the original joint Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIS/
EIR), notice of public workshop, and notice of public hearing was
published in the Federal Register on July 18, 2003. Two public
information workshops and a public hearing were held on July 23 and
August 12, and August 27, 2003, respectively; all meetings occurred in
Manton, CA. A Draft Supplemental EIS/Revised EIR (Draft SEIS/REIR) was
released on March 1, 2005 for a 60-day public review and comment
period. Responses to all comments received from interested
organizations and individuals on the Draft EIS/EIR and the Draft SEIS/
REIR during the public review periods and at the public hearing are
addressed in the Final EIS/EIR.
Copies of the Final EIS/EIR are available at the following
locations:
Tehama County Library, 645 Madison, Red Bluff, CA 96080,
(530) 527-0604
Shasta County Library, 1855 Shasta Street, Redding, CA
96001, (530) 225-5769
Susanville Library, Lassen County, 1618 Main Street,
Susanville, CA 96130, (530) 251-8127
Bureau of Reclamation, Red Bluff Field Office, 22500
Altube Avenue, Red Bluff, CA 96080, (530) 529-3890
Bureau of Reclamation, Office of Public Affairs, 2800
Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825-1898, (916) 978-5100
Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67,
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225,
(303) 445-2072
Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the
Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC
20240-0001
California State Water Resources Control Board, Division
of Water Rights, 1001 I Street, 14th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916)
341-5300
[[Page 43863]]
Dated: May 19, 2005.
Kirk C. Rodgers,
Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region, Bureau of Reclamation.
Dated: May 16, 2005.
Joseph D. Morgan,
Director, Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission.
[FR Doc. 05-15013 Filed 7-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P