[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 186 (Monday, September 27, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 52102-52104] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-25187] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Imperial Irrigation District/San Diego County Water Authority Water Conservation and Transfer Project AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and notice of public scoping meetings on the Imperial Irrigation District/San Diego County Water Authority Water Conservation and Transfer Project. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 (2) (c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the State of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the [[Page 52103]] Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and Imperial Irrigation District (IID or District) will prepare a joint EIR/EIS to assess the impacts of the proposed IID/San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) Water Conservation and Transfer Project. The proposed project consists of the conservation by IID of up to 300,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water per year (af/yr), and the subsequent transfer of all or a portion of the diverted water to the SDCWA and, under certain circumstances, other designees. IID and Reclamation are holding public scoping meetings soliciting input from the public on the types of issues and extent of analysis that should be contained in the EIR/EIS. DATES: Written comments on the NOI will be accepted until October 25, 1999. Public scoping meetings will be held at the following locations (both written and oral comments will be accepted at the public scoping meetings): 1. Northern Imperial Valley--Elks Lodge #1420, 161 South Plaza, Brawley, CA 92227, Tuesday, October 12, 1999, 7 PM to 9 PM. 2. Salton Sea Area--Salton Sea Community Service District, 2098 Frontage Road, Salton City, CA 92275, Wednesday, October 13, 1999, 7 PM to 9 PM.. 3. Southern Imperial Valley--IID Board Room, 1285 Broadway, El Centro, CA 92243, Thursday, October 14, 1999, 7 PM to 9 PM. 4. Lower Colorado River Region--Clark County Library, 1401 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119, Monday, October 18, 1999, 7 PM to 9 PM. 5. Northern San Diego County--Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008, Tuesday, October 19, 1999, 7 PM to 9 PM. 6. Southern San Diego County--SDCWA Building, 3211 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103, Wednesday, October 20, 1999, 7 PM to 9 PM. Hearing impaired, visually impaired, and/or mobility impaired persons planning to attend the meeting(s) may arrange for necessary accommodations by calling Ms. Molly Sweat at (702) 293-8415 no later than October 6, 1999. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado River Region, Boulder Canyon Operations Office, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV 89006-1470, Attn: William Rinne, BC-00-1000; or to: Imperial Irrigation District, 333 East Barioni Boulevard, P.O. Box 937, Imperial CA, 92251, Attn: Steven R. Knell. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Rinne, at the Bureau of Reclamation (702) 293-8414; or Mr. Steven Knell, Special Projects Coordinator, Imperial Irrigation District, at (760) 339-9266. Further information can also be obtained on the website at http:// www.is.ch2m.com/iidweb. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: IID was organized in 1911 to deliver Colorado River water to lands within the Imperial Valley, California for agricultural, domestic, industrial, and other beneficial uses. Water is diverted via the All American Canal and flows through the Colorado River at Imperial Dam based upon water rights obtained prior to the beginning of this century under state law, pursuant to a 1932 water delivery contract for permanent service, for potable and irrigation purposes within the boundaries of the District, with the Secretary of the Interior under the Boulder Canyon Project Act of 1928 [45 Stat. 1057, as amended, 43 U.S.C. 617 et seq.], and pursuant to appropriations applications filed with the state between 1933 and 1936. Water flows through the Imperial Valley in a complex system of delivery canals, laterals, and drains serving over 450,000 acres of some of the most intensively farmed land in the nation. Agricultural drainage water flows into the New and Alamo Rivers and into the Salton Sea, a designated reservoir for irrigation drainage. IID seeks to develop a long-term program for the conservation of up to 300,000 af/yr. IID proposes to transfer all or a portion of the conserved water to SDCWA and, under certain circumstances, other designees for beneficial use and to meet current and projected water supply needs. The proposed conservation program would include the participation of Imperial Valley landowners and tenants in order to implement on-farm conservation methods, such as improved or alternative water management techniques and revised irrigation methods. The program may also include system-based conservation methods implemented by IID, which improve distribution and drainage facilities. IID intends that the transferred water will retain IID's priority among Colorado River water users and that the transfer will not affect IID's historic water rights. IID, the Department of Interior, and other potentially affected water rights holders are engaged in quantification discussions regarding Colorado River water. On April 29, 1998, IID and SDCWA executed an Agreement for Transfer of Conserved Water (Agreement). The Agreement provides parameters for the water conservation and transfer transaction. The Agreement calls for IID to conserve and transfer an annual amount of water (the ``primary'' transfer) not to exceed 20,000 af in the first year. The primary transfer would increase in quantity in subsequent years until a stabilized annual primary quantity is established by IID, which shall be not less than 130,000 af/yr or more than 200,000 af/yr. After at least 10 years of primary transfers, an additional discretionary component not to exceed 100,000 af/yr may be transferred to SDCWA or, at IID's option, to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California or Coachella Valley Water District in connection with the settlement of water rights disputes between IID and these agencies. The initial term of the project is 45 years after transfers first commence. Each party has the option to extend the term for an additional 30 years. The Water Conservation and Transfer Project is the result of a collaboration between IID and SDCWA. The purpose and need for the proposed project is to advance objectives of both agencies, consistent with the Law of the River for the Colorado River, relating to water availability and management. IID has identified specific objectives for the proposed project. The District proposes to sell the conserved water in a market-based transaction in order to provide IID with sufficient funds to implement a water conservation program, including the cost of on-farm and system improvements, environmental mitigation costs, and other implementation costs. IID intends to implement a conservation program which includes participation of Imperial Valley landowners and tenants so that on-farm, in addition to system-based conservation methods, can be implemented efficiently. IID seeks to maintain its historic senior priority water rights in a manner consistent with state and federal law during project implementation and operation. Additional IID objectives include providing an economic stimulus to Imperial Valley's agricultural economy and the surrounding community and lessen increased demand for water for southern California from the State Water Project. SDCWA has also identified specific project objectives. SDCWA seeks to acquire an independent, reliable alternate long-term water supply to provide drought protection and to accommodate current and projected demand for municipal, domestic, and agricultural water uses. In order to enhance the reliability of its water supply, SDCWA intends to diversify its [[Page 52104]] sources of water supply and decrease its current dependence on a single source. Through the establishment of a stabilized source, SDCWA seeks to pay a fair, competitive price for its water supply and in the process lessen increased demand for water for southern California from the State Water Project. A water transfer from IID to SDCWA is a key element of the ``California 4.4 Plan'' which is being developed by the Colorado River Board of California and the California State Department of Water Resources, at the request of the Secretary of the Interior and the other Colorado River basin states. This Plan is intended to address the need for California to reduce its reliance on Colorado River water to its legal entitlement of 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado River water. California currently is diverting approximately 5.2 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year. Implementation of the proposed project will require certain state approvals, including approval by the State Water Resources Control Board and compliance with CEQA and the California Endangered Species Act. Implementation will also require certain federal approvals, including approval of the proposed transfer between IID and SDCWA, compliance with NEPA, the federal Endangered Species Act and other related federal environmental laws, statutes, Executive Orders, and regulations. Reclamation will act as the federal lead agency pursuant to NEPA because certain actions taken to facilitate the transfer will require approval by the Secretary of the Interior. Such actions could potentially include amendments to IID's contract with the Secretary, change in the point of diversion of Colorado River water, change in type of use, change in place of use, verification or concurrence in the amount of water conserved by this Project, and verification of beneficial use of Colorado River water. Reclamation is therefore seeking comments from the public on the scope of the issues and extent of analysis that should be evaluated in the EIR/EIS. Additional information can be obtained from the project website at http://www.is.ch2m.com/iidweb. Alternatives The EIR/EIS will evaluate other feasible project alternatives, including a range of alternative conservation measures, water supply and transfer alternatives, and various alternative measures in addition to the No Project/No Action Alternative. Potential water supply alternatives that will be considered in the EIR/EIS include the following:Additional water conservation in the San Diego service area Additional water repurification and recycling Desalination Additional water transfers from Northern California Transfer of water conserved in another agricultural region with conveyance through the State Water Project and Metropolitan Water District system Potential Environmental Effects The full range of environmental impacts has not been quantified temporally and spatially. Until specific conservation alternatives have been developed, potential environmental effects could include the following: Lower Colorado River Area Reduction in Colorado River water flows between Parker and Imperial Dams Impacts to Colorado River water quality Impacts to wildlife, protected species and their habitats Cumulative impacts to water quality San Diego County Growth-inducing impacts Salton Sea Effects on water levels, salinity, and water quality Effects on fisheries habitat Impacts to wildlife, protected species and their habitats Impacts to recreational uses Imperial Valley Impacts to water flow and quality Effects on selenium, boron, and pesticide concentrations Impacts to wildlife, protected species and their habitats Socio-economic impacts Air quality impacts The draft EIR/EIS is expected to be completed by a target date of April 3, 2000. Availability of the draft EIR/EIS for public review and comment will be announced and noticed in the local media and by a Federal Register Notice. Dated: September 23, 1999. Steven Richardson, Chief of Staff, Bureau of Reclamation. [FR Doc. 99-25187 Filed 9-24-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-94-P