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- Draft EA/FONSI Available for the Transfer of Stored Water from Westlands Water District to Semitropic Water Storage District
News Release Archive
Draft EA/FONSI Available for the Transfer of Stored Water from Westlands Water District to Semitropic Water Storage District
Media Contact:
Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@mp.usbr.gov
For Release: August 04, 2008
The Bureau of Reclamation has released a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Transfer of Stored Water from Westlands Water District to Semitropic Water District. The Draft EA and FONSI are available for a 30-day public review and comment period.
Westlands Water District (Westlands) has been participating in ground-water banking at Semitropic Water Storage District (Semitropic) since 2005. Westlands has requested Reclamation's approval of a proposal to transfer up to 8,086 acre-feet (AF) of Westlands' water previously stored in Semitropic to support existing agricultural irrigation within the district.
Reclamation proposes to approve the transfer of this water from Westlands to Semitropic before January 26, 2012. Because it would involve water that Westlands previously banked at Semitropic, water would not physically move under the proposed action. Reclamation is working to develop ground-water banking as well as water transfer guidelines and criteria. Approval of this and future proposals to transfer previously stored water, however, will be consistent with any final guidelines, criteria, regulations, or policies governing the banking of Central Valley Project water.
The Draft EA and FONSI were developed to meet requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. They are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=3274. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or e-mail lwirth@mp.usbr.gov.
To request a copy of the documents or for additional information, please contact Ms. Becky Victorine at 916-978-5050 or e-mail rvictorine@mp.usbr.gov.
Written comments on the Draft EA and FONSI are due by close of business Thursday, September 4, 2008, and should be sent to Ms. Victorine, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-410, Sacramento, CA 95825, e-mailed to the above address, or faxed to 916-978-5290.
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