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- Reclamation Releases Draft EA/IS/FONSI for the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District's Turnipseed Groundwater Bank Project
News Release Archive
Reclamation Releases Draft EA/IS/FONSI for the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District's Turnipseed Groundwater Bank Project
Media Contact:
Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov
For Release: February 05, 2010
The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability for public review and comment of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA)/Initial Study (IS) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District's (DEID) Turnipseed Groundwater Bank, Phase II, Project (Project). The Project would convert an existing 80-acre recharge basin into a water banking facility by installing three extraction wells and raising the levees to increase the surface storage capacity of the basin. The modifications would provide DEID long-term operational flexibility and improved management of its water supply. The Project is located in Tulare County, approximately 4 miles northeast of the City of Delano, California.
"This effort will make important improvements in water availability in Tulare County", commented Michael Jackson, Area Manager of Reclamation's South Central California Area Office.
The Draft EA/IS/FONSI were prepared by Reclamation and DEID in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act, respectively, and are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=5031. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.
The Project is funded through the Challenge Grant Program's (Program) Water Marketing and Efficiency Grants effort by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It was selected through a competitive process based on ability to improve sustainable water supplies in the western United States. The Project met specific Program requirements, and Reclamation will provide up to 50-percent cost share funding. Additional Program information may be found at http://recovery.doi.gov/press/bureaus/bureau-of-reclamation/arra-challenge-grant-fact-sheet/.
Written comments must be received by close of business Wednesday, February 24, 2010, and should be sent to Mr. Michael Inthavong, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno CA 93721. Comments may also be faxed to Mr. Inthavong at 559-487-5194 or sent via e-mail to minthavong@usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/IS/FONSI, please contact Mr. Inthavong at 559-487-5044, TTY 800-735-2929. Copies of the draft documents may also be viewed at Reclamation's Fresno office (see address above).
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