News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents on the Newlands Project Water Rights Retirement Program

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100 TTY 916- 978-5608 , plucero@usbr.gov
Jane Schmidt, 775-882-7592, jcschmidt@usbr.gov

For Release: June 11, 2010

The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability for public review and comment of the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact of the Newlands Project Water Rights Retirement Program.  Reclamation proposes to provide $3 million to the Newlands Project Water Rights Fund as directed by Public Law 110-161, Section 208 (a)(4), for a Federal-State-Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe program for the retirement of water rights.   

The Newlands Project Water Rights Retirement Program would acquire and retire surface water rights from willing sellers in Reclamation's Newlands Project to benefit Pyramid Lake and provide an alternative to time-consuming and costly legal or administrative proceedings involving challenged water rights.  Great Basin Land and Water, a Nevada non-profit organization, would administer both the Water Rights Retirement Program and Fund.    

The Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available online.  If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mpPublicAffairs@usbr.gov.

Written comments must be received by close of business Friday, June 25, 2010, and should be sent to Jane Schmidt, Bureau of Reclamation, 705 N. Plaza Street, Room 320, Carson City, NV 89701.  Comments may also be faxed to Schmidt at 775-882-7592 or e-mailed to jcschmidt@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Schmidt at 775-884-8372.  Copies of the draft documents may also be viewed at the Fernley Branch Library and the Churchill County Library in Fallon, Nevada.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

NEPA Documents