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News Release Archive
Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents for Accelerated Water Transfer Program Quantity Increase
Media Contact:
Pete Lucero, MP Region Public Affairs Officer, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov
For Release: November 28, 2011
The Bureau of Reclamation today released for public review a Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact to increase the total quantity of water that can be transferred and exchanged under the existing five-year Accelerated Water Transfer Program approved in February 2011. The Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 authorizes accelerated water transfer programs and Reclamation has acknowledged water transfers and exchanges between Central Valley Project Friant Division and Cross Valley contractors since 1996.
The Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact (Draft SEA/FONSI) is intended to supplement the existing five-year Accelerated Water Transfer Program (AWTP), which allows up to 255,000 acre-feet (AF) of Central Valley Project (CVP) water to be transferred and/or exchanged. The AWTP is limited to actions between CVP Friant Division contractors and transfers from Friant Division contractors to Cross Valley contractors.
The Draft SEA/FONSI addresses an increase in the total quantity allowed under the AWTP from 255,000 AF to 300,000 AF per contract year. Aside from the increase quantity, the AWTP remains unchanged and would still be in effect during the 2011 through 2015 Contract Years (March 1, 2011 through February 29, 2016).
The Draft SEA/FONSI was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=6977. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.
Written comments must be received by close of business on Monday, December 12, 2011, and should be sent to Michael Inthavong, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721. Comments may also be faxed to Mr. Inthavong at 559-487-5397 or e-mailed to minthavong@usbr.gov.
For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft SEA/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 at the above address.
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