News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Friant-Kern Canal Pump-In Program

Media Contact: Margaret Gidding, 916 978 5100, 04/10/2014 16:36

For Release: April 10, 2014

FRESNO, Calif. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Friant-Kern Canal Pump-In Program.

Reclamation proposes to issue Warren Act contracts to Central Valley Project contractors located within the Friant Division, along the Friant-Kern Canal to allow conveyance of pumped groundwater in the canal. The amount of water introduced into the canal by each contractor would vary, but the total volume of water for all contractors would not exceed 50,000 acre-feet per year.

The term of the contracts would be for one year, with an option for a second one-year term.  Authorizations would also be issued to the contractors to cross Reclamation right-of-way with the pipes and hoses used to discharge groundwater to the canal.

The Draft EA/FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=17022. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Please email comments to Ben Lawrence, Bureau of Reclamation at blawrence@usbr.gov. Written comments may also be mailed to Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721 or faxed to 559-487-5397. Comments are due by April 17, 2014.  For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Lawrence at 559-487-5039 (TTY 800-877-8339).  Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Fresno office at the above address.

# # #

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.