News Release Archive

Draft Environmental Documents for the CVP Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy Available

Media Contact: Jeffrey S. McCracken, 916-978-5100, jmccracken@mp.usbr.gov

For Release: March 22, 2005

The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Central Valley Project (CVP) Municipal and Industrial (M&I) Water Shortage Policy (Shortage Policy). The draft documents were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available for a 30-day public review and comment period. The documents are available at www.usbr.gov/mp/; scroll to In The News and click on Draft Environmental Documents for the CVP Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy.

Reclamation began holding meetings and workshops in 1993 with CVP water users and the public to develop a CVP Shortage Policy. The goals of the Shortage Policy include sustaining urban areas during droughts and assisting M&I water service contractors in the protection of public health and safety during severe or continuing droughts. A Draft Shortage Policy was released on February 17, 1994. The Central Valley Project Improvement Act's Administrative Proposal for Urban Water Supply Reliability, dated June 9, 1997, addressed several of the major issues regarding the 1994 Draft Shortage Policy and supported the development and adoption of a Final Shortage Policy. Reclamation held a series of public workshops during 2000 and 2001 to develop a M&I Shortage Policy. The Draft Shortage Policy, dated September 11, 2001, and other documentation pertaining to development of the Shortage Policy are also available.

Written comments must be received by close of business on Friday, April 22, 2005, and should be sent to: Mr. David Lewis, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-730, Sacramento CA 95825. Comments may also be faxed to Mr. Lewis at 916-978-5094 or e-mailed to dlewis@mp.usbr.gov. For additional information, please contact Mr. Lewis at 916-978-5071 or Mr. Bob Colella at 916-978-5256, TDD 916-978-5608. To request a paper copy, please contact Mr. Colella. If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or lwirth@mp.usbr.gov.

# # #

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:

CVP Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy Available