News Release Archive

Battle Creek Restoration Project Final Environmental Document Available

Media Contact: Jeffrey S. McCracken, 916-978-5100, 07/29/2005 21:50

For Release: July 29, 2005

The Bureau of Reclamation, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announce the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Final EIS/EIR) for the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project (Restoration Project). Reclamation is the lead Federal agency for the National Environmental Policy Act, FERC is a cooperating Federal agency, and the State Water Board is the lead State agency for the California Environmental Quality Act.

The proposed CALFED-supported Restoration Project would restore approximately 42 miles of habitat in Battle Creek, a tributary to the Sacramento River, and an additional 6 miles of habitat in its tributaries (refer to map on back page). Habitat restoration would enable safe passage for naturally produced salmonids and would facilitate their population growth and recovery. At the same time, it would minimize the loss of renewable energy produced by the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project (Hydroelectric Project), owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). The Restoration Project would be accomplished through the modification of PG&E's Hydroelectric Project facilities and operations, including instream flow releases.

A Draft EIS/EIR addressing the impacts of the project and its operation was made available for public review and comment on July 18, 2003. From comments received, it became evident that significant new information needed to be added to the environmental document. A Draft Supplemental EIS/Revised EIR (Draft SEIS/REIR) was then released for a 60-day public review and comment period on March 1, 2005. Comments received from interested organizations and individuals on the Draft EIS/EIR and the Draft SEIS/REIR during the public review periods and at the August 27, 2003 public hearing, and responses to these comments, are contained in the Final EIS/EIR.

No decision will be made by Reclamation on the proposed action until at least 30 days after the release of the Final EIS/EIR; Reclamation will then complete the Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will identify the recommended action to be implemented and include the environmental commitments and mitigation measures to be applied to the action. The State Water Board will use the Final EIS/EIR as part of the administrative record for its decision on whether to issue a water quality certification and whether measures are necessary to avoid, reduce or mitigate any identified significant adverse project effects to less than significant. FERC will then make their decision regarding the proposed Hydroelectric Project license amendment.

For additional information, please contact Ms. Mary Marshall, Reclamation, at 916-978-5248, TDD 916-978-5608, or e-mail mmarshall@mp.usbr.gov; or Mr. Jim Canaday, State Water Board, at 916-341-5308 or e-mail jcanaday@waterboards.ca.gov. To request a compact disk or a bound copy of the Final EIS/EIR, contact Ms. Rosemary Stefani, Reclamation, at 916-978 5309, TDD 916-978-5608, or e-mail rstefani@mp.usbr.gov.

The Final EIS/EIR is also available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=99.

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Relevant Link:

Battle Creek Restoration Project Final Environmental Document Available