The Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) intend to prepare a Program Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (PEIS/EIR) for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP). A Notice of Intent to prepare the PEIS was published in the Federal Register on Thursday, August 2, 2007. The Draft PEIS/EIR will be a joint document prepared to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. The SJRRP is expected to be implemented by five agencies: Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and DWR.

The SJRRP is the result of a Settlement reached in September 2006 by the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Commerce, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Friant Water Users Authority that ended an 18-year lawsuit. The Settlement is based on two goals: (1) to restore and maintain fish populations in "good condition" in the mainstem of the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River, including naturally reproducing and self-sustaining populations of salmon and other fish; (2) to reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts to all of the Friant Division long-term contractors that may result from the flows provided for in the Settlement.

Four public scoping meetings are being held to solicit public input on the scope of the PEIS/EIR, including resources to be evaluated, alternatives to be considered, and significant concerns and issues. The meetings will begin with a presentation on the purpose of the SJRRP followed by an open-house forum with several stations where participants can interact directly with Program team members. The meetings are scheduled:

Written comments on the scope of the environmental document are due by close of business Friday, September 21, 2007, and should be sent to Ms. Margaret Gidding, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way MP-140, Sacramento CA 95825-1898. For additional information, please contact Ms. Gidding at 916-978-5104, TDD 916-978-5608, or mgidding@mp.usbr.gov. For more information, visit www.restoresjr.com.