The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed long-term renewal of Central Valley Project water service contracts between Reclamation and up to 145 Sacramento River Settlement Contractors. The proposed contract renewals allow for the continued diversion of up to 1.8 million acre-feet of Base Supply water per year and 380,000 acre-feet of Project Water per year for agricultural and municipal and industrial uses for a period of 40 years.

The written comment period on the Draft EIS ended on November 15, 2004. A separate 60-day public review and comment period for the associated Sacramento River Settlement contracts ended September 7, 2004. The Final EIS contains comments received on the Draft EIS and responses to those comments. Reclamation will make a decision on the proposed action no earlier than 30 days after the date of publication of the Final EIS. The Record of Decision will state the action that will be implemented and discuss the factors leading to the decision.

The Final EIS can be reviewed at the following Reclamation offices: Northern California Area Office, 16349 Shasta Dam Boulevard, Shasta Lake, California; Red Bluff Division Office, 22500 Altube Road, Red Bluff, California; Willows Office, 1140 West Wood Street, Willows, California; and Regional Office, Public Affairs Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California.

The Final EIS is available online at www.usbr.gov/mp/cvpia/3404c/eis/Final/index.html, click on Final EISs and scroll to Final EIS for Renewal of Sacramento River Settlement Contracts. To request a copy of the Final EIS, please contact Mr. Buford Holt at 530-276-2047, TDD 530-275-8991, or e-mail bholt@mp.usbr.gov. If you need help accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or e-mail lwirth@mp.usbr.gov.