The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a 2010 Water and Efficiency WaterSMART grant to Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District for construction of an intertie with North Kern Water Storage District in the San Joaquin Valley.

The grant would partially fund construction of the intertie linking a North Kern Water Storage District (NKWSD) canal to a Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District (SWID) pipeline, providing flexibility in moving water between the NKWSD and the SWID. The intertie would be about two miles northeast of the City of Shafter, California.

The Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (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_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=6699. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Please send written comments to Ms. Rain Healer, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721, by Wednesday, December 8, 2010. Comments may also be faxed to Ms. Healer at 559-487-5194 or e-mailed to rhealer@usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Ms. Healer at 559-487-5196 (TTY 800-735-2929). Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation's Fresno office at the above address.