SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released the draft environmental documents for approval of a Warren Act contract and renewal of a right of way license to the San Luis Water District. Reclamation proposes to issue a five-year Warren Act contract to the San Luis Water District for conveyance of up to 1,500 acre-feet per year of groundwater in the San Luis Canal.

The term for pumping and conveyance would begin July 2012 and would conclude February 2017. To facilitate the pump-in, Reclamation proposes to issue a license to the San Luis Water District authority to use, operate and maintain the existing pipeline over Reclamation’s San Luis Canal right of way at Mile Post 79.67R for a period of 25 years.

The Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=10090. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 916-978-5608) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Written comments on the Draft EA/FONSI for the proposed action must be received by close of business Wednesday, July 11, 2012, and should be sent to Nick Kilb, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 1243 N Street Fresno, CA 93721. Comments may also be faxed to Mr. Kilb at 559-487-5397 or emailed to nkilb@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Mr. Kilb at 559-487-5044 (TTY 800-735-2929) or nkilb@usbr.gov. Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Fresno office at the above address.