FRESNO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the transfer of up to 450 acre-feet of water from Patterson Irrigation District to Del Puerto Water District.

As a result of a settlement reached between PID and Reclamation for the construction of Friant Dam and partial obstruction of natural flow from the San Joaquin River, PID receives what is known as Replacement Water from Reclamation via the Delta-Mendota Canal. Reclamation proposes to approve PID’s one-time delivery of up to 450 acre-feet of replacement water to DPWD for the remainder of the 2012 contract water year, which ends Feb. 28, 2013.

The 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=11772. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Please email comments to Ben Lawrence at blawrence@usbr.gov. Written comments may also be mailed to Ben Lawrence, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721 or faxed to 559-487-5397. Comments are due by Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Lawrence at 559-487-5039 (TTY 800-735-2929). Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Fresno office at the above address.