FRESNO, Calif. -- The Bureau of Reclamation today released for public review draft environmental documents for a proposed action that would allow the Kern-Tulare Water District to bank a maximum of 40,000 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water and non-CVP water in the West Kern Water District Groundwater Bank.

The proposed action would include the return of half the water to Kern-Tulare Water District, with the other half left in West Kern Water District as compensation for banking services. The agreement between the two water districts would be in effect for 25 years.   
The Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact 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=12770. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.
Written comments must be received by close of business April 13, 2013 and should be sent to Chuck Siek, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721. Comments may also be faxed to Siek at (559) 487-5397 or e-mailed to csiek@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact, please contact Siek at 559 487-5138, TTY (800) 735-2929. Copies of the draft documents may also be viewed at Reclamation's Fresno office at the above address.