News Release Archive

Reclamation Publishes Notice of Intent and Schedules Public Scoping Meeting on the Grassland Bypass Project Extension

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, 12/26/2007 16:30

For Release: December 26, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation and the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority (Authority) are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to evaluate the effects of extending the Grassland Bypass Project (Project) from its expiration on December 31, 2009, to December 31, 2019.  It is anticipated that the extension to 2019 would allow the Authority enough time to acquire funds and develop feasible treatment technology to meet the objectives of the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Regions 1998 Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins and Waste Discharge Requirements.  The Project is located southwest of Merced, California.

A Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS/EIR was published in the Federal Register and the Notice of Preparation was filed with the State Clearinghouse on December 21, 2007.  One public scoping meeting is being held to solicit public input on topics to be addressed in the environmental document, including resources to be evaluated, alternatives to be considered, and significant concerns and issues.  The meeting is scheduled as follows:

Los Banos, California
Thursday, January 17, 2008
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority Boardroom
842 Sixth Street, Suite 7

Written comments on the scope of the environmental document should be received by close of business Friday, January 25, 2008, and should be sent to Ms. Laura Myers, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721, via e-mail at lmyers@mp.usbr.gov, or faxed to 559-487-5397.  For additional information, please contact Ms. Myers at 559- 487-5179, or Mr. Joseph McGahan, San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority, P.O. Box 2157, Los Banos, CA, 93635, telephone 559-582-9237, or fax     209-826-9698.  More information about the Project is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/grassland.

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Reclamation Publishes Notice of Intent and Schedules Public Scoping Meeting on the Grassland Bypass Project Extension