Tulare, Calif., (May 17, 2017) – Friant Water Authority Announces Public Scoping Meeting for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s Long-term Recapture and Recirculation of Restoration River Flows Environmental Impact Report
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Friant Water Authority are preparing a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Long-term Recapture and Recirculation of San Joaquin River Restoration Program Flows. The San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) is being implemented pursuant to the Stipulation of Settlement in NRDC, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et al. (Settlement) and the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act, Title X of Public Law 111-11 (Act). In accordance with Paragraph 16(a) of the Settlement and Section 10004(a)(4) of the Act, the Friant Water Authority and Reclamation intend to develop and implement a long-term plan for recirculation, recapture, reuse, exchange or transfer of Restoration Flows for the purpose of reducing or avoiding impacts to water deliveries to all of the participating Friant Division long-term contractors.
A public scoping meeting will be held to solicit the public’s help in determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the report. Reclamation completed scoping activities in accordance with NEPA in 2015, and this public scoping effort is being completed by Friant in accordance with CEQA, to support the preparation of an EIS/EIR, to be completed with Reclamation as the NEPA lead agency and Friant as the CEQA lead agency. Comments received during this CEQA scoping effort will be considered along with the comments received previously during Reclamation’s scoping effort in accordance with NEPA. The public scoping meeting is scheduled as follows:
Visalia: Thursday, May 18, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Visalia Convention Center
303 East Acequia Avenue
The NOP is available online at http://www.friantwater.org or by submitting an email request to Steve Ottemoeller at sottemoeller@friantwater.org or Toni Marie at tmarie@friantwater.org. Public comments may be given during the open house portion of the meeting or submitted verbally or in writing at the public meeting; mailed to Friant Water Authority, Attn: Steve Ottemoeller, 854 N. Harvard Ave., Lindsay, CA 93247; faxed to 559-562-3496, or emailed to sottemoeller@friantwater.org. Comments must be received on or before June 3, 2017.
For additional information, or if you need assistance to participate in or translation service for the meetings, please contact Steve Ottemoeller at 559-562-6305.
