# Draft

# FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

# for the

# 2004 RENEWAL OF INTERIM WATER SERVICE CONTRACTS 

# THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2006

# CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT

# CALIFORNIA

The Mid-Pacific Regional Office of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has found that an environmental impact statement is not required for the proposed execution of Interim Renewal Water Service Contracts for up to a two-year period from March 1, 2004 through February 28, 2006.  The Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) that is incorporated by reference supports this Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

Section 3409 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) stipulates that Reclamation must prepare appropriate environmental review for renewal of long-term water service contracts.  In accordance with Section 3404(c) of the CVPIA, water contracts may be renewed for an interim period not to exceed three years and for successive interim periods not to exceed two years prior to execution of new long term contracts. Because the existing interim contracts will expire in February 2004, before long-term contracts can be executed, this action is needed to provide continued water delivery to existing Central Valley Project (CVP) interim contractors. 

Reclamation initially prepared an EA in December 1994 to evaluate potential impacts of interim renewal of 67 water service contracts from December 1994 through February 1998.  The 67 contracts considered in the 1994 EA were reduced to 54 through consolidation, termination, or assignment. A FONSI for that action was issued in December 1994.

Reclamation completed supplemental EAs in February 1998, February 2000, February 2001, and February 2002 to evaluate potential impacts from interim renewal contracts for an additional two years from March 1998 through February 2000, an additional one-year from March 2000 to February 2001, and an additional 2 years from March 2002 to February 2004.  FONSIs for the 1998, 2000, and 2001 interim contracts renewals, were approved.

The proposed action is the execution of interim contracts between the United States and the interim contractors for up to two years.  The terms and conditions of the Existing Interim Renewal Contract are incorporated by reference into this proposed contract with the exception of the revision to Article 2.  A list of the proposed interim contracts addressed in this environmental documentation is included in this Draft FONSI.

As stated previously, Reclamation has found that implementation of the proposed action will result in no significant impact to the quality of the human environment.  This finding is supported by the following factors:

1. Water resources - Renewal of the interim contracts will not change contract water quantities from the quantities in existing contracts and will therefore not cause any increased use.  Therefore, there will be no effect on surface water supplies or quality. For the same reason, renewal of interim contracts will not result in any growth-inducing impacts that will increase water demand during the up to two-year time frame of this renewal.

2. Land use - The renewal of contracts will not provide for additional water supplies that could act as an incentive for conversion of native habitat for increased acreage of agricultural production, municipal and industrial development, or other activities.  The amount and types of crops will vary according to the annual water allocation and farming practices, and a small quantity of irrigation use may be changed to M&I purposes where the existing contract and governing laws and regulations allow.  Given the two-year time frame of this renewal, there will be no net effect on land use.

3. Biological resources - The amount and timing of storage at CVP reservoirs and flows in rivers and streams that convey CVP water during the two-year contract renewal period are expected to be similar to the amount and timing of storage and flows under historic CVP operations and will be in conformance with all existing biological opinions and with regulatory requirements.  Renewal of the interim contracts will not cause changes in existing programs to protect biological resources, and programs will continue to be implemented to ensure that no significant impacts to biological resources will occur.

4. Threatened and endangered species – [*Reclamation is in consultation with the NOAA Fisheries and the Fish and Wildlife Service on the proposed action.  The results of those consultations, along with implementation of all applicable requirements, ensure that there will be no significant effect to threatened or endangered species*]*.*

5. Cultural resources - The proposed action will not cause activities that could affect cultural resources, such as permanent changes in reservoir elevations, development of native habitat for agricultural or M&I use, or the construction of any new facilities.  No impacts to cultural resources are expected.

6. Recreation resources - The proposed action will not cause changes in historic CVP operations that determine reservoir storage or the amount or timing of water deliveries.  Therefore, no impacts to recreational resources are anticipated.

7. Demographics and environmental justice - The proposed action will not cause changes in historical water supplies or CVP operations and, as a result, no changes in population and the various indicators of social well being will result from the contract renewal.  The proposed action will support continued agricultural production and therefore will not cause changes to employment of minority and low-income populations. No disproportionate impacts to minority or low-income populations are expected to occur as a result of renewing these contracts.

8. Indian Trust Assets - Continued delivery of project water to the existing contracts will not affect any Indian Trust Assets because existing rights will not be affected, no physical changes to existing facilities are proposed, and no new facilities are proposed.

9. Economic resources - The renewal of interim CVP contracts will not cause changes from existing contracts in deliveries or pricing of CVP water, CVP facilities operations, CVP power generation and use, or recreation use, and will therefore not cause economic impacts. 

Information about the Draft Supplemental EA prepared for the proposed action or this Draft FONSI may be obtained from Frank Michny, Bureau of Reclamation, (916) 978-5025.

**Table 1. Central Valley Project****2004 Interim Renewal Contractors, IRC contract quantities, and the**

**proposed contract number.**

N:\152\Interim Renewal 2004 EA\Draft Interims 2004 FONSI.doc

# Draft

# FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT 

# for the

# 2004 RENEWAL OF INTERIM WATER SERVICE CONTRACTS 

# THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2006

# CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT

**CALIFORNIA**

Recommended:___________________________________________________________

  Environmental Specialist         Date

  Mid-Pacific Regional Office

Approved:_______________________________________________________________

  Regional Resources Manager                               Date

  Mid-Pacific Regional Office

FONSI No. 00-00-MP

5Draft FONSI No.  00-00-MP

December 2003 - Renewal of Interim Water Service Contract