[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 41974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20434]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Bay-Delta Advisory Council Meetings

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Bay-Delta Advisory Council (BDAC) will meet to discuss 
several issues including: general concurrence on a CALFED Bay-Delta 
Program watershed management plan; update from the fact finding BDAC 
Ecosystem Restoration Work Group and discussion on the independent 
scientific review of the CALFED Ecosystem Restoration Program Plan; an 
update on the activities of the Ecosystem Restoration program and the 
Ecosystem Roundtable subcommittee; an update from the fact BDAC 
Assurances Work Group; discussion on the detailed evaluation of the 
Phase II alternatives and comparison of several alternatives using an 
sample decision matrix; and other issues. The Ecosystem Roundtable (a 
subcommittee of the BDAC) will meet to discuss the following issues: an 
update on the type and number of proposals received as a result of the 
1997 Category III Request for Proposals; the evaluation and selection 
process for the proposals; and future priorities and schedule for the 
Restoration Coordination Program. Interested persons may make oral 
statements to the BDAC or to the Ecosystem Roundtable or may file 
written statements for consideration.

DATES: The Bay-Delta Advisory Council meeting will be held from 9:30 
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 4, 1997. The Ecosystem 
Roundtable will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 
20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Bay-Delta Advisory Council will meet at the Berkeley Marina 
Marriott, 200 Marina Blvd., Berkeley, CA 94710; Phone 510-548-7920. The 
Ecosystem Roundtable will meet in Room 1131, 1416 Ninth Street, 
Sacramento, California.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: For the BDAC meeting, contact 
Sharon Gross, CALFED Bay-Delta Program, at (916) 657-2666. For the 
Ecosystem Roundtable meeting contact Kate Hansel, CALFED Bay-Delta 
Program, at (916) 657-2666. If reasonable accommodation is needed due 
to a diability, please contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Office 
at (916) 653-6952 or TDD (916) 653-6934 at least one week prior to the 
meeting.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin 
Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta system) is a critically important part of 
California's natural environment and economy. In recognition of the 
serious problems facing the region and the complex resource management 
decisions that must be made, the state of California and the Federal 
government are working together to stabilize, protect, restore, and 
enhance the Bay-Delta system. The State and Federal agencies with 
management and regulatory responsibilities in the Bay-Delta system are 
working together as CALFED to provide policy direction and oversight 
for the process.
    One area of Bay-Delta management includes the establishment of a 
joint State-Federal process to develop long-term solutions to problems 
in the Bay-Delta system related to fish and wildlife, water supply 
reliability, natural disasters, and water quality. The intent is to 
develop a comprehensive and balanced plan which addresses all of the 
resource problem. This effort, the CALFED Bay-Delta Program (Program), 
is being carried out under the policy direction of CALFED. The CALFED 
Bay-Delta Program is exploring and the developing a long-term solution 
for a cooperative planning process that will determine the most 
appropriate strategy and actions necessary to improve water quality, 
restore health to the Bay-Delta ecosystem, provide for a variety of 
beneficial uses, and minimize Bay-Delta system vulnerability. A group 
of citizen advisors representing California's agricultural, 
environmental, urban, business, fishing, and other interests who have a 
stake in finding long term solutions for the problems affecting the 
Bay-Delta system has been chartered under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) as the Bay-Delta Advisory Council (BDAC) to advise 
CALFED on the program mission, problems to be addressed, and objectives 
for the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. BDAC provides a forum to help ensure 
public participation, and will review reports and other materials 
prepared by CALFED staff. BDAC has established a subcommittee called 
the Ecosystem Roundtable to provide input on annual work plans to 
implement ecosystem restoration projects and programs.
    Minutes of the meetings will be maintained by the CALFED Bay-Delta 
Program, Suite 1155, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, California 95814, 
and will be available for public inspection during regular business 
hours, Monday through Friday within 30 days following the meeting.

    Dated: July 29, 1997.
Roger Patterson,
Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 97-20434 Filed 8-1-97; 8:45 am]
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