[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 205 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63258-63259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27119]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[(610-5101-01-B109) CACA-40467]


Cadiz Groundwater Storage and Dry-Year Supply Program Proposed 
Pipeline and Plan Amendment, San Bernardino County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District.

ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA) of supplement to the draft 
environmental impact statement for proposed Cadiz Groundwater Storage 
and Dry-Year Supply Program Pipeline Right-of-Way and plan amendment.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management has 
prepared a joint Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(Supplement) and Draft Environmental Impact Report in conjunction with 
the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). The Draft 
EIR/EIS, published in November 1999, evaluates a range of alternatives 
for conveying water between the Colorado River Aqueduct and the aquifer 
underlying the Cadiz and Fenner Valleys across a proposed right-of-way 
for a pipeline. A plan amendment to the California Desert Conservation 
Area Plan (1980) is also proposed to allow for the proposed right-of-
way for the pipeline outside of an existing utility corridor. This 
Supplement provides additional information regarding management of 
groundwater resources and related air quality issues in response to 
comments on the Draft EIR/EIS.
    The aim of the Cadiz Project is to ensure the reliability of 
Metropolitan's existing water supply in the Colorado River Aqueduct. 
The project would achieve this goal by storing Colorado River water in 
the Cadiz/Fenner aquifer and withdrawing the stored water along with 
indigenous groundwater during dry years. The project area is located in 
the eastern Mojave Desert region of San Bernardino County in the Cadiz 
and Fenner valleys and crosses federal land administered by the BLM.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Supplement will be available 
for 45-day public review from October 20, 2000, through December 4, 
2000, at the following locations:
Needles Branch Library, 1111 Bailey Avenue, Needles, California 92363
Twentynine Palms Branch Library, 6078 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, 
California 92277
Barstow Branch Library, 304 East Buena Vista, Barstow, California 92311
Norman Feldheym Central Library, 555 West 6th Street, San Bernardino, 
California 92410
Bureau of Land Management, Riverside Office, 6221 Box Springs 
Boulevard, Riverside, California 92507
Bureau of Land Management, Needles Office, 101 West Spike's Road, 
Needles, California 92363
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 700 North Alameda 
Street, Los Angeles, California 90012

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by the Metropolitan Water 
District or by the Bureau of Land Management no later than December 4, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Supplement should be mailed to: 
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Post Office Box 
54153, Los Angeles, California 90054-0153, Attention: Mr. Jack Safely, 
or U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 6221 Box Springs Boulevard, 
Riverside, California 92507, Attention: Mr. James Williams.

[[Page 63259]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information regarding the 
project may be obtained from Mr. Jack Safely at (213) 217-6981 or Mr. 
James Williams at (909) 697-5390.

    Dated: October 17, 2000.
Douglas A. Romoli,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-27119 Filed 10-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P