Proposed Cadiz Groundwater Storage DryYear Supply Program, Pipeline Right of Way and Plan Amendment

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-690-00-5101-01-B109; CACA-CACA-40467]

Proposed Cadiz Groundwater Storage Dry--Year Supply Program,

Pipeline Right of Way and Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, Needles

Field Office, Desert District, California.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft environmental impact statement

for proposed cadiz groundwater storage and dry--year supply program

pipeline right-of-way and plan amendment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and

Environmental Impact Record (EIR) in conjunction with the Metropolitan

Water District (MWD). The draft EIR/EIS 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.

The aim of the Cadiz Project is to ensure the reliability of

Metropolitan's existing water supply in the Colorado River Aqueduct.

The project achieves this goal by storing Colorado River water in the

Cadiz/Fenner aquifer and withdrawing the stored indigenous groundwater

during dry years. Proposed facilities reviewed in the Draft EIR/EIS are

a pipeline or canal for conveying water between the Colorado River

Aqueduct and the Cadiz/Fenner area, a pumping plant, spreading basins

for percolation of Colorado River water into the groundwater basin in

the Cadiz/Fenner area, a well field for extracting stored and

indigenous groundwater from the Cadiz/Fenner groundwater basin, and

associated power poles and lines along the conveyance pipeline and in

the well field. The project area is located in the eastern Mojave

Desert region of San Bernardino County in the Cadiz and Fenner valleys.

The proposed action includes an amendment of the California Desert

Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, because the propose right-of-way across

federal lands is outside an utility corridor.

The Draft EIR/EIS addresses existing environmental conditions,

potential impacts, and proposed mitigation measures. The Draft EIR/EIS

indicates the possibility of some significant adverse effects, even

after the implementation of the mitigation measures for the parameters

of paleontological resources, air quality, and hazardous materials.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the draft EIR/EIS and supporting

technical reports will be available for 90-day public review from

November 26, 1999 through February 22, 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

San Bernardino County Public Library, 104 West 4th Street, San

Bernardino, California 92415

Bureau of Land Management, Riverside Office, 6221 Box Spring Road,

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

There will be three public hearings as follows:

Wednesday, December 15, 1999, at 11 am

Cadiz Ranch, 96-726 Highway 66, Cadiz, California 92319

Wednesday, December 15, 1999, at 7 pm

Twentynine Palms City Hall, 6136

[[Page 68373]]

Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, California 92277

Thursday, December 16, 1999 at 7 pm

Needles City Hall, 1111 Bailey Avenue, Needles, California 92363

DATES: Comments must be received in writing to the Metropolitan Water

District no later than February 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIR/EIS should be mailed to:

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Post Office Box

54153, Los Angeles, California 90054-0153, Attention: Mr. Dirk Reed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information regarding the

project may be obtained from Mr. Reed at (213) 217-6163 or Mr. Jack

Safely at (213) 217-6981.

Dated: December 1, 1999.

Douglas Romoli,

Acting District Manager.

[FR Doc. 99-31604 Filed 12-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-40-P