FRESNO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review the draft environmental documents assessing the proposed approval of a temporary change in the maximum acceptable concentration of selenium for groundwater pumped into the upper portion of the Delta-Mendota Canal.
The temporary change is in response to drought conditions and would allow an additional 11 wells to cumulatively pump up to 21 cubic feet per second of groundwater through Sept. 30, 2016 (approximately 2,462 acre-feet in total).
A similar program was approved in 2014 and 2015 that allowed 14 and 13 wells, respectively to pump groundwater into the upper portion of the DMC that had between 2 and 5 ppb of selenium. As shown in the Environmental Assessment for this proposal, the addition of groundwater from the 2014 and 2015 actions did not cause a measurable increase in selenium in the DMC. In addition, the concentration of selenium at Check 13 (O’Neill Forebay) did not exceed 0.4 ppb while the 2014 and 2015 actions occurred, well below the water quality standard for human consumption of 50 ppb and wildlife of 2 ppb.
The draft EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=26444. If you encounter problems accessing the documents, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.
Comments are due by close of business Friday, August 5, 2016, please email comments to remerson@usbr.gov or fax to 559-487-5397. Written comments may also be mailed to Rain Emerson, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721
For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Emerson at 559-487-5196 (TTY 800-877-8339). Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Fresno office at the above address.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
