• Lobby
  • Station 1.
    Welcome
  • Station 2.
    NEPA and Public Involvement
  • Station 3.
    Project Overview
  • Station 4.
    Historical Context and Alternatives
  • Station 5.
    Scope of Draft SEIS
  • Station 6.
    Draft SEIS Key Points
  • Station 7.
    Submit Comments
  • Station 8.
    Frequently Asked Questions

Scope of Draft SEIS

Shasta Dam

The Draft SEIS is limited in scope. Reclamation is releasing the SEIS to:

  • Provide information relevant to the application of Section 404(r) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) for the SLWRI to satisfy the CWA 404, 402 and 401 project permit requirements.
  • Respond to issues identified by USACE and EPA on the 2015 SLWRI FEIS.
    • USACE and EPA are cooperating agencies under NEPA to the Draft SEIS.
  • Update operations and modeling for CP-4A to the latest regulatory requirements.
  • Update information included in the 2015 SLWRI FEIS that is relevant to environmental concerns, specifically in regard to the McCloud River impacts.

Information related to the Application of 404(r) includes:

  • Updated description of the discharges to wetlands and other Waters of the United States (WOTUS) resulting from the relocations of infrastructure and recreation structures.
    • Infrastructure includes bridges and roadways impacted by the increased reservoir levels. Recreation structures include campgrounds, boat launches, and concession stands.
  • A programmatic approach to conducting alternatives analyses and the determination of the Least Environmentally Damaging Practical Alternative for relocation activities to minimize impacts to wetlands and other WOTUS.
  • Outline of a compensatory wetland mitigation plan.

Responses to issues identified by USACE and EPA include:

  • Responses to comments that the USACE and EPA made on the EIS that were not adequately addressed.

Updates to operations and benefits modeling for CP-4A include:

  • The 2020 Draft SEIS has been updated with the 2019 Biological Opinion and the 2018 Coordinated Operation Agreement. The 2015 SLWRI EIS was based on the 2008/2009 Biological Opinion and the 1986 Coordinated Operation Agreement.

Updates related to McCloud River Environmental Concerns include:

  • Clarified the status of the McCloud River in relation to Federal Wild & Scenic Rivers Act as a Wild and Scenic River.
  • Clarified the associated wild and scenic river values.
  • Clarified the impacts to the McCloud river.

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