Alf W. Brandt

U.S. Department of the Interior

Office of the Solicitor

2800 Cottage Way, Room E-1712

Sacramento, CA  95825-1890

Dear Mr. Brandt:

REQUEST TO REOPEN PERIOD FOR SUBMITTING PHASE 6 EVIDENCE

This letter responds to your October 20, 1998 request on behalf of the Department of the Interior, the California Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to reopen the period for submitting evidence for Phase 6 of the Bay-Delta Water Right Hearing.  The subject of Phase 6 is the petition of the DWR and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for joint use of points of diversion in the southern Delta.

You indicated in your letter that all parties on the Bay-Delta service list were notified of your motion on the same date as your request.  By letter dated August 6, 1998, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) stated that it would allow parties fifteen days to raise objections on written motions.  Therefore, parties had until November 4, 5:00 PM to object.  As there were no objections, the motion is considered approved as of that date.

The SWRCB does not expect Phase 6 to begin before December 15.  In order to provide a three week period for other parties to review the new exhibits, additional Phase 6 evidence must be submitted to the SWRCB by November 23, 1998, at 5:00 PM.  Any other parties wishing to submit additional Phase 6 evidence may do so in accordance with the same schedule.

If you any questions relating to this matter, please contact Barbara Leidigh, Senior Staff Counsel, at (916) 657-2102 or Nick Wilcox, Chief of the Bay/Delta Unit at 657-0446.

Sincerely,

Signed on November 5, 1998

John Caffrey

Hearing Officer and Chairman

cc:   Bay Delta Service List