Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the Pure Water San Diego Program, North City Project, San Diego County, California, 51937-51938 [2016-18616]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 151 / Friday, August 5, 2016 / Notices identified in the 1993 WRNF EIS) to the 23 leases that are producing or committed to a unit agreement or communitization agreement. Four of these leases had previously been part of the Willow Creek Unit and are now expired. If the unit contraction associated with these 4 leases is overturned on appeal, those leases would be reauthorized and the Alternative 2 stipulations would apply. As with Alternative 4, the BLM would offer the lessee the option of either accepting the new stipulations or having the lease in question cancelled. For undeveloped leases, cancellation would be accomplished through a BLM process and would require that the BLM reimburse any bonus bids and rental payments. The BLM developed this Preferred Alternative to address public comments and concerns submitted in response to the Draft EIS, while acknowledging recent decisions by the USFS governing future oil and gas leasing on the WRNF. The Preferred Alternative also recognizes the adverse economic impacts to local governments and technical challenges for the BLM associated with any decision to cancel producing or committed leases. The Draft EIS was released on November 20, 2015 (80 FR 72733), for a 49-day public comment period. During that period, the BLM held three public meetings in communities near the project area: Glenwood Springs, DeBeque and Carbondale, Colorado. The BLM received 60,515 comments during the formal comment period. The BLM worked with cooperating agencies (including the Environmental Protection Agency; USFS; the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties; the Cities of Glenwood Springs and Rifle, and the Towns of Carbondale, New Castle, Parachute and Silt) to prepare the Final EIS. The BLM also consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) informally and through a Biological Assessment; the Service issued a consultation memorandum on May 19, 2016, concurring with the BLM effects determinations of ‘‘may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect’’ for Ute ladies’-tresses orchid, Colorado hookless cactus and its critical habitat, Western yellow-billed cuckoo, Green-lineage cutthroat trout, Colorado pikeminnow and its critical habitat, Razorback sucker and its critical habitat, Humpback chub and its critical habitat, Bonytail and its critical habitat, and Canada lynx. In addition, the BLM notified the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Aug 04, 2016 Jkt 238001 (SHPO) via an informational letter that pursuant to the 2014 Protocol agreement between the BLM Colorado and the SHPO, this undertaking does not exceed any of the review thresholds that would require SHPO concurrence, and that there will be no adverse effect to historic properties. Finally, the BLM began tribal consultation for the project in April 2014 when the field manager sent a scoping letter via certified mail to the Ute Indian Tribe (Uintah and Ouray Reservation), Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Consultation and outreach continued through April 22, 2016, when the BLM sent the tribes a letter that identified the Preferred Alternative and summarized cultural resource records within the area of potential effect (including potential Traditional Cultural Properties). The letter also offered the opportunity for comments or clarifications. The BLM will continue to offer opportunities for the tribes to identify properties of possible traditional religious and cultural importance that may be affected by the alternatives and to express their concerns throughout the project as stipulated under EO 13175, November 6, 2000. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10 Ruth Welch, BLM Colorado State Director. [FR Doc. 2016–18542 Filed 8–4–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation [RR03510000, XXXR0680R1, RR171260120019400] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement for the Pure Water San Diego Program, North City Project, San Diego County, California Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51937 The Bureau of Reclamation and the City of San Diego will prepare a joint Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the effects of the North City Project, the first phase of the Pure Water San Diego Program (Pure Water Program). The Pure Water Program is a water and wastewater facilities plan to produce potable water from recycled water. Interested parties are invited to comment on the scope of the environmental analysis and the proposed alternatives. Two public meetings are scheduled. DATES: Please submit written comments on or before September 6, 2016. Public meeting dates: 1. August 23, 2016, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Scripps Miramar Ranch Public Library. 2. August 25, 2016, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., City of San Diego Public Utilities Department. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Doug McPherson, Southern California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 27708 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 202, Temecula, CA 92590; or email to dmcpherson@usbr.gov. Public meeting locations: 1. Scripps Miramar Ranch Public Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Drive, San Diego, CA. 2. City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, 9192 Topaz Way, San Diego, CA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug McPherson, Southern California Area Office general telephone number 951–695–5310; or email dmcpherson@ usbr.gov. SUMMARY: This notice is provided pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)), and Department of the Interior regulations for implementation of NEPA (43 CFR part 46). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: North City Project The proposed project will expand the existing North City Water Reclamation Plant and construct an adjacent Advanced Water Purification Facility with a purified water pipeline to Miramar Reservoir. A project alternative would install a longer pipeline to deliver product water to the larger San Vicente reservoir. Other project components include: A new pump station and forcemain to deliver additional wastewater to the North City Water Reclamation Plant, a brine discharge pipeline, and upgrades to the existing Metropolitan Biosolids Center to accommodate additional E:\FR\FM\05AUN1.SGM 05AUN1 51938 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 151 / Friday, August 5, 2016 / Notices biosolids from the increased treatment capacity at the North City Water Reclamation Plant. A new electrical transmission line is proposed, connecting the North City Water Reclamation Plant to the future cogeneration facility at the Metropolitan Biosolids Center to deliver power for North City Project components. The electrical transmission line would cross Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and will require approval by the United States Marine Corps. Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the city of San Diego, to participate in the planning, design, and construction of demonstration and permanent facilities to reclaim and reuse water in the San Diego metropolitan service area. This authority is delegated to the Bureau of Reclamation. The Federal share of the costs of the facilities shall not exceed 25 per cent of the total. Federal Funds for the operation or maintenance of the project are not authorized. Background On average, eighty-five percent (85%) of the City’s water supply is imported from the Colorado River and northern California. This reliance on imported water causes San Diego to be vulnerable to supply shortages and price increases. With few local water supply options, the City has explored potable and nonpotable reuse options of treated wastewater. In 2011, the City started operating a one million gallon per day (MGD) demonstration scale advanced water purification facility at the North City Water Reclamation Plant site and confirmed that the purified water complied with all federal and state drinking water standards. Scoping Process mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Pure Water San Diego Program The Pure Water Program will ultimately produce 83 MGD of locallycontrolled water, recycling a valuable and limited resource that is currently discharged to the Pacific ocean. The program will be implemented in phases over a 20-year period, grouped by geographical area: North City, Central Area and South Bay. The North City Project will produce 30 MGD of purified water and is scheduled to be operational in 2021. The Central Area and/or South Bay projects are scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2035 and will produce a combined total up to 53 MGD. The Pure Water Program will make San Diego more water independent while providing increased protection of the ocean environment. The City made a commitment to begin implementing the Pure Water Program in their application to renew the Clean Water Act § 301(h) modified ocean discharge permit for the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant (NPDES permit no. CA0107409). Authority Federal assistance is authorized by the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act of 1992 (Title XVI of Pub. L. 102–575). Section 1612, San Diego Area Water Reclamation Program, directs the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Aug 04, 2016 Jkt 238001 The City is filing a Notice of Preparation pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, and will hold two public scoping meetings. To avoid duplication with State and local procedures, we plan to use the scoping process initiated by the City. The Notice of Preparation, Notice of Scoping Meetings, and a proposed Scope of Work are available at https:// www.sandiego.gov/planning/programs/ ceqa. The site proposed for the Advanced Water Purification Facility contains vernal pool habitat supporting endangered species. The City is preparing a Vernal Pool Habitat Conservation Plan to comply with the Endangered Species Act. Pipeline alignments and/or drinking water service areas may include areas of low income and minority populations. Environmental justice issues are not anticipated, but will be evaluated. No known Indian Trust Assets are associated with the proposed action. Written comments are requested to help identify alternatives and issues that should be analyzed. Federal, State and local agencies, tribes, and the general public are invited to participate in the environmental review process. Public Disclosure Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Dated: July 29, 2016. Jennifer McCloskey, Acting Regional Director, Lower Colorado Region. [FR Doc. 2016–18616 Filed 8–4–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4332–90–P PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement [S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 167S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A000 16XS501520] Notice of Proposed Information Collection; Request for Comments for 1029–0117 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information for Permit Applications— Minimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related Information. The information collection request has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost. DATES: OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, the public should submit comments to OMB by September 6, 2016, in order to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Department of the Interior Desk Officer, via email at OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov, or by facsimile to (202) 395–5806. Also, please send a copy of your comments to John Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave. NW., Room 203—SIB, Washington, DC 20240, or electronically to jtrelease@osmre.gov. Please reference 1029–0117 in your correspondence. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To receive a copy of the information collection request contact John Trelease at (202) 208–2783, or electronically at jtrelease@osmre.gov. You may also review the information collection request online at https:// www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implement provisions of the Paperwork SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05AUN1.SGM 05AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 151 (Friday, August 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51937-51938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18616]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR03510000, XXXR0680R1, RR171260120019400]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement for the Pure Water San Diego Program, 
North City Project, San Diego County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation and the City of San Diego will 
prepare a joint Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact 
Statement to evaluate the effects of the North City Project, the first 
phase of the Pure Water San Diego Program (Pure Water Program). The 
Pure Water Program is a water and wastewater facilities plan to produce 
potable water from recycled water.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on the scope of the 
environmental analysis and the proposed alternatives. Two public 
meetings are scheduled.

DATES: Please submit written comments on or before September 6, 2016.
    Public meeting dates:
    1. August 23, 2016, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Scripps Miramar Ranch 
Public Library.
    2. August 25, 2016, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., City of San Diego Public 
Utilities Department.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Doug McPherson, Southern California 
Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 27708 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 202, 
Temecula, CA 92590; or email to dmcpherson@usbr.gov.
    Public meeting locations:
    1. Scripps Miramar Ranch Public Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Drive, 
San Diego, CA.
    2. City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, 9192 Topaz Way, 
San Diego, CA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug McPherson, Southern California 
Area Office general telephone number 951-695-5310; or email 
dmcpherson@usbr.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is provided pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)), and 
Department of the Interior regulations for implementation of NEPA (43 
CFR part 46).

North City Project

    The proposed project will expand the existing North City Water 
Reclamation Plant and construct an adjacent Advanced Water Purification 
Facility with a purified water pipeline to Miramar Reservoir. A project 
alternative would install a longer pipeline to deliver product water to 
the larger San Vicente reservoir.
    Other project components include: A new pump station and forcemain 
to deliver additional wastewater to the North City Water Reclamation 
Plant, a brine discharge pipeline, and upgrades to the existing 
Metropolitan Biosolids Center to accommodate additional

[[Page 51938]]

biosolids from the increased treatment capacity at the North City Water 
Reclamation Plant.
    A new electrical transmission line is proposed, connecting the 
North City Water Reclamation Plant to the future cogeneration facility 
at the Metropolitan Biosolids Center to deliver power for North City 
Project components. The electrical transmission line would cross Marine 
Corps Air Station Miramar and will require approval by the United 
States Marine Corps.

Background

    On average, eighty-five percent (85%) of the City's water supply is 
imported from the Colorado River and northern California. This reliance 
on imported water causes San Diego to be vulnerable to supply shortages 
and price increases.
    With few local water supply options, the City has explored potable 
and non-potable reuse options of treated wastewater. In 2011, the City 
started operating a one million gallon per day (MGD) demonstration 
scale advanced water purification facility at the North City Water 
Reclamation Plant site and confirmed that the purified water complied 
with all federal and state drinking water standards.

Pure Water San Diego Program

    The Pure Water Program will ultimately produce 83 MGD of locally-
controlled water, recycling a valuable and limited resource that is 
currently discharged to the Pacific ocean. The program will be 
implemented in phases over a 20-year period, grouped by geographical 
area: North City, Central Area and South Bay.
    The North City Project will produce 30 MGD of purified water and is 
scheduled to be operational in 2021. The Central Area and/or South Bay 
projects are scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2035 and will 
produce a combined total up to 53 MGD.
    The Pure Water Program will make San Diego more water independent 
while providing increased protection of the ocean environment. The City 
made a commitment to begin implementing the Pure Water Program in their 
application to renew the Clean Water Act Sec.  301(h) modified ocean 
discharge permit for the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant (NPDES 
permit no. CA0107409).

Authority

    Federal assistance is authorized by the Reclamation Wastewater and 
Groundwater Study and Facilities Act of 1992 (Title XVI of Pub. L. 102-
575). Section 1612, San Diego Area Water Reclamation Program, directs 
the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the city of San 
Diego, to participate in the planning, design, and construction of 
demonstration and permanent facilities to reclaim and reuse water in 
the San Diego metropolitan service area. This authority is delegated to 
the Bureau of Reclamation. The Federal share of the costs of the 
facilities shall not exceed 25 per cent of the total. Federal Funds for 
the operation or maintenance of the project are not authorized.

Scoping Process

    The City is filing a Notice of Preparation pursuant to the 
California Environmental Quality Act, and will hold two public scoping 
meetings. To avoid duplication with State and local procedures, we plan 
to use the scoping process initiated by the City. The Notice of 
Preparation, Notice of Scoping Meetings, and a proposed Scope of Work 
are available at https://www.sandiego.gov/planning/programs/ceqa.
    The site proposed for the Advanced Water Purification Facility 
contains vernal pool habitat supporting endangered species. The City is 
preparing a Vernal Pool Habitat Conservation Plan to comply with the 
Endangered Species Act.
    Pipeline alignments and/or drinking water service areas may include 
areas of low income and minority populations. Environmental justice 
issues are not anticipated, but will be evaluated. No known Indian 
Trust Assets are associated with the proposed action.
    Written comments are requested to help identify alternatives and 
issues that should be analyzed. Federal, State and local agencies, 
tribes, and the general public are invited to participate in the 
environmental review process.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: July 29, 2016.
Jennifer McCloskey,
Acting Regional Director, Lower Colorado Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-18616 Filed 8-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P

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