Proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project; Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement, 13737-13738 [2018-06343]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 62 / Friday, March 30, 2018 / Notices 455a, Monterey, CA 93940 or mbnms.comments@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. Dated: March 27, 2018. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–06498 Filed 3–29–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project; Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of a final environmental impact report/ environmental impact statement. AGENCY: California American Water Company (CalAm) submitted a permit application to NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) to construct and operate a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination facility project (Project) in Monterey County, California. NOAA is conducting the permit review process in accordance with review and consultation requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable statutes. NOAA, as Federal lead agency for purposes of NEPA, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the state lead agency for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), have prepared a joint final environmental impact review/ environmental impact statement (EIR/ EIS) that analyzes the potential effects on the physical and human environment of the proposed action and alternatives. DATES: This notice is applicable March 30, 2018. ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIR/EIS can be downloaded or viewed on the internet at https:// montereybay.noaa.gov/resourcepro/ resmanissues/desal-projects.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Grimmer at 99 Pacific Ave., Bldg. amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:57 Mar 29, 2018 Jkt 244001 I. Background CalAm submitted a permit application for construction and operation of its proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (MPWSP or Project). The purpose of the MPWSP is to replace existing water supplies for CalAm’s Monterey District service area that have been constrained by legal decisions affecting the Carmel River and Seaside Groundwater Basin water resources. The MPWSP comprises various facilities and improvements, including: A sub-surface seawater intake system; a 9.6-milliongallons-per-day (mgd) reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant; desalinated water storage and conveyance facilities; and expanded Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) facilities. The desalination facility would be capable of producing 9.6 million gallons per day (MGD) of potable water on a 46acre site located north of the City of Marina on unincorporated Monterey County property. The MPWSP proposes ten subsurface slant wells (nine new wells and conversion of an existing test well) to draw seawater from beneath the ocean floor in Monterey Bay to produce the source water for the desalination plant. The subsurface slant wells would be located primarily within the City of Marina, in the active mining area of the CEMEX sand mining facility. The slant wells would be approximately 700 to 1000 feet in length and extend beneath the coastal dunes, sandy beach, and the surf zone, terminating approximately 161 to 356 feet seaward of the Mean High Water line and at a depth of 190 to 210 feet below the seafloor. Up to 24.1 mgd of source water would be needed to produce 9.6 mgd of desalinated product water. Under the proposed project, the desalination plant would generate approximately 13.98 mgd of brine, including 0.4 mgd of decanted backwash water. The brine would be discharged into Monterey Bay via a 36inch diameter pipeline to a new connection with the existing Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency’s (MRWPCA) outfall and diffuser located offshore. II. NOAA Proposed Action and Alternatives NOAA is releasing a final EIR/EIS prepared in accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13737 of NEPA. 40 CFR 1500–1508. NOAA’s proposed action would be to authorize the installation of a subsurface seawater intake system, authorize the discharge of brine into MBNMS via an existing outfall pipe, and permit the continued presence of pipelines in MBNMS to transport seawater to or from a desalination facility. The Final EIR/EIS identifies and assesses potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project, and identifies six alternatives, plus a no action alternative. Federal agencies would use the EIR/EIS to consider related permits or other approvals for the Project as proposed. NOAA’s preferred alternative is Alternative 5a, which is also the environmentally preferred alternative. Alternative 5a would be implemented in conjunction with the Pure Water Monterey Groundwater Replenishment Project (GWR), which would offer the same amount of freshwater as the proposed project through a 6.4 mgd desalination plant and the purchase and extraction of 3,500 afy of GWR Project water from the Seaside Groundwater Basin. Although the combined Alternative 5a and GWR project would result in a larger physical footprint than the proposed action alone, the pairing of Alternative 5a and the GWR project would result in reduced operational energy use and reduced GHG emissions compared to the proposed project. In addition, the combination of Alternative 5a and the GWR Project would result in reduced effects on groundwater levels influenced by fewer slant wells and less volume of pumping compared to the proposed project, and the GWR project would provide water to the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project that would benefit the groundwater basin. Lastly, Alternative 5a paired with the GWR project would be consistent with the 2016 California Action Plan seeking integrated water supply solutions, the Governor’s drought proclamations, the CPUC Water Action Plan goal of promoting water infrastructure investment, the California Ocean Plan, and MBNMS Desalination Guidelines. III. NEPA Process and Federal Consultations In accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of NEPA, NOAA published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS for the proposed project on August 26, 2015 (80 FR 51787). During the EIS scoping meeting held on September 10, 2015, five participants commented publically on the proposed project. Twelve written comments were received throughout the public comment period. The complete written comments are available for E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1 13738 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 62 / Friday, March 30, 2018 / Notices review at: https://www.regulations.gov/ docket?D=NOAA-NOS-2015-0105. On January 13, 2017 a Draft EIR/EIS was released for public comment. NOAA and CPUC received approximately 82 comment letters, two form letter submissions, as well as 18 oral comments from the public hearing. Public and agency comments on the Draft EIR/EIS did not result in finding any impacts more adverse than disclosed in the DEIR/EIS. Furthermore, there were no substantial changes to the proposed project relevant to environmental concerns or significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts. All comments are available and addressed in the FEIR/EIS. In addition, the complete written comments are available for review at: https:// www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAANOS-2016-0156. As part of the NEPA process, NOAA has completed federal interagency consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act for Essential Fish Habitat. Consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act is ongoing. NOAA has also completed federal interagency consultation under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. With respect to the Coastal Zone Management Act, Subpart D of the federal consistency regulations governs consistency review for activities requiring a federal license or permit. This section requires the applicant to conduct any required consistency review with the state coastal commission, and provide the Federal permitting agency with a consistency certification. CalAm is currently in discussions with the California Coastal Commission. All final consultation documents will be made available on the website listed above. Finally, the United States Department of the Army and the United States Army Corps of Engineers were cooperating agencies on this FEIR/FEIS. amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. Dated: March 23, 2018. John Armor, Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. [FR Doc. 2018–06343 Filed 3–29–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:57 Mar 29, 2018 Jkt 244001 COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED O’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 8501–8506) in connection with the product proposed for addition to the Procurement List. Procurement List; Addition and Deletions End of Certification Accordingly, the following product is added to the Procurement List: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Addition to and deletions from the Procurement List. AGENCY: This action adds a product to the Procurement List that will be furnished by nonprofit agency employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes products from the Procurement List previously furnished by such agencies. SUMMARY: Date added to and deleted from the Procurement List: April 29, 2018. ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, 1401 S Clark Street, Suite 715, Arlington, Virginia 22202–4149. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy B. Jensen, Telephone: (703) 603– 7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: Addition On 1/19/2018 (83 FR 13), the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice of proposed addition to the Procurement List. After consideration of the material presented to it concerning capability of qualified nonprofit agency to provide the product and impact of the addition on the current or most recent contractors, the Committee has determined that the product listed below is suitable for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 8501–8506 and 41 CFR 51–2.4. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. The action will not result in any additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities other than the small organizations that will furnish the product to the Government. 2. The action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish the product to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-Wagner- PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Product NSN—Product Name: 2815–01–492–5709— Parts Kit, Diesel Engine Hydraulic Transmission Mandatory for: 100% of the requirement of the Department of Defense Mandatory Source of Supply: Georgia Industries for the Blind, Bainbridge, GA Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime Deletions On 2/9/2018 (83 FR 28) and 2/23/ 2018 (83 FR 37), the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notices of proposed deletions from the Procurement List. After consideration of the relevant matter presented, the Committee has determined that the products listed below are no longer suitable for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 8501–8506 and 41 CFR 51–2.4. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. The action will not result in additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities. 2. The action may result in authorizing small entities to furnish the products to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 8501–8506) in connection with the products deleted from the Procurement List. End of Certification Accordingly, the following products are deleted from the Procurement List: Products NSN(s)—Product Name(s): 7920–01–615–6967—Scrub Brush, Wire, Black Tempered, Ergonomic, 5″ 7920–01–615–6968—Wire Brush, Wire, Knuckle Guard, Long Handle, Ergonomic, 6″ × 11⁄8″ 7920–01–615–6971—Scrub Brush, Wire, Knuckle Guard, Long Handle, Ergonomic, 6″ × 11⁄8″, w/built-in scraper 7920–01–615–6972—Scrub Brush, Polypropylene Bristles, Extension PoleCompatible, 2″ × 8″ 7920–01–615–6973—Scrub Brush, Wire, Stainless, Ergonomic, 5″ E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13737-13738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06343]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project; Notice of 
Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a final environmental impact report/
environmental impact statement.

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

SUMMARY: California American Water Company (CalAm) submitted a permit 
application to NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) to 
construct and operate a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination facility 
project (Project) in Monterey County, California. NOAA is conducting 
the permit review process in accordance with review and consultation 
requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
other applicable statutes. NOAA, as Federal lead agency for purposes of 
NEPA, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the state 
lead agency for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act 
(CEQA), have prepared a joint final environmental impact review/
environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) that analyzes the potential 
effects on the physical and human environment of the proposed action 
and alternatives.

DATES: This notice is applicable March 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIR/EIS can be downloaded or viewed on the 
internet at https://montereybay.noaa.gov/resourcepro/resmanissues/desal-projects.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Grimmer at 99 Pacific Ave., 
Bldg. 455a, Monterey, CA 93940 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    CalAm submitted a permit application for construction and operation 
of its proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (MPWSP or 
Project). The purpose of the MPWSP is to replace existing water 
supplies for CalAm's Monterey District service area that have been 
constrained by legal decisions affecting the Carmel River and Seaside 
Groundwater Basin water resources. The MPWSP comprises various 
facilities and improvements, including: A sub-surface seawater intake 
system; a 9.6-million-gallons-per-day (mgd) reverse osmosis (RO) 
desalination plant; desalinated water storage and conveyance 
facilities; and expanded Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) facilities.
    The desalination facility would be capable of producing 9.6 million 
gallons per day (MGD) of potable water on a 46-acre site located north 
of the City of Marina on unincorporated Monterey County property. The 
MPWSP proposes ten subsurface slant wells (nine new wells and 
conversion of an existing test well) to draw seawater from beneath the 
ocean floor in Monterey Bay to produce the source water for the 
desalination plant. The subsurface slant wells would be located 
primarily within the City of Marina, in the active mining area of the 
CEMEX sand mining facility. The slant wells would be approximately 700 
to 1000 feet in length and extend beneath the coastal dunes, sandy 
beach, and the surf zone, terminating approximately 161 to 356 feet 
seaward of the Mean High Water line and at a depth of 190 to 210 feet 
below the seafloor. Up to 24.1 mgd of source water would be needed to 
produce 9.6 mgd of desalinated product water.
    Under the proposed project, the desalination plant would generate 
approximately 13.98 mgd of brine, including 0.4 mgd of decanted 
backwash water. The brine would be discharged into Monterey Bay via a 
36-inch diameter pipeline to a new connection with the existing 
Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency's (MRWPCA) outfall and 
diffuser located offshore.

II. NOAA Proposed Action and Alternatives

    NOAA is releasing a final EIR/EIS prepared in accordance with 
section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c), and the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA. 40 CFR 1500-1508. NOAA's proposed action would be 
to authorize the installation of a subsurface seawater intake system, 
authorize the discharge of brine into MBNMS via an existing outfall 
pipe, and permit the continued presence of pipelines in MBNMS to 
transport seawater to or from a desalination facility.
    The Final EIR/EIS identifies and assesses potential environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed project, and identifies six 
alternatives, plus a no action alternative. Federal agencies would use 
the EIR/EIS to consider related permits or other approvals for the 
Project as proposed. NOAA's preferred alternative is Alternative 5a, 
which is also the environmentally preferred alternative. Alternative 5a 
would be implemented in conjunction with the Pure Water Monterey 
Groundwater Replenishment Project (GWR), which would offer the same 
amount of freshwater as the proposed project through a 6.4 mgd 
desalination plant and the purchase and extraction of 3,500 afy of GWR 
Project water from the Seaside Groundwater Basin. Although the combined 
Alternative 5a and GWR project would result in a larger physical 
footprint than the proposed action alone, the pairing of Alternative 5a 
and the GWR project would result in reduced operational energy use and 
reduced GHG emissions compared to the proposed project. In addition, 
the combination of Alternative 5a and the GWR Project would result in 
reduced effects on groundwater levels influenced by fewer slant wells 
and less volume of pumping compared to the proposed project, and the 
GWR project would provide water to the Castroville Seawater Intrusion 
Project that would benefit the groundwater basin. Lastly, Alternative 
5a paired with the GWR project would be consistent with the 2016 
California Action Plan seeking integrated water supply solutions, the 
Governor's drought proclamations, the CPUC Water Action Plan goal of 
promoting water infrastructure investment, the California Ocean Plan, 
and MBNMS Desalination Guidelines.

III. NEPA Process and Federal Consultations

    In accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of NEPA, NOAA published a 
Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS for the proposed project on 
August 26, 2015 (80 FR 51787). During the EIS scoping meeting held on 
September 10, 2015, five participants commented publically on the 
proposed project. Twelve written comments were received throughout the 
public comment period. The complete written comments are available for

[[Page 13738]]

review at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NOS-2015-0105.
    On January 13, 2017 a Draft EIR/EIS was released for public 
comment. NOAA and CPUC received approximately 82 comment letters, two 
form letter submissions, as well as 18 oral comments from the public 
hearing. Public and agency comments on the Draft EIR/EIS did not result 
in finding any impacts more adverse than disclosed in the DEIR/EIS. 
Furthermore, there were no substantial changes to the proposed project 
relevant to environmental concerns or significant new circumstances or 
information relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the 
proposed action or its impacts. All comments are available and 
addressed in the FEIR/EIS. In addition, the complete written comments 
are available for review at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NOS-2016-0156.
    As part of the NEPA process, NOAA has completed federal interagency 
consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service under section 7 
of the Endangered Species Act and under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act for Essential Fish Habitat. 
Consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service under section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act is ongoing. NOAA has also completed federal 
interagency consultation under section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act. With respect to the Coastal Zone Management Act, 
Subpart D of the federal consistency regulations governs consistency 
review for activities requiring a federal license or permit. This 
section requires the applicant to conduct any required consistency 
review with the state coastal commission, and provide the Federal 
permitting agency with a consistency certification. CalAm is currently 
in discussions with the California Coastal Commission. All final 
consultation documents will be made available on the website listed 
above. Finally, the United States Department of the Army and the United 
States Army Corps of Engineers were cooperating agencies on this FEIR/
FEIS.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.

    Dated: March 23, 2018.
John Armor,
Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. 2018-06343 Filed 3-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.