United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Mitigation of Contaminated Transboundary Flows Project, 17595-17597 [2021-06903]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 63 / Monday, April 5, 2021 / Notices technology for the full useful life of the vehicle. • The application must contain a detailed description of the off-cycle technology and how it functions to reduce CO2 emissions under conditions not represented on the FTP and HFET compliance tests. • The application must contain a list of the vehicle model(s) which will be equipped with the technology. • The application must contain a detailed description of the test vehicles selected and an engineering analysis that supports the selection of those vehicles for testing. • The application must contain all testing and/or simulation data required under the regulations, plus any other data the manufacturer has considered in the analysis. Finally, the alternative methodology must be approved by EPA prior to the manufacturer using it to generate credits. As part of the review process defined by regulation, an application for credits using an alternative methodology submitted to EPA for consideration must be made available for public comment, unless EPA has previously approved the alternative methodology for determining credits and has chosen to waive the notice and comment period for an application that meets the regulatory requirements for such a waiver. Further, EPA retains the option to require a notice and opportunity for public comment in cases where a new application deviates in significant respects from a previously approved methodology or raises novel substantive issues.4 EPA will consider public comments as part of its final decision to approve or deny the request for off-cycle credits. II. Off-Cycle Credit Application jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Active Climate Control Seat Technology Using the alternative methodology approach discussed above, FCA is requesting off-cycle greenhouse gas (‘‘GHG’’) credits for the use of a Gentherm active climate control seating (‘‘ACCS’’) technologies. The company’s analysis in their application yields a GHG credit equal to 2.3 grams CO2 per mile for passenger cars and 2.9 grams CO2 per mile for trucks on vehicles equipped with this technology in the front seating locations. Active seat ventilation credits were defined in the 2017–2025 light duty greenhouse gas and CAFE rulemaking and were added to the predefined list of credits that could be claimed at 1.0 grams CO2 per mile and 1.3 grams CO2 4 See 40 CFR 86.1869–12(d)(2). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:23 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 253001 per mile for trucks. The credits and their values were determined in a 2005 study performed by researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (‘‘NREL’’) in which they evaluated a seat ventilation system that used two small fans to pull air through the seat. When occupant comfort is achieved the air conditioning system no longer needs to work as hard to cool down the cabin. This translates to lowered air conditioning consumption and lower GHG emissions due to lowered air conditioning consumption while improving occupant comfort. The NREL study was published as an SAE technical paper in 2007 available at https://www.sae.org/publications/ technicalpapers/content/2007-01-1194/. More recent advances in ventilated seat technology offer higher levels of performance in current vehicles over the simpler ventilated seat system that was the subject of the 2005 NREL study. The active climate-controlled seat technology developed by Gentherm and used in FCA premium products was subsequently evaluated by Gentherm in cooperation with NREL using comparable methodologies to those employed by NREL in 2005. The more advanced Gentherm ACCS system provides a greater level of comfort resulting in lower air conditioning consumption and air conditioning related emissions through the use of its active cooling technology. Details are provided in the application by FCA. FCA’s request is for approval of similar methodology and for the same amount of credits per vehicle granted in the General Motors request to EPA for off-cycle. Credit dated September 29, 2017 and subsequently granted in EPA decision document EPA–420–R–18–014. Details of FCA’s analysis and the approved request by General Motors can be found in the corresponding the manufacturer’s applications. III. EPA Decision Process EPA has reviewed the application for completeness and is now making the application available for public review and comment as required by the regulations. The off-cycle credit application submitted by the manufacturer (with confidential business information redacted) has been placed in the public docket (see ADDRESSES section above) and on EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/vehicleand-engine-certification/complianceinformation-light-duty-greenhouse-gasghg-standards. EPA is providing a 30-day comment period on the application for off-cycle credits described in this notice, as PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17595 specified by the regulations. The manufacturer may submit a written rebuttal of comments for EPA’s consideration, or may revise an application in response to comments. After reviewing any public comments and any rebuttal of comments submitted by the manufacturer, EPA will make a final decision regarding the credit request. EPA will make its decision available to the public by placing a decision document on EPA’s website at the same manufacturer-specific page described above. Byron Bunker, Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation. [FR Doc. 2021–06919 Filed 4–2–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–10021–38–Region 9] United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Mitigation of Contaminated Transboundary Flows Project Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; notice of virtual public scoping meetings; request for comments. ACTION: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Mitigation of Contaminated Transboundary Flows project (the Project). The USMCA Project involves the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure to reduce transboundary flows of untreated wastewater (sewage), trash, and sediment that routinely enter the U.S. from Mexico via the Tijuana River, its tributaries, and across the maritime boundary along the San Diego County coast. These transboundary flows impact public health and the environment and have been linked to beach closures along the San Diego County coast. EPA intends to evaluate project options located in the Tijuana River area in southern San Diego County, California in the U.S. and in the Tijuana region in Mexico. This notice initiates the scoping process by inviting comments from federal, state, and local agencies; Native American tribes; interested stakeholders; and the public to help identify the environmental issues and project options to be examined in the EIS. EPA is also SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM 05APN1 17596 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 63 / Monday, April 5, 2021 / Notices providing notice of the public scoping meeting that is open to all interested parties. The scoping meeting will be held virtually on April 20, 2021, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). A formal presentation will begin at 6:15 p.m., followed by the public comment period. Written public comments are due to EPA by 5:00 p.m. (PDT) on May 20, 2021. Please go to: https:// www.epa.gov/sustainable-waterinfrastructure/usmca-tijuana-riverwatershed for more information regarding the public scoping meeting. ADDRESSES: Written comments shall be submitted to the following email address: Tijuana-Transboundary-EIS@ epa.gov. DATES: jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Konner, 415–972–3408, Konner.Thomas@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: EPA, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370h), the Council on Environmental Quality National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), and EPA Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR part 6), will prepare an EIS for the USMCA Project. EPA invites public comment on the proposed scope of the EIS, the project options considered, specific environmental issues to be evaluated in the EIS, relevant information and analyses, and the potential impacts of the project options. The San Diego-Tijuana region has faced persistent transboundary flows of contaminated wastewater originating in Mexico for many years. The three primary entryways of these transboundary flows into the U.S. are in coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Tijuana River, and tributaries flowing north through canyons to the Tijuana River. Seasonal marine currents cause coastal discharges of largely untreated wastewater (sewage) from the Tijuana area to migrate north along the Pacific Ocean coast into the U.S. These discharges impact southern San Diego County beaches, especially during the summer. Additionally, transboundary flows in the Tijuana River and its canyon tributaries routinely reach the U.S., bringing untreated wastewater (sewage), trash, and sediment pollution into the U.S. These contaminated flows can reach the Pacific Ocean through the Tijuana River Estuary and migrate north along the coast, compounding the impacts of coastal discharges from the Tijuana area. Collectively, these polluted transboundary flows impact VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:23 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 253001 the environment and public health in communities along the border and the coast, public access to beaches and recreational opportunities in southern California, and the personnel and activities of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Navy. For several years, EPA has engaged with agencies, elected officials, and stakeholder groups in the San DiegoTijuana region in both the U.S. and Mexico to address transboundary pollution issues. In January 2020, Congress passed the USMCA Implementation Act, which appropriated funds to EPA under Title IX of the Act for implementation of wastewater infrastructure projects at the U.S.-Mexico border. Subtitle B, Section 821 of the Act authorized EPA to plan, design, and construct wastewater (including stormwater) treatment projects in the Tijuana River area. Per USMCA legislation, EPA established a steering group consisting of federal, state, and local Eligible Public Entities and solicited their input in identifying a set of project options to be considered for evaluation in an EIS. It is possible that EPA’s Border Water Infrastructure Program may also be utilized to fund and carry out activities under this action. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action: In accordance with the Clean Water Act and the USMCA Implementation Act, the purpose and need of this action is to reduce transboundary flows from Tijuana that cause adverse public health and environmental impacts in the Tijuana River area and neighboring coastal areas in the U.S. as described in the preceding section. Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives: The proposed action will include projects that address the purpose and need stated above by: • Reducing the generation and/or discharge of contaminated flows from point and nonpoint sources of pollution in the Tijuana region, • Improving the collection and/or treatment of contaminated flows in the Tijuana region before they reach the U.S.-Mexico border, and/or • Improving the collection and/or treatment of contaminated transboundary flows in the U.S. EPA has identified a set of 10 project options that have the potential (individually or in combination) to address the purpose and need stated above. While EPA has not yet identified the alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS, EPA anticipates that each alternative (including the preferred alternative) will consist of one or more project options. These 10 project PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 options are: (1) New Tijuana River Diversion System in the U.S. and Treatment in the U.S.; (2) Expand and Upgrade Tijuana River Diversion System in Mexico and Provide Treatment in the U.S.; (3) Treat Wastewater from the International Collector at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (ITP); (4) Shift Wastewater Treatment of Canyon Flows to U.S. (via Expanded ITP or South Bay Water Reclamation Plant [SBWRP]) to Reduce Flows to San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant (SAB); (5) Enhance Mexico Wastewater Collection System to Reduce Flows into Tijuana River; (6) Construct New Infrastructure to Address Trash and Sediment; (7) Divert or Reuse Treated Wastewater from Existing Wastewater Treatment Plants in Mexico to Reduce Flows into the Tijuana River; (8) Upgrade SAB to Reduce Untreated Wastewater to Coast; (9) Treat Wastewater from the International Collector at the SBWRP; and (10) Sediment and Trash Source Control. Descriptions of the 10 project options, some of which encompass multiple subprojects and variations, can be found on the project website at https:// www.epa.gov/sustainable-waterinfrastructure/usmca-tijuana-riverwatershed. EPA is currently evaluating the technical and financial feasibility of each project option and may decide to pursue one or more of these project options or subcomponents of these options through a separate NEPA process. EPA will also evaluate a NoAction alternative in the EIS. Under the No-Action alternative, EPA would not construct any of the above project options to address transboundary flows from Mexico to the Tijuana River area or neighboring coastal areas in the U.S. Summary of Expected Impacts: The proposed action is expected to have beneficial impacts to public safety and water quality in the Tijuana River area and the neighboring coastal areas. The project options cover a large geographic area and may potentially impact a broad range of resource areas including air quality, water resources, hazardous and toxic material and waste, ambient sound, biological resources (including critical habitat), geology and soils, health and safety, land and shoreline use, recreation, aesthetics, historical and cultural resources, transportation, public services and utilities, climate change, and socioeconomic resources (including environmental justice). The effects of these expected impacts will be analyzed in the EIS. Anticipated Permits and Authorization: The proposed action may require federal authorizations and E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM 05APN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 63 / Monday, April 5, 2021 / Notices permits pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act. Schedule for the Decision-Making Process: The EIS is expected to be completed no later than 24 months from the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Based on the record of decision and the selected alternative, EPA will determine project award and construction schedules as appropriate. Public Scoping Process: EPA has established a 45-day public comment period for the scoping process. The public scoping period begins with the publication of this Notice and concludes May 20, 2021. EPA is requesting written comments from federal, state, and local governments, industry, nongovernmental organizations, and the general public on: • The scope of this EIS; • The range of project options considered; • Identification of potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the proposed action; • Identification of reasonably foreseeable environmental trends and planned actions in the project area(s); • Specific environmental issues to be evaluated in the EIS; and • The potential impacts of the proposed project options. The scoping meeting will be held virtually on April 20, 2021. Consult the DATES section above for further information on the scoping meeting. All interested parties are encouraged to attend. With this Notice of Intent, EPA is asking federal, state, Native American, and local agencies with jurisdiction or special expertise with respect to environmental issues in the project area to formally cooperate with EPA in the preparation of the EIS. Estimated Date of Draft EIS Release: Once the scoping process is complete, EPA will prepare a draft EIS and will publish a Federal Register notice announcing its public availability. EPA will provide the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the draft EIS. After EPA considers those comments, EPA will prepare the final EIS and similarly announce its availability and solicit public review and comment. Comments received during the draft EIS review period will be made available in the final EIS. The draft EIS is expected to be released in December 2021. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:23 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 253001 Dated: March 26, 2021. Deborah Jordan, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 9. [FR Doc. 2021–06903 Filed 4–2–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–R03–OAR–2021–0238; FRL–10022– 18–Region 3] Access to Confidential Business Information by Contractor SafeGuard Document Destruction Inc. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of contractor access to confidential business information. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has authorized SafeGuard Document Destruction Inc. of Perrineville, NJ to access information which has been submitted to EPA under the environmental statutes administered by the Agency at its Region 3 offices. Some of the information may be claimed or determined to be confidential business information. DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 26, 2021. Access to the confidential data began on or about July 7, 2020. ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments by one of the following methods: 1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. 2. Email: Schwartz.Kathy@epa.gov Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–R03–OAR–2021– 0238. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be available online at https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be confidential business information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https:// www.regulations.gov, or email. The federal website, https:// www.regulations.gov, is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without going through https:// www.regulations.gov, your email SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17597 address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties, and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. EPA encourages electronic submittals, but if you are unable to submit electronically, please reach out to the EPA contact person listed in the notice for assistance. If you need assistance in a language other than English, or you are a person with disabilities who needs a reasonable accommodation at no cost to you, please reach out to the EPA contact person by email or telephone. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Schwartz, (215) 814–5332; email address: Schwartz.Kathy@epa.gov; address: EPA Region 3, Mission Support Division (Mail Code 3MD20), 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this action apply to me? This action is directed to the general public. This action may, however, be of interest to anyone who submitted what may be determined to be CBI to EPA Region 3. Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by this action. B. How can I get copies of this document and other related information? All documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index, under docket identification number EPA–R3–OAR–2021–0238. Although listed in the index, some information might not be publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Publicly available docket materials are accessible electronically through https://www.regulations.gov. II. What action is the agency taking? EPA Region 3 is shredding its records that are no longer required to be retained or stored under the Federal Records Act or otherwise required to be retained. EPA is performing this shredding using the support of a contractor. Under EPA contract GS– E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM 05APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 63 (Monday, April 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17595-17597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06903]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-10021-38-Region 9]


United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Mitigation of Contaminated 
Transboundary Flows Project

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; 
notice of virtual public scoping meetings; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed United States-
Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Mitigation of Contaminated 
Transboundary Flows project (the Project). The USMCA Project involves 
the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure to reduce 
transboundary flows of untreated wastewater (sewage), trash, and 
sediment that routinely enter the U.S. from Mexico via the Tijuana 
River, its tributaries, and across the maritime boundary along the San 
Diego County coast. These transboundary flows impact public health and 
the environment and have been linked to beach closures along the San 
Diego County coast. EPA intends to evaluate project options located in 
the Tijuana River area in southern San Diego County, California in the 
U.S. and in the Tijuana region in Mexico. This notice initiates the 
scoping process by inviting comments from federal, state, and local 
agencies; Native American tribes; interested stakeholders; and the 
public to help identify the environmental issues and project options to 
be examined in the EIS. EPA is also

[[Page 17596]]

providing notice of the public scoping meeting that is open to all 
interested parties.

DATES: The scoping meeting will be held virtually on April 20, 2021, 
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). A formal 
presentation will begin at 6:15 p.m., followed by the public comment 
period. Written public comments are due to EPA by 5:00 p.m. (PDT) on 
May 20, 2021. Please go to: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/usmca-tijuana-river-watershed for more information 
regarding the public scoping meeting.

ADDRESSES: Written comments shall be submitted to the following email 
address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Konner, 415-972-3408, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: EPA, in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370h), the Council on Environmental Quality 
National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508), and EPA Procedures for Implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR part 6), will prepare an EIS for the 
USMCA Project. EPA invites public comment on the proposed scope of the 
EIS, the project options considered, specific environmental issues to 
be evaluated in the EIS, relevant information and analyses, and the 
potential impacts of the project options.
    The San Diego-Tijuana region has faced persistent transboundary 
flows of contaminated wastewater originating in Mexico for many years. 
The three primary entryways of these transboundary flows into the U.S. 
are in coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Tijuana River, and 
tributaries flowing north through canyons to the Tijuana River. 
Seasonal marine currents cause coastal discharges of largely untreated 
wastewater (sewage) from the Tijuana area to migrate north along the 
Pacific Ocean coast into the U.S. These discharges impact southern San 
Diego County beaches, especially during the summer. Additionally, 
transboundary flows in the Tijuana River and its canyon tributaries 
routinely reach the U.S., bringing untreated wastewater (sewage), 
trash, and sediment pollution into the U.S. These contaminated flows 
can reach the Pacific Ocean through the Tijuana River Estuary and 
migrate north along the coast, compounding the impacts of coastal 
discharges from the Tijuana area. Collectively, these polluted 
transboundary flows impact the environment and public health in 
communities along the border and the coast, public access to beaches 
and recreational opportunities in southern California, and the 
personnel and activities of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and 
U.S. Navy.
    For several years, EPA has engaged with agencies, elected 
officials, and stakeholder groups in the San Diego-Tijuana region in 
both the U.S. and Mexico to address transboundary pollution issues. In 
January 2020, Congress passed the USMCA Implementation Act, which 
appropriated funds to EPA under Title IX of the Act for implementation 
of wastewater infrastructure projects at the U.S.-Mexico border. 
Subtitle B, Section 821 of the Act authorized EPA to plan, design, and 
construct wastewater (including stormwater) treatment projects in the 
Tijuana River area. Per USMCA legislation, EPA established a steering 
group consisting of federal, state, and local Eligible Public Entities 
and solicited their input in identifying a set of project options to be 
considered for evaluation in an EIS. It is possible that EPA's Border 
Water Infrastructure Program may also be utilized to fund and carry out 
activities under this action.
    Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action: In accordance with the 
Clean Water Act and the USMCA Implementation Act, the purpose and need 
of this action is to reduce transboundary flows from Tijuana that cause 
adverse public health and environmental impacts in the Tijuana River 
area and neighboring coastal areas in the U.S. as described in the 
preceding section.
    Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives: The proposed action 
will include projects that address the purpose and need stated above 
by:
     Reducing the generation and/or discharge of contaminated 
flows from point and nonpoint sources of pollution in the Tijuana 
region,
     Improving the collection and/or treatment of contaminated 
flows in the Tijuana region before they reach the U.S.-Mexico border, 
and/or
     Improving the collection and/or treatment of contaminated 
transboundary flows in the U.S.
    EPA has identified a set of 10 project options that have the 
potential (individually or in combination) to address the purpose and 
need stated above. While EPA has not yet identified the alternatives to 
be evaluated in the EIS, EPA anticipates that each alternative 
(including the preferred alternative) will consist of one or more 
project options. These 10 project options are: (1) New Tijuana River 
Diversion System in the U.S. and Treatment in the U.S.; (2) Expand and 
Upgrade Tijuana River Diversion System in Mexico and Provide Treatment 
in the U.S.; (3) Treat Wastewater from the International Collector at 
the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (ITP); (4) Shift 
Wastewater Treatment of Canyon Flows to U.S. (via Expanded ITP or South 
Bay Water Reclamation Plant [SBWRP]) to Reduce Flows to San Antonio de 
los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant (SAB); (5) Enhance Mexico 
Wastewater Collection System to Reduce Flows into Tijuana River; (6) 
Construct New Infrastructure to Address Trash and Sediment; (7) Divert 
or Reuse Treated Wastewater from Existing Wastewater Treatment Plants 
in Mexico to Reduce Flows into the Tijuana River; (8) Upgrade SAB to 
Reduce Untreated Wastewater to Coast; (9) Treat Wastewater from the 
International Collector at the SBWRP; and (10) Sediment and Trash 
Source Control. Descriptions of the 10 project options, some of which 
encompass multiple sub-projects and variations, can be found on the 
project website at https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/usmca-tijuana-river-watershed. EPA is currently 
evaluating the technical and financial feasibility of each project 
option and may decide to pursue one or more of these project options or 
subcomponents of these options through a separate NEPA process. EPA 
will also evaluate a No-Action alternative in the EIS. Under the No-
Action alternative, EPA would not construct any of the above project 
options to address transboundary flows from Mexico to the Tijuana River 
area or neighboring coastal areas in the U.S.
    Summary of Expected Impacts: The proposed action is expected to 
have beneficial impacts to public safety and water quality in the 
Tijuana River area and the neighboring coastal areas. The project 
options cover a large geographic area and may potentially impact a 
broad range of resource areas including air quality, water resources, 
hazardous and toxic material and waste, ambient sound, biological 
resources (including critical habitat), geology and soils, health and 
safety, land and shoreline use, recreation, aesthetics, historical and 
cultural resources, transportation, public services and utilities, 
climate change, and socioeconomic resources (including environmental 
justice). The effects of these expected impacts will be analyzed in the 
EIS.
    Anticipated Permits and Authorization: The proposed action may 
require federal authorizations and

[[Page 17597]]

permits pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, 
the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Coastal Zone Management 
Act.
    Schedule for the Decision-Making Process: The EIS is expected to be 
completed no later than 24 months from the publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register. Based on the record of decision and the 
selected alternative, EPA will determine project award and construction 
schedules as appropriate.
    Public Scoping Process: EPA has established a 45-day public comment 
period for the scoping process. The public scoping period begins with 
the publication of this Notice and concludes May 20, 2021. EPA is 
requesting written comments from federal, state, and local governments, 
industry, non-governmental organizations, and the general public on:
     The scope of this EIS;
     The range of project options considered;
     Identification of potential alternatives, information, and 
analyses relevant to the proposed action;
     Identification of reasonably foreseeable environmental 
trends and planned actions in the project area(s);
     Specific environmental issues to be evaluated in the EIS; 
and
     The potential impacts of the proposed project options.
    The scoping meeting will be held virtually on April 20, 2021. 
Consult the Dates section above for further information on the scoping 
meeting. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.
    With this Notice of Intent, EPA is asking federal, state, Native 
American, and local agencies with jurisdiction or special expertise 
with respect to environmental issues in the project area to formally 
cooperate with EPA in the preparation of the EIS.
    Estimated Date of Draft EIS Release: Once the scoping process is 
complete, EPA will prepare a draft EIS and will publish a Federal 
Register notice announcing its public availability. EPA will provide 
the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the draft EIS. 
After EPA considers those comments, EPA will prepare the final EIS and 
similarly announce its availability and solicit public review and 
comment. Comments received during the draft EIS review period will be 
made available in the final EIS. The draft EIS is expected to be 
released in December 2021.

    Dated: March 26, 2021.
Deborah Jordan,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 9.
[FR Doc. 2021-06903 Filed 4-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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