Army Department March 2, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Los Angeles District, Regulatory Branch is considering an application from the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) for a Department of the Army permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to construct a groundwater recharge and storage facility in and adjacent to the San Jacinto River. The proposed project would consist of up to fifteen recharge basins (six in proposed Phase 1 and nine in proposed Phase 2) on approximately 100- acres in the San Jacinto River Channel, upgrades to two existing pump stations, a new approximately 7.7-mile-long water supply pipeline, up to ten extraction wells located west of the San Jacinto River, and up to six monitoring wells located near the western edge of the proposed recharge basins. The Federal action involved in the project is the discharge of dredge and/or fill materials within waters of the United States. The Corps has determined that the potential impacts on the human environment from such activities may be adverse and significant. Therefore, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to rendering a final decision on EMWD's permit application. The Corps may ultimately make a determination to grant or deny the permit or conditionally grant the permit. The Draft EIS is intended to be sufficient in scope to address the Federal and environmental issues concerning the proposed Federal permit action.