[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 105 (Thursday, June 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13452]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 2, 1994]


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Part VI





Environmental Protection Agency





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Sole Source Aquifer Designation of the Marrowstone Island Aquifer 
System, Jefferson County, Washington; Notice
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-4891-2]

 
Sole Source Aquifer Designation of the Marrowstone Island Aquifer 
System, Jefferson County, WA

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Final Determination.

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SUMMARY: The Region 10 Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) has determined that the Marrowstone Island Aquifer System 
is the sole or principal source of drinking water for the designated 
area, and if contaminated, would create a significant hazard to public 
health. This action was taken under the authority of section 1424(e) of 
the Safe Drinking Water Act in response to a petition submitted to EPA 
by the Marrowstone Island Community Association on August 27, 1991. As 
a result of this determination, all federal financially-assisted 
projects proposed in the designated area will be subject to EPA review 
to ensure that they do not create a significant hazard to public 
health.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This determination shall be promulgated for purposes of 
judicial review at 1 Eastern time on June 16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: The information upon which this determination is based is 
available to the public and may be inspected during normal business 
hours at the EPA Library, 10th floor, Park Place Building, 1200 Sixth 
Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott E. Downey, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Ground Water Section, WD-133, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 
98101, 206-553-0682.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is being taken under the 
authority of section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 United 
States Code, 300f, 300h-3(e), Pub. L. 93-523). The information upon 
which EPA is issuing this final determination has been summarized in 
the ``Support Document for Sole Source Aquifer Designation of the 
Marrowstone Island Aquifer System'', EPA 910/R-94-002.

I. Background

    Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act states:

    If the Administrator determines, on his own initiative or upon 
petition, that an area has an aquifer which is the sole or principal 
drinking water source for the area and which, if contaminated, would 
create a significant hazard to public health, he shall publish 
notice of that determination in the Federal Register. After the 
publication of any such notice, no commitment for federal financial 
assistance (through a grant, contract, loan guarantee, or otherwise) 
may be entered into for any project which the Administrator 
determines may contaminate such aquifer through a recharge zone so 
as to create a significant hazard to public health, but a commitment 
for federal assistance may, if authorized under another provision of 
law, be entered into to plan or design the project to assure that it 
will not so contaminate the aquifer.

    EPA further defines a ``Sole Source Aquifer'' (SSA) as one which 
supplies at least 50 percent of the drinking water to persons living in 
the area overlying the aquifer and in areas supplied by the aquifer, 
and if contaminated, would create a significant hazard to public 
health. Designations can be made for entire aquifers, hydrogeologically 
connected aquifers (aquifer systems), or part of an aquifer if that 
portion is hydrogeologically separated from the rest of the aquifer. 
EPA guidelines further stipulate that these areas can have no feasible 
alternative source(s) of drinking water of sufficient volume which 
could replace the aquifer, should it become contaminated.
    Although EPA has the authority to initiate SSA designations, the 
Agency has a policy of acting only in response to petitions. Petitions 
may be submitted to EPA by any individual or organization and must 
address procedures and criteria outlined in the ``Sole Source Aquifer 
Designation Petitioner Guidance'', EPA 440/6-87-003.
    EPA Region 10 received a petition from the Marrowstone Island 
Community Association on August 27, 1991, and after an initial review, 
the petition was declared complete on September 19, 1991. A more 
detailed technical review was completed in February of 1994. EPA's 
findings and basis for the proposed designation were documented and 
made available for public review in EPA publication 910/R-94-002.

II. Basis for Determination

    The Region 10 Administrator has determined that the Marrowstone 
Island Aquifer System meets all applicable SSA designation criteria 
established through Federal statute and EPA guidance documents, as 
follows:
    1. The Marrowstone Island Aquifer System supplies approximately 98 
percent of the drinking water to persons living on the island;
    2. As the principal drinking water source for the area, 
contamination of the Marrowstone Island Aquifer System would create a 
significant hazard to public health;
    3. The boundary was determined in accordance with EPA guidance and 
is representative of an aquifer system that encompasses the entire 
Marrowstone Island area and includes all potable water-bearing geologic 
units underlying the Island;
    4. There are no feasible alternative source(s) of drinking water 
which could replace the Marrowstone Island Aquifer System, should it 
become contaminated.

III. Description of the Marrowstone Island Aquifer System

    Note: Some information in this section represents an unfootnoted 
summary from the ``Support Document for Sole Source Aquifer Designation 
of the Marrowstone Island Aquifer System'', EPA 910/R-94-002.
    Marrowstone Island is an elongate island located in the northern 
Puget Sound area of Jefferson County, Washington, near the City of Port 
Townsend. The island is approximately eight miles long and one mile 
wide and reaches a maximum elevation of approximately 180 feet above 
mean sea level.
    Marrowstone Island Aquifer System boundaries are representative of 
an aquifer system that encompasses the entire Marrowstone Island area. 
The aquifer system is bounded by the shorelines of Admiralty Inlet, 
Kilisut Harbor, and Oak Bay. A straight line boundary divides Indian 
Island from Marrowstone Island in the southwest corner of the Island. 
The vertical extent of the aquifer system at depth includes all potable 
water-bearing geologic units underlying the Island. Water level data 
indicates that all deposits underlying the Island are hydrogeologically 
connected.
    Water quality studies have discovered elevated chloride 
concentrations that indicate seawater intrusion is occurring in the 
fresh water aquifer system underlying the Island. This intrusion of 
seawater is the result of increased pumping of the aquifers, which in 
turn, is attributable to the increase in Island population. Other 
potential sources of contamination include many normal rural 
activities, such as improper pesticide storage and use, improper 
disposal of used motor oil and other household hazardous wastes, and 
poorly-sited or maintained storm water drainage wells, animal waste 
storage facilities, on-site septic systems, and underground storage 
tanks.
    Population of the Island varies by season, with the highest 
population occurring in the summer, and lowest in the winter. There are 
approximately 900 permanent residents of the Island. During a peak 
summer weekend, the population increases by about one-third for a total 
maximum population of 1300 people. There may be as few as 600 resident 
water users on a typical winter weekday.
    Approximately 98 percent of the water consumed on the Island is 
ground water pumped from the aquifer system by about 400 private wells. 
Roughly one percent of water used on the Island is collected in 
rainwater collection systems and used primarily for livestock 
consumption and outside watering of lawns and gardens. Another one 
percent is obtained from Fort Flagler State Park which receives water 
via pipeline from a U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Detachment facility on 
Indian Island. There are no physical, legal, or economically feasible 
alternative source(s) of drinking water that could replace the aquifer 
system.

IV. Project Reviews

    Designation of a sole source aquifer authorizes EPA to review 
federal financially-assisted projects proposed within the designated 
area. The principal mechanism used by EPA Region 10 to identify 
projects for review are Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 
federal funding agencies. These MOUs outline procedures for screening 
and referring projects to EPA in order to ensure that only projects 
which may have a significant impact to ground water quality are 
reviewed.
    Most projects referred to EPA for review meet all federal, state, 
and local ground water protection standards and are approved without 
any additional conditions being imposed. Occasionally, site or project-
specific concerns for ground water quality protection lead to specific 
recommendations or additional pollution prevention requirements as a 
condition of funding. In rare cases, federal funding has been denied 
when the applicant has been either unwilling or unable to modify the 
project.
    Whenever feasible, EPA coordinates the review of proposed projects 
with other offices within EPA and with various federal, state, or local 
agencies that have a responsibility for ground water quality 
protection. Relevant information from such sources is given full 
consideration in the sole source aquifer review process. This 
coordination of project reviews can complement, support, and strengthen 
existing ground water protection mechanisms.

V. Public Comments

    A public notice was issued on March 21, 1994, to request comments 
on the proposed designation and announce that a public hearing would be 
held if sufficient interest were expressed to EPA in advance. The 
hearing was subsequently cancelled due to a lack of interest. Only two 
written comments were received prior to the expiration of the public 
comment period on May 10, 1994. One letter was from a part-time 
Marrowstone Island resident who expressed support for the proposed 
designation. The other letter was from the president of the Marrowstone 
Island Community Association and also expressed support for the 
proposed designation. Neither party requested a public hearing.

VI. Summary

    This determination affects only the Marrowstone Island Aquifer 
System located in the State of Washington. As a result of this 
determination, all federal financially-assisted projects proposed in 
the designated area will be subject to EPA review to ensure that they 
do not create a significant hazard to public health.

    Dated: May 19, 1994.
Chuck Clarke,
Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 
10.
[FR Doc. 94-13452 Filed 6-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P