[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3387-3388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1818]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy


Revised Record of Decision on the Upgrade of the Wastewater 
Treatment System at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC

    Pursuant to Section 102(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy announced, on August 8, 
1994, its decision to upgrade the wastewater treatment system at Marine 
Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The upgrade involves 
removing three discharge points from the most nutrient sensitive waters 
of the upper New River, removing two discharge points in proximity to 
high quality shellfishing waters of the lower New River, and removing a 
discharge point to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Onslow Beach. 
The first phase requires construction of approximately 35 miles of new 
wastewater transmission pipelines, and consolidates flows at an outfall 
located in the New River near the existing Hadnot Point treatment 
plant. Phase I also includes construction of rapid infiltration system 
facilities at Onslow Beach to handle 120,000 gallons per day (gpd) of 
wastewater currently discharged to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. 
Phases II and III involve construction of a new 15 million gallons per 
day (MGD) advanced wastewater treatment plant capable of a high degree 
of nutrient removal, and a new outfall diffuser pipe located about 13 
miles upstream from the mouth of the New River. The new advanced 
wastewater treatment plant will be in operation by December 31, 1998.

[[Page 3388]]

    The alternative to treat all base effluent (including Onslow Beach 
effluent) at a new advanced treatment plant with discharge to the New 
River was identified as the preferred alternative in the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). In response to comments on the 
DEIS, additional analysis was undertaken to examine options for land 
application of Camp Lejeune wastewater. The environmentally preferred 
alternative identified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) was a combination of a new advanced wastewater treatment 
facility located in the French Creek area of Camp Lejeune with 
discharge into the New River and a new rapid infiltration facility at 
Onslow Beach.
    In coordination with the North Carolina Department of Environment, 
Health and Natural Resources (NCDEHNR), four sites were initially 
identified in the FEIS as candidate sites for the Onslow Beach rapid 
infiltration system facility. One site was eliminated because of 
evidence of poor percolation. Another site had been a disposal area for 
dredged material from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and 
accordingly did not possess subsurface conditions that allowed effluent 
to move at a proper pace through the soil, thus not allowing for proper 
treatment. The third site was located on a narrow portion of the island 
and would impact the seaward dune line and wetlands. The final site, 
which was identified in the Record of Decision (ROD), offered the best 
conditions, appeared to have sufficient land area, and was of 
sufficient elevation.
    Geological investigations conducted subsequent to publication of 
the ROD revealed that the site selected for the Onslow Beach rapid 
infiltration system facility has a high water table and soils not 
conducive to such a facility. These investigations concluded that the 
water table of the site selected occurs within a few feet of the 
surface. Furthermore, modeling results indicate that effluent would 
emerge at ground surface within and around the recharge areas in a 
matter of days after effluent application began, resulting in failure 
of the system as defined by NCDEHNR. Therefore, based on the failure 
criterion of NCDEHNR, land disposal of treated domestic wastewater 
effluent at this site is not feasible. Other areas of the island have 
characteristics similar to the four sites investigated. Therefore, no 
suitable sites are available anywhere on Onslow Beach.
    Because operation of a rapid infiltration system at Onslow Beach is 
not feasible from an engineering perspective, the Department of the 
Navy announces its decision to pump the estimated 120,000 gpd of 
effluent from Onslow Beach to the new advanced treatment plant. The 
treated effluent will be discharged through the new diffuser. Prior to 
completion of the new advanced treatment plant and diffuser, the Onslow 
Beach effluent will be discharged at an existing outfall in the New 
River.
    Impacts of the construction and operation of the 15 MGD advanced 
treatment plant were identified in the ROD published on August 8, 1994. 
The additional flow from the Onslow Beach area is minimal in relation 
to the plant size (less than 1% of projected flows). The design 
capacity of the new plant will remain at 15 MGD. Accordingly, impacts 
discussed in the DEIS and FEIS of the advanced treatment plant will be 
the same. The discussion below summarizes the impact of the 
construction of the approximately 5 miles of 8 inch pipeline required 
to pump effluent from Onslow Beach to the new plant.
    The pipeline will be constructed generally along existing utility 
and road rights-of-way. The pipeline will be submerged as it crosses 
the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. To minimize impacts on the aquatic 
environment, the crossing will be accomplished using directional 
drilling. No tidal wetland areas adjacent to the Atlantic Intracoastal 
Waterway will be disturbed as the directional drilling will tunnel 
beneath wetland areas. Closing of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway 
will not be required during construction. All necessary permits will be 
obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to construction of 
the pipeline. Construction will not begin prior to receipt of a 
concurrence by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management on the 
Marine Corps coastal consistency determination.
    The pipeline will require crossing a freshwater wetland. This 
crossing is authorized under Nationwide Permit Number 12. The U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers will be notified of the crossing prior to 
construction.
    The pipeline will generally follow existing rights-of-way and will 
follow the contour of existing topography. The pipeline will be buried 
and post construction contours will be returned to their original 
condition. Some compaction of soils and removal of vegetation may occur 
creating a potential for soil erosion impacts. However, compliance with 
erosion and sedimentation control regulations will minimize the 
potential for impacts.
    Some minor clearing may be involved resulting in minimal impacts to 
terrestrial wildlife. No rare plant species were located during the 
survey of this pipeline segment. The pipeline will pass near a red-
cockaded woodpecker colony along Sneads Ferry Road. The existing right-
of-way along Sneads Ferry Road will be used and no impacts to any 
existing cavity trees of foraging habitat will occur. No impacts due to 
construction activities (e.g., noise) will occur to this endangered 
species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurs with this finding.
    One archeological site was identified along the pipeline corridor 
during a Phase I archeological investigation. Additional testing 
confirmed that this site is outside pipline construction boundaries. 
Therefore, pipeline construction will not affect cultural resources 
listed or determined eligible for listing on the National Register of 
Historic Places. The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources 
concurs with this finding. Construction in the vicinity of the site 
will be conducted so as to avoid ground disturbing activities outside 
of the pipeline corridor.
    The Department of the Navy believes that there are no outstanding 
issues to be resolved with respect to this project. Questions regarding 
the Environmental Impact Statement prepared for this action may be 
directed to Mr. Robert Warren, Environmental Management Department, MCB 
Camp Lejeune, NC 28542, telephone (910) 451-5003.

    Dated: January 26, 1996.
Duncan Holaday,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, (Installations and Facilities).
[FR Doc. 96-1818 Filed 1-30-96; 8:45 am]
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