[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19559-19561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10385]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Record of Decision To Implement the Sewage Effluent Compliance 
Project for the Las Pulgas and San Mateo Basins of Marine Corps Base, 
Camp Pendleton, CA

    Pursuant to Section 102(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy announces its 
decision to upgrade the wastewater treatment and disposal systems in 
the Las Pulgas and San Mateo Basins of Marine Corps Base (MCB), Camp 
Pendleton, California. Upgrades in the Las Pulgas Basin involve the 
construction of advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) facilities, a 
pipeline of approximately 19,000 lineal feet, and a field of injection 
wells downstream near the coastline. The AWT facilities would provide 
limited tertiary treatment of the sewage effluent, which would reduce 
the turbidity and pathogens to decrease the likelihood of clogging 
during effluent disposal into the injection wells. Upgrades in the San 
Mateo Basin involve construction of equalization ponds, a pipeline of 
approximately 12,500 lineal feet, and percolation basins approximately 
35 acres in total size located downstream of existing potable water 
wells. Additionally, a pipeline connector of approximately 5,100 feet 
will be constructed to convey to the San Mateo Basin excess sewage 
effluent from the pipeline serving sewage treatment plants in the San 
Onofre Basin.
    The existing sewage treatment plants were constructed in the 1940s 
and discharge secondary-treated effluent to percolation basins upstream 
of potable water wells that serve developments within the Las Pulgas 
and San Mateo Basins. These conditions, including plant design, violate 
the San Diego Water Quality Basin Plan, the State of California Porter 
Cologne Water Quality Act of 1969, and the National Pollution Discharge 
Elimination System requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act of 1972. As a result of these conditions, the San Diego Regional 
Water Quality Control Board issued Cease and Desist Orders to MCB Camp 
Pendleton in January 1989. To meet these Cease and Desist Orders, new 
facilities are required to improve wastewater treatment and disposal 
and meet the Basin Plan.
    Alternatives considered for correcting the conditions cited in the 
Cease and Desist Orders included no action, water disposal of effluent, 
and land disposal of effluent. Water disposal alternatives included 
construction of an ocean outfall, live-stream discharge of either 
secondary- or tertiary-treated effluent, discharge to an off-base 
publicly owned treatment works, and a basin plan amendment. Land 
disposal alternatives included percolation basins, biological ponds, 
leach fields, and injection wells. The Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) identified the following preferred alternatives for 
the Las Pulgas and San Mateo Basins, respectively: construction of 
eight new injection wells located west of Interstate 5 for discharge of 
effluent from sewage treatment plant 9, which will be upgraded with new 
AWT facilities to provide additional filtration required to improve 
water quality and prevent clogging of the wells; and discharge of 
secondary-treated effluent from sewage treatment plant 12 to new 
percolation basins located downstream from existing potable water 
wells. These alternatives were identified in the Final

[[Page 19560]]

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) as the environmentally preferred 
alternatives for each respective basin.
    A systematic and multidisciplinary approach to identify 
alternatives was utilized which incorporated criteria based upon 
technical and functional suitability. Alternatives were evaluated for 
technical suitability through compatibility with constraints imposed by 
available land for treatment and disposal facilities, subsurface 
geological and hydrological conditions, and soil permeability. 
Technically suitable alternatives were further evaluated for their 
ability to satisfy the following six functional requirements of the 
projects: (1) Prevention of degradation of water quality to sustain 
beneficial uses identified in the San Diego Basin Plan, (2) sustained 
volume within each water basin, (3) prevention of saltwater intrusion 
into each water basin, (4) compliance with water quality standards in 
accordance with Federal and State safe drinking water standards, (5) 
compliance with water quality standards in accordance with State 
Groundwater Recharge Guidelines, and (6) compliance with the timelines 
identified in the Cease and Desist Orders. The analysis determined that 
the preferred alternative in each basin is the only alternative that 
meets all criteria. In each basin, the preferred alternative is 
environmentally preferable to the other alternatives considered because 
it sustains long-term water quality and meets the San Diego Basin Plan 
objectives. All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental 
harm have been adopted as identified below and amplified in the 
Environmental Impact Statement.
    For the Las Pulgas facility, construction of the new AWT 
facilities, equalization pond, pipeline and injection wells will 
require grading, excavation and soil-boring. For the San Mateo 
facility, percolation basin construction will involve grading and 
excavation. A soil erosion control plan will be prepared for 
construction, and will include restricting grading and excavation 
during the rainy season, restricting heavy equipment to existing 
rights-of-way, installing sediment control measures, and providing 
post-construction revegetation.
    To reduce potential significant impacts on paleontological 
resources to an acceptable level, the Marine Corps will develop an 
environmental education program, develop an information pamphlet and 
conduct an environmental education class for all construction project 
personnel. Additionally, environmental monitors shall be present when 
construction activities occur in designated sensitive areas. 
Environmental monitors shall ensure that paleontological resources are 
recovered according to approved procedures. If paleontological 
resources are identified and salvage efforts are required, curation of 
the materials will be accomplished by the Marine Corps.
    The California gnatcatcher (Polioptilla california), a federally 
listed threatened species, is present near the percolation basin and 
pipeline sites. The project will result in a temporary impact to 1.35 
acres of coastal sage, of which only 0.4 acres are occupied gnatcatcher 
habitat. In accordance with USFWS Riparian Biological Opinion (BO) of 
1995, to mitigate these impacts, the Marine Corps will, to the maximum 
extent possible, conduct construction operations in coastal sage 
habitat outside of the gnatcatcher breeding season. Construction that 
will occur within 500 feet of coastal sage during the breeding season 
will be surveyed prior to construction to determine the presence of 
active gnatcatcher nests, and all work within 500 feet of a nest will 
be completed outside the breeding season. All pipelines will follow 
existing roads to the maximum extent practical. Temporary impacts to 
coastal sage will be mitigated through replanting, restoration and 
subsequent monitoring of the restoration area for a minimum period of 3 
years to ensure restoration success and to control invasive exotic 
vegetation. Permanent impacts to coastal sage not occupied by 
gnatcatcher shall be mitigated at a ratio of 1:1, and will be 
accomplished through habitat enhancement and conservation in the more 
contiguous area of coastal sage on the Base. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS) concurs with this mitigation scheme.
    The southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailii), a federally 
listed threatened species, is known to occur in the riparian areas of 
the Las Flores Creek drainage. The project will result in a permanent 
loss of 2.28 acres and temporary loss of .07 acres of southern willow 
scrub which is potential habitat for the willow flycatcher. The USFWS 
Riparian Biological Opinion (BO) of 1995 indicated the impacts would be 
significant and require mitigation. As mandated in this BO, permanent 
impacts to riparian wetland habitat shall be mitigated at a ratio of 
1.5:1 by enhancing degraded habitat elsewhere on- or off-base. 
Mitigation will be achieved through implementation of invasive exotic 
plant species control, site monitoring, and follow-up retreatment for a 
period of 5 years. Temporary impacts to riparian wetland habitat will 
be mitigated by restoring wetlands to original or better condition and 
by monitoring the restoration for a minimum of 3 years to control 
invasive exotic plant species and to ensure restoration effectiveness.
    In accordance with the 1995 USFWS Riparian BO, temporary impacts to 
estuarine wetland habitats will be restored to original or better 
condition following construction, and will be monitored for a minimum 
of 3 years to control invasion of invasive exotic plant species to 
ensure effectiveness of restoration.
    To ensure avoidance of temporary impacts to the southwestern arroyo 
toad (Bufo mocroscaphus), construction will be scheduled during the 
period between September 15 and January 15, when toads are hibernating 
and activity is minimized. For construction that cannot be accomplished 
between September 15 and January 15, toad-proof fencing will be 
installed daily at all open trenches and soils stock piles. 
Additionally, on a daily basis, a biological monitor shall verify the 
absence of toads in construction areas prior to the commencement of 
construction. These mitigation measures comply with the 1995 USFWS 
Riparian BO.
    In compliance with the 1995 USFWS Riparian BO, the Marine Corps 
will conduct monthly surface water quality monitoring for up to 2 years 
to establish baseline data for areas downstream of the percolation 
basins. Monitoring data will be collected in accordance with the 
provisions of the Clean Water Act Section 404 and 401 permit. Should 
changes in water quality be detected, the Marine Corps will consult 
with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (SDRWQCB) and 
the USFWS to develop and implement appropriate mitigation measures. 
Additionally, the Marine Corps will annually monitor ground water 
quality and levels for 10 years, as stated in the 1995 USFWS Riparian 
BO. Should changes in ground water quality or level be detected, the 
Marine Corps will consult with the SDRWQCB and the USFWS to develop and 
implement appropriate mitigation measures.
    The proposed action will affect two archeological sites determined 
to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. 
Where feasible, adverse direct and indirect impacts on archeological 
resources will be avoided through redesign or relocation of facilities 
to avoid areas of high cultural resource sensitivity. In areas where 
avoidance is not feasible, the Marine Corps will prepare a data 
recovery plan and consult with the California State Historic 
Preservation Officer (SHPO) for concurrence prior to

[[Page 19561]]

implementation; provide for monitoring of construction and excavation 
operations by a qualified archaeologist and a Native American observer; 
and should archaeological resources be encountered during construction, 
halt all work until a qualified archaeologist is consulted to determine 
if the resources are significant and whether excavation or protection 
of resources is required. The California SHPO concurs with this 
approach.
    Analysis of air emissions that would occur during construction and 
operation of the percolation ponds determined that these emissions will 
be below de minimis levels and that the project conforms with the State 
Implementation Plan for air quality.
    A Coastal Consistency Negative Determination was prepared for this 
project and it concluded that the proposed action is being carried out 
in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent practicable, with the 
enforceable policies of the California Coastal Management Plan. The 
California Coastal Commission concurs with this determination.
    Preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement began with a 
public scoping process to identify issues that should be addressed in 
the document. Involvement in scoping was offered through a combination 
of documented public announcements and meetings with State of 
California agencies. Public announcements were handled through scoping 
letters sent to Federal, State, and local governmental agencies, 
citizen groups and associations, and the general public. Also, a Notice 
of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published in 
local newspapers and the Federal Register. A public scoping meeting was 
held on December 17, 1992 in Oceanside, California.
    The Notice of Availability of the DEIS appeared in the Federal 
Register on September 6, 1996. The DEIS was distributed to agencies and 
officials of Federal, State and local governmental agencies, citizens 
groups and associations, public libraries and other interested parties. 
The public review period for the DEIS was from September 6, 1996 
through October 22, 1996. Comments received on the DEIS focused on 
alternatives analysis, endangered species and wetlands issues. The FEIS 
addressed these comments and was distributed to officials of Federal, 
State and local governmental agencies, citizens groups and 
associations, public libraries and to other interested parties on 
February 7, 1997. No comments were received on the FEIS.
    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. Lupe E. Armas, Assistant Chief of Staff, Environmental 
Security, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5008, telephone 
(619) 725-4512.

    Dated: April 17, 1997.
Duncan Holaday,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, (Installations and Facilities).
[FR Doc. 97-10385 Filed 4-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-01-P