[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 175 (Thursday, September 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 48521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24292]



[[Page 48521]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Contra Costa Water District Multi-Purpose Pipeline Project, 
Contra Costa County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft environmental impact 
report/draft environmental impact statement (DEIR/DEIS) DES 98-39.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the California Environmental Quality Act, the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) and Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) have prepared a 
joint DEIR/DEIS for CCWD's Multi-Purpose Pipeline Project (MPP). The 
proposed action is for CCWD to construct and operate two water 
pipelines and supporting pumping facilities. These facilities are 
required to supplement the Contra Costa Canal and to provide improved 
water transmission reliability to meet needs following an emergency 
(such as an earthquake or fire) and to provide adequate capacity to 
meet projected demand through the year 2020. The DEIR/DEIS describes 
and presents the environmental effects of three alternatives, including 
no action. A public hearing will be held to receive comments from 
interested parties, organizations, and individuals on the environmental 
impacts of the proposal.

DATES: Submit written comments on the DEIR/DEIS on or before November 
9, 1998. Comments may be submitted to Reclamation or CCWD at the 
addresses provided below. The public hearing on the DEIR/DEIS will be 
held on October 13, 1998, at 7:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Bay Point/Ambrose 
Community Center, 3105 Willow Pass Road, Bay Point, California.
    Written comments on the DEIR/DEIS should be addressed to Ms. 
Christina Ko Hartinger, Contra Costa Water District, 2300 Stanwell 
Drive, Concord CA 94524 or to Mr. Bob Eckart, Bureau of Reclamation, 
MP-152, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA 95825.
    Copies of the DEIR/DEIS may be requested from Ms. Hartinger at the 
above address or by calling (925) 688-8335.
    Copies of the DEIR/DEIS are available for public inspection and 
review at the following locations:
     Contra Costa Water District, 2300 Stanwell Drive, Concord 
CA 94524; telephone: (925) 688-8335
     Bureau of Reclamation, Program Analysis Office, Room 7456, 
1849 C Street NW, Washington DC 20240; telephone: (202) 208-4662
     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, 
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver CO 80225; 
telephone: (303) 445-2064
     Bureau of Reclamation, Regional Director, Attention: MP-
140, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA 95825-1898; telephone: (916) 978-
5100
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Main Interior Building, Washington DC 
20240-0001
    Copies will also be available for inspection at the following 
public libraries:
     Antioch Branch Library, 501 W-18th Street, Antioch CA 
94509
     Bay Point Branch Library, 205 Pacifica Avenue, Pittsburg 
CA 94565
     Pittsburg Branch Library, 80 Power Avenue, Pittsburg CA 
94565
     Oakley Branch Library, 118 East Ruby, Oakley CA 94561
     Concord Branch Library, 2900 Salvio, Concord CA 94519

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bob Eckart, Bureau of Reclamation, 
at (916) 978-5051 or Ms. Christina Ko Hartinger, Contra Costa Water 
District, at (925) 688-8335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MPP involves construction and operation 
of two new pipelines and pump stations along with other improvements to 
the existing Contra Costa Canal (Canal). The project would increase the 
reliability and capacity of the District's raw-water delivery system to 
meet existing and new customer needs. The proposed 20-mile, 36-inch 
diameter, welded steel, multipurpose pipeline would extend from Oakley 
to Clyde. The DEIR/DEIS evaluates two alternatives (Canal Alignment and 
Street Alignment) and two sub-alternatives (Bay Point Pipeline 
Alignment and Mallard Pipeline Alignment) and a no-action alternative. 
The MPP would be designed with emergency connections to the Canal and 
with connection points to allow future inter-ties with the treated-
water systems in Antioch, Pittsburg, and Bay Point. A 25 million-
gallon-per-day (mgd) MPP pump station would be constructed and is 
proposed to pump water from the Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant 
clearwell through the MPP to the Treated Water Service Area. A proposed 
36-inch diameter, 36-mgd raw-water pipeline would be constructed to 
bypass an existing bottleneck along the Canal. A raw-water pump station 
would be constructed to pump water from the Canal into the raw-water 
pipeline. A third motorized canal gate would be installed at six of the 
seven check structures to increase flow rates of the Canal. The 
existing Neroly Blending Facility would be improved by installing 
mixing structures and widening the Canal up to 7 feet along a section 
measuring a maximum of 250 feet.

Hearing Process Information

    CCWD staff will make a brief presentation to describe the proposed 
project, its purpose and need, alternative pipeline alignments, and 
scenarios for construction and operation. The public may comment on 
environmental issues addressed in the DEIR/DEIS. If necessary due to 
large attendance, comments will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker. 
Written comments will also be accepted.

    Dated: September 1, 1998.
John F. Davis,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 98-24292 Filed 9-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P