[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 2503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-807]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Groundwater Replenishment System, Orange County, CA; Hearing

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 
and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended), 
the Orange County Water District (OCWD), Orange County Sanitation 
District and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) as lead agencies 
have prepared a joint draft program environmental impact report/tier 1 
environmental impact statement (Program EIR/Tier 1 EIS) for a 
Groundwater Replenishment System in Orange County, California.

DATES AND ADDRESS: Organizations and individuals wishing to present 
comments at the hearing should contact Ms. Tama Snow, Senior Engineer, 
Orange County Water District, 10500 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, 
California 92728-8300, telephone: (714) 378-3213. The Public Hearing is 
scheduled to be held: January 28, 1999--5:00 p.m., Orange County Water 
District Office, 10500 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Del Kidd, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region, P.O. Box 
61470, Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone: (714) 293-8698, or 
Ms. Tama Snow at the above address and telephone number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and 
the County Sanitation District of Orange County (CSDOC) propose to 
develop an advance water treatment plant, pipeline and related 
facilities within the Cities of Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Orange, 
Garden Grove, and Anaheim. The Groundwater Replenishment System 
(Project) would further process water from the County Sanitation 
Districts of Orange County. The water from CSDOC, which is typically 
discharged into the ocean, would be treated through a sophisticated, 
advanced water treatment process that would include microfiltration, 
reverse osmosis and disinfection. The microfiltration process uses a 
series of microscopically fine filters to remove fine particles, 
nitrogen, salts, and organic matter that might be in the water. The 
water from this advanced treatment process would be of better quality 
than the current water that is in-filtered into the groundwater basin 
from the Santa Ana River and would surpass (be cleaner and better than) 
the drinking water standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, the California Department of Health Services and other health 
and regulatory agencies.
    The water from this process will be piped to injection wells to 
create a barrier against saltwater intrusion and to a spreading basin 
for infiltration into the groundwater basin. The Project would provide 
a new, reliable water supply to meet increased demands for potable 
water within the OCWD service area and continue to protect the existing 
groundwater from further contamination from seawater intrusion. The 
Project water will also be used to supplement the existing Green Acres 
Project, which uses recycled water for landscape irrigation and 
industrial applications. The Project will help reduce the dependency on 
the uncertain water supplies currently received from northern 
California and the Colorado River.
    Extensive evaluations have been conducted over the past seven years 
to define and determine the water supply alternatives to meet the 
future needs of OCWD's customers. The Project was identified to be one 
of the most reliable and cost effective project alternatives for 
providing a new local water supply to Orange County. The Project is 
proposed to be implemented in three phases. Phase I is proposed for 
implementation by the year 2003 and will supply 50,000 acre-feet per 
year (afy) (one afy is sufficient water to supply two families of four 
for an entire year). Phases II and III will supply an additional 25,000 
afy by the years 2010 and 2020 respectively, or sooner if required.

    Dated: January 8, 1999.
Deanna J. Miller,
Director, Resource Management Office.
[FR Doc. 99-807 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P