[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 177 (Friday, September 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53730-53731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23308]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6643-8]


Public Input Requested on the Proposed Yucaipa Valley Water 
District's Regional Non-Potable Water Distribution System Project, 
Yucaipa, CA

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to initiate the scoping phase for public input 
in

[[Page 53731]]

advance of preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to fund 
the construction of a non-potable water distribution system. The source 
of the non-potable water would come from four sources: (1) A mixture of 
advanced tertiary treated wastewater (recycled water) generated at the 
Henry N. Wochholz Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP); (2) untreated 
surface water; (3) untreated imported water from the State Water 
Project; and (4) non-potable groundwater pumped from the Yucaipa 
Management Zone Groundwater basin to a lesser degree. Currently, the 
Yucaipa Valley Water District (District) discharges approximately 3.0 
million gallons per day (mgd) of tertiary treated wastewater into San 
Timoteo Creek from the WWTP via an outfall located approximately 1.5 
miles upstream of Redlands Boulevard. Some or all of the tertiary 
treated effluent would be withdrawn from San Timoteo Creek for use 
within the non-potable water distribution system.

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    Purpose: In accordance with Section 15082 of California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the District is the lead 
agency in the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for 
the proposed Regional Non-Potable Water Distribution System Project. In 
accordance with Section 1501.7 and 1508.22 of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. EPA is the lead agency in the 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The District 
and EPA are coordinating to prepare a joint EIR/EIS.
    For Further Information, to Submit Comments, and To Be Placed on a 
Project Mailing List, Contact: Ms. Elizabeth Borowiec, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code WTR-4, 75 Hawthorne Street, 
San Francisco, California, 94105-3901, Telephone: (415) 972-3419 or 
FAX: (415) 947-3537 or E-mail at [email protected].
    Summary: This Notice is to announce EPA and the District's 
intention to collect public comment in advance of preparing an EIS.
    Need for Action: The Yucaipa Valley Water District is dependent on 
local groundwater sources, surface water and imported water to meet the 
potable water demands of its customers. Currently, these groundwater 
basins are experiencing an overdraft of 3,000 acre-feet per year. The 
proposed project would reduce the demand for potable water by up to 
1,300 acre-feet per year under existing conditions.
    Alternatives: The following proposed alternatives have been 
tentatively defined:
    1. ``Proposed Project''--A total of approximately 126,100 linear 
feet of pipeline, eight reservoirs and four pump stations would be 
constructed, maintained and operated to distribute non-potable water to 
markets identified in the Water Master Plan as Phase I and II 
customers. Approximately, 9,600 linear feet of pipeline would be 
constructed to discharge water to San Timoteo Creek at the Live Oak 
Road bridge crossing. Also, one existing reservoir (H-1) located near 
the proposed Casa Blanca golf course would be converted from potable to 
non-potable water storage, maintained and operated by the District as 
part of the non-potable water distribution system.
    2. ``A Reduced Distribution System Alternative''--A total of 39,900 
linear feet of pipeline and two reservoirs would be constructed to 
distribute non-potable water to markets identified in the Water Master 
Plan as Phase I customers. Approximately, 9,600 linear feet of pipeline 
would be constructed to discharge water to San Timoteo Creek at the 
Live Oak Road bridge crossing. Also, one existing reservoir (H-1) 
located near the proposed Casa Blanca golf course would be converted 
from potable to non-potable water storage, maintained and operated by 
the District as part of the non-potable water distribution system.
    3. ``A No-Project Alternative''--Construction of a non-potable 
water distribution system would not occur.
    Scoping: EPA is requesting written comments from federal, state, 
and local governments, industry, non-governmental organizations, and 
the general public on the need for action, the range of alternatives 
considered, and the potential impacts of the alternatives. Scoping 
comments will be accepted for 30 days, beginning with the date of this 
Notice. A public scoping meeting is scheduled for this proposed project 
on September 29, 2003 at 6:00 pm at the Yucaipa Valley Water District 
at 12770 Second Street in Yucaipa, California. Because of the time 
limits provided by State law, responses should be sent at the earliest 
possible date, but not later than October 14, 2003.
    Estimated Date of Draft EIS Release: Spring 2004.

    Dated: September 8, 2003.
Janet Bearden,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Environmental Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 03-23308 Filed 9-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U