[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34659-34661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14107]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Record of Decision for Construction and Operation of the Tertiary
Treatment Plant and Associated Facilities at Marine Corps Base Camp
Pendleton, California
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of record of decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DON), pursuant to section
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), announces its
decision to consolidate four active sewage treatment plants (STPs) at
Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton into a single tertiary treatment
plant (TTP). This involves construction and operation of a new TTP and
associated facilities and demolition of four active and one inactive
STP.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
addressing this decision may be obtained from Commander, Southwest
Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Attn: Jill Wellman,
Code 5
[[Page 34660]]
CPR.JW, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California 92132-5190.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jill Wellman, telephone 619-532-
4742.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action will construct and
operate: The TTP, which will be located near the site of existing STP
13; a conveyance system to transport wastewater from the collection
areas of active STPs 1, 2, 3, and 13 to the TTP; and a wastewater
reclamation system to store and convey tertiary-treated water to reuse
points. The proposed action will also dispose of excess tertiary-
treated water via an ocean outfall; demolish active STPs 1, 2, 3, and
13, and inactive STP 8; and relocate the existing recycling center.
Currently, there are five STPs (STPs 1, 2, 3, 8, and 13) located
within the southern portion of MCB Camp Pendleton. However, STP 8 is no
longer in operation, and a sewage lift station located at inactive STP
8 is used to convey wastewater to STP 3 for treatment. The STPs
currently collect and treat wastewater from within the Lower Santa
Margarita River Basin. The proposed action will restructure MCB Camp
Pendleton's current wastewater treatment system by consolidating active
STPs 1, 2, 3, and 13 (which currently provide secondary treatment),
construct a new, regional TTP, and maximize reuse of tertiary-treated
effluent. Wastewater secondary treatment generally consists of
biological treatment processes to reduce organic solids. Tertiary
treatment provides further treatment for the removal of constituents
not removed by secondary treatment.
The TTP will include: an influent pump station (to collect
wastewater from the tributary area of active STP 13); preliminary
treatment, secondary treatment, and tertiary treatment facilities;
chemical storage and feed systems; utility systems and standby
generators; an emergency management system connection; sludge handling
facilities; an effluent pump station; and an operation and maintenance
building.
The average wastewater flow at the TTP is expected to be 2.71
million gallons per day (mgd). The permitted flow capacity of the TTP
will be 3.25 mgd, representing a difference of 0.54 mgd above existing
wastewater flows. However, the maximum permitted flow capacity of the
TTP will be 3.75 mgd. The proposed TTP has a design capacity to treat
5.0 mgd. The maximum permitted flow capacity is determined via National
Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit provisions which require
a facility's permit capacity to be only 75 percent of its design
capacity.
The TTP wastewater conveyance system will consist of sewage lift
stations and pipelines from the collection areas of STPs 1, 2, and 3
and inactive STP 8. In addition, a junction station will be constructed
to accept wastewater flow from pump stations 2 and 3 (to allow
transition from pressure flow to gravity flow). TTP wastewater
conveyance pipelines will utilize existing pipelines where feasible.
TTP effluent will be reused (i.e., reclaimed) and, when necessary,
disposed via an existing ocean outfall. It is expected that all of the
maximum permitted flow capacity of 3.75 mgd will be used for wastewater
reclamation. However, if 100-percent reclamation cannot be achieved at
the maximum permitted flow, the excess effluent (a maximum of 0.27 mgd
(300 acre feet per year [afy]) during a normal rainfall year and 0.3
mgd (300 afy) evaluated at the historically wettest rainfall year
(1978)) will be discharged via an existing ocean outfall.
The wastewater reclamation system will consist of pipelines, pump
stations, and related facilities at each of the areas proposed for
reuse of reclaimed water. Conveyance pipelines will tie into the
existing pipeline infrastructure where possible. At the reuse sites,
irrigation systems and associated pipelines will be installed (either
underground or aboveground), as necessary to distribute reclaimed
water.
In addition to the reclaimed water conveyance system components,
two seasonal storage basins will be constructed through expansion of
existing ponds to store reclaimed water during months of low irrigation
demands (i.e., periods of high rainfall). The 13-acre Lemon Grove
percolation ponds are the first of these storage basins. They are
currently inactive and available for conversion to seasonal storage
basins for wastewater effluent storage. The percolation ponds will be
upgraded to storage basins by raising the berm heights, installing
synthetic liners (to prevent seepage and protect inner slopes from
erosion), and adding algae chemical storage facilities.
The second storage basin is Gooseneck Lake (Pond 2), which
currently holds water ponding from natural surface flow. Pond 2 will be
expanded to provide seasonal storage for 250 acre-feet of reclaimed
water. Pond 2 expansion will require draining the pond, raising the
Pond 2 dam height, installing a synthetic liner, realigning a dirt
access road surrounding Pond 2, and a petroleum pipeline.
The two seasonal storage basins will store reclaimed water during
low irrigation demand months (i.e., winter months) and supplement
reclaimed water flow during peak demand months (i.e., summer months).
Pipelines will be installed to connect the storage basins with the
proposed TTP and the reuse conveyance systems.
Under the proposed action, once construction of the new wastewater
and reclaimed water conveyance systems is complete, STPs 1, 2, 3, 8,
and 13 will be demolished. After demolition, the sites will be
investigated according to the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act. Eventually, the sites will be returned
to a natural state. However, approximately 1-acre at each STP site will
be maintained in a developed condition to accommodate a sewage lift
station, potential future conveyance system expansion and maintenance.
Construction of the TTP and wastewater and reclamation conveyance
systems will consist of a multi-year, phased construction program that
will occur over approximately two to seven years (between fiscal years
2004 [FY04] and FY10). Construction of the TTP will begin first (FY04-
05), followed by the wastewater and reclamation conveyance systems
(FY05-07), and the demolition of STPs (FY09-10). The active STPs will
remain in operation until the completion of wastewater and reclamation
conveyance system construction.
Alternatives evaluated in the EIS included the proposed action,
three action alternatives, and the no action alternative. Alternative 1
contains all project components associated with the proposed action.
However, alternative 1 differs from the proposed action in that it
includes additional wastewater reuse areas; reverse osmosis treatment
of potable water; a wastewater treatment or reuse wetland; live-stream
wastewater effluent discharge; and groundwater recharge. Alternative 2
contains all project components associated with the proposed action.
However, alternative 2 differs from the proposed action in that it
includes additional wastewater reuse areas; a wastewater treatment
wetland; live-stream wastewater effluent discharge; and groundwater
recharge. Alternative 3 contains all project components associated with
the proposed action. However, alternative 3 differs from the proposed
action in that it includes additional wastewater reuse areas; potable
water and wastewater reverse osmosis treatment; a wastewater reuse
wetland; live-stream wastewater effluent discharge; and groundwater
recharge. Under the no action
[[Page 34661]]
alternative, effluent discharges from STPs 1, 2, 3, and 13 will
continue through the City of Oceanside's ocean outfall and secondary
treated effluent will be discharged to the ocean. Secondary treated
effluent from STP 1 and 2 will also be used to irrigate the golf course
when necessary.
MCB Camp Pendleton has a utility contract with the City of
Oceanside to discharge secondary-treated effluent from MCB Camp
Pendleton to the ocean outfall for a period of 5-years (with an
additional 3-year option). Under the no action alternative, at the end
of the agreement with the City of Oceanside, treated effluent from STPs
1, 2, and 3 may be discharged at the Lemon Grove percolation ponds, and
effluent from Sewage Treatment Plant 13 may be discharged into the Twin
Lakes percolation ponds, the Lower Santa Margarita River, or the Lemon
Grove ponds.
The DON has determined that the proposed action is the
environmentally preferred alternative.
The DON prepared an EIS to evaluate the potential impacts
associated with implementation of the Proposed Action. The Draft EIS
was provided to the public for a 45-day review and in conclusion of
that process, two comment letters were received. The California Coastal
Commission (CCC) reviewed the EIS and provided a letter of concurrence.
The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is finalizing a
Memorandum of Agreement, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
provided a Biological Opinion in response to the Biological Assessment.
A Final EIS containing the CCC letter of concurrence, the Biological
Opinion, and the public comments and responses to public comments
received on the Draft EIS was distributed to the public on April 23,
2004, for a 30-day review. No comment letters were received on the
Final EIS.
The DON evaluated direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts
associated with implementation of the proposed action affecting land
use; air quality; geological resources; biological resources; cultural
resources; water resources; environmental justice; utilities and
infrastructure; and safety and environmental health. Detailed
discussion of the impacts is contained in Chapter 4 of the Final EIS.
The proposed action was designed to locate its components, to the
maximum extent practicable, in areas without threatened or endangered
species or sensitive vegetation types and within previously disturbed
areas. For example, much of the wastewater and reclamation conveyance
pipeline alignment follows the alignment of existing pipeline. The
mitigation measures presented below will be implemented to reduce
impacts to below a level of significance (the mitigation acreages
presented below for each biological resource are expressed as the
maximum number of acres since the project is a design-build project and
the specific location or footprint of the project components is
currently unknown):
Vegetation Types--permanent, direct impacts to riparian habitats
that are not ``Waters of the U.S.'' will be mitigated through exotic
species control at ratios up to 2:1. Temporary, direct impacts to
riparian habitats that are not ``Waters of the U.S.'' will be mitigated
through site restoration, monitoring, and exotic species control at
ratios up to 2:1. Permanent, direct impacts to coastal sage scrub (CSS)
and Disturbed CSS (D-CSS) will be mitigated at 2:1 and 1:1,
respectively. Temporary impacts to CSS and D-CSS will be mitigated
through revegetation with native CSS in the project areas.
Mitigation Acreages--for riparian vegetation, exotic species
control mitigation will be 3.14 acres. Upland habitats replacement
mitigation will be 35.55 acres of CSS and D-CSS, and riparian
replacement mitigation will be 4.3 acres.
``Waters of the U.S.''--permanent, direct impacts to riparian
habitats that are ``Waters of the U.S.'' or vernal pools will be
mitigated through replacement of lost habitat at a ratio of 3:1.
Temporary, direct impacts to riparian habitats that are ``Waters of the
U.S.'' will be mitigated through site restoration, monitoring, and
exotic species control at ratios up to 2:1.
Mitigation Acreages--exotic species control mitigation will be 3.86
acres. Replacement mitigation will be 11.31 acres.
Sensitive Species--to the maximum extent practicable, construction
activities will take place outside the breeding season of the arroyo
toad, light-footed clapper rail, least Bell's vireo, southwestern
willow flycatcher, and coastal California gnatcatcher, where these
species are present. Construction activities within known arroyo toad
habitat or in the vicinity of nesting sensitive bird species will be
conducted in accordance to USFWS mitigation requirements presented in
the Riparian Biological Opinion for MCB Camp Pendleton.
Cultural Resources--the proposed action will adversely affect
archeological site CA-SDI-14170, a site determined to be eligible for
listing on National Register of Historic Places. Data recovery to
mitigate for impacts to the site will be conducted in accordance with a
Memorandum of Agreement with the SHPO. As a requirement of the
Memorandum of Agreement, a historic properties treatment plan will be
prepared and submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office. The
plan will include pre-construction trenching in areas where there is a
high potential for buried archaeological deposits; data recovery of
sites eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places; a construction monitoring program; and treatment of newly
discovered sites. In addition, the plan will address Native American
involvement and establish a program for managing inadvertent
archeological discoveries cognizable under the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act.
All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from
implementing the proposed action have been considered. Potential
impacts to natural and cultural resources will be mitigated to below a
level of significance. On the basis of the EIS findings conducted in
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, and after careful review of
all comments received during the EIS process and the impact analysis
performed for the proposed action, I conclude that implementation of
the proposed action will not have a significant, unmitigable impact on
the human or natural environment.
Dated: June 17, 2004.
Wayne Arny,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Installations and Facilities).
[FR Doc. 04-14107 Filed 6-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P