[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]


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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.

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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