[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 145 (Monday, July 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43786-43787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17228]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


North San Pablo Bay Restoration and Reuse Project, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement/
environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) and notice of public scoping 
meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation), the lead Federal agency, and the Sonoma 
County Water Agency, acting as administrator for the North Bay Water 
Reuse Authority (NBWRA) and the lead State agency, will prepare a joint 
EIS/EIR for the proposed North San Pablo Bay Restoration and Reuse 
Project (Proposed Action). The purpose of the Proposed Action is to 
create a regional wastewater reuse project to provide recycled water 
for agricultural, urban, and environmental uses as an alternative to 
discharging treated wastewater to San Pablo Bay. In this way, water 
demand issues and wastewater discharge issues of the region can be 
addressed in an integrated and synergistic manner.

DATES: A series of scoping meetings will be held to solicit public 
input on the scope of the environmental document, alternatives, 
concerns, and issues to be addressed in the EIS/EIR. The scoping 
meeting dates are:
     Monday, August 4, 2008, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Napa, CA.
     Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Novato, 
CA.
     Wednesday, August 6, 2008, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sonoma 
Community Center, 276 East Napa Street, Sonoma, CA.
    Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR will be accepted until 
August 20, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The public scoping meetings will be held at:
     Napa at Napa Elks Lodge, 2840 Soscol Avenue.
     Novato at Margaret Todd Senior Center, 1560 Hill Road.
     Sonoma at Sonoma Community Center, 276 East Napa Street.
    Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR should be sent to Mr. 
Marc Bautista, Sonoma County Water Agency, 404 Aviation Boulevard, 
Santa Rosa, CA 95403; or e-mailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Marc Bautista, Sonoma County Water 
Agency (SCWA) at the SCWA general telephone number 707-547-1998, e-mail 
at: [email protected]; or Mr. David White, Reclamation, at 916-978-
5074, e-mail at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The NBWRA, comprised of four wastewater utilities and one water

[[Page 43787]]

agency in the North San Pablo Bay region of California, plans to expand 
the use of recycled water and reduce discharge into San Pablo Bay with 
this long-term inter-agency project. The area encompasses 318 square 
miles of land in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties. Participants include 
Las Gallinas Valley Sanitation District (LGVSD), Novato Sanitation 
District (Novato SD), Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District (SVCSD), 
and Napa Sanitation District (Napa SD). In addition, North Marin Water 
District and the County of Napa are participating financially and 
providing support. Sonoma County Water Agency is acting as project 
administrator, and will be the CEQA Lead Agency. Reclamation is the 
federal lead agency for NEPA because the Proposed Action may be 
partially federally funded under Title XVI of Public Law 102-575, as 
amended, which provides a mechanism for federal participation and cost 
sharing in approved water reuse projects.
    The North San Pablo Bay regions of Sonoma, Marin and Napa Counties 
are facing long-term water supply short-falls. Surface and groundwater 
supplies within these areas are limited, and some local groundwater 
basins are over-pumped, with detrimental effects on water levels and 
water quality. Recycled water can augment local water supplies on a 
regional basis, provide water that meets agricultural and municipal 
non-potable quality needs, and provide increased reliability.
    Additionally, a clean, reliable water supply is needed in order to 
continue the restoration of tidal wetlands in San Pablo Bay that 
contain habitat for endangered and threatened species. Wastewater 
treatment agencies also face strict regulatory limits on the timing and 
quality of the treated wastewater they can discharge to San Pablo Bay, 
as well as the rivers and streams that flow to it. By treating 
wastewater to the stricter regulatory levels required for reuse, the 
agencies can recycle the water productively to address water supply 
needs and reduce the amount released to San Pablo Bay and its 
tributaries.
    The public could benefit through the reduction in use of natural 
regional surface and groundwater supplies, the reduction of wastewater 
discharge to regional waterways, and the resulting environmental 
benefit to fish and wildlife. By working cooperatively, the 
participants increase opportunities for state and federal grants, and 
cost sharing opportunities, that lower costs to customers.
    NBWRA has developed a regional program for expanding cooperative 
water reuse within the North San Pablo Bay region. The Proposed Action 
consists of distribution facilities, treatment capacity improvements, 
and storage to make between 17,000 and 25,000 acre-feet per year of 
recycled water available for environmental, agricultural, and municipal 
reuse, consistent with the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, 
pertaining to the use of tertiary-treated recycled water.
    At this time, there are no known or possible Indian trust assets or 
environmental justice issues associated with the Proposed Action.

Special Assistance for Public Scoping Meetings

    If special assistance is required to participate in the public 
hearings, please contact David White at 916-978-5074, TDD 916-978-5608, 
or via e-mail at [email protected]. Please notify Mr. White as far in 
advance as possible to enable Reclamation to secure the needed 
services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be 
notified. A telephone device for the hearing impaired (TDD) is 
available at 916-978-5608.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should 
be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: June 4, 2008.
Susan M. Fry,
Regional Environmental Officer, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. E8-17228 Filed 7-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P