[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25218-25219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10679]



[[Page 25218]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for a Permit Application for the Proposed Gregory Canyon 
Landfill Project, in San Diego County, CA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Corps) 
is examining the environmental consequences associated with the 
proposed construction, operation, and closure of a new Class III 
landfill in northern San Diego County, in connection with Gregory 
Canyon, Ltd.'s application for a Department of the Army permit under 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to construct the proposed Gregory 
Canyon Landfill and associated facilities, which would discharge fill 
materials into approximately 2 acres of waters of the U.S. (less than 1 
acre would be affected by permanent discharges of fill) in the San Luis 
Rey River to construct a bridge and in Gregory Canyon to construct the 
landfill liner, stability berm, and ancillary facilities.
    The primary federal environmental concerns are the proposed 
discharges of fill material into waters of the U.S. and the potential 
for significant adverse environmental effects resulting from such in-
water activities. Therefore, to address these concerns in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is 
requiring preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior 
to consideration of any permit action. The action must comply with the 
Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines (40 CFR part 230) and not be contrary to 
the public interest to be granted a Corps permit. The Corps may 
ultimately make a determination to permit or deny the above project, or 
permit or deny modified versions of the above project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action or 
the scoping of the Draft EIS can be answered by Dr. Spencer MacNeil, 
Corps Senior Project Manager, at (805) 585-2152. Comments regarding 
scoping of the Draft EIS shall be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division, Ventura Field 
Office, ATTN: CESPL-RG-N-2010-00354-SDM, 2151 Alessandro Drive, Suite 
110, Ventura, California 93001, or [email protected]. 
Comment letters sent via electronic mail shall include the commenter's 
physical mailing address and the project title ``Gregory Canyon 
Landfill Project'' shall be included in the electronic mail's subject 
line.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Project Site and Background Information: The proposed project is 
located in northern San Diego County on State Route 76 (SR 76), about 
three miles east of Interstate 15. The project site encompasses 
approximately 1,770 acres. There are three large, regional easements 
that cross the property: SR 76, a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) 
transmission corridor, and San Diego Pipelines Nos. 1 and 2 (First San 
Diego Aqueduct). In addition, the San Luis Rey River traverses the site 
in an east-west direction. A portion of Gregory Mountain is located on 
the project site; this mountain is considered culturally sacred by some 
Native Americans. The Gregory Canyon Landfill Project (proposed 
project) consists of the construction, operation, and closure of the 
proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill. The proposed landfill and its 
associated facilities would be located on the south side of SR 76 and 
would occupy approximately 308 acres of the site. The majority of the 
remaining property (a minimum of 1,313 acres) would be dedicated as 
permanent open space for long-term preservation of sensitive habitat 
and species.
    The property is located adjacent to residential, agricultural, and 
Native American properties. A portion of the site was previously 
occupied by two dairies, which have ceased operation.
    An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared for the project 
and was certified in 2003 and 2007 by the Director of the San Diego 
County Department of Environmental Health (DEH). Subsequently, in 
response to a court order for additional information regarding the 
identified water supply, an Addendum to the certified 2007 EIR was 
prepared. The 2008 Addendum was adopted by the Director of San Diego 
County DEH. The Court ruled that the Addendum was the appropriate 
document and that the issue was adequately addressed. A second Addendum 
was prepared to analyze a change in the provision of water for the 
project. This Addendum was adopted by the Director of the San Diego 
County DEH in January 2010.
    2. Proposed Action: Gregory Canyon, Ltd., as project applicant, 
proposes to construct, operate, and close a Class III landfill on the 
project site. The construction activities would discharge fill 
materials into approximately 2 acres of waters of the U.S. (less than 1 
acre would be affected by permanent discharges of fill) associated with 
constructing a bridge over the San Luis Rey River and with constructing 
the landfill liner, stability berm, and ancillary facilities in Gregory 
Canyon. The proposed landfill project would have a maximum daily intake 
of 5,000 tons and an annual intake of one million tons. The landfill 
would accept solid waste disposal for approximately 30 years. The 
landfill components would occupy approximately 308 acres of an 
approximately 1,770-acre site. All of the construction associated with 
the landfill would be located to the south of SR 76.
    The landfill footprint, which would be constructed and filled in 
phases, would be approximately 197 acres (including relocated SDG&E 
transmission towers, see below) and would be located within Gregory 
Canyon. The landfill prism would consist of a double composite liner as 
well as a leachate collection and removal system with a protective 
cover. At times, periodic construction to open the next landfill cell 
would occur simultaneously with acceptance of solid waste.
    Two borrow/stockpile areas, which would be used to store or 
excavate material for daily operation of the landfill, would be 
provided to the west of the landfill footprint. Borrow/Stockpile Area 
A, which would be about 22 acres in size, would be located adjacent to 
the western property boundary. A haul road would connect Borrow/
Stockpile Area A with the landfill footprint. The haul road would be 20 
feet wide and would run along the base of the adjacent hillside with 
turn-out locations for heavy equipment. Borrow/Stockpile Area B, which 
would be about 65 acres in size, would be located immediately to the 
west of the southern portion of the landfill footprint.
    The proposed project includes the construction of an access road 
and bridge that would cross the San Luis Rey River, which runs through 
the property. The approximately 35.5 foot wide bridge would be 
approximately 640 feet in length, with five sets of piles. The proposed 
project includes modifications to SR 76 at the entrance. The 
modifications would widen the roadway to 52 to 64 feet to provide for 
an eastbound deceleration lane and a westbound left turn lane and would 
realign approximately 1,700 linear feet of roadway to the south of the 
existing alignment. The modifications are expected to improve sight 
distance and

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facilitate truck movements at the access road on SR76.
    The access road would lead to the ancillary facilities area just 
north of the landfill footprint. The ancillary facilities area would 
include booth and fee scale, an administration building, maintenance 
building, and a recyclable drop-off area. Two 10,000-gallon leachate- 
holding tanks, a 20,000-gallon water storage tank, a 20,000-gallon 
recycled water tank, and a 50 gallon per minute reverse osmosis system 
would be located in the ancillary facilities area.
    In addition, the proposed project would include the relocation of 
SDG&E transmission towers located on the slope of Gregory Mountain and 
an option to relocate approximately 3,200 linear feet of San Diego 
County Water Authority Pipelines 1 and 2, which traverse the property. 
The proposed project would include the dedication of a minimum of 1,313 
acres of the site as permanent open space for long-term preservation of 
sensitive habitat and species.
    Through the EIS process, feasible environmental mitigation measures 
will be developed to reduce potential environmental impacts. Measures 
to reduce construction impacts would be implemented through 
construction contract specifications and permit requirements.
    3. Issues: There are several potential environmental issues that 
will be addressed in the Draft EIS. Additional issues may be identified 
during the scoping process. Issues initially identified for evaluation 
in the Draft EIS as potentially significant include:
    1. Visual impacts from the landform alterations;
    2. air quality impacts from construction, operation, increased 
vehicle emissions;
    3. biological impacts to habitat and wildlife;
    4. cultural resources (ethnographic resources);
    5. hydrogeology, surface hydrology and water quality from 
disturbance of sediment, operations, and runoff from development;
    6. noise from increased traffic associated with operations;
    7. traffic and transportation; and
    8. cumulative impacts from past, present, and reasonably 
foreseeable future projects.
    4. Alternatives: Several alternatives are being considered for the 
proposed action. The Draft EIS will include a co-equal analysis of the 
No Action and project alternatives considered. Alternatives were 
considered through the state environmental review process and an 
associated EIR that included a no project alternative; two on-site 
landfill scenarios; an on-site prescriptive design alternative with a 
single liner; two off-site North San Diego County locations; and 
alternatives to reduce the need for a landfill. The EIS will likely 
consider some of these alternatives. The EIS will include and evaluate 
a No Action Alternative that would not implement any of the proposed 
project elements and would not involve any discharge of dredged or fill 
material into waters of the U.S., and therefore, would not require a 
Corps permit. These alternatives will be further formulated and 
developed during the scoping process. Additional alternatives that may 
be developed during scoping will also be considered in the Draft EIS.
    5. Scoping Process: The Corps will conduct a public scoping meeting 
for the proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill Project Draft EIS to receive 
public comment and to assess public concerns regarding the appropriate 
scope and preparation of the Draft EIS. Participation in the public 
meeting by federal, state, and local agencies and other interested 
organizations and persons is encouraged. The meeting will be held on 
June 3, 2010 beginning at 6:00 PM (PST) at the City of San Marcos 
Senior Center (Horizon Room), 111 Richmar Avenue, San Marcos, CA 92069. 
Comments on the proposed action, alternatives, or any additional 
concerns should be submitted in writing. Written comment letters will 
be accepted until June 18, 2010.
    The Corps also anticipates formally consulting with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and 
with the State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act.
    6. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is expected to be 
published and circulated by mid-2011, and a public meeting will be held 
after its publication.

    Dated: April 29, 2010.
Mark D. Cohen,
Deputy Chief, Regulatory Division, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2010-10679 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P