[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 2503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-807]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Groundwater Replenishment System, Orange County, CA; Hearing
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended),
the Orange County Water District (OCWD), Orange County Sanitation
District and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) as lead agencies
have prepared a joint draft program environmental impact report/tier 1
environmental impact statement (Program EIR/Tier 1 EIS) for a
Groundwater Replenishment System in Orange County, California.
DATES AND ADDRESS: Organizations and individuals wishing to present
comments at the hearing should contact Ms. Tama Snow, Senior Engineer,
Orange County Water District, 10500 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley,
California 92728-8300, telephone: (714) 378-3213. The Public Hearing is
scheduled to be held: January 28, 1999--5:00 p.m., Orange County Water
District Office, 10500 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Del Kidd, Environmental Protection
Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region, P.O. Box
61470, Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone: (714) 293-8698, or
Ms. Tama Snow at the above address and telephone number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and
the County Sanitation District of Orange County (CSDOC) propose to
develop an advance water treatment plant, pipeline and related
facilities within the Cities of Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Orange,
Garden Grove, and Anaheim. The Groundwater Replenishment System
(Project) would further process water from the County Sanitation
Districts of Orange County. The water from CSDOC, which is typically
discharged into the ocean, would be treated through a sophisticated,
advanced water treatment process that would include microfiltration,
reverse osmosis and disinfection. The microfiltration process uses a
series of microscopically fine filters to remove fine particles,
nitrogen, salts, and organic matter that might be in the water. The
water from this advanced treatment process would be of better quality
than the current water that is in-filtered into the groundwater basin
from the Santa Ana River and would surpass (be cleaner and better than)
the drinking water standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, the California Department of Health Services and other health
and regulatory agencies.
The water from this process will be piped to injection wells to
create a barrier against saltwater intrusion and to a spreading basin
for infiltration into the groundwater basin. The Project would provide
a new, reliable water supply to meet increased demands for potable
water within the OCWD service area and continue to protect the existing
groundwater from further contamination from seawater intrusion. The
Project water will also be used to supplement the existing Green Acres
Project, which uses recycled water for landscape irrigation and
industrial applications. The Project will help reduce the dependency on
the uncertain water supplies currently received from northern
California and the Colorado River.
Extensive evaluations have been conducted over the past seven years
to define and determine the water supply alternatives to meet the
future needs of OCWD's customers. The Project was identified to be one
of the most reliable and cost effective project alternatives for
providing a new local water supply to Orange County. The Project is
proposed to be implemented in three phases. Phase I is proposed for
implementation by the year 2003 and will supply 50,000 acre-feet per
year (afy) (one afy is sufficient water to supply two families of four
for an entire year). Phases II and III will supply an additional 25,000
afy by the years 2010 and 2020 respectively, or sooner if required.
Dated: January 8, 1999.
Deanna J. Miller,
Director, Resource Management Office.
[FR Doc. 99-807 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P
