[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3387-3388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1818]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Revised Record of Decision on the Upgrade of the Wastewater
Treatment System at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC
Pursuant to Section 102(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR
parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy announced, on August 8,
1994, its decision to upgrade the wastewater treatment system at Marine
Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The upgrade involves
removing three discharge points from the most nutrient sensitive waters
of the upper New River, removing two discharge points in proximity to
high quality shellfishing waters of the lower New River, and removing a
discharge point to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Onslow Beach.
The first phase requires construction of approximately 35 miles of new
wastewater transmission pipelines, and consolidates flows at an outfall
located in the New River near the existing Hadnot Point treatment
plant. Phase I also includes construction of rapid infiltration system
facilities at Onslow Beach to handle 120,000 gallons per day (gpd) of
wastewater currently discharged to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
Phases II and III involve construction of a new 15 million gallons per
day (MGD) advanced wastewater treatment plant capable of a high degree
of nutrient removal, and a new outfall diffuser pipe located about 13
miles upstream from the mouth of the New River. The new advanced
wastewater treatment plant will be in operation by December 31, 1998.
[[Page 3388]]
The alternative to treat all base effluent (including Onslow Beach
effluent) at a new advanced treatment plant with discharge to the New
River was identified as the preferred alternative in the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). In response to comments on the
DEIS, additional analysis was undertaken to examine options for land
application of Camp Lejeune wastewater. The environmentally preferred
alternative identified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) was a combination of a new advanced wastewater treatment
facility located in the French Creek area of Camp Lejeune with
discharge into the New River and a new rapid infiltration facility at
Onslow Beach.
In coordination with the North Carolina Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources (NCDEHNR), four sites were initially
identified in the FEIS as candidate sites for the Onslow Beach rapid
infiltration system facility. One site was eliminated because of
evidence of poor percolation. Another site had been a disposal area for
dredged material from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and
accordingly did not possess subsurface conditions that allowed effluent
to move at a proper pace through the soil, thus not allowing for proper
treatment. The third site was located on a narrow portion of the island
and would impact the seaward dune line and wetlands. The final site,
which was identified in the Record of Decision (ROD), offered the best
conditions, appeared to have sufficient land area, and was of
sufficient elevation.
Geological investigations conducted subsequent to publication of
the ROD revealed that the site selected for the Onslow Beach rapid
infiltration system facility has a high water table and soils not
conducive to such a facility. These investigations concluded that the
water table of the site selected occurs within a few feet of the
surface. Furthermore, modeling results indicate that effluent would
emerge at ground surface within and around the recharge areas in a
matter of days after effluent application began, resulting in failure
of the system as defined by NCDEHNR. Therefore, based on the failure
criterion of NCDEHNR, land disposal of treated domestic wastewater
effluent at this site is not feasible. Other areas of the island have
characteristics similar to the four sites investigated. Therefore, no
suitable sites are available anywhere on Onslow Beach.
Because operation of a rapid infiltration system at Onslow Beach is
not feasible from an engineering perspective, the Department of the
Navy announces its decision to pump the estimated 120,000 gpd of
effluent from Onslow Beach to the new advanced treatment plant. The
treated effluent will be discharged through the new diffuser. Prior to
completion of the new advanced treatment plant and diffuser, the Onslow
Beach effluent will be discharged at an existing outfall in the New
River.
Impacts of the construction and operation of the 15 MGD advanced
treatment plant were identified in the ROD published on August 8, 1994.
The additional flow from the Onslow Beach area is minimal in relation
to the plant size (less than 1% of projected flows). The design
capacity of the new plant will remain at 15 MGD. Accordingly, impacts
discussed in the DEIS and FEIS of the advanced treatment plant will be
the same. The discussion below summarizes the impact of the
construction of the approximately 5 miles of 8 inch pipeline required
to pump effluent from Onslow Beach to the new plant.
The pipeline will be constructed generally along existing utility
and road rights-of-way. The pipeline will be submerged as it crosses
the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. To minimize impacts on the aquatic
environment, the crossing will be accomplished using directional
drilling. No tidal wetland areas adjacent to the Atlantic Intracoastal
Waterway will be disturbed as the directional drilling will tunnel
beneath wetland areas. Closing of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
will not be required during construction. All necessary permits will be
obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to construction of
the pipeline. Construction will not begin prior to receipt of a
concurrence by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management on the
Marine Corps coastal consistency determination.
The pipeline will require crossing a freshwater wetland. This
crossing is authorized under Nationwide Permit Number 12. The U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers will be notified of the crossing prior to
construction.
The pipeline will generally follow existing rights-of-way and will
follow the contour of existing topography. The pipeline will be buried
and post construction contours will be returned to their original
condition. Some compaction of soils and removal of vegetation may occur
creating a potential for soil erosion impacts. However, compliance with
erosion and sedimentation control regulations will minimize the
potential for impacts.
Some minor clearing may be involved resulting in minimal impacts to
terrestrial wildlife. No rare plant species were located during the
survey of this pipeline segment. The pipeline will pass near a red-
cockaded woodpecker colony along Sneads Ferry Road. The existing right-
of-way along Sneads Ferry Road will be used and no impacts to any
existing cavity trees of foraging habitat will occur. No impacts due to
construction activities (e.g., noise) will occur to this endangered
species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurs with this finding.
One archeological site was identified along the pipeline corridor
during a Phase I archeological investigation. Additional testing
confirmed that this site is outside pipline construction boundaries.
Therefore, pipeline construction will not affect cultural resources
listed or determined eligible for listing on the National Register of
Historic Places. The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
concurs with this finding. Construction in the vicinity of the site
will be conducted so as to avoid ground disturbing activities outside
of the pipeline corridor.
The Department of the Navy believes that there are no outstanding
issues to be resolved with respect to this project. Questions regarding
the Environmental Impact Statement prepared for this action may be
directed to Mr. Robert Warren, Environmental Management Department, MCB
Camp Lejeune, NC 28542, telephone (910) 451-5003.
Dated: January 26, 1996.
Duncan Holaday,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, (Installations and Facilities).
[FR Doc. 96-1818 Filed 1-30-96; 8:45 am]
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