[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19559-19561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10385]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Record of Decision To Implement the Sewage Effluent Compliance
Project for the Las Pulgas and San Mateo Basins of Marine Corps Base,
Camp Pendleton, CA
Pursuant to Section 102(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy announces its
decision to upgrade the wastewater treatment and disposal systems in
the Las Pulgas and San Mateo Basins of Marine Corps Base (MCB), Camp
Pendleton, California. Upgrades in the Las Pulgas Basin involve the
construction of advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) facilities, a
pipeline of approximately 19,000 lineal feet, and a field of injection
wells downstream near the coastline. The AWT facilities would provide
limited tertiary treatment of the sewage effluent, which would reduce
the turbidity and pathogens to decrease the likelihood of clogging
during effluent disposal into the injection wells. Upgrades in the San
Mateo Basin involve construction of equalization ponds, a pipeline of
approximately 12,500 lineal feet, and percolation basins approximately
35 acres in total size located downstream of existing potable water
wells. Additionally, a pipeline connector of approximately 5,100 feet
will be constructed to convey to the San Mateo Basin excess sewage
effluent from the pipeline serving sewage treatment plants in the San
Onofre Basin.
The existing sewage treatment plants were constructed in the 1940s
and discharge secondary-treated effluent to percolation basins upstream
of potable water wells that serve developments within the Las Pulgas
and San Mateo Basins. These conditions, including plant design, violate
the San Diego Water Quality Basin Plan, the State of California Porter
Cologne Water Quality Act of 1969, and the National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act of 1972. As a result of these conditions, the San Diego Regional
Water Quality Control Board issued Cease and Desist Orders to MCB Camp
Pendleton in January 1989. To meet these Cease and Desist Orders, new
facilities are required to improve wastewater treatment and disposal
and meet the Basin Plan.
Alternatives considered for correcting the conditions cited in the
Cease and Desist Orders included no action, water disposal of effluent,
and land disposal of effluent. Water disposal alternatives included
construction of an ocean outfall, live-stream discharge of either
secondary- or tertiary-treated effluent, discharge to an off-base
publicly owned treatment works, and a basin plan amendment. Land
disposal alternatives included percolation basins, biological ponds,
leach fields, and injection wells. The Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) identified the following preferred alternatives for
the Las Pulgas and San Mateo Basins, respectively: construction of
eight new injection wells located west of Interstate 5 for discharge of
effluent from sewage treatment plant 9, which will be upgraded with new
AWT facilities to provide additional filtration required to improve
water quality and prevent clogging of the wells; and discharge of
secondary-treated effluent from sewage treatment plant 12 to new
percolation basins located downstream from existing potable water
wells. These alternatives were identified in the Final
[[Page 19560]]
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) as the environmentally preferred
alternatives for each respective basin.
A systematic and multidisciplinary approach to identify
alternatives was utilized which incorporated criteria based upon
technical and functional suitability. Alternatives were evaluated for
technical suitability through compatibility with constraints imposed by
available land for treatment and disposal facilities, subsurface
geological and hydrological conditions, and soil permeability.
Technically suitable alternatives were further evaluated for their
ability to satisfy the following six functional requirements of the
projects: (1) Prevention of degradation of water quality to sustain
beneficial uses identified in the San Diego Basin Plan, (2) sustained
volume within each water basin, (3) prevention of saltwater intrusion
into each water basin, (4) compliance with water quality standards in
accordance with Federal and State safe drinking water standards, (5)
compliance with water quality standards in accordance with State
Groundwater Recharge Guidelines, and (6) compliance with the timelines
identified in the Cease and Desist Orders. The analysis determined that
the preferred alternative in each basin is the only alternative that
meets all criteria. In each basin, the preferred alternative is
environmentally preferable to the other alternatives considered because
it sustains long-term water quality and meets the San Diego Basin Plan
objectives. All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental
harm have been adopted as identified below and amplified in the
Environmental Impact Statement.
For the Las Pulgas facility, construction of the new AWT
facilities, equalization pond, pipeline and injection wells will
require grading, excavation and soil-boring. For the San Mateo
facility, percolation basin construction will involve grading and
excavation. A soil erosion control plan will be prepared for
construction, and will include restricting grading and excavation
during the rainy season, restricting heavy equipment to existing
rights-of-way, installing sediment control measures, and providing
post-construction revegetation.
To reduce potential significant impacts on paleontological
resources to an acceptable level, the Marine Corps will develop an
environmental education program, develop an information pamphlet and
conduct an environmental education class for all construction project
personnel. Additionally, environmental monitors shall be present when
construction activities occur in designated sensitive areas.
Environmental monitors shall ensure that paleontological resources are
recovered according to approved procedures. If paleontological
resources are identified and salvage efforts are required, curation of
the materials will be accomplished by the Marine Corps.
The California gnatcatcher (Polioptilla california), a federally
listed threatened species, is present near the percolation basin and
pipeline sites. The project will result in a temporary impact to 1.35
acres of coastal sage, of which only 0.4 acres are occupied gnatcatcher
habitat. In accordance with USFWS Riparian Biological Opinion (BO) of
1995, to mitigate these impacts, the Marine Corps will, to the maximum
extent possible, conduct construction operations in coastal sage
habitat outside of the gnatcatcher breeding season. Construction that
will occur within 500 feet of coastal sage during the breeding season
will be surveyed prior to construction to determine the presence of
active gnatcatcher nests, and all work within 500 feet of a nest will
be completed outside the breeding season. All pipelines will follow
existing roads to the maximum extent practical. Temporary impacts to
coastal sage will be mitigated through replanting, restoration and
subsequent monitoring of the restoration area for a minimum period of 3
years to ensure restoration success and to control invasive exotic
vegetation. Permanent impacts to coastal sage not occupied by
gnatcatcher shall be mitigated at a ratio of 1:1, and will be
accomplished through habitat enhancement and conservation in the more
contiguous area of coastal sage on the Base. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) concurs with this mitigation scheme.
The southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailii), a federally
listed threatened species, is known to occur in the riparian areas of
the Las Flores Creek drainage. The project will result in a permanent
loss of 2.28 acres and temporary loss of .07 acres of southern willow
scrub which is potential habitat for the willow flycatcher. The USFWS
Riparian Biological Opinion (BO) of 1995 indicated the impacts would be
significant and require mitigation. As mandated in this BO, permanent
impacts to riparian wetland habitat shall be mitigated at a ratio of
1.5:1 by enhancing degraded habitat elsewhere on- or off-base.
Mitigation will be achieved through implementation of invasive exotic
plant species control, site monitoring, and follow-up retreatment for a
period of 5 years. Temporary impacts to riparian wetland habitat will
be mitigated by restoring wetlands to original or better condition and
by monitoring the restoration for a minimum of 3 years to control
invasive exotic plant species and to ensure restoration effectiveness.
In accordance with the 1995 USFWS Riparian BO, temporary impacts to
estuarine wetland habitats will be restored to original or better
condition following construction, and will be monitored for a minimum
of 3 years to control invasion of invasive exotic plant species to
ensure effectiveness of restoration.
To ensure avoidance of temporary impacts to the southwestern arroyo
toad (Bufo mocroscaphus), construction will be scheduled during the
period between September 15 and January 15, when toads are hibernating
and activity is minimized. For construction that cannot be accomplished
between September 15 and January 15, toad-proof fencing will be
installed daily at all open trenches and soils stock piles.
Additionally, on a daily basis, a biological monitor shall verify the
absence of toads in construction areas prior to the commencement of
construction. These mitigation measures comply with the 1995 USFWS
Riparian BO.
In compliance with the 1995 USFWS Riparian BO, the Marine Corps
will conduct monthly surface water quality monitoring for up to 2 years
to establish baseline data for areas downstream of the percolation
basins. Monitoring data will be collected in accordance with the
provisions of the Clean Water Act Section 404 and 401 permit. Should
changes in water quality be detected, the Marine Corps will consult
with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (SDRWQCB) and
the USFWS to develop and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
Additionally, the Marine Corps will annually monitor ground water
quality and levels for 10 years, as stated in the 1995 USFWS Riparian
BO. Should changes in ground water quality or level be detected, the
Marine Corps will consult with the SDRWQCB and the USFWS to develop and
implement appropriate mitigation measures.
The proposed action will affect two archeological sites determined
to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Where feasible, adverse direct and indirect impacts on archeological
resources will be avoided through redesign or relocation of facilities
to avoid areas of high cultural resource sensitivity. In areas where
avoidance is not feasible, the Marine Corps will prepare a data
recovery plan and consult with the California State Historic
Preservation Officer (SHPO) for concurrence prior to
[[Page 19561]]
implementation; provide for monitoring of construction and excavation
operations by a qualified archaeologist and a Native American observer;
and should archaeological resources be encountered during construction,
halt all work until a qualified archaeologist is consulted to determine
if the resources are significant and whether excavation or protection
of resources is required. The California SHPO concurs with this
approach.
Analysis of air emissions that would occur during construction and
operation of the percolation ponds determined that these emissions will
be below de minimis levels and that the project conforms with the State
Implementation Plan for air quality.
A Coastal Consistency Negative Determination was prepared for this
project and it concluded that the proposed action is being carried out
in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent practicable, with the
enforceable policies of the California Coastal Management Plan. The
California Coastal Commission concurs with this determination.
Preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement began with a
public scoping process to identify issues that should be addressed in
the document. Involvement in scoping was offered through a combination
of documented public announcements and meetings with State of
California agencies. Public announcements were handled through scoping
letters sent to Federal, State, and local governmental agencies,
citizen groups and associations, and the general public. Also, a Notice
of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published in
local newspapers and the Federal Register. A public scoping meeting was
held on December 17, 1992 in Oceanside, California.
The Notice of Availability of the DEIS appeared in the Federal
Register on September 6, 1996. The DEIS was distributed to agencies and
officials of Federal, State and local governmental agencies, citizens
groups and associations, public libraries and other interested parties.
The public review period for the DEIS was from September 6, 1996
through October 22, 1996. Comments received on the DEIS focused on
alternatives analysis, endangered species and wetlands issues. The FEIS
addressed these comments and was distributed to officials of Federal,
State and local governmental agencies, citizens groups and
associations, public libraries and to other interested parties on
February 7, 1997. No comments were received on the FEIS.
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. Lupe E. Armas, Assistant Chief of Staff, Environmental
Security, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5008, telephone
(619) 725-4512.
Dated: April 17, 1997.
Duncan Holaday,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, (Installations and Facilities).
[FR Doc. 97-10385 Filed 4-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-01-P
