81 FR 29607 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the Otay Mesa Conveyance and Disinfection System Project, San Diego County, California, Presidential Permit Application Review

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 92 (May 12, 2016)

Page Range		29607-29608
FR Document		2016-11282

The U.S. Department of State (Department) announces availability for public review and comment of the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the Otay Mesa Conveyance and Disinfection System Project, San Diego County, California Presidential Permit Application Review (Draft EIR/EIS). This document analyzes the potential environmental effects of issuing a Presidential Permit to the Otay Water District (District) for the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of transboundary pipeline facilities for the importation of desalinated seawater from Mexico to the United States in San Diego County, California (Otay Water Pipeline). The Draft EIS/EIR was prepared consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321, et seq.), the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR 1500-1508), and the Department's implementing regulations (22 CFR part 161), and pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970. It evaluates the potential environmental impacts of issuing a Presidential Permit to the District to construct, connect, operate, and maintain an approximately four-mile-long, 48- to 54-inch-diameter potable water pipeline, and a metering station as well as a possible pump station and disinfection facility within the Otay Mesa area of the County of San Diego, just north of the United States-Mexico border.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 92 (Thursday, May 12, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 92 (Thursday, May 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29607-29608]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11282]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9556]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement for the Otay Mesa Conveyance and 
Disinfection System Project, San Diego County, California, Presidential 
Permit Application Review

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of Availability, solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State (Department) announces 
availability for public review and comment of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the Otay Mesa 
Conveyance and Disinfection System Project, San Diego County, 
California Presidential Permit Application Review (Draft EIR/EIS). This 
document analyzes the potential environmental effects of issuing a 
Presidential Permit to the Otay Water District (District) for the 
construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of transboundary 
pipeline facilities for the importation of desalinated seawater from 
Mexico to the United States in San Diego County, California (Otay Water 
Pipeline). The Draft EIS/EIR was prepared consistent with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321, et seq.), 
the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR 
1500-1508), and the Department's implementing regulations (22 CFR part 
161), and pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 
of 1970. It evaluates the potential environmental impacts of issuing a 
Presidential Permit to the District to construct, connect, operate, and 
maintain an approximately four-mile-long, 48- to 54-inch-diameter 
potable water pipeline, and a metering station as well as a possible 
pump station and disinfection facility within the Otay Mesa area of the 
County of San Diego, just north of the United States-Mexico border.

DATES: The Department invites the public, governmental agencies, tribal 
governments, and all other interested parties to provide comments on 
the Draft EIS/EIR during the 45-day public comment period. The public 
comment period starts on May 12, 2016, with the publication of this 
Federal Register Notice and will end June 27, 2016.
    All comments received during the review period may be made public, 
no matter how initially submitted. Comments are not private and will 
not be edited to remove identifying or contact information. Commenters 
are cautioned against including any information that they would not 
want publicly disclosed. Any party soliciting or aggregating comments 
from other persons is further requested to direct those persons not to 
include any identifying or contact information, or information they 
would not want publicly disclosed, in their comments.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EIS/EIR may be submitted at 
www.regulations.gov by entering the title of this Notice into the 
search field and following the prompts. Comments may also be submitted 
by mail, addressed to: Otay Water Pipeline Project Manager, Office of 
Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues (OES/EQT): Suite 2726, 
U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20520. All 
comments from agencies or organizations should indicate a contact 
person for the agency or organization.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project details for the Otay Water 
Pipeline project and a copy of the Presidential Permit application, as 
well as information on the Presidential Permit process are available on 
the following Web sites: http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/permit/app/otaypermit/index.htm and http://www.owd-desalconveyance.com/. Please 
refer to these Web sites or contact the Department at the address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 11423, as amended, delegates 
to the Secretary of State the President's authority to receive 
applications for permits for the construction, connection, operation, 
or maintenance of certain facilities at the borders of the United 
States, and to issue or deny such Presidential Permits upon a national 
interest determination. To make this determination, the Department 
considers many factors, including foreign policy; environmental, 
cultural and economic impacts; and compliance with applicable law and 
policy.

[[Page 29608]]

    In November 2013, the District submitted an application to the 
Department for a Presidential Permit authorizing the construction, 
connection, operation, and maintenance of a cross-border water pipeline 
facility for the proposed project, which would convey desalinated 
seawater from Mexico to the District's Roll Reservoir in San Diego 
County, which is approximately four miles northeast of the border.
    The proposed Mexican desalination plant (not a part of the proposed 
project) is envisioned to produce 100 million gallons per day (MGD) of 
desalinated sea water. The District intends to initially purchase 
approximately 20-25 MGD of desalinated sea water, and ultimately 
increase the amount to 50 MGD. Due to seasonal variation in demand, the 
District anticipates that 10 MGD would be conveyed in the winter 
months, and up to 50 MGD would be conveyed during peak demand periods 
in the summer months. Numerous alignment routes for the pipeline were 
considered; however, after initial consideration of environmental and 
engineering opportunities and constraints, the District, together with 
the Department, determined three alternative alignments, and addressed 
those alignments in the Draft EIR/EIS. The District's preferred 
alternative is approximately 21,810 linear feet and extends from the 
border in a northwesterly direction within established right-of-ways 
and terminates on the east side of the Roll Reservoir.
    The District will be responsible for approving the expenditure of 
public funds for the proposed project and the Department will be 
responsible for determining whether the proposed project serves the 
national interest pursuant to Executive Order 11423, and if so, issuing 
a Presidential Permit authorizing the construction, connection, 
operation, and maintenance of the cross-border pipeline facility.
    Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR: Copies of the Draft EIS/EIR have 
been distributed to state and governmental agencies, tribal 
governments, and other interested parties. Printed copies of the 
document may be obtained by visiting the Otay Mesa-Nestor Library in 
San Diego, California or by contacting the Otay Project Manager at the 
above address. The Draft EIS/EIR is available on these project Web 
sites at http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/permit/app/otaypermit/index.htm 
and http://www.owd-desalconveyance.com/.

Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2016-11282 Filed 5-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P

29608 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 92 / Thursday, May 12, 2016 / Notices

In November 2013, the District otaypermit/index.htm and http:// 2011, and to the extent permitted by
submitted an application to the www.owd-desalconveyance.com/. law, I hereby re-delegate to the Deputy
Department for a Presidential Permit Assistant Secretary for Policy and
Deborah Klepp,
authorizing the construction, Evaluation, Bureau of Educational and
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and
connection, operation, and maintenance Cultural Affairs, the functions in section
Transboundary Issues, Department of State.
of a cross-border water pipeline facility 102 of the Mutual Educational and
[FR Doc. 2016–11282 Filed 5–11–16; 8:45 am]
for the proposed project, which would Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as
BILLING CODE 4710–09–P
convey desalinated seawater from amended (22 U.S.C. 2452) relating to the
Mexico to the District’s Roll Reservoir in provision by grant, contract or otherwise
San Diego County, which is for a wide variety of educational and
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
approximately four miles northeast of cultural exchanges.
[Delegation of Authority No. 394] This Delegation of Authority does not
the border.
supersede or otherwise affect any other
The proposed Mexican desalination Designation of the Department of State delegation of authority currently in
plant (not a part of the proposed project) Representative to the Administrative effect. The functions and authorities re-
is envisioned to produce 100 million Conference of the United States delegated herein may not be further
gallons per day (MGD) of desalinated By virtue of the authority vested in delegated without my approval.
sea water. The District intends to the Secretary of State, including Section Any reference in this Delegation of
initially purchase approximately 20–25 1 of the State Department Basic Authority to any statute or delegation of
MGD of desalinated sea water, and Authorities Act, as amended (22 U.S.C. authority shall be deemed to be a
ultimately increase the amount to 50 2651a), and 5 U.S.C. 593, and delegated reference to such statute or delegation of
MGD. Due to seasonal variation in pursuant to Delegation of Authority 198, authority as amended from time to time.
demand, the District anticipates that 10 dated September 16, 1992, and to the This Delegation of Authority shall be
MGD would be conveyed in the winter extent authorized by law, I hereby published in the Federal Register.
months, and up to 50 MGD would be designate the Department of State Legal
Dated: March 31, 2016.
conveyed during peak demand periods Adviser as the Department of State
Evan Ryan,
in the summer months. Numerous government representative to the
Administrative Conference of the Assistant Secretary for Educational and
alignment routes for the pipeline were
Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
considered; however, after initial United States.
This delegation of authority may be [FR Doc. 2016–11279 Filed 5–11–16; 8:45 am]
consideration of environmental and
engineering opportunities and re-delegated, to the extent authorized by BILLING CODE 4710–05–P

constraints, the District, together with law.
the Department, determined three Notwithstanding this delegation of
authority, the Secretary, the Deputy DEPARTMENT OF STATE
alternative alignments, and addressed
Secretary, the Deputy Secretary for
those alignments in the Draft EIR/EIS.
Management and Resources, and the [Delegation of Authority No. 395]
The District’s preferred alternative is Under Secretary for Management may
approximately 21,810 linear feet and exercise any function or authority Delegation of Authority Under 5 U.S.C.
extends from the border in a delegated by this delegation of 5376 to the Inspector General for the
northwesterly direction within authority. U.S. Department of State
established right-of-ways and terminates This Delegation of Authority will be
on the east side of the Roll Reservoir. published in the Federal Register. By virtue of the authority vested in
me as Secretary of State, including
The District will be responsible for Dated: April 29, 2016. Section 1 of the Department of State
approving the expenditure of public Patrick F. Kennedy, Basic Authorities Act, as amended (22
funds for the proposed project and the Under Secretary of State for Management, U.S.C. 2651a), I hereby delegate to the
Department will be responsible for Department of State. Inspector General for the U.S.
determining whether the proposed [FR Doc. 2016–11274 Filed 5–11–16; 8:45 am] Department of State, to the extent
project serves the national interest BILLING CODE 4710–08–P authorized by law, the authority under
pursuant to Executive Order 11423, and 5 U.S.C. 5376 to determine and adjust
if so, issuing a Presidential Permit pay for Senior Professional positions.
authorizing the construction, DEPARTMENT OF STATE This delegation of authority is not
connection, operation, and maintenance [Delegation of Authority No. 236–7] intended to revoke, amend, or otherwise
of the cross-border pipeline facility. affect the validity of any other
Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR: Re-Delegation by the Assistant delegation of authority.
Copies of the Draft EIS/EIR have been Secretary of State for Educational and Any act, executive order, regulation,
distributed to state and governmental Cultural Affairs to the Deputy Assistant or procedure subject to, or affected by,
agencies, tribal governments, and other Secretary for Policy and Evaluation of this delegation shall be deemed to be
interested parties. Printed copies of the Authority Under Section 102 of the such act, executive order, regulation, or
document may be obtained by visiting Mutual Educational and Cultural procedure as amended from time to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Exchange Act of 1961, as Amended time.
the Otay Mesa-Nestor Library in San
Diego, California or by contacting the By virtue of the authority vested in Notwithstanding this delegation of
Otay Project Manager at the above me as the Assistant Secretary of State for authority, the Secretary may at any time
address. The Draft EIS/EIR is available Educational and Cultural Affairs, exercise any authority or function
on these project Web sites at http:// including by Delegation of Authority delegated by this delegation of
www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/permit/app/ No. 236–3, dated August 28, 2000, and authority.
Section 2(e)(2) of Delegation of This delegation of authority shall be
Authority No. 293–2, dated October 23, published in the Federal Register.

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Document Created: 2016-05-12 01:07:21
Document Modified: 2016-05-12 01:07:21

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of Availability, solicitation of comments.
Dates		The Department invites the public, governmental agencies, tribal governments, and all other interested parties to provide comments on the Draft EIS/EIR during the 45-day public comment period. The public comment period starts on May 12, 2016, with the publication of this Federal Register Notice and will end June 27, 2016.
Contact		Project details for the Otay Water Pipeline project and a copy of the Presidential Permit application, as well as information on the Presidential Permit process are available on the following Web sites: http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/permit/app/ otaypermit/index.htm and http://www.owd-desalconveyance.com/. Please
FR Citation		81 FR 29607