82 FR 4302 - Proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project; Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 9 (January 13, 2017)

Page Range		4302-4303
FR Document		2017-00505

A permit application has been submitted by California American Water Company (CalAm) to NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) to construct and operate a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination facility project (Project) in Monterey County, California. The permit review process is being conducted concurrently with a public process conducted pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, Cal. Pub. Res. Code Sec. 21000 et seq.). NOAA has prepared, in cooperation with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), a joint draft environmental impact review/environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) that analyzes the potential effects on the physical and human environment related to the Project proposed within MBNMS boundaries. NOAA is soliciting public comment on the draft EIR/EIS.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4302-4303]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00505]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project; Notice of 
Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft environmental impact report/
environmental impact statement; request for public comments; 
announcement of public meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: A permit application has been submitted by California American 
Water Company (CalAm) to NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 
(MBNMS) to construct and operate a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination 
facility project (Project) in Monterey County, California. The permit 
review process is being conducted concurrently with a public process 
conducted pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, 
Cal. Pub. Res. Code Sec.  21000 et seq.). NOAA has prepared, in 
cooperation with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), a 
joint draft environmental impact review/environmental impact statement 
(EIR/EIS) that analyzes the potential effects on the physical and human 
environment related to the Project proposed within MBNMS boundaries. 
NOAA is soliciting public comment on the draft EIR/EIS.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 27, 2017. Public 
meetings will be on the following dates:

(1) Wednesday, February 15, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Marina, CA
(2) Wednesday, February 15, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Seaside, CA
(3) Thursday, February 16, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Carmel, CA

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by either of the following 
methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NOS-2016-0156, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields and enter or attach 
your comments.
     Mail: MBNMS Project Lead for CalAm Desalination Project, 
99 Pacific Ave, BLDG 455a, Monterey, CA 93940.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NOAA. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. ONMS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Copies of the DEIR/EIS can be downloaded or viewed on the internet 
at www.regulations.gov (search for docket # NOAA-NOS-2016-0156), or at 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NOS-2016-0156. Copies can 
also be obtained by contacting the person identified under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The public meeting locations are:

(1) Marina, CA: Marina Public Library, Community Meeting Room, 188 
Seaside Ave., Marina, CA 93933 (February 15, 2017)
(2) Seaside, CA: Oldemeyer Center, Seaside Room, 986 Hilby Ave., 
Seaside, CA 93955 (February 15, 2017)
(3) Carmel, CA: Sunset Center, Carpenter Hall, San Carlos Street, 
Carmel, CA 93921 (February 16, 2017)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Grimmer at 99 Pacific Ave, BLDG 
455a, Monterey, CA 93940 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background Information

I. Background

    A permit application has been submitted by CalAm for construction 
and operation of its proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project 
(MPWSP or Project). The purpose of the MPWSP is to supplement existing 
water supplies for CalAm's Monterey District service area.
    The MPWSP comprises various facilities and improvements, including: 
A sub-surface seawater intake system; a 9.6-million-gallons-per-day 
(mgd) reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant; desalinated water 
storage and conveyance facilities; and expanded

[[Page 4303]]

Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) facilities.
    The desalination facility would be capable of producing 9.6 million 
gallons per day (MGD) of potable water on a 46-acre site located north 
of the City of Marina on unincorporated Monterey County property. The 
MPWSP proposes ten subsurface slant wells (nine new wells and 
conversion of an existing test well) to draw seawater from beneath the 
ocean floor in Monterey Bay to produce the source water for the 
desalination plant. The subsurface slant wells would be located 
primarily within the City of Marina, in the active mining area of the 
CEMEX sand mining facility. The slant wells would be approximately 700 
to 1000 feet in length and extend beneath the coastal dunes, sandy 
beach, and the surf zone, terminating approximately 161 to 356 feet 
seaward of the Mean High Water line and at a depth of 190 to 210 feet 
below the seafloor. Up to 24.1 mgd of source water would be needed to 
produce 9.6 mgd of desalinated product water.
    Under the proposed project, the desalination plant would generate 
approximately 13.98 mgd of brine, including 0.4 mgd of decanted 
backwash water. The brine would be discharged into Monterey Bay via a 
36-inch diameter pipeline to a new connection with the existing 
Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency's (MRWPCA) outfall and 
diffuser located offshore.

II. NOAA Proposed Action

    NOAA is releasing for public comment a draft EIR/EIS that was 
prepared in accordance with: Section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended; and the White 
House Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the 
Procedural Provisions of NEPA (CEQ NEPA Regulations). NOAA's proposed 
action would be whether to approve the installation of a subsurface 
seawater intake system, the discharge of brine into MBNMS via an 
existing outfall pipe, and the continued presence of pipelines in MBNMS 
to transport seawater to a desalination facility.
    The Project was subject to a Draft Environmental Impact Report 
(EIR), under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act 
(CEQA), published by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) 
in April 2015. The NEPA environmental documentation includes an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which is issued as a joint draft 
CEQA/NEPA (EIR/EIS) document with the CPUC.
    The EIR/EIS identifies and assesses potential environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed Project, and identifies 6 alternatives, 
plus a no action alternative. Federal agencies would use the EIR/EIS to 
consider related permits or other approvals for the Project as 
proposed. NOAA's preferred alternative (Alternative 5a) is the 
environmentally preferred alternative. Alternative 5a would be 
implemented in conjunction with the Pure Water Monterey Groundwater 
Replenishment Project (GWR), which would offer the same amount of 
freshwater as the proposed project but result in a larger footprint 
than the proposed action alone, yet the pairing of Alternative 5a and 
the GWR project would result in reduced operational energy use and 
reduced GHG emissions compared to the proposed project. In addition, 
the combination of Alternative 5a and the GWR Project result in reduced 
effects on groundwater levels influenced by fewer slant wells and less 
volume of pumping, and the GWR project would provide water to the 
Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project that would benefit the 
groundwater basin. Lastly, Alternative 5a paired with the GWR project 
would be consistent with the 2016 California Action Plan seeking 
integrated water supply solutions, the Governor's drought 
proclamations, the CPUC Water Action Plan goal of promoting water 
infrastructure investment, the California Ocean Plan, and MBNMS 
Desalination Guidelines.

III. Process

    This NOA is published by NOAA, the lead federal agency. NOAA, along 
with the CPUC, as CEQA lead agency, have determined that a joint CEQA/
NEPA document is appropriate, and the two agencies have prepared a 
joint draft EIR/EIS after completion of a federal scoping process. In 
accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of NEPA, NOAA published a Notice of 
Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS for the proposed project on August 26, 
2015 (80 FR 51787). During the EIS scoping meeting held on September 
10, 2015, five participants commented publically on the proposed 
project. Twelve written comments were received throughout the public 
comment period. The complete written comments are available for review 
at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NOS-2015-0105.

IV. Federal Consultations

    This notice also advises the public that NOAA is coordinating its 
consultation responsibilities under section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act, Essential Fish Habitat under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, and Federal Consistency review under the Coastal Zone 
Management Act, along with its ongoing NEPA process including the use 
of NEPA documents and public and stakeholder meetings to also meet the 
requirements of other federal laws.
    NOAA is seeking public comment on the DEIR/DEIS, which is available 
at http://montereybay.noaa.gov or may be obtained by contacting the 
individual listed under the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.

    Dated: January 4, 2017.
John Armor,
Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. 2017-00505 Filed 1-12-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2017 / Notices 4303

Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) The EIR/EIS identifies and assesses Essential Fish Habitat under the
facilities. potential environmental impacts Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation
The desalination facility would be associated with the proposed Project, and Management Act, section 106 of the
capable of producing 9.6 million gallons and identifies 6 alternatives, plus a no National Historic Preservation Act, and
per day (MGD) of potable water on a 46- action alternative. Federal agencies Federal Consistency review under the
acre site located north of the City of would use the EIR/EIS to consider Coastal Zone Management Act, along
Marina on unincorporated Monterey related permits or other approvals for with its ongoing NEPA process
County property. The MPWSP proposes the Project as proposed. NOAA’s including the use of NEPA documents
ten subsurface slant wells (nine new preferred alternative (Alternative 5a) is and public and stakeholder meetings to
wells and conversion of an existing test the environmentally preferred also meet the requirements of other
well) to draw seawater from beneath the alternative. Alternative 5a would be federal laws.
ocean floor in Monterey Bay to produce implemented in conjunction with the NOAA is seeking public comment on
the source water for the desalination Pure Water Monterey Groundwater the DEIR/DEIS, which is available at
plant. The subsurface slant wells would Replenishment Project (GWR), which http://montereybay.noaa.gov or may be
be located primarily within the City of would offer the same amount of obtained by contacting the individual
Marina, in the active mining area of the freshwater as the proposed project but listed under the heading FOR FURTHER
CEMEX sand mining facility. The slant result in a larger footprint than the INFORMATION CONTACT.
wells would be approximately 700 to proposed action alone, yet the pairing of
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
1000 feet in length and extend beneath Alternative 5a and the GWR project
the coastal dunes, sandy beach, and the would result in reduced operational Dated: January 4, 2017.
surf zone, terminating approximately energy use and reduced GHG emissions John Armor,
161 to 356 feet seaward of the Mean compared to the proposed project. In Director for the Office of National Marine
High Water line and at a depth of 190 addition, the combination of Alternative Sanctuaries.
to 210 feet below the seafloor. Up to 5a and the GWR Project result in [FR Doc. 2017–00505 Filed 1–12–17; 8:45 am]
24.1 mgd of source water would be reduced effects on groundwater levels BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P
needed to produce 9.6 mgd of influenced by fewer slant wells and less
desalinated product water. volume of pumping, and the GWR
Under the proposed project, the project would provide water to the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
desalination plant would generate Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project
approximately 13.98 mgd of brine, that would benefit the groundwater National Oceanic and Atmospheric
including 0.4 mgd of decanted basin. Lastly, Alternative 5a paired with Administration
backwash water. The brine would be the GWR project would be consistent
discharged into Monterey Bay via a 36- RIN 0648–XF129
with the 2016 California Action Plan
inch diameter pipeline to a new seeking integrated water supply
connection with the existing Monterey Addition of Species to the Annexes of
solutions, the Governor’s drought the Protocol Concerning Specially
Regional Water Pollution Control proclamations, the CPUC Water Action
Agency’s (MRWPCA) outfall and Protected Areas and Wildlife in the
Plan goal of promoting water Wider Caribbean Region
diffuser located offshore. infrastructure investment, the California
II. NOAA Proposed Action Ocean Plan, and MBNMS Desalination AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Guidelines. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
NOAA is releasing for public Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
comment a draft EIR/EIS that was III. Process
Commerce.
prepared in accordance with: Section This NOA is published by NOAA, the
ACTION: Notice; request for public
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental lead federal agency. NOAA, along with
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended; comments.
the CPUC, as CEQA lead agency, have
and the White House Council on determined that a joint CEQA/NEPA SUMMARY: During a meeting of the
Environmental Quality Regulations for document is appropriate, and the two Scientific and Technical Advisory
Implementing the Procedural Provisions agencies have prepared a joint draft EIR/ Committee (STAC) under the Protocol to
of NEPA (CEQ NEPA Regulations). EIS after completion of a federal scoping the Cartagena Convention on Specially
NOAA’s proposed action would be process. In accordance with Section Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW
whether to approve the installation of a 102(2)(C) of NEPA, NOAA published a Protocol), held in Miami, Florida in
subsurface seawater intake system, the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS November 2016, twelve species of fauna
discharge of brine into MBNMS via an for the proposed project on August 26, were nominated and recommended to
existing outfall pipe, and the continued 2015 (80 FR 51787). During the EIS be added to the Annexes of the SPAW
presence of pipelines in MBNMS to scoping meeting held on September 10, Protocol. The Department of State, U.S.
transport seawater to a desalination 2015, five participants commented Fish and Wildlife Service, and National
facility. publically on the proposed project. Marine Fisheries Service solicit
The Project was subject to a Draft Twelve written comments were received comment on the recommendations to
Environmental Impact Report (EIR), throughout the public comment period. add these twelve species to the
under the provisions of the California The complete written comments are Annexes.
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

available for review at: https://www.
published by the California Public regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NOS- DATES: Comments must be received by
Utilities Commission (CPUC) in April 2015-0105. February 13, 2017.
2015. The NEPA environmental ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
documentation includes an IV. Federal Consultations on the recommendations to add the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), This notice also advises the public twelve species to the Annexes of the
which is issued as a joint draft CEQA/ that NOAA is coordinating its SPAW Protocol, by including NOAA–
NEPA (EIR/EIS) document with the consultation responsibilities under NMFS–2016–0166, by either of the
CPUC. section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, following methods:

VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:06 Jan 12, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1

Document Created: 2017-01-13 02:45:06
Document Modified: 2017-01-13 02:45:06

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 of a draft environmental impact report/ environmental impact statement; request for public comments; announcement of public meetings.
Dates		Comments must be received on or before February 27, 2017. Public meetings will be on the following dates:
Contact		Karen Grimmer at 99 Pacific Ave, BLDG 455a, Monterey, CA 93940 or [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 4302

82 FR 4302 - Proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project; Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 9 (January 13, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration