[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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