[Federal Register: October 6, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 194)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58213-58214]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06oc08-56]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

 
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) for a Permit Application for the 
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County's (Sanitation Districts) 
Clearwater Program in Los Angeles County, CA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, 40 CFR 1508.22, and 33 CFR Parts 230 and 325, and in 
conjunction with the Sanitation Districts, the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (Corps) is announcing its intent to prepare a DEIS/EIR for 
the Clearwater Program. The Clearwater Program is a strategic planning 
initiative to identify wastewater conveyance, wastewater treatment, 
effluent management, solids processing, and biosolids management needs 
for the Sanitation Districts' Joint Outfall System through the year 
2050. The Clearwater Program will entail the preparation of a new 
Master Facilities Plan (MFP), which will guide the management, and 
upgrade/development of the Sanitation Districts' infrastructure. A 
major component of the MFP is the construction of a new ocean outfall 
structure extending from the coastline in the vicinity of White Point, 
Point Fermin, or the Port of Los Angeles up to approximately 7 miles 
seaward of San Pedro Bay in the Pacific Ocean. The construction of the 
structure would entail discharge of dredged and fill material in waters 
of the United States, work in navigable waters of the United States, 
and potentially the transport of dredged material for ocean disposal. 
Accordingly, the Sanitation Districts intend to submit a Department of 
Army application pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA), and if necessary 
Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 
(MPRSA).
    For Additional Information Contact: Kenneth Wong, Project Manager, 
at (213) 452-3290 (kenneth.wong@usace.army.mil), U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Los Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 
90053-2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Project Purpose and Need: The Sanitation Districts currently 
utilize two tunnels and four ocean outfall structures to convey 
effluent from their Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP) in the 
city of Carson to the Pacific Ocean. The two tunnels were constructed 
in 1937 and 1958 and have not been inspected in nearly 50 years. 
Inspection of the tunnels is not possible due to their overall length, 
limited access, lack of separation between the tunnels, and the overall 
flow through the tunnels. The project need is to inspect and upgrade 
aging infrastructure, and to accommodate the projected increase in 
wastewater flows. The project purpose is to improve existing 
infrastructure and increase wastewater treatment capacity to 
accommodate estimated 2050 flows, while complying with all applicable 
water quality standards. As a part of planned infrastructure 
improvements, the Sanitation Districts propose to construct a new 
tunnel and ocean outfall structure.
    The new ocean outfall would be composed of onshore and offshore 
components. The onshore component would entail construction of a 4- to 
7-mile long underground tunnel approximately up to 200 feet below 
ground from the JWPCP to one of three areas (White Point, Point Fermin, 
or the Port of Los Angeles) from where the tunnel will make the 
onshore-to-offshore transition. Once offshore, the tunnel may extend up 
to 7 miles seaward and connect to a diffuser via a riser. 
Alternatively, once offshore, the

[[Page 58214]]

tunnel may transition to the ocean floor via a riser to seafloor 
pipeline(s), which would connect to the diffuser structure. Depending 
on the location of the diffuser, the seafloor pipeline(s) may extend up 
to 7 miles offshore.
    2. Proposed Action: The offshore component of the new ocean outfall 
could entail excavation of an approximately 105-foot-wide trench up to 
7 miles long requiring dredging of approximately 950,000 cubic yards of 
sediment. Once excavated, outfall pipe(s), diffuser pipes, bedding, 
ballast, dredged material, and armor stone would be discharged into the 
trench. Dredged material not used for trench backfill could be 
designated for ocean disposal or beach nourishment depending on 
sediment chemistry.
    Dredging, pipe laying, trenching, and other construction activities 
within the Pacific Ocean, a navigable water of the United States, would 
be subject to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. The discharge 
of dredged and fill materials associated with pipe laying activities in 
the Pacific Ocean, a water of the United States, would also be subject 
to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The transportation and discharge 
of dredged material for the purpose of ocean disposal, if required, 
would be subject to Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and 
Sanctuaries Act.
    The geographic jurisdiction of Section 10 RHA and Section 404 CWA 
extends 3 geographic miles seaward (33 CFR Part 329.12(a)). However, a 
wider zone of geographic jurisdiction out to the Outer Continental 
Shelf (200 miles seaward) is recognized when a project entails 
placement of devices on the seabed (33 CFR 322.3(b)). Because the 
project entails placement of a pipeline up to 7 miles on the seabed, 
the entire length of the project is subject to both Section 10 RHA and 
Section 404 CWA jurisdictions.
    3. Alternatives Considered: The feasibility of several alternatives 
is being considered and will be addressed in the DEIS/EIR. Those 
considered feasible will be analyzed in equal detail to the Proposed 
Action. Alternatives for the proposed project would evaluate alternate 
onshore and offshore tunnel alignments; alternate tunnel shaft site 
locations; and alternate diffuser locations. Furthermore, alternate 
offshore project designs would be evaluated. One design would extend 
the tunnel up to 7 miles offshore and connect to the diffuser via a 
riser. Alternatively, the tunnel may transition via a riser to seafloor 
pipeline(s), which would connect to a diffuser. Depending on the 
location of the diffuser, the seafloor pipeline(s) may extend up to 7 
miles offshore. The No Federal Action Baseline Alternative would result 
in implementation of the recommended projects within the MFP without 
the new ocean outfall and other infrastructure upgrades that require 
Department of Army permits. Under the No Action Alternative, there 
would be no upgrade and development of the Sanitation Districts' 
infrastructure, including the new ocean outfall, to accommodate 
wastewater management needs through 2050. These alternatives will be 
further formulated and developed during the scoping process. Additional 
alternatives that may be developed during the scoping process will also 
be considered in the DEIS/EIR.
    5. Scoping Process: The Corps' scoping process for the DEIS/EIR 
will involve soliciting written comments and a public meeting. 
Potential significant issues to be addressed in the DEIS/EIR include 
aesthetics; air quality; biological resources; cultural resources; 
geology; hydrology; hazards and hazardous materials; water quality; 
public health; land use and planning; marine environment (marine 
hydrology, water quality, public health, and biological resources); 
noise; population, employment, and housing/environmental justice; 
public services; recreation; transportation and traffic; utilities, 
service systems, and energy; and cumulative and growth-inducing 
impacts. Additional environmental impacts may be identified during the 
scoping process. Furthermore, the DEIS/EIR will assess the consistency 
of the Proposed Action with the Coastal Zone Management Act and 
potential water quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean 
Water Act. Comments are invited from the public and affected agencies, 
including, but not limited to, the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Game, 
California State Water Resources Control Board, California State Lands 
Commission, California Coastal Commission, and the city of Los Angeles.
    Public Meeting: A public scoping meeting to receive input on the 
scope of the DEIS/EIR will be conducted on Thursday, November 6, 2008 
at 6:30 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Hotel, 601 South Palos Verdes Street, San 
Pedro, California. If you have any questions regarding the meeting, 
please contact Steven Highter, Supervising Engineer, Sanitation 
Districts, at shighter@lacsd.org.
    6. Availability of the Draft EIS: The DEIS/EIR is expected to be 
published and circulated in fall 2009, and a public meeting will be 
held after its publication.

    Dated: September 23, 2008.
David J. Castanon,
Chief, Regulatory Division Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E8-23528 Filed 10-3-08; 8:45 am]

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