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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68344-68345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27003]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8948]

Notice of Preparation/Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the Otay 
Mesa Conveyance and Disinfection System Project

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this Notice is to inform the public and 
interested federal, tribal, state, and local government entities that 
the Otay Water District (District) and the U.S. Department of State 
(DOS) intend to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Otay Mesa Conveyance 
and Disinfection System Project (proposed project). In November 2013, 
the District submitted an application to DOS for a Presidential Permit 
authorizing the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of 
a cross-border pipeline facility for the proposed project, which would 
convey desalinated seawater from a new border crossing with Mexico 
approximately four miles northeast to the District's Roll Reservoir in 
San Diego County. This Notice of Preparation/Notice of Intent (NOP/NOI) 
informs the public about the proposed project and solicits 
participation and comments from interested federal, tribal, state, and 
local government entities and the public for consideration in 
establishing the scope and content of the EIR/EIS.
    Project Description: The proposed project would entail construction 
of a potable water pipeline and associated facilities to convey 
desalinated sea water produced in Mexico into the District's service 
area in southern San Diego County, California. The scope of the 
proposed project for the purpose of environmental review pursuant to 
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and consistent with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is limited to the portion of 
the proposed project within the United States. The scope does not 
include the proposed desalination plant in Rosarito, Mexico or 
associated pipeline infrastructure in Mexico. Within the United States, 
the proposed project would involve the construction and operation of an 
approximately four-mile long (depending on the selected alternative) 
potable water pipeline with a set diameter of between 48 and 54 inches, 
and a metering station within the Otay Mesa area of the County of San 
Diego just north of the United States/Mexico border. Additionally, a 
pump station and/or disinfection facility may be constructed if needed.
    The proposed project would enable the District to import and convey 
desalinated potable water from a connection point at the United States/
Mexico border north to the District's existing Roll Reservoir. 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 (routing) options were 
considered; however, after initial consideration of environmental and 
engineering opportunities and constraints, the District has chosen 
three alternative alignments considered the most feasible, and will 
address those alignments in the EIR/EIS.
    The District will be responsible for approving the expenditure of 
public funds for the proposed project and DOS will be responsible for 
determining whether the proposed project serves the national interest 
pursuant to Executive Order 13337, and if so, issuing a Presidential 
Permit authorizing the construction, connection, operation, and 
maintenance of the cross-border pipeline facility.
    Project Location: The proposed project is generally located in the 
southwestern portion of San Diego County, in the community of Otay 
Mesa, immediately adjacent to the United States/Mexico border, east of 
Interstate 5, Interstate 805 and State Route 125. More specifically, 
the proposed project is located within the East Otay Mesa Specific 
Plan, which lies between the Otay River Valley to the north, United 
States/Mexico border to the south, San Ysidro Mountains to the east, 
and City of San Diego Otay Mesa Community Plan Area to the west.
    Probable Environmental Effects: The District will be the CEQA Lead 
Agency and the DOS will be the federal lead agency for the 
environmental review of the proposed project. The District and DOS are 
jointly reviewing the proposed project pursuant to CEQA and consistent 
with NEPA, respectively, and will prepare a joint EIR/EIS to identify 
and assess potential environmental impacts, mitigation measures, and 
alternatives associated with the proposed project. The District and DOS 
have determined that an EIR/EIS is the appropriate environmental 
document for the proposed project because there is substantial evidence 
that some aspects of the proposed project individually or cumulatively 
may have a significant effect on the human environment. The EIR/EIS 
will identify the purpose and need for the proposed project, the 
affected environment, project alternatives (including the no action 
alternative), impacts of the project alternatives, and proposed 
mitigation measures. Environmental issues that may require detailed 
analysis include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: 
Air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and 
soils, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), hazards and hazardous materials, 
hydrology and water quality, noise, socioeconomics/environmental 
justice, and transportation/traffic. Based on the preliminary scope of 
the proposed project, technical studies are expected to be prepared for 
the following issues: Air quality/GHG, biological resources, cultural 
resources, geology/soils, hazardous materials, hydrology and water 
quality, noise, and traffic.
    Scoping Period: The District and DOS have issued this NOP/NOI, and 
are seeking review and comments within 30 days from relevant federal, 
tribal, state, and local government entities, interested parties, and 
the public about the scope of the EIR/EIS, alternatives and analyses, 
pursuant to CEQA Section 21153(a); California Code of Regulations, 
Title 14, section 15082(a) and 15083; and consistent with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations found at 40 CFR 1500-1508). The 
comment period for the NOP/NOI begins on November 14, 2014 and ends on 
December 14, 2014.
    A copy of this NOP/NOI is available on the proposed project's Web 
site: www.owd-desalconveyance.com. The California Office of Planning 
and Research is responsible for coordinating state-level review of the 
CEQA/NEPA document. Additionally, DOS will publish the NOP/NOI in the 
Federal Register pursuant to CEQ Regulations, Sections 1501.7 and 
1508.22. Once the

[[Page 68345]]

NOP/NOI is published in the Federal Register, the 30-day scoping/
comment period begins consistent with NEPA. The District and DOS will 
also undertake any consultations required by applicable laws or 
regulations, including the National Historic Preservation Act (16 
U.S.C. 470, et seq.).
    All comments in response to the NOP/NOI must be submitted by 
December 14, 2014. Comments 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 at the address 
below. All comments from agencies or organizations should indicate a 
contact person for each agency or organization, if applicable.
    All comments received during the scoping 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.
    Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting regarding the EIR/
EIS will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 
2014 at the Otay Water District Board Room, located at 2554 Sweetwater 
Springs Blvd., Spring Valley, CA 91978. Cooperating and Responsible 
Agencies, as well as any interested agencies, organizations, and 
members of the public are invited to attend.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: Ms. Jill Reilly, 
U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Room 2726, Washington, DC 
20520. As described above, comments are not private.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project details on the Otay Mesa 
Conveyance and Disinfection System Project application for a new 
Presidential Permit, as well as information on the Presidential Permit 
process, are available on the following Web site: http://www.state.gov/e/enr/applicant/applicants/. Please refer to this Web site or contact 
Ms. Jill Reilly at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice.

    Dated: November 14, 2014.
Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2014-27003 Filed 11-13-14; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P
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