[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46371-46372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23132]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Contra Costa Water District Multi-Purpose Pipeline Project, 
Contra Costa County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement and notice of scoping meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to 
prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Contra Costa 
Water District's (CCWD) Multi-Purpose Pipeline (MPP) Project.

[[Page 46372]]

    The Proposed Action is the construction and operation of two water 
pipelines and supporting pumping facilities. These facilities are 
required to supplement the Contra Costa Canal and provide adequate 
water transmission capacity to meet the projected demand through the 
year 2020.
    The purpose of the meeting is to receive comments regarding the 
appropriate scope of the DEIS. CCWD staff will make a brief 
presentation to describe the proposed project, its purpose and need, 
alternative pipeline alignments, and scenarios for construction and 
operation. The public may comment on the environmental issues to be 
addressed in the DEIS. If necessary due to large attendance, comments 
will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker. Written comments will also be 
accepted by the District through September.

DATES: A scoping meeting is scheduled for the project on Saturday, 
September 18, 1997, at 7:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held at the Bay Point Ambrose 
Community Center, 3105 Willow Pass Road, Bay Point, California. 
Information on the scoping meeting and the DEIS may be obtained from 
Mr. Steve Edmondson, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California 
Area Office, 2666 North Grove Industrial Drive, Suite 106, Fresno, CA 
93727.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steve Edmondson, Bureau of 
Reclamation, (209) 487-5049; or Ms. Christina Ko Hartinger, Contra 
Costa Water District, (510) 688-8335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CCWD's MPP Project involves the following 
improvements:
    1. Multi-Purpose Pipeline. The multi-purpose pipeline is a capacity 
improvement project for meeting year 2020 system demands of CCWD's raw 
water system. The MPP would supplement the capacity of the Contra Costa 
Canal (which carries raw water) with a treated water pipeline extending 
approximately 22 miles from CCWD's Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant 
in Oakley, east to CCWD's Treated Water Service Area in Concord. The 
MPP would terminate near CCWD's Bollman Water Treatment Plant near 
Concord. This new treated water pipeline paralleling the canal would 
free up canal capacity for raw water transmission. Under normal 
operations, the MPP would convey treated water westward to CCWD's 
Treated Water Service Area. In an emergency, the MPP could also carry 
treated water eastward from CCWD's Bollman Water Treatment Plant. The 
25-million-gallons-per-day (mgd) pipeline would be 36 inches in 
diameter and approximately 22 miles long. CCWD is evaluating several 
pipeline route alternatives including: the canal right-of-way, local 
streets, and an active railroad corridor.
    2. Raw Water Pipeline. The MPP Project also includes approximately 
4 miles of 36-inch raw water pipeline (36 mgd) bypassing canal reach 4 
from downstream of the Neroly Blending Facility to the canal near 
Antioch. The raw water pipeline could be installed parallel and 
adjacent to the MPP pipeline. The raw water pipeline is sized to meet 
the year 2020 canal demands through the existing tunnel segment within 
canal reach 4.
    3. Treated Water Pump Station. The MPP Project includes a proposed 
25-mgd pump station at the Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant to pump 
treated water from the plant through the multi-purpose pipeline. No 
treatment plant capacity improvements are required for the MPP.
    4. Raw Water Pump Station. The MPP Project includes a 36-mgd raw 
water pump station that would be located downstream of the Neroly 
Blending Facility and upstream of the tunnel. The pump station would 
pump raw water from the Canal through the raw water pipeline.
    5. Canal Gate Improvements and Neroly Blending Facility 
Improvements. The MPP Project includes modifications to six of the 
seven active check structures along the canal between pumping plant No. 
4 and Mallard Reservoir at Bollman Water Treatment Plant. At each check 
structure, CCWD would install motorized gates that could be opened 
during periods of high flow rates, thereby increasing canal capacity. 
The Neroly Blending Facility (an in-canal facility to blend Delta water 
and water from the Los Vaqueros Reservoir) would be expanded by 
widening the canal or raising the sides.
    6. Back-up Power for MPP Treated Water Pump Station. As part of the 
MPP Project, the District would install an emergency generator for the 
firm capacity (four 1,000-horsepower pumps) at the MPP treated water 
pump station.
    7. MPP Enhancements. The District would construct emergency 
connections from the MPP to the canal and to the shortcut pipeline, 
thereby allowing the MPP to deliver water to functional portions of the 
canal that may be disconnected from eastern supply sources during an 
emergency such as an earthquake. In addition, these connections could 
be used to temporarily supply treated water to the canal while portions 
of the canal are out of service for maintenance.
    These actions will be evaluated in accordance with the legislative 
requirements of NEPA and other relevant regulations. CCWD is preparing 
an environmental impact report (EIR) on the project, pursuant to the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

    Dated: August 20, 1997.
William Luce,
Area Manager, South-Central California Area Office.
[FR Doc. 97-23132 Filed 8-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-U