[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59730-59731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29142]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Proposed Orange County Regional Water Reclamation Project (OCR 
Project), Orange County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement (EIS) and notice of scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 
intends to prepare a draft EIS on the proposed Orange County Regional 
Water Reclamation Project, Orange County, California. Reclamation 
proposes to partially fund this joint project with the Orange County 
Water District (OCWD) and County Sanitation Districts of Orange County 
(CSDOC).

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Two formal scoping meetings in connection with 
preparation of the draft EIS are scheduled to be held as follows:
    November 18, 1997-3:00 to 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Orange 
County Water District, 10500 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Del Kidd, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, (Mail Stop LC-2511), Environmental 
Compliance Group, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV, 89006-1470, 
Telephone: (702) 293-8698 or Ms. Tama Snow, Senior Engineer, Orange 
County Water District, Advance Planning Group, P.O. Box 8300, Fountain 
Valley, CA 92728-8300, Telephone: (714) 378-3200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and 
the County Sanitation Districts of Orange County (CSDOC) propose to 
develop an advanced water treatment plant, pipeline and related 
facilities within the Cities of Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Orange, 
Garden Grove, and Anaheim. The OCR Project will further process water 
from the County Sanitation Districts of Orange County. The water from 
CSDOC, which is typically discharged into the ocean, will be treated 
through a sophisticated, advanced water treatment process that will 
include microfiltration, reverse osmosis and disinfection. The 
mirofiltration 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 will be 
of better quality than the current water that is infiltrated into the 
groundwater basin from the Santa Ana River and will 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 healths and regulatory agencies.
    The water from this process will be piped to injection wells to 
create a barrier against saltwater intrusion and to spreading fields 
for infiltration into the groundwater basin. The OCR Project will 
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. OCR 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

[[Page 59731]]

northern California and the Colorado River.
    Extensive evaluations have been conducted over the past seven years 
to define and determine the feasibility of a reclamation project. A 
study was performed by OCWD to evaluate the water supply alternatives 
to meet the future needs of Orange County Water District's customers. 
The OCR Project was identified to be one of the most reliable and cost 
effective project alternatives to providing a new local water supply to 
Orange County. The project is proposed to be implemented in three 
phases. Phase I is proposed to be implemented by the year 2003 and 
would supply 50,000 acre-feet per year (afy) (one afy is enough water 
to supply two families of four for an entire year). Phases II and III 
would supply an additional 25,000 afy by the years 2010 and 2020 
respectively, or sooner if required.
    An EIS will be prepared and a full environmental analysis will be 
completed to address any significant impacts the project may have on 
the surrounding environment. The draft EIS is expected to be completed 
and available for review and comment by April, 1998.
    The present investigation began in 1994. Since that time, OCWD and 
CSDOC have held public meetings to discuss study progress with 
interested individuals and affected agencies. Additional public 
meetings will be scheduled to encourage public and agency involvement 
in the study and the environmental analysis.
    Dated: October 21, 1997.
John A. Johnson,
Deputy Director, Resource Management Office.
[FR Doc. 97-29142 Filed 11-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P