[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 19282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9340]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation


Environmental Impact Statement on the City of San Jose's South 
Bay Water Recycling Program, San Jose, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as 
amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on the City of San Jose's (City) 
proposed construction of facilities to support the South Bay Water 
Recycling Program (SBWRP). The EIS will be based on a 1992 
environmental impact report (EIR) prepared by the City. The SBWRP would 
divert treated freshwater effluent from South San Francisco Bay through 
a water reclamation program. This project would include construction of 
pump stations and recycled distribution pipelines.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to be 
considered should be sent to Reclamation by May 17, 1995. Reclamation 
estimates that the EIS will be available for public review in late 
spring of 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Mona 
Jefferies-Soniea, Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Division 
of Resources Management Planning, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-720, Sacramento, 
California 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jefferies-Soniea at the above 
address; telephone (916) 979-2297.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SBWRP, formerly known as the San Jose 
Nonpotable Reclamation Project, was developed in response to an order 
from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and San Francisco 
Regional Water Quality Control Board in order to re-establish salinity 
levels of the salt water marsh in the southern tip of San Francisco 
Bay. In addition to protecting the South Bay habitat, the program also 
develops nonpotable water supply for the Santa Clara Valley, which can 
be used in place of potable water for appropriate purposes. Funding 
will come from loans from the State Water Resources Control Board and 
EPA, a grant from Reclamation, and local funding.
    The SBWRP would be implemented in two phases: Phase I would consist 
of installing facilities to supply up to 9,000 acre-feet/year of 
nonpotable water for landscape irrigation, agriculture and industrial 
uses. Phase II would consist of installing facilities to supply an 
additional up to 27,000 acre-feet/year for either nonpotable or potable 
use.
    The City completed a final EIR for the SBWRP in November 1992. At 
that time, Reclamation had not been involved and therefore no 
compliance with NEPA was needed. Because federal funding is now being 
used to support the SBWRP, compliance with NEPA is required at this 
time. The EIS will be based on this final EIR. The EIR analyzed Phase I 
in detail and analyzed Phase II programmatically. Supplemental local 
and Federal environmental compliance will be done later this year to 
analyze Phase II in detail.
    An EIS scoping meeting is not planned because of scoping already 
done by the City. The City sent out a notice of preparation of their 
EIR to the public in 1992 and held a public scoping meeting on February 
19, 1992.
    The proposed action (Phase I) is to construct pump stations, 
storage tanks, 48.5 miles of 6- to 54-inch diameter pipeline and 
appurtenant facilities in the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara, and 
Milpitas. There would also be minor modifications of the existing San 
Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant to provide additional 
chlorination.
    Alternatives to the proposed action include:
    <bullet> Pipeline Alignment Alternative, to avoid construction of 
pipelines near residences.
    <bullet> Flow Allocation Alternative, which would allocate most of 
the reclaimed water for potable uses. The water would be used for 
groundwater recharge, mainly using percolation basins.
    <bullet> Habitat Enhancement Alternative, to also supply water to 
riparian restoration areas along creeks and rivers in the study area, 
as well as for potable and other nonpotable purposes.
    <bullet> No Action.

    Dated: April 7, 1995.
Roger K. Patterson,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-9340 Filed 4-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P