NOTICE OF PREPARATION

Transcription

1 COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY 1955 Workm an M i ll Road, Wh ittier, CA Ma iling Add ress : P.O. Box 4998, Wh ittier, CA Telephone : (562 ) , FAX : (562 ) To: NOTICE OF PREPARATION GRACE ROBINSON HYDE Chief Eng ineer and Genera/ Manager California Office of Planning and Research, Responsible Agencies, Trustee Agencies, and Other Interested Parties Subject: Project Title: Lead Agency: Notice of Preparation of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for Alternate Deep Well Injection Site Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District of Los Angeles County 1955 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA, Date: August 15, 2014 Review Period: August 20, 2014 through September 20, 2014 The Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District (SCVSD) will be the Lead Agency and will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for the Alternate Deep Well Injection Site (Project). The purpose of this notice is to help define the scope of the SEIR. The need for the Project, Project description, Project location, and potential environmental impacts are described in the attached discussion. If you are a Responsible or Trustee Agency, the SCVSD is soliciting written comments as to the scope and content of the environmental information, including impacts and mitigation measures, that may be relevant to your agency's statutory responsibilities in connection with the Project. Your agency will need to use the SEIR prepared by the SCVSD when considering any permit or other approval for the Project. Please provide the name and telephone number of a contact person in your agency with your response. If you are a resident, property owner, or interested party, the SCVSD is requesting your written comments concerning any environmental effects the Project may have on your property or your community. Please share this Notice of Preparation (NOP) with anyone else you feel may be interested in this project. An electronic version of this NOP can be found at for public review.asp. The SCVSD is holding a 30-day review period in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Please submit your written comments to the undersigned at the address shown above no later than 4:00p.m. on September 20, In addition to written comments, two Scoping Meetings will be held to receive comments as to the scope of analysis and content of the SEIR. Two separate meetings will be held on September 10,2014, at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00p.m. at the Santa Clarita Activities Center, located at Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA, The earlier meeting is primarily for agencies but the public is welcome to attend. The later meeting is for the public. For further information about the Project, please contact Mr. Mark Giljum at , extension 2456, or mgiljum@lacsd.org. Date: fj~ b~ ~~ ~fk1t:;;;;, P.E., Bcfo1'( Supervising Engineer, Planning Section SCVSD SEIR for Alternate OWl Site - DOC# Notice of Preparation ESA I August 2014., Recycled Paper '-.,

2 1. Introduction The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (Sanitation Districts) are a confederation of 23 sanitation districts, including the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District (SCVSD), that serve the wastewater management needs of approximately 5.4 million people in Los Angeles County (County). These services include collection and treatment of wastewater (sewage). The Sanitation Districts service area covers approximately 820 square miles and encompasses 78 cities and unincorporated territory within the County. Additional information is available on our website at The SCVSD provides wastewater management services for approximately 250,000 residents in the City of Santa Clarita and adjacent unincorporated areas. The SCVSD collects wastewater from households and businesses within its service area and treats the wastewater at its Saugus Water Reclamation Plant (SWRP) and Valencia Water Reclamation Plant (VWRP). The treated water is of high quality and suitable for a wide range of uses such as irrigation of street medians, golf courses, parks, and schools. Treated wastewater that is not reused is discharged to the Santa Clara River (SCR). Under the federal Clean Water Act and the state s Porter Cologne Act, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board-Los Angeles Region (RWQCB-LA), a state agency, is responsible for regulating discharges to the Santa Clara River to protect beneficial uses of the river s water. In fulfilling this responsibility, the RWQCB-LA adopted a regulatory order called the Upper Santa Clara River Chloride Total Maximum Daily Load (Chloride TMDL) in The Chloride TMDL imposes a strict limit on the level of chloride (salt) in the recycled water produced by the Santa Clarita Valley s two wastewater treatment plants. The SCVSD spent over ten years trying to achieve the most reasonable chloride limit possible and seeking the least costly solution to meeting the State-mandated chloride limit. The SCVSD s two wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove chloride. To meet the limit set by the State and avoid regulatory penalties including fines, new wastewater treatment facilities must be designed and constructed. The SCVSD Chloride Compliance Facilities Plan and Environmental Impact Report (Facilities Plan and EIR) documents the technical studies completed to identify the most cost-effective and environmentally-sound methods of meeting the State-mandated chloride limit. On October 28, 2013, the SCVSD Board of Directors approved Alternative 2 from the Facilities Plan (approved compliance project) and certified that the EIR was completed in accordance with state law. Part of the approved compliance project involves advanced treatment for chloride removal. The advanced treatment facility would produce a brine waste that would be disposed by deep well injection (DWI), which is a safe and proven way to dispose of brine. This technology has been successfully used for decades throughout California and the U.S. The entire design and operation is closely regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that potentially drinkable groundwater is not affected. DWI is not hydraulic fracturing (fracking). DWI involves fluid injection at a pressure below that which would fracture the formation being injected into, while fracking involves intentional injection at higher pressure to fracture the formation and thereby improve oil or gas extraction. SCVSD SEIR for Alternate DOC# ESA / D

3 Notice of Preparation 2. Need for Project The specific parcel of land analyzed as the DWI site in the Certified EIR is no longer available for development because of a recently recorded conservation easement. Consequently, the SCVSD proposes to develop DWI on an alternate site located approximately 800 feet north of the location originally analyzed. A focused Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) will be prepared to evaluate the potential environmental impacts solely associated with the alternate DWI site. The project objectives are the same as those described in the Certified EIR: Provide compliance with the Chloride TMDL for SCVSD wastewater treatment and discharge facilities Provide the necessary wastewater treatment facilities and programs for chloride removal while conserving the area designated for future VWRP Stage VI expansion Provide a wastewater treatment and effluent management program that accommodates recycled water reuse opportunities in the community while protecting beneficial uses of the Santa Clara River. 3. Project Description The project evaluated in this SEIR only includes the proposed DWI site and injection well components of the approved compliance project. The brine pipeline to the alternate DWI site will follow the same alignment, but will be slightly shorter than analyzed previously. As such, the revised brine pipeline will result in less environmental impacts and will not be addressed in the SEIR. The approved compliance project components and the general location of the alternate DWI site are shown in Figure 1. The specific location of the alternate DWI site and surrounding land uses are shown on Figure 2. The alternate DWI site is located west of The Old Road between Valencia Boulevard and McBean Parkway on a disturbed, but undeveloped, portion of the Tournament Players Club golf course in Santa Clarita. The DWI site would consist of deep injection wells and ancillary facilities including a pump house for injection pumps, electrical switchgear and brine storage tanks as well as security fencing, a transformer, drainage facilities, and a paved access road and maintenance pad. Construction and operation are anticipated to occur over four phases: (1) construction of a test well; (2) idle period; (3) construction of remaining wells and ancillary facilities; and (4) operation. Based on available information, the SCVSD anticipates needing five injection wells; however, the number to be constructed may change depending on the results of a test well implemented during Phase 1. In case the test well reveals less favorable conditions than expected, the SEIR will analyze seven wells (the maximum the site can accommodate). Injection wells would be deviated that is, the bottom of the well where injection would occur would be located up to one mile away from the top of the well when viewed on a map. At least the first 1,500 feet of each well would be completely vertical. Thus, deviated well casings would extend beneath the property of neighboring land owners, but would be at depths of over 1,500 feet below ground surface when crossing under neighboring property. SCVSD SEIR for Alternate 3 ESA / D

4 Supplemental Water Pipeline MF/RO Facilities Second-Pass RO Facilities UV Disinfection Facilities Valencia WRP RO Product Water Pipeline Saugus WRP UV Disinfection Facilities Brine Pipeline cia len Va d Blv Alternate 5 Original McBean Pkwy Old The Rd Miles Approved Compliance Project Modified Project Component - Focus of SEIR Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District SEIR for Alternate Deep Well Injection Site Figure 1 Facilities in Approved Compliance Project

5 a no Twi Tournament Players Club Golf Course l kp 5 Golf Clubhouse R The Old d Tournament Players Club Golf Course Oa k Sa va nn ah C t Alternate Original Feet Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District SEIR for Alternate Deep Well Injection Site Figure 2

6 Notice of Preparation Drilling would occur 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and last for six to ten months depending on the number of wells needed. The remainder of construction would be completed on weekdays during daytime hours. Operation of the DWI facilities (Phase 4) would involve limited activity on site. Although injection would occur 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, the injection pumps would be enclosed within a pump house. Maintenance crews would periodically enter the site to maintain and repair equipment. All operation and maintenance activity would be completed during normal business hours except during an emergency. As noted in Section 1.0 above, DWI would be operated in a manner to avoid fracturing the formation and is thus not fracking. 4. Potential Environmental Effects The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires analysis and consideration of a project s environmental impacts. The SEIR will evaluate potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts associated with implementation of the alternate DWI site. The SEIR will assess both short-term construction impacts as well as long-term effects associated with project operation. The following sections summarize potential effects of the project to be evaluated in the SEIR. 4.1 Aesthetics Construction and operation of the DWI facilities would require nighttime lighting and may affect public vistas and the visual character of the site and its surroundings. The SEIR will assess the potential impacts of the proposed project on aesthetics and visual resources and, for potentially significant impacts, will identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. 4.2 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Construction of the DWI facilities would generate emissions from construction equipment exhaust, earth movement, construction workers commute, and material hauling that could adversely affect regional air quality. The SEIR will assess whether the alternate DWI site would result in any changes to the previously estimated construction-related pollutant emissions that were analyzed for the original DWI site under Alternative 2 of the certified EIR. The SEIR will assess the potential impacts of the proposed project on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions and, for potentially significant impacts, identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. 4.3 Biological Resources Construction of the DWI facilities would occur in an area that is partly disturbed and adjacent to native land that includes mature oak trees. The SEIR will evaluate potential impacts of the proposed project on special-status species and, for potentially significant impacts, will identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. SCVSD SEIR for Alternate DOC# ESA / D

7 Notice of Preparation 4.4 Cultural Resources Construction of the DWI facilities would require excavation that could occur in archaeologically and paleontologically sensitive areas. The SEIR will evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed project on archaeological and paleontological resources, and for potentially significant impacts, will identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. 4.5 Geology, Soils, and Seismicity The Santa Clarita Valley is located in a seismically active region of California. Seismic activity on local faults within the region could cause considerable ground shaking in the project area. The SEIR will evaluate the potential geologic hazards associated with the project, and for potentially significant impacts, will identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. 4.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials Contaminated soils and groundwater could be encountered during construction of the DWI facilities. The SEIR will assess wildfire risk and the potential for encountering contaminated soils and the release of hazardous materials, and for potentially significant impacts, will identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. 4.7 Hydrology and Water Quality Construction and operation of the DWI facilities could affect storm water quality and drainage patterns. Injection of brine could impact groundwater resources. The SEIR will evaluate the project s potential impacts on hydrology and water quality, and, for potentially significant impacts will identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. 4.8 Land Use and Planning Construction and operation of the DWI facilities could conflict with local land use ordinances. The SEIR will identify potential conflicts with land use plans, policies, and regulations, and for potentially significant impacts, will identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. 4.9 Noise Construction activities would generate short-term noise and vibration that could affect nearby sensitive receptors. Operation of the project could generate noise that would impact nearby sensitive land uses. The SEIR will identify sensitive receptors and land uses near the proposed facilities and evaluate noise impacts associated with the project, and for potentially significant impacts, will identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. SCVSD SEIR for Alternate 5 ESA / D

8 Notice of Preparation 4.10 Transportation and Traffic Construction activities could temporarily impact vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The SEIR will identify the potential impacts of the proposed project on traffic, and for potentially significant impacts, will identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts. SCVSD SEIR for Alternate DOC# ESA / D