South Bay Water Recycling Project, San Jose, CA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

South Bay Water Recycling Project, San Jose, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and notice of public hearings on the

draft environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of

1969 (as amended), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has prepared

a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the South Bay Water

Recycling Project (SBWRP). The DEIS is based on a 1992 environmental

impact report (EIR) prepared by the City of San Jose (City). The SBWRP

would divert treated freshwater effluent from South San Francisco Bay

through a water reclamation program. This would include construction of

pump stations and recycled distribution pipelines. Reclamation would

provide a grant of up to 25 percent of the total project cost to the

City to support the SBWRP. A public hearing will be held to receive

written or verbal comments on the DEIS from interested organizations

and individuals on the environmental impacts of the proposal.

DATES: The DEIS will be available on August 1, 1995 for a 60-day public

review period.

A public hearing on the DEIS will be held on August 23, 1995 at

4:00 p.m. at the San Jose Convention Center, First Floor, Room L, 150

West San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the DEIS and requests for copies of the

DEIS should be addressed to Mona Jefferies-Soniea, Bureau of

Reclamation, Division of Resources Management Planning, 2800 Cottage

Way, Sacramento, CA 95825; telephone: (916) 979-2297.

Copies of the DEIS are also available for public inspection and

review at the following locations:

Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Regional Liaison, 1849

C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240; telephone: (202) 208-6274

Bureau of Reclamation, Regional Director, Attn: MP-720

2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825-1898; telephone: (916) 979-2297

Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Regional Library, 2800

Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825-1898; telephone: (916)979-2462

City of San Jose, Environmental Services Department, Tech.

Support Division., 700 Los Esteros Road, San Jose, CA 95134; telephone:

(408)945-5300

Libraries

Copies will also be available for inspection at public libraries

located in San Jose (Main, Alviso, Berryessa, East San Jose, Carnegie,

and Empire Branches)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jefferies-Soniea at the above

address and telephone.

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. The EIS will be based on this final

EIR. The EIR analyzed Phase I in detail and analyzed Phase II

programmatically.

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:

Pipeline Alignment Alternative, to avoid construction of

pipelines near residences.

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.

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.

No Action.

Hearing Process Information

Written comments, for inclusion in the hearing record, from those

unable to attend the hearing or wishing to supplement their oral

presentation should be received at the Bureau of Reclamation by

September 6, 1995.

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Note: If special assistance is required, contact Mona Jefferies-

Soniea at (916) 979-2297. Please notify Ms. Jefferies-Soniea as far

in advance of the hearings as possible and not later than 1 week

prior to the hearing date to enable Reclamation to secure the needed

services. If a request cannot be honored, the requester will be

notified.

Dated: July 17, 1995.

Dan M. Fults,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 95-18085 Filed 7-21-95; 8:45 am]

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