Record of Decision to Upgrade the Wastewater Treatment System in the San Onofre Basin of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Record of Decision to Upgrade the Wastewater Treatment System in

the San Onofre Basin of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA

Pursuant to Section 102(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) of 1969, and the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations

(40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy announces its

decision to upgrade the wastewater treatment system in the San Onofre

Basin of Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton, California. This

upgrade will construct twelve new percolation basins; about 30 acres in

total size and located down stream of existing potable water wells; a

new pumping station; and a 5.76 mile pipeline from sewage treatment

plants 10 and 11 to the new percolation ponds.

[[Page 48696]]

Sewage treatment plants 10 and 11 were constructed in the 1950's

and discharge secondary treated effluent to percolation basins adjacent

to San Onofre Creek, upstream of potable water wells that serve

developments within San Onofre Basin. This condition violates the San

Diego Water Quality Control Basin Plan, the State of California Porter

Cologne Water Quality Act of 1969, and the National Pollution Discharge

Elimination System requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control

Act of 1972. As a result of these violations, the San Diego Regional

Water Quality Control Board issued a Cease and Desist Order to MCB Camp

Pendleton in January 1989.

Alternatives considered for correcting the conditions cited in the

Cease and Desist order included no action, water disposal of effluent,

and land disposal of effluent. Water disposal alternatives included

construction of an ocean outfall or via live-stream discharge of either

secondary- or tertiary-treated effluent. Land disposal alternatives

included construction of new percolation basins, leach fields, deep

vertical injection wells, biological ponds, discharge to an off-base

publicly owned treatment facility, and amendment of the Basin Plan. The

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) identified discharge of

secondary-treated effluents to new percolation basins located

downstream from existing potable water wells as the preferred

alternative. This alternative was identified in the Final Environmental

Impact Statement (FEIS) as the environmentally preferred alternative.

A systematic and multi-disciplinary approach was utilized which

incorporated criteria based upon technical suitability, economic

feasibility, and compliance with applicable environmental regulations.

The analysis determined that the preferred alternative is the only

alternative that meets all criteria. This alternative is

environmentally preferable to the alternatives considered, and all

practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm have been

adopted as identified below and amplified in the Environmental Impact

Statement.

Percolation basin construction will involve grading and excavation.

A soil erosion control plan will be prepared for project construction.

It will include restricting grading and excavation during the rainy

season, restricting heavy equipment to existing rights-of-way,

installing sediment control measures, and post-construction

revegetation.

The California gnatcatcher, a federally listed threatened species,

is present near the percolation basin and pipeline sites. The U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service expressed in their biological opinion that the

project is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of this

species. Project impacts include a temporary loss of 0.3 acres coastal

sage scrub, the preferred habitat of this species, temporary loss of

1.5 acres of valley needlegrass habitat, and temporary loss of 3.0

acres of riparian habitat during construction of the pipeline. A

permanent loss of 3.5 acres of coastal sage scrub will occur due to

construction of the percolation basins. To mitigate these impacts, the

Marine Corps will regrade, replant, and restore the temporarily

impacted vegetative communities and will create 2.85 acres of new

coastal sage scrub habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurs

in this mitigation scheme.

In compliance with the biological opinion issued for the project,

the Marine Corps will conduct water quality monitoring of areas

potentially impacted by possible nutrient loading of coastal waters due

to operations of the percolation basins. Should changes in water

quality be detected the Marine Corps will consult with the San Diego

Regional Water Quality Control Board and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service to implement appropriate measures.

The proposed action will not affect archeological, cultural, or

historic resources listed, or determined eligible for listing on the

National Register of Historic Places. The California State Historic

Preservation Officer concurs with this determination.

Analysis of air emissions that would occur during construction and

operation of the percolation ponds determined that these emissions will

be below de minimis levels and that the project conforms with the State

Implementation Plan for air quality.

A Coastal Consistency Determination was prepared for this project

and it concluded that the proposed action is being carried out in a

manner consistent, to the maximum extent practicable, with the

enforceable policies of the California Coastal Management Plan. The

California Coastal Commission concurs with this determination.

Preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement began with a

public scoping process to identify issues that should be addressed in

the document. Involvement in scoping was offered through a combination

of documented public announcements and meetings with State of

California agencies. Public announcements were handled through scoping

letters sent to Federal, State, and local governmental agencies,

citizen groups and associations, and the general public. Also, a Notice

of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published in

local newspapers and the Federal Register. A public scoping meeting was

held on October 17, 1991 in Oceanside, California.

The Notice of Availability of the DEIS appeared in the Federal

Register on January 13, 1995. The DEIS was distributed to officials of

Federal, State and local governmental agencies, citizens groups and

associations, public libraries, and to other interested parties. The

public review period for the DEIS was from January 13, 1995 through

March 6, 1995. Comments received on the DEIS focused on alternative

analysis and endangered species issues. The FEIS addressed these

comments and was distributed to officials of Federal, State and local

governmental agencies, citizens groups and associations, public

libraries, and to other interested parties on July 21, 1995. No

comments were received on the FEIS.

The Department of the Navy believes that there are no outstanding

issues to be resolved with respect to this project. Questions regarding

the Environmental Impact Statement prepared for this action may be

directed to Mr. Lupe Armas, Assistant Chief of Staff, Environmental

Security, MCB Camp Pendleton, CA 92055, telephone (619) 725-4512.

Dated: September 14, 1995.

Duncan Holaday,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Facilities).

[FR Doc. 95-23279 Filed 9-19-95; 8:45 am]

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