South Bay Water Recycling Project, San Jose, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

FES 96 29

South Bay Water Recycling Project, San Jose, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability on the final 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 final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the South Bay Water

Recycling Project (SBWRP). The FEIS 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.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS are also available for the public 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 at public libraries located in San

Jose (Main, Alviso, Berryessa, East San Jose, Carnegie, and Empire

Branches).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mona Jefferies-Soniea, Bureau of

Reclamation, Division of Planning, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA

95825; 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 the California

Regional Water Quality Control Board--San Francisco Region 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 to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.

At that time, Reclamation had not been involved and therefore no

federal requirement for compliance with NEPA existed. The FEIS is 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.

The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was issued August

1, 1995. Responses to comments received from interested organizations

and individuals on the DEIS are addressed in the FEIS. No decision will

be made on the proposed action until 30 days after the release of the

FEIS. After the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a

Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will state the action that will be

implemented and will discuss all factors leading to the decision.

[[Page 25688]]

Dated: May 7, 1996.

Roger K. Patterson,

Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 96-12747 Filed 5-21-96 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-94-P