Central Coast Blue Draft EIR Public Meeting #1 August 6, 2020 PAGE - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Central Coast Blue Draft EIR Public Meeting #1

August 6, 2020

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AGENDA

• Regulatory background
• Project overview
• Summary of environmental impacts and

mitigation measures

• Overview of alternatives

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GROUND RULES

• Participant audio will be muted during

meeting

• Attendees can submit questions/comments

during presentation using chat function

• There will be time after the presentation

to submit verbal comments

• Meeting is being recorded and will be

posted online

• Chat is also being recorded

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REGULATORY BACKGROUND

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• Provide an overview of the project and the Draft EIR
• Receive your input on the Draft EIR
• Inform the community about next steps in the CEQA process

PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC MEETING

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• Disclose the significant environmental effects of proposed projects
• Identify ways to avoid or reduce environmental impacts
• Consider feasible alternatives to proposed projects
• Enhance public participation in the planning process

PURPOSE OF CEQA

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YOU ARE HERE

CEQA PROCESS

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CEQA PROCESS (CONT.)

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

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PROJECT BACKGROUND

State Water |

Santa Maria Groundwater Basin

| Lake Lopez || Groundwater

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PROJECT BACKGROUND (CONT.)

Source: European Geosciences Union - https://blogs.egu.eu/network/gfgd/2018/02/12/saltwater-intrusion-causes-impacts-and-mitigation/

Increased Groundwater Demand Typical Well

Saltwater Intrusion

Freshwater Freshwater Saltwater Saltwater

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• Regional advanced purified water project including an advanced treatment

facility complex (ATF; including an advanced purified water storage tank, an equalization basin, a pump station), pipelines, injection wells, monitoring wells, and one new production well

• Multi-agency collaboration:
• City of Pismo Beach
• City of Grover Beach
• City of Arroyo Grande
• Oceano Community Services District
• South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District (SSLOCSD)

PROJECT OVERVIEW

NCMA Agencies

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REGIONAL PROJECT LOCATION

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PROJECT COMPONENTS

Proposed Project

Disposal to Ocean

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PROJECT COMPONENTS (CONT.)

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• Proposed site: 980 Huber Street, Grover Beach(APN 060-543-016)
• Approximately 1.5 acres of land
• Existing use: several unpaved storage yards for vehicles, equipment, and containers
• Will treat water from Pismo Beach and SSLOCSD Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Initial treatment capacity of 1.3 million gallons per day (Phase I) with final

treatment capacity of 5.4 million gallons per day (Phase II)

• Includes staff support facilities (offices, restrooms, break room, etc.)
• Appurtenant structures:
• Equalization basin
• Advanced purified water storage tank
• Pump station

ADVANCED TREATMENT FACILITY COMPLEX

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ATF COMPLEX LOCATION

Agricultural Industrial Industrial Residential Current Land Use

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MICROFILTRATION

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REVERSE OSMOSIS

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ULTRAVIOLET/ADVANCED OXIDATION

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• Reverse osmosis process produces a waste water stream (concentrate) in

addition to the purified water

• Concentrate will be discharged via existing Pismo Beach/SSLOCSD WWTPs
• cean outfall pipeline
• Must be compliant with City of Pismo Beach and SSLOCSD National Pollutant

Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements

DISCHARGE OF REVERSE OSMOSIS CONCENTRATE

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Pismo and SSLOCSD WWTPs are connected via the existing outfall line

Pismo Beach WWTP SSLOCSD WWTP

Concentrate discharge to

• cean outfall

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• Seven injection wells
• 12 inches in diameter
• 200 to 600 feet in depth
• Ten monitoring wells
• Footprints:
• Up to 3,000 square feet per injection well (conservative assumption of footprint)
• 25 square feet per monitoring well
• Heights:
• 6 feet for injection wells
• Flush-mounted for monitoring wells

INJECTION AND MONITORING WELLS

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• Four sets:
• 1. Convey secondary treated effluent from the existing Pismo Beach WWTP discharge

pipeline to the ATF complex

• 2. Convey secondary treated effluent from the SSLOCSD WWTP to the ATF complex
• 3. Convey advanced purified water from the ATF complex to the injection wells
• 4. Convey concentrate from the ATF complex to the existing WWTP discharge pipeline
• Approximately 6 to 24 inches in diameter
• Primarily in existing rights-of-way
• Will require drilling under the Union Pacific Railroad track
• Will require work within the Oceano County Airport

PIPELINES

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WELL AND PIPELINE LOCATIONS

Five injection wells in Coastal Dunes RV Park and Campground Two injection wells at SSLOCSD Wastewater Treatment Plant property

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• Location is yet to be determined – likely to be in Grover Beach
• Intended to optimize groundwater pumping
• Will be owned by City of Pismo Beach
• 14 inches diameter
• 300 to 600 feet in depth
• Up to 3,000 square feet at surface (conservative assumption of footprint)

NEW PRODUCTION WELL

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INCREASED GROUNDWATER PUMPING

Acre-Feet per Year

2018 Levels 764 Total Adjudicated Amount for Urban Uses* 4,330 Net Increase

3,566

*Note: There will be no increase in the groundwater allocations for any of the NCMA agencies.

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• Potentially a supplemental (not primary) use of advanced purified water
• Will require pipelines between the ATF complex and agricultural lands to the

south of Oceano

• Exact locations are yet to be determined

AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION

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• Phase I:
• Five injection wells (IW-1, IW-2A, IW-3, IW-4, and IW-5A)
• Ten monitoring wells
• Water distribution pipelines
• ATF complex with initial capacity to treat flows from Pismo Beach Wastewater

Treatment Plant

• Phase II
• Two injection wells (IW-2B and IW-5B)
• Expansion upgrades to the ATF complex with full capacity to treat additional flows

from SSLOCSD Wastewater Treatment Plant

• Potentially agricultural irrigation pipelines

CONSTRUCTION PHASING

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• California Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 4, Chapters 1-3
• Regulations on use of recycled water for a range of purposes, including groundwater

replenishment/indirect potable reuse and agricultural irrigation

• Requires at least two months of travel time between injection wells and drinking water

wells to allow for monitoring and response if needed

REGULATIONS FOR RECYCLED WATER

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SUMMARY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

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• Hybrid Project/Program EIR
• CEQA-Plus for SWRCB Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program application
• Project-level for Components with Known Locations:
• Injection and monitoring wells
• Water distribution pipelines
• Advanced treatment facility complex
• Discharge via ocean outfall
• Program-level for Components with Unknown Locations:
• New production well
• Agricultural irrigation pipelines

EIR APPROACH

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Significant and Unavoidable Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated

• Nighttime construction noise
• Land use (associated with nighttime

construction noise impacts)

• Construction-related air pollutant emissions
• Special status species
• Riparian habitat
• Wetlands
• Native trees
• Archaeological resources
• Consistency with City of Pismo Beach Climate Action Plan and City of

Grover Beach General Plan (related to energy and GHG emissions)

• Environmental justice
• Hazardous materials
• Emergency response/evacuation plans and emergency access
• Water quality
• Operational noise
• Construction traffic

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MITIGATION MEASURES

Topic Mitigation Measure

Air Quality – Construction and Cumulative

• Standard control measures and best available control technology for

construction equipment Biological Resources – Special Status Species

• California Red-legged Frog Habitat Avoidance
• California Red-legged Frog Avoidance and Minimization Measures
• Southwestern Pond Turtle Avoidance and Minimization Measures
• Monarch Butterfly Avoidance Measures
• Nesting Bird Avoidance and Minimization Measures
• Biological Resources Assessment*
• Special Status Plant Species Surveys*
• Special Status Plant Species Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation

Measures*

• Restoration Plan for Special Status Plant Species*
• Endangered/Threatened Species Avoidance and Minimization Measures*
• Non-listed Special Status Animal Species Avoidance and Minimization

Measures*

* Programmatic mitigation measure only

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MITIGATION MEASURES

Topic Mitigation Measure

Biological Resources – Riparian Habitat

• Sensitive Plant Community and Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area

Avoidance and Minimization Measures Biological Resources – Wetlands

• Jurisdictional Delineation
• Drainages and Wetlands Impact Mitigation
• Drainages and Wetlands Best Management Practices During Construction

Biological Resources – Native Trees

• Native Tree Inventory, Protection, and Replacement

Cultural Resources – Archaeological Resources

• Worker’s Environmental Awareness Program
• Archaeological and Native American Monitoring
• Unanticipated Discovery of Cultural Resources Provisions
• Archaeological Resource Studies*

Energy – Consistency with City of Pismo Beach’s Climate Action Plan and City of Grover Beach’s General Plan and Cumulative Impact

• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Measures (incorporation of LEED

Silver design standards, orientation and design of building to conserve energy and maximize passive solar heating and daylighting)

* Programmatic mitigation measure only

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MITIGATION MEASURES

Topic Mitigation Measure

Environmental Justice – Construction, Operation, and Cumulative

• Mitigation measures for impacts related to hazardous materials, noise, and

transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Consistency with City of Pismo Beach’s Climate Action Plan and Cumulative Impact

• GHG Emission Reduction Measures (Solar Photovoltaic System and Recycling

Receptacles) Hazards and Hazardous Materials – Use and Accidental Release of Hazardous Materials

• Hazardous Materials Management and Spill Prevention and Control Plan
• Preparation of Hazardous Materials Business Plan

Hydrology and Water Quality – Violation

• f Water Quality Standards
• Initial Quarterly Radioactive Testing

Land Use – Conflicts with Land Use Plans, Policies, and Regulations Adopted for the Purpose of Avoiding or Mitigating an Environmental Effect

• Mitigation measures for impacts related to biological resources, cultural

resources, hazardous materials and noise

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MITIGATION MEASURES

Topic Mitigation Measure

Noise – Construction and Cumulative Impact • Construction Noise Reduction Measures (mufflers, portable sound enclosures, sound walls, scheduling, campsite closures, temporary relocations) Noise – Operational

• Acoustical Analysis of ATF Complex Operations*

Transportation/Hazards and Hazardous Materials – Construction Traffic, Interference with Emergency Response/Evacuation Plans and Emergency Access (Construction), and Cumulative Impact

• Construction Transportation Management Plan

* Programmatic mitigation measure only

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• Alternative 1: No Project Alternative (required by CEQA)
• Alternative 2: No Agricultural Irrigation Pipelines
• Alternative 3: Locating Advanced Treatment Facility Complex at SSLOCSD

Wastewater Treatment Plant

• Alternative 4: Modified Locations of Injection and Monitoring Wells
• Alternative 5: Increased State Water Project Allocation
• Alternative 6: Increased Storage of Lopez Reservoir

ALTERNATIVES

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• Environmentally Superior Alternative
• Avoids adverse project impacts
• Does not provide project benefits of:
• Augmenting groundwater supply
• Creating a sustainable, drought-resistant, local water supply
• Providing a new source of recharge to the SMGB
• Reducing wastewater discharges to the ocean
• Facilitating continued water resources collaboration in the NCMA

ALTERNATIVE 1: No Project Alternative

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• Environmentally Superior Alternative of those alternatives that accomplish

project objectives

• Avoids adverse project impacts associated with construction of agricultural

irrigation pipelines

• Does not avoid significant and unavoidable construction noise and land use

impacts associated with 24-hour well drilling activities

ALTERNATIVE 2: No Agricultural Irrigation Pipelines

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ALTERNATIVE 3: PIPELINE AND ATF COMPLEX LOCATIONS

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ALTERNATIVE 3: CONCEPTUAL ATF COMPLEX LAYOUT AT SSLOCSD WWTP

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• Similar environmental impacts as the proposed project with greater impacts

related to:

• Energy - inconsistency SLO County EnergyWise Plan
• Hydrology and Water Quality – location of ATF complex in the 100-year floodplain
• Does not avoid significant and unavoidable construction noise and land use

impacts associated with 24-hour well drilling activities

ALTERNATIVE 3: ATF Complex at SSLOCSD WWTP

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ALTERNATIVE 4 MODIFIED WELL LOCATIONS

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• Similar environmental impacts as the proposed project with greater impacts

related to:

• Biological Resources – potential additional impacts to resources near Meadow Creek
• Cultural Resources – potential additional impacts to several known archaeological

resources in vicinity of Pismo State Beach Corp Yard

• Does not avoid significant and unavoidable construction noise and land use

impacts associated with 24-hour well drilling activities

ALTERNATIVE 4: Modified Locations of Injection and Monitoring Wells

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• Environmentally Superior Alternative of the alternatives that are not No Project
• Avoids most project impacts because no construction activities would be required
• Greater environmental impacts as compared to proposed project related to:
• Energy – energy-intensive water source
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions – inconsistency with 2017 Scoping Plan,

which prioritizes use of local water supplies and water recycling

• Avoids significant and unavoidable construction noise and

land use impacts associated with 24-hour well drilling activities

• Does not meet project objectives

ALTERNATIVE 5: Increased SWP Allocation

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• Greater environmental impacts as compared to proposed project related to:
• Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions – greater emissions from intensive construction activities and

inconsistency with 2017 Scoping Plan, which prioritizes use of local water supplies and water recycling

• Cultural Resources – submersion and/or demolition of potential historical and archaeological resources
• Lesser environmental impacts as compared to proposed project related to:
• Environmental justice
• Hydrology and water quality
• Noise
• Avoids significant and unavoidable construction noise and

land use impacts associated with 24-hour well drilling activities

• Does not meet project objectives

ALTERNATIVE 6: Increased Storage of Lopez Reservoir

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COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES

Alternative Degree of Environmental Impacts Compared to Project Achieves Project Objectives? Avoids Project’s Significant and Unavoidable Impacts?

1: No Project Less No Yes 2: No Agricultural Irrigation Pipelines Less Yes No 3: ATF Complex at SSLOCSD WWTP Greater Yes No 4: Modified Locations of Injection and Monitoring Wells Greater Yes No 5: Increased SWP Allocation Less No Yes 6: Increased Storage of Lopez Reservoir Similar No Yes

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• Providing recycled water at Disinfected Secondary-23 standards for

restricted reuse

• Providing recycled water at Disinfected Tertiary standards for unrestricted

landscape irrigation

• Pursuing desalination
• Implementing aggressive water conservation measures

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED

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• August 18, 2020 – Draft EIR Public Meeting #2 at Pismo Beach City Council

Meeting

• September 3, 2020 – Last day to submit comments on Draft EIR
• Fall/Winter 2020 – Preparation and certification of Final EIR

PROJECTED EIR SCHEDULE

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WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS!

Please provide comments on the adequacy of the Draft EIR including:

• Environmental impacts of the project
• Mitigation measures
• Alternatives

For more information, visit http://centralcoastblue.com/ Thank you for participating!

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ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION GUIDELINES

• Reminder: meeting and chat are being recorded
• Questions/comments can be submitted via chat or verbally
• Questions/comments from chat will be read aloud in the order they were received
• If you wish to provide verbal comments, please “raise your hand” (3 minutes per person)
• Call-in attendees will then be unmuted to see if they have verbal comments to share (3 minutes per person)

You can also submit a written comment via letter or email. Matthew Downing 760 Mattie Road Pismo Beach, CA 93449 mdowning@pismobeach.org

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