[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25218-25219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10679]
[[Page 25218]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for a Permit Application for the Proposed Gregory Canyon
Landfill Project, in San Diego County, CA
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Corps)
is examining the environmental consequences associated with the
proposed construction, operation, and closure of a new Class III
landfill in northern San Diego County, in connection with Gregory
Canyon, Ltd.'s application for a Department of the Army permit under
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to construct the proposed Gregory
Canyon Landfill and associated facilities, which would discharge fill
materials into approximately 2 acres of waters of the U.S. (less than 1
acre would be affected by permanent discharges of fill) in the San Luis
Rey River to construct a bridge and in Gregory Canyon to construct the
landfill liner, stability berm, and ancillary facilities.
The primary federal environmental concerns are the proposed
discharges of fill material into waters of the U.S. and the potential
for significant adverse environmental effects resulting from such in-
water activities. Therefore, to address these concerns in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is
requiring preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior
to consideration of any permit action. The action must comply with the
Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines (40 CFR part 230) and not be contrary to
the public interest to be granted a Corps permit. The Corps may
ultimately make a determination to permit or deny the above project, or
permit or deny modified versions of the above project.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action or
the scoping of the Draft EIS can be answered by Dr. Spencer MacNeil,
Corps Senior Project Manager, at (805) 585-2152. Comments regarding
scoping of the Draft EIS shall be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division, Ventura Field
Office, ATTN: CESPL-RG-N-2010-00354-SDM, 2151 Alessandro Drive, Suite
110, Ventura, California 93001, or [email protected].
Comment letters sent via electronic mail shall include the commenter's
physical mailing address and the project title ``Gregory Canyon
Landfill Project'' shall be included in the electronic mail's subject
line.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Project Site and Background Information: The proposed project is
located in northern San Diego County on State Route 76 (SR 76), about
three miles east of Interstate 15. The project site encompasses
approximately 1,770 acres. There are three large, regional easements
that cross the property: SR 76, a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
transmission corridor, and San Diego Pipelines Nos. 1 and 2 (First San
Diego Aqueduct). In addition, the San Luis Rey River traverses the site
in an east-west direction. A portion of Gregory Mountain is located on
the project site; this mountain is considered culturally sacred by some
Native Americans. The Gregory Canyon Landfill Project (proposed
project) consists of the construction, operation, and closure of the
proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill. The proposed landfill and its
associated facilities would be located on the south side of SR 76 and
would occupy approximately 308 acres of the site. The majority of the
remaining property (a minimum of 1,313 acres) would be dedicated as
permanent open space for long-term preservation of sensitive habitat
and species.
The property is located adjacent to residential, agricultural, and
Native American properties. A portion of the site was previously
occupied by two dairies, which have ceased operation.
An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared for the project
and was certified in 2003 and 2007 by the Director of the San Diego
County Department of Environmental Health (DEH). Subsequently, in
response to a court order for additional information regarding the
identified water supply, an Addendum to the certified 2007 EIR was
prepared. The 2008 Addendum was adopted by the Director of San Diego
County DEH. The Court ruled that the Addendum was the appropriate
document and that the issue was adequately addressed. A second Addendum
was prepared to analyze a change in the provision of water for the
project. This Addendum was adopted by the Director of the San Diego
County DEH in January 2010.
2. Proposed Action: Gregory Canyon, Ltd., as project applicant,
proposes to construct, operate, and close a Class III landfill on the
project site. The construction activities would discharge fill
materials into approximately 2 acres of waters of the U.S. (less than 1
acre would be affected by permanent discharges of fill) associated with
constructing a bridge over the San Luis Rey River and with constructing
the landfill liner, stability berm, and ancillary facilities in Gregory
Canyon. The proposed landfill project would have a maximum daily intake
of 5,000 tons and an annual intake of one million tons. The landfill
would accept solid waste disposal for approximately 30 years. The
landfill components would occupy approximately 308 acres of an
approximately 1,770-acre site. All of the construction associated with
the landfill would be located to the south of SR 76.
The landfill footprint, which would be constructed and filled in
phases, would be approximately 197 acres (including relocated SDG&E
transmission towers, see below) and would be located within Gregory
Canyon. The landfill prism would consist of a double composite liner as
well as a leachate collection and removal system with a protective
cover. At times, periodic construction to open the next landfill cell
would occur simultaneously with acceptance of solid waste.
Two borrow/stockpile areas, which would be used to store or
excavate material for daily operation of the landfill, would be
provided to the west of the landfill footprint. Borrow/Stockpile Area
A, which would be about 22 acres in size, would be located adjacent to
the western property boundary. A haul road would connect Borrow/
Stockpile Area A with the landfill footprint. The haul road would be 20
feet wide and would run along the base of the adjacent hillside with
turn-out locations for heavy equipment. Borrow/Stockpile Area B, which
would be about 65 acres in size, would be located immediately to the
west of the southern portion of the landfill footprint.
The proposed project includes the construction of an access road
and bridge that would cross the San Luis Rey River, which runs through
the property. The approximately 35.5 foot wide bridge would be
approximately 640 feet in length, with five sets of piles. The proposed
project includes modifications to SR 76 at the entrance. The
modifications would widen the roadway to 52 to 64 feet to provide for
an eastbound deceleration lane and a westbound left turn lane and would
realign approximately 1,700 linear feet of roadway to the south of the
existing alignment. The modifications are expected to improve sight
distance and
[[Page 25219]]
facilitate truck movements at the access road on SR76.
The access road would lead to the ancillary facilities area just
north of the landfill footprint. The ancillary facilities area would
include booth and fee scale, an administration building, maintenance
building, and a recyclable drop-off area. Two 10,000-gallon leachate-
holding tanks, a 20,000-gallon water storage tank, a 20,000-gallon
recycled water tank, and a 50 gallon per minute reverse osmosis system
would be located in the ancillary facilities area.
In addition, the proposed project would include the relocation of
SDG&E transmission towers located on the slope of Gregory Mountain and
an option to relocate approximately 3,200 linear feet of San Diego
County Water Authority Pipelines 1 and 2, which traverse the property.
The proposed project would include the dedication of a minimum of 1,313
acres of the site as permanent open space for long-term preservation of
sensitive habitat and species.
Through the EIS process, feasible environmental mitigation measures
will be developed to reduce potential environmental impacts. Measures
to reduce construction impacts would be implemented through
construction contract specifications and permit requirements.
3. Issues: There are several potential environmental issues that
will be addressed in the Draft EIS. Additional issues may be identified
during the scoping process. Issues initially identified for evaluation
in the Draft EIS as potentially significant include:
1. Visual impacts from the landform alterations;
2. air quality impacts from construction, operation, increased
vehicle emissions;
3. biological impacts to habitat and wildlife;
4. cultural resources (ethnographic resources);
5. hydrogeology, surface hydrology and water quality from
disturbance of sediment, operations, and runoff from development;
6. noise from increased traffic associated with operations;
7. traffic and transportation; and
8. cumulative impacts from past, present, and reasonably
foreseeable future projects.
4. Alternatives: Several alternatives are being considered for the
proposed action. The Draft EIS will include a co-equal analysis of the
No Action and project alternatives considered. Alternatives were
considered through the state environmental review process and an
associated EIR that included a no project alternative; two on-site
landfill scenarios; an on-site prescriptive design alternative with a
single liner; two off-site North San Diego County locations; and
alternatives to reduce the need for a landfill. The EIS will likely
consider some of these alternatives. The EIS will include and evaluate
a No Action Alternative that would not implement any of the proposed
project elements and would not involve any discharge of dredged or fill
material into waters of the U.S., and therefore, would not require a
Corps permit. These alternatives will be further formulated and
developed during the scoping process. Additional alternatives that may
be developed during scoping will also be considered in the Draft EIS.
5. Scoping Process: The Corps will conduct a public scoping meeting
for the proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill Project Draft EIS to receive
public comment and to assess public concerns regarding the appropriate
scope and preparation of the Draft EIS. Participation in the public
meeting by federal, state, and local agencies and other interested
organizations and persons is encouraged. The meeting will be held on
June 3, 2010 beginning at 6:00 PM (PST) at the City of San Marcos
Senior Center (Horizon Room), 111 Richmar Avenue, San Marcos, CA 92069.
Comments on the proposed action, alternatives, or any additional
concerns should be submitted in writing. Written comment letters will
be accepted until June 18, 2010.
The Corps also anticipates formally consulting with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and
with the State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act.
6. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is expected to be
published and circulated by mid-2011, and a public meeting will be held
after its publication.
Dated: April 29, 2010.
Mark D. Cohen,
Deputy Chief, Regulatory Division, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2010-10679 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
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