Calleguas Regional Salinity Management Project, Ventura County, California
Project Name: Calleguas Regional Salinity Management Project, Ventura County, California Services: CEQA/NEPA, Permitting, and Mitigation Planning and Monitoring Client: Calleguas Municipal Water District
Padre has been involved in the development and implementation of numerous phases of the Calleguas Regional Salinity Management Project. Padre’s involvement began with the preparation a Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the 32 mile-long wastewater pipeline, extending from Simi Valley to Oxnard, on behalf of the Calleguas Municipal Water District and Bureau of Reclamation. The purpose of the project is to dispose of tertiary treated wastewater and byproducts of advanced treatment (brine) that cannot be discharged to local streams due to a chloride Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) limits. Primary issues assessed in the document included water quality (ocean and freshwater), water quantity (loss of current wastewater discharge to stream), biological resources, noise, air quality, cultural resources and agriculture.
This project was complex and controversial requiring substantial stakeholder involvement. Stakeholders include various water districts, municipalities, regulatory agencies (e.g., Regional Water Quality Control Board), public interest organizations (e.g., Environmental Defense Center) and the general public. Therefore, Padre actively participated in numerous meetings directly associated with the project as well as the related Calleguas Creek Watershed Chloride Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) meetings along with the stakeholders.
Since the completion of the original Program EIR, Padre has continued to support the subsequent CEQA/NEPA compliance requirements for the project. A Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared to address Phase 2 (Lower Reach) Pipeline Revisions. A Supplemental EIR/EA was required to address a change in the location and configuration of the project ocean outfall. An EIR was prepared to address revisions in the Phase 2 (Upper Reach) pipeline alignment.
Upon completion of the Supplemental EIR/EA for the ocean outfall, Padre provided permit acquisition services for the District which included a Coastal Development Permit, State Tidelands lease, Sections 404 and 401 permits and NPDES Permit.
During installation of the ocean outfall, Padre provided both onshore and offshore mitigation compliance monitoring services including frac-out monitoring (of the horizontal directional drilling), marine mammal monitoring and archaeological monitoring. Biological monitoring was also provided for other phases of the project.
Fiber Optic Cable Installations and Subsequent Decommissioning Projects, San Luis Obispo County, California
Project Name: Fiber Optic Cable Installations and Subsequent Decommissioning Projects, San Luis Obispo County, California Services: CEQA, Permitting, and Mitigation Monitoring Client: California State Lands Commission and AT&T
In the rapidly developing world of telecommunications and data transmission, Padre has had the opportunity to support the full life cycle of several trans-Pacific cable projects. Initially efforts included preparation of Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) related to the installation and operation, of the California offshore and inland segments of fiber optic cables from Southeast Asia to the United States (specifically San Luis Obispo County). Preparation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance documentation involved the review of applicant-provided data reports on the seafloor and onshore habitats, marine and terrestrial biological resources, cultural resources, and equipment/vessel emissions that Padre staff subsequently incorporated into the EIRs. Specific issues of concern included the potential impacts of the placement of the offshore portion of the buried fiber optic cables on commercial fishing, hardbottom biota, and cultural resources. Onshore concerns centered on vehicle access to existing buried conduits across streams and other sensitive terrestrial habitats.
In addition to completing the necessary environmental assessments, Padre provided compliance monitors which entailed biologists, cultural resource specialists, and other technical experts being on-site during the offshore cable laying/burial operations, and documentation of onshore impacts from vehicle access and conduit excavation. Padre marine scientists were also responsible for reviewing applicant-provided videotapes of the offshore cable laying operations and for reporting on the effects of those operations on seafloor habitats along the offshore cable corridors.
In 2017, AT&T determined that two of the cables installed in 2000 were no longer necessary. Padre assisted AT&T with an application to California State Lands Commission (CSLC) for quit claim of the lease in State jurisdictional waters. Under the direction of CSLC as the State lead agency, Padre then prepared an EIR Addendum under CEQA. The EIR Addendum was finalized in November 2017. Subsequently, Padre assisted AT&T with permitting to remove the two cables. Permits were obtained from the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California Coastal Commission in support of this work. Removal activities are scheduled for Spring 2019. During removal activities, Padre will continue to provide environmental oversight and coordination with responsible agencies to ensure compliance with Project permit conditions of approval.
An article on the cable removal project was published by The Tribune and can be viewed online at: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article186495988.html
Tajiguas Resource Recovery Project, Santa Barbara County, California
Project Name: Tajiguas Resource Recovery Project, Santa Barbara County, California Services: CEQA Client: Santa Barbara County Public Works Department, Resource Recovery & Waste Management Division
The Santa Barbara County Public Works Department, Resource Recovery & Waste Management (RRWM) Division proposes to modify the operation of the Tajiguas Landfill to add a Resource Recovery Project (Project) that would process recyclables and organic material from municipal solid waste. The Project includes the addition of a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and Dry Fermentation Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility to the Tajiguas Landfill. Recyclables would be recovered at the MRF and processed for sale. Recovered organic material would be processed in the AD Facility and residue would be disposed at the landfill. The AD facility would produce biogas which would be used as a source of energy at the facility and digestate which would be cured into soil amendments.
Padre assisted the RRWM with the preparation of a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for the Project. The SEIR evaluated eight alternatives in detail including the proposed Project. No significant and unavoidable impacts were determined to result from implementation of the Project, excluding those associated with extending the life of the landfill (which is an objective of the Project). Significant but mitigable impacts were identified in the areas of scenic resources, biological resources, hazardous materials, geological hazards, land use, water resources. The Project is also generally sensitive to the public due to the location of the Tajiguas Landfill in the Gaviota coast rural region.
The SEIR was subject to extensive internal review by the “Public Participants” for the project which include the jurisdictional areas served by the Tajiguas Landfill. Specifically, the Public Participants include the County of Santa Barbara, and cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Buellton and Solvang.
Morro Bay Power Plant Marine Terminal Decommissioning Project, Morro Bay, California
Project Name:Morro Bay Power Plant Marine Terminal Decommissioning Project, Morro Bay, California Services:CEQA, Permitting, Biological Studies, and Compliance Monitoring (Onshore and Offshore) Client:Dynegy Morro Bay, LLC and California State Lands Commission
Padre prepared the Mitigated Negative Declaration in coordination with the California State Lands Commission (CSLC) for the Dynegy Morro Bay, LLC, Morro Bay Power Plant Marine Terminal Decommissioning Project. Padre also assisted in preparation of the Project Plans including, but not limited to, the Site Restoration Plan, Marine Wildlife Contingency Plan, Cultural Resources Management Plan, Tribal Cultural Resources Management Plan, and Hazardous Materials Management and Contingency Plan. Other Project tasks included preparation of the air quality and greenhouse gas emission calculations, asbestos survey, biological surveys, and nesting bird surveys. Padre also prepared regulatory permit applications and secured the following permits for the Project: California Coastal Commission Coastal Development Permit, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit Authorization, Regional Water Quality Control Board Water Quality Certification, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Operation of Law Letter. Padre’s staff provided compliance monitoring for offshore and onshore project activities, including marine mammal monitoring, biological monitoring, and cultural monitoring.
View | Meta | Edit thumb | Rotate | Publish | Recover | Delete