PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item #11.A
SUBJECT/TITLE:
ADOPTION OF AN ADDENDUM TO THE CERTIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT FOR THE CENTRAL COAST BLUE PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution adopting an Addendum to the Certified Environmental Impact Report (SCH # 2019120560) for the Central Coast Blue Project.
BACKGROUND:
Central Coast Blue (the Project) is a multi-agency collaboration between the Cities of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande and the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District to construct an advanced purified water project intended to enhance supply reliability by reducing the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin’s vulnerability to drought and seawater intrusion. The project consists of an advanced treatment facility complex, pipelines, injection wells, monitoring wells, and one new production well. The project would also include groundwater injection via the proposed injection wells to create a seawater intrusion barrier and to augment local groundwater supplies, and would facilitate increased groundwater pumping from existing production wells.
The City Council adopted Resolution R-2021-011 certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report (Certified EIR) for the original Central Coast Blue Project (Original Project) on February 16, 2021 (State Clearinghouse (SCH) Number #2019120560). The document presently under consideration by the Council is an Addendum to the Certified EIR (Addendum) that was prepared as the result of modifications to the project necessitating additional environmental review. Due to its large file size, the Addendum is provided online-only in the Access Pismo public records portal, as Attachment 21.
Environmental Review
In accordance with Section 15164 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, a lead agency shall prepare an Addendum to an EIR if some changes or additions to a previously certified EIR are necessary, but the project changes will not have new significant environmental impacts or substantially increase the severity of previously identified significant impacts. Specifically, the CEQA Guidelines state:
The lead agency or responsible agency shall prepare an addendum to a previously certified EIR if some changes or additions are necessary but none of the conditions described in Section 15162 calling for preparation of a subsequent EIR have occurred (Section 15164[a]);
An addendum need not be circulated for public review but can be included in or attached to the certified EIR or adopted Negative Declaration (Section 15164[c]); 1 Full URL:
https://accesspismo.pismobeach.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=455990&dbid=0&repo=Laserfiche Council Agenda 9-5-2023 11.A-1
The decision-making body shall consider the addendum with the certified EIR or adopted Negative Declaration prior to making a decision on the project (Section 15164[d]); and
A brief explanation of the decision not to prepare a subsequent EIR pursuant to Section 15162 should be included in an addendum to an EIR, the lead agency's findings on the project, or elsewhere in the record. The explanation must be supported by substantial evidence (Section 15164[e]).
The Addendum has been prepared in accordance with relevant provisions of CEQA (as amended) and the CEQA Guidelines and describes the details of several modifications to the layout of project facilities that have occurred during evolution of the design process, which have resulted in new project impact areas beyond those identified and evaluated in the Certified EIR. This modified layout is referred to as the Modified Project in the Addendum. The analysis compares the environmental impacts of the Modified Project to those identified in the Certified EIR for the Original Project, demonstrates the environmental impacts of the Modified Project are within the scope of the impacts identified in the Certified EIR, and concludes no new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects would result from the Modified Project.
The Modified Central Coast Blue Project involves changes to the locations of components of the Original Project, which have shifted during evolution of the siting and design process. The overall purpose, objectives, and nature of the Original Project would remain the same under the Modified Project. Similar to the Original Project, the Modified Project would consist of an advanced treatment facility complex, pipelines, injection wells, monitoring wells, one new production well, and a pump station.
Although not required for an addendum, several actions were taken in preparation of the Addendum to maximize public notice and engagement. On June 7, 2023, the City initiated a 30-day public review period, which ran through July 7, 2023. This process included a Notice of Intent published with the State Clearinghouse on June 6, 2023, published with the County Clerk on June 7, 2023, and published in the New Times on June 8, 2023.
Additionally, a public workshop was conducted with the Central Coast Blue Regional Recycled Water Authority on June 19, 2023. Following conclusion of the public review period, responses to comments were prepared for the three comments received during the review period. Those Responses to Comments were provided to all commenters on August 25, 2023.
As a result of the analysis conducted in the Addendum, it was determined that potential impacts associated with the Modified Project are consistent with potential impacts characterized and mitigated for in the Certified EIR for the Original Project. Substantive revisions to the Certified EIR are not necessary because no new significant impacts or impacts of substantially greater severity than previously described would occur as a result of the Modified Project. Therefore, staff has developed a Resolution (Attachment 1) memorializing that no further evaluation of environmental impacts is required for the Modified Project, that no Subsequent or Supplemental EIR is necessary pursuant to Council Agenda 9-5-2023 11.A-2
CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15164, and that the Addendum is the appropriate level of environmental analysis and documentation for the Modified project in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15164. Furthermore, no new information of substantial importance exists that indicates that there are mitigation measures or alternatives that are considerably different from those analyzed in the Certified EIR that will substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The Addendum is appropriate to address requirements of CEQA for the Modified Project of Central Coast Blue. Accordingly, staff recommends the City Council adopt a Resolution (Attachment 1) adopting the Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Central Coast Blue Project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact from adopting the attached Resolution.
For background on the fiscal impact of preparing the EIR and this Addendum, the City hired Rincon Consultants, Inc. to prepare the EIR and this Addendum for a total amount of $331,387. The City received $25,722 from the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District to support this cost, leaving a net $305,665 to be shared across each Contributing Water Purveyor’s cost share percentage. Based on the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement creating the Central Coast Blue Regional Recycled Water Authority, the percentage that Pismo Beach would be responsible for is 39%, or $39,339.09 from the City’s Water Enterprise Fund and $79,870.26 from the City’s Wastewater Enterprise Fund.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Continue adoption of the EIR Addendum to be considered following partner agency adoption.
2. Provide alternative direction to staff.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2.Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Central Coast Blue Project (online attachment2, also available upon request from staff) Submitted by: Meeting Date: September 5, 2023
Matthew Downing, Community Development Director
Interim City Manager Approval:
2 Full URL
https://accesspismo.pismobeach.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=455990&dbid=0&repo=Laserfiche Council Agenda 9-5-2023 11.A-3
RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH,
CALIFORNIA ADOPTING AN ADDENDUM TO THE CERTIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (SCH # 2019120560) FOR THE CENTRAL COAST BLUE
PROJECT
WHEREAS, Central Coast Blue (the Project) is a multi-agency collaboration between the Cities of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande and the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District to construct an advanced purified water project intended to enhance supply reliability by reducing the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin’s vulnerability to drought and seawater intrusion; and
WHEREAS, the project consists of an advanced treatment facility complex, pipelines, injection wells, monitoring wells, and one new production well; and WHEREAS, the project would also include groundwater injection via the proposed injection wells to create a seawater intrusion barrier and to augment local groundwater supplies and would facilitate increased groundwater pumping from existing production wells; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution R-2021-011 certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report (Certified EIR) for the original Central Coast Blue Project (Original Project) on February 16, 2021 (State Clearinghouse (SCH) Number #2019120560); and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 15164 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, a lead agency shall prepare an Addendum to an EIR if some changes or additions are necessary that will not have significant new impacts or substantially increase previously identified significant impacts; and WHEREAS, the Addendum has been prepared in accordance with relevant provisions of CEQA (as amended) and the CEQA Guidelines and describes the details of several modifications to the layout of project facilities that have occurred during evolution of the design process, which have resulted in new project impact areas beyond those identified and evaluated in the Certified EIR; and
WHEREAS, the analysis in the Addendum compares impacts to those identified in the certified EIR for the Original Project and demonstrates the environmental impacts of the Modified Project are within the scope of the impacts identified in the Certified EIR and that no new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects would result from the Modified Project; and WHEREAS, as a result of the analysis conducted in the Addendum, it was determined that potential impacts associated with the Modified Project are consistent with potential impacts characterized and mitigated for in the certified EIR for the Original Project; and Council Agenda 9-5-2023 11.A-4
Attachment 1
WHEREAS, the mitigation measures included in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program adopted for the Original Project, with minor technical changes incorporated (as shown in the Addendum), remains in force for the Modified Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach hereby adopts the Addendum to the Certified Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2019120560) for the Central Coast Blue Project as follows:
Section 1. Recitals
The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated into the findings herein.
Section 2. Record
The Record of Proceedings (“Record”) upon which the decision-making body bases its recommendation on the Addendum includes, but is not limited to: (1) the Addendum to the Certified EIR, the Certified EIR, and the appendices and technical reports cited in and/or relied upon in preparing the same, (2) the staff reports, City files, and records and other documents prepared for and/or submitted to the City relating to the Addendum, (3) the evidence, facts, and other determinations set forth in this resolution, (4) all documentary and oral evidence received at public workshops, meetings, and hearings or submitted to the City during the comment period relating to the Addendum, (5) all other matter of common knowledge to the decision- making body, including, but not limited to, City, state, and federal laws, policies, rules, regulations, reports, records, and projections related to development within the City and its surrounding areas.
The location and custodian of the records is the Pismo Beach City Clerk, 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, California, 93449.
Section 3. Findings
Based upon the information in the Addendum, the Record as described above, and all other matters deemed material and relevant prior to adopting this Resolution, the City Council hereby adopts the Addendum to the Certified EIR based upon the following:
a. None of the conditions described in CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15164 calling for the preparation of a subsequent or supplemental EIR have been met, namely:
I. No substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the Certified EIR due to the involvement Council Agenda 9-5-2023 11.A-5
Attachment 1
of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects; II. No substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the Certified EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects; and III. There is no new information of substantial importance, which was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the Certified EIR was certified as complete, that shows 1) the project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the Certified EIR; 2) significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the Certified EIR; 3) mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible, and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project, but the City declines to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative; or 4) mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the Certified EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but the City declines to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative; and
b. That an Addendum is the appropriate level of environmental analysis and documentation for the Modified Project in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15164; and
c. No further evaluation of environmental impacts is required for the Modified Project.
UPON MOTION OF Council Member , seconded by Council Member , the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach this 5th day of September 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSED:
Approved: Attest:
________________________ ________________________
Ed Waage, Mayor Erica Inderlied, City Clerk
Council Agenda 9-5-2023 11.A-6
Attachment 1