Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report Date: July 16, 2014 Case No.: 2008.0091E Project Title: San Francisco Westside Recycled Water Project Location: The proposed project is located in the western portion of San Francisco. Proposed facilities would be constructed at the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant and the Central Reservoir in Golden Gate Park with a transmission pipeline between these facilities. Transmission pipelines also would be constructed between the Central Reservoir, Lincoln Park and the Presidio, and adjacent to the Golden Gate Park Panhandle. BPA Nos.: Not Applicable Zoning: Various Block/Lot: Various Lot Size: Various Project Sponsor: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Scott MacPherson [email protected] Lead Agency: San Francisco Planning Department Staff Contact: Steven H. Smith (415) 558‐6373 [email protected] PROJECT DESCRIPTION The primary purpose of the San Francisco Westside Recycled Water Project (the project) is to reduce the City and County of San Francisco’s (CCSF’s) reliance on potable water for nonpotable uses such as irrigation through the production and distribution of highly treated recycled water. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) initially proposed the project as described in a Notice of Preparation (NOP) published by the San Francisco Planning Department in June 2008; SFPUC subsequently revised the project and the San Francisco Planning Department published a second NOP in September 2010. The SFPUC has again modified the proposed project, as described ins thi revised NOP; key features of the project as revised are summarized below: The proposed recycled water treatment plant would be located at the SFPUC’s Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP), and within a portion of the adjacent California Army National Guard site. Recycled water produced at this facility would be used in Golden Gate Park (including the Panhandle portion of the park and fill for Golden Gate Park Lakes), Lincoln Park Golf Course, and various areas of the Presidio, primarily for landscape irrigation. Storage and distribution facilities at the former Richmond/Sunset WPCP in Golden Gate Park and a storage facility within the Presidio are no longer proposed. Instead, the existing Central Reservoir and pump station in Golden Gate Park would be expanded to include additional storage and pumping capacity. A transmission pipeline would be constructed between the proposed recycled water treatment plant at the Oceanside WPCP and the existing Central Reservoir in Golden Gate Park, primarily along 36th Avenue; transmission pipelines also would be constructed between the Central Reservoir and Lincoln Park and the Presidio, as well as adjacent to the Golden Gate Park Panhandle. Pipelines would not be constructed along the Great Highway between the Oceanside WPCP and the former Richmond-Sunset WPCP site. The project is a component of the SFPUC's Water System Improvement Program (WSIP), which includes facility improvement projects designed to: (1) maintain high-quality water; (2) reduce vulnerability to earthquakes; (3) increase delivery reliability and improve the ability to maintain the system; (4) meet customer purchase requests in nondrought and drought periods; (5) enhance sustainability in all system activities; and (6) achieve a cost-effective, fully operational system. Implementation of this project would contribute to meeting the overall WSIP goals and objectives. 1 FINDING This project may have a significant effect on the environment and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required. This determination is based upon the criteria of the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Sections 15063 (Initial Study), 15064 (Determining Significant Effect), and 15065 (Mandatory Findings of Significance), and for the reasons documented in the Environmental Evaluation (Initial Study) for the project, which is attached. PUBLIC SCOPING PROCESS Pursuant to the State of California Public Resources Code Section 21083.9 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15206, a public scoping meeting will be held to receive oral comments concerning the scope of the EIR. The meeting will be held on July 29, 2014 at 6:30 PM at the Ortega Branch Library,Z 3223 Ortega Street, San Francisco, California, 94122. Meeting location access and restrooms are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a language interpreter or to accommodate persons with disabilities at the scoping meeting, please contact the staff contact listed above at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Written comments will also be accepted at this meeting and until 5:00 p.m. on August 15, 2014. Written comments should be sent to Sarah Jones, San Francisco Planning Department, 1650 Mission Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94103. If you work for a responsible State agency, we need to know the views of your agency regarding the scope and content of the environmental information that is germane to your agency's statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed project. Your agency may need to use the EIR when onsidering a permit or other approval for this project. Please include the name of a cont,4 person in your agency. Date Sarah B. Jones, Envir Review Office r ~ for John Rahaim, Director of Planning San Francisco Planning Department, Program Environnicntal Impact Report for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's Water System Improvement Program, October 2008. 2 Note: This is not a Library sponsored program. SAS FsAr,iScO SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DEPARTMENTPLANNING DEPARTMENTPLANNING DEPARTMENTPLANNING DEPARTMENT INITIAL STUDY Case Number 2008.0091E San Francisco Westside Recycled Water Project Table of Contents Page A. Project Description .............................................................................................................................................. 1 A.1 Project Background and Overview .......................................................................................................... 1 A.2 Project History and Development ............................................................................................................ 3 A.3 Project Sponsor’s Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 6 A.4 Project Location ........................................................................................................................................... 7 A.5 Existing Uses on the Project Sites ............................................................................................................. 8 A.6 Project Characteristics .............................................................................................................................. 12 A.7 Approvals Required ................................................................................................................................. 21 B. Project Setting .................................................................................................................................................... 22 C. Compatibility With Existing Zoning and Plans ............................................................................................ 23 C.1 San Francisco Planning Code .................................................................................................................. 23 C.2 Use District ................................................................................................................................................ 23 C.3 Height and Bulk District .......................................................................................................................... 23 C.4 Parking ....................................................................................................................................................... 24 C.5 Loading ...................................................................................................................................................... 24 C.6 Plans and Policies ..................................................................................................................................... 24 C.7 SFPUC Plans and Policies ........................................................................................................................ 26 C.8 San Francisco Recreation and Park Department Plans and Policies .................................................. 26 C.9 Regional Plans and Policies ..................................................................................................................... 27 C.10 Approvals and Permits ............................................................................................................................ 28 D. Summary of Environmental Effects ................................................................................................................ 28 E. Evaluation of Environmental Effects .............................................................................................................. 28 Approach to Cumulative Impact Analysis .................................................................................................... 28 1. Land Use and Land Use Planning ............................................................................................................ 31 2. Aesthetics ....................................................................................................................................................