Larry Purcell, Water Resources Manager

Imported Water Committee March 27, 2014

Agenda History of Board/Committee meetings Approach to BDCP document review Environmental review process Initial subject areas for comment letter Staff recommendation

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Prior Board Briefings 14 meetings since January 2013

Bay Delta issues and alternatives Scope of alternatives for staff review Demand assumptions, export yields Economic study, cost and funding BDCP process and timeline, CEQA/NEPA process, baselines Water supply/demand/yield analysis Physical facilities, supply/demand risk assessment Financing risk assessment, MWD costs Engineering risk assessment, BDCP governance Economic and financial risk to Water Authority

3

BDCP Document Review BDCP analyses contained in detailed

planning and technical documents exceeding 30,000 pages

Inter-departmental team Documents Reviewed

Draft BDCP Draft EIR/EIS Draft Conceptual Engineering Report

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Bay Delta Conservation Plan 22 Conservation Measures (CMs) Allows issuance of Endangered Species Act permits

for 56 species over a 50-year term State Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP) Federal Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)

BDCP is the “project” for environmental review

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Environmental Review Process BDCP addresses:

Delta ecosystem health and productivity Species/habitat decline

Water supply reliability Volume and timing Seismic and climate change

Delta hydrology and water quality Salinity, nutrients, PCBs, metals, and pesticides

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Environmental Review Process EIR/EIS is a joint CEQA (state) and NEPA (federal)

document Common practice to issue a combined EIR/EIS Regulations require very similar analyses

Review the environmental effects of proposed project and a reasonable range of alternatives

Completion of EIR/EIS required for execution of Implementing Agreement and HCP/NCCP permit issuance

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CEQA and NEPA as Parallel Processes

EIR

CEQA

Notice of Preparation

Public and Agency Review

Scoping

Draft EIR

State Clearinghouse

Final EIR

Review of Response by Commenting Agencies

Agency Decision/ Findings, Statement of Overriding

Consideration, Mitigation Monitoring

Preparation of Response to Comments

NEPA

EIS

Notice of Intent

Public and Agency Review

Scoping

Draft EIS

EPA Filing: Federal Register

Final EIS

EPA Filing: Federal Register

Agency Decision/ Record of Decision

Circulate Final EIS

Preparation of Response to Comments

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Subject Areas for Comment Draft BDCP & EIR/EIS Conceptual Engineering Report Governance

organization and authority Implementation

schedule and agreements Funding

allocation and commitments Economic Benefits

water costs and alternatives Environmental Analysis

models and conclusions Environmental Baseline

multiple approaches Decision Tree

studies and operations

Schedule inconsistent and constrained dates

Cost Estimate Accuracy contingency estimates and level of

design

Project Risks land acquisition, project delivery,

construction methods and equipment , geotechnical, and adequate specialized resources

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Staff Recommendation Authorize the General Manager to submit a formal

comment letter on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

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