LADWP initiates environmental process for Groundwater Replenishment Project

LADWP initiates environmental process for Groundwater Replenishment Project LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has begun soliciting public input on the scope of the environmental impact report (EIR) for its proposed Groundwater Replenishment Project. As part of the required California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process, the utility issued an initial study and notice of preparation of a draft EIR in early September, and hosted the first scoping meeting on September 25th at the Sepulveda Garden Center. Two more are scheduled—one on Thursday, October 3rd, 7 p.m. at the Canterbury Elementary School at 13670 Montague Street in Arleta, and another on Saturday, October 12th, 10 a.m. at the John Ferraro Building, 111 N. Hope Street in Downtown Los Angeles. All are invited to attend and provide verbal or written input about the environmental aspects of the project that should be considered in the report. Comments must be submitted by October 21st. LADWP’s Groundwater Replenishment Project plans to use highly purified water from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant each year to replenish the San Fernando Groundwater Basin at existing spreading grounds and new injection wells in the San Fernando Valley. The project will replenish local drinking water supplies and help reduce the city’s reliance on imported water. Implementation of the project is a critical part of LADWP’s Urban Water Management Plan which details the department’s roadmap towards more sustainable local drinking water supplies. The project is expected to be operational by 2022. The initiation of the EIR phase of the Groundwater Replenishment Project follows several public meetings and presentations conducted by LADWP since 2008.The two-year environmental process will result in a draft EIR available for public comment by mid to late 2014, and a final EIR for adoption by the Board of Water and Power commissioners in 2015. See more information about the Groundwater Replenishment Project on the LADWP project page. To stay informed about the EIR process, see LADWP’s environmental notices page or the GWR EIR update.