Tunnel Stabilization &
Sewer Pipeline Replacement Project

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF A
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
& NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING

PROJECT NAME

Tunnel Stabilization and Sewer Pipeline Replacement Project (State Clearinghouse #2008031094)

PROJECT SUMMARY

The South Coast Water District (District) operates the “Beach Interceptor Sewer and Tunnel” located between Three Arch Bay and Aliso Creek Beach in the southern area of the City of Laguna Beach, Orange County, California. The approximately 6-foot wide by 5-foot high tunnel was constructed in 1954 and is approximately two miles long, extending from South La Senda Drive in Three Arch Bay north to Aliso Creek Beach. Click here for map. The tunnel is mostly unlined and unsupported; however, heavy timber struts and wooden lining (lagging) have been installed in several sections of the tunnel.

Over the past 55 years, subsequent repairs have been made to the wooden lagging, and a relatively short segment of the tunnel was enlarged and fortified with shotcrete in 2007. The tunnel condition is deteriorating with age and repairs are needed throughout to prevent the tunnel and sewer pipeline from failing and to allow safe working conditions for employees and contractors.

Project plans call for:

• Stabilizing tunnel entry points known as “adits” and “portals” to facilitate the safe entry and exit of personnel,
• Removing loose rock and rotten timber supports that could harm maintenance workers and crack or break the sewer line, and
• Enlarging and lining the tunnel to form a structural horseshoe shape.
• Installing a new sewer pipeline in the reconditioned tunnel with the older pipeline remaining in place for potential emergency backup.

Staging and work areas needed for access to the tunnel may be required at the following locations:

• Aliso Creek Beach parking area
• Beach end of Camel Point Drive
• New access shaft adjacent to South Coast Highway at one of three optional locations
• Thousand Steps Beach Adits 16A and B reached via marine landing craft or existing easements

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY & COMMENT PERIOD

Notice is hereby given that the District, as Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Tunnel Stabilization and Sewer Pipeline Replacement Project. Click here for the text of the notice published in the Orange County Register on September 17, 2009.

The 45-day public review and comment period for the DEIR starts Thursday, September 17, 2009 and closes at 6:00 PM on Monday, November 2, 2009.

• The DEIR will be available for public review and comment at the District’s office at 31592 West St., Laguna Beach, Monday – Thursday, 7 am – 6 pm.
• Click here to see the DEIR posted on our website.

Comments on the DEIR should be sent to the contact person listed below or by email to tunneleir@scwd.org.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

The District will conduct a public meeting for the purpose of soliciting oral and written comments on the DEIR from interested parties and responsible or trustee agencies.

The public meeting will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2009 starting at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber at Dana Point City Hall (33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, California).

You may also view the public meeting live and recorded from our website (www.scwd.org).

In addition, Dana Point residents with Cox Cable TV may see the meeting live on Channel 30 and residents in certain south Orange County cities may see it on live on Cox Channel 855. The meetings are replayed on these two Cox channels over the following two weeks before the next board meeting.

CONTACT PERSON

Joe McDivitt
South Coast Water District
31592 West Street
Laguna Beach, CA 92651-6907
(949) 499-4555