BIG BEAR CITY, CA, April 21, 2005 -- The Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA) filed documents that announce the start of the environmental review process for the recycled water and groundwater recharge programs. Under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, BBARWA submitted a formal, "Notice of Preparation of a Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR)." The purpose of the EIR process is to provide decision makers, agencies and the public with an objective and impartial assessment of the potential environmental impacts that could result if the project is approved.
"This is an exciting next step for the recycled water and groundwater recharge programs," stated Steven Schindler BBARWA General Manager. "I encourage the public to get involved, review the documents and attend the public hearings."
BBARWA is proposing to adopt and implement a Recycled Water Master Plan that includes use of recycled water and groundwater recharge. Recycled water will be considered for landscape irrigation, endangered species habitat enhancement, industrial and commercial businesses and groundwater recharge. In previous studies, BBARWA narrowed down the groundwater recharge site to a location referred to as the Green Spot recharge site located off of Highway 38 in the Erwin Lake area. During the EIR process the impact on the following issues will be identified -- air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, hydrology/water quality, land use/planning, and noise.
Copies of the Notice of Preparation are available to the public at the following locations:
Big Bear Valley Public Library, BBARWA's administrative offices, and the City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water & Power, city hall and the Bear City Community Services District. An electronic file can be downloaded at www.bigbearwatersolutions.org.
BBARWA is responsible for efficiently handling wastewater in the Valley, and is also managing ongoing projects to increase the production of recycled water to ensure a healthy supply of drinking water through a high-technology process known as groundwater recharge.
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