Environmental Compliance for SanAntonio Water System Twin Oaks

Brackish GroundwaterDesalination Plant

Environmental Compliance for SanAntonio Water System Twin Oaks

Brackish GroundwaterDesalination Plant

Twin Oaks BrackishGroundwater DesalinationTwin Oaks BrackishGroundwater Desalination

Purpose is to supplement and diversify SAWS’ waterresources portfolio to meet the City of San Antonio’s waterneeds over the next 50 years, while reducing dependenceon the Edwards Aquifer.

Phase I of the Twin OaksBGD plant will generateabout 12 million gallons ofwater per day (mgd) or13,440 acre-feet per yearfrom the Wilcox Aquifer.

Environmental ComplianceGoalsEnvironmental ComplianceGoals

Address multiple layers of natural and cultural resourcesregulations as efficiently as possible

Proactively identify environmental/permitting issues thatcould affect project schedule (environmental constraints)

Avoid/minimize environmental impacts (alternatives)

Environmental ComplianceGoalsEnvironmental ComplianceGoals

Address multiple layers of natural and cultural resourcesregulations as efficiently as possible

Proactively identify environmental/permitting issues thatcould affect project schedule (environmental constraints)

Avoid/minimize environmental impacts (alternatives)

Regulatory Layers - ApplicablePermits and Agency CoordinationRegulatory Layers - ApplicablePermits and Agency Coordination

Regulatory Framework Agency Permit/Review

Federal Clean Water ActEndangered Species Act (ESA)Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)National Historic Preservation Act(NHPA)

US Army Corps of EngineersUS Fish and Wildlife Service

Texas HistoricalCommission

Section 404 PermitESA/MBTA Review

NHPA Review

State Texas Antiquities Code

Texas Water Development BoardEnvironmental DeterminationTexas Parks and Wildlife Code

Texas HistoricalCommissionTexas Water DevelopmentBoard (TWDB)Texas Parks and WildlifeDepartment (TPWD)

Antiquities Permit

TWDB EnvironmentalAssessmentTPWD Review/Recommendations

Local City of San Antonio UnifiedDevelopment Code (applies toextra-territorial jurisdiction)

City of San AntonioDevelopment Services

City of San Antonio HistoricPreservation Office ReviewCity of San Antonio TreePermitCity of San Antonio HabitatCompliance Process

Environmental ConstraintsAnalysisEnvironmental ConstraintsAnalysis

AlternativesAlternatives

Overlay environmental constraints and potential projectlayouts (e.g. historic cemetery)

Identify alternative options (e.g., pipelines)

Evaluate a larger footprint (alignments, facilities)

AlternativesAlternatives

AlternativesAlternatives

Overlay environmental constraints and potential projectlayouts (e.g., historic cemetery)

Identify alternative options (e.g., pipelines)

Evaluate a larger footprint (alignments, facilities)

AlternativesAlternatives

AlternativesAlternatives

Overlay environmental constraints and potential projectlayouts (e.g., historic cemetery)

Identify alternative options (e.g., pipelines)

Evaluate a larger footprint (alignments, facilities)

AlternativesAlternatives

Avoid/Minimize/MitigateEnvironmental ImpactsAvoid/Minimize/MitigateEnvironmental Impacts

Cemetery – avoidedthroughimplementation of200-foot avoidancebuffer

Avoidance planrequired TexasHistoricalCommissionreview/approval

Avoid/Minimize/MitigateEnvironmental ImpactsAvoid/Minimize/MitigateEnvironmental Impacts

Texas Parks and WildlifeDepartment state listedspecies

Species surveys andrelocations, if needed

Educational outreachto staff andcontractors

Questions

cwesterman@swca.com

Questions

cwesterman@swca.com