Summary

If you need assistance with this public notice in a different language, please e-mail Yenhung Ho (ho.yenhung@epa.gov) or call (415) 972-3262.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, Groundwater Protection Section, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 (EPA) is providing an opportunity for the public to comment on its proposal to issue a renewal Class I Non-hazardous Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permit for Northern California Power Agency (NCPA or “Permittee”). NCPA owns and operates a steam injected gas turbine plant and the Lodi Energy Center (together, “STIG-LEC Facility”) that consists of two (2) existing injection wells, known as STIG-1 and LEC-1, and one (1) proposed injection well, known as LEC-2, located at 12745 North Thornton Road in Lodi, California.

The Class I UIC Permit, if issued, would authorize continued operation of STIG-1 and LEC-1 for ten (10) years, and construction and operation of LEC-2. The injected wastewater from the STIG-LEC Facility consists primarily of cooling tower blowdown, brine reject from ultrafiltration units, and brine from reverse osmosis units. The City of Lodi’s White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility provides the tertiary-treated source water to NCPA that is ultimately injected after use. The two (2) current and one (1) proposed injection wells are designed to inject wastewater between approximately 4,200 and 4,500 feet below ground surface into the lower sand member of the Domengine Formation injection zone. After completing a thorough technical review of all information submitted by NCPA in their permit application, as well as the proposed well construction, operational standards, monitoring requirements, and existing geologic setting, EPA believes the activities allowed under the Draft Class I UIC Permit (“Draft Permit”) are protective of underground sources of drinking water as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

EPA has made a preliminary determination to issue a Class I UIC permit to NCPA pending this public notice. This action is being taken as provided by Part C of the SDWA and pursuant to Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 124, 144, 146, and 147.

Supporting Materials

All data submitted by the applicant is available as part of the administrative record for the Draft Permit. This Notice, EPA’s Fact Sheet, the Draft Permit, NCPA’s permit application, and other supporting documents are available for public review online at www.regulations.gov under docket number EPA-R09-OW-2021-0137.

These materials may also be accessed on this web site.

If you are unable to access these materials on the internet, please contact Mr. Ho at the telephone number or email address listed above-right for assistance.

Final Permit Decision and Appeals Process

After the close of the public comment period, EPA will respond to comments and issue a final permit decision pursuant to 40 CFR § 124.15(a) and will notify all commenters regarding the Agency’s decision. EPA will post its response to comments document on www.regulations.gov under docket number EPA-R09-OW-2021-0137. The response to comments will contain a response to all comments on the Draft Permit, EPA’s final permitting decision, any permit conditions that are changed and the reasons for the changes, and procedures for appealing the decision. The final decision shall be to either issue or deny the Permit. The final decision shall become effective no sooner than thirty (30) days after the service of the notice of decision. Within thirty (30) days after the final permit decision has been issued, any person who filed comments on the Draft Permit, participated in any public hearing on this matter, or takes issue with any changes in the Draft Permit, may petition the Environmental Appeals Board to review any condition of the permit decision. Commenters are referred to 40 CFR § 124.19 for procedural requirements of the permit appeal process. If no comments request a change in the Draft Permit, EPA’s final decision shall become effective immediately upon issuance unless a later date is specified in the notice of final decision.