Draft EA - San Diego International Airport

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – PROPOSED RUNWAY 9 DISPLACED THRESHOLD
would not cause a change in aircraft operations or routes, the Proposed Action would cause no net change in
GHG emissions compared to the No Action alternative.
4.6 Water Quality
In accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, the sponsor must follow local, state, tribal, or federal ordinances and
regulations to address impacts to the quality of water resources. The CWA provides the authority for the U.S.
EPA to establish water quality standards, control discharges, develop waste treatment management plans and
practices, prevent or minimize the loss of wetlands, protect aquifers and sensitive ecological areas such as a
wetlands area, and regulate other issues concerning water quality.
FAA Order 1050.1E indicates that significant effects on water quality include the following:
Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act requires consultation with the U.S. EPA if the Proposed
Action has the potential to contaminate an aquifer designated by the U.S. EPA as a sole or principal
source of drinking water for the area.
If the Proposed Action would impound, divert, drain, control, or otherwise modify the waters of any
stream or other body of water, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act applies.
Exceedances of water quality standards and water quality problems that cannot be avoided or
satisfactorily mitigated would be identified as significant impacts.
The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act is the primary statute covering the quality of waters in
California. The Act sets out specific water quality provisions and discharge requirements regulating the
discharge of waste within any region that could affect the quality of State waters. The San Diego RWQCB is
the relevant board reviewing actions at SDIA that may affect receiving waters. The San Diego RWQCB
administers the NPDES permit program in California, pursuant to the federal CWA. 26
4.6.1 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE
Under the No Action alternative there would be no change to the impervious surface area and, therefore, no
potential for additional impact to aquifer recharge. The No Action alternative would not involve grading;
therefore, there is no potential for downstream erosion or sedimentation or modified drainage patterns.
There is no earthwork associated with the No Action alternative and accordingly no potential for pollution and
contamination impacts nor need for sediment and erosion control. The No Action alternative would not
impact any of the SDIA SWMP provisions.
26
California Environmental Protection Agency, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, Storm Water Programs and Permits, 2012;
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sandiego/water_issues/programs/stormwater/sd_stormwater.shtml (accessed: April 18, 2012).
Draft EA
Environmental Consequences
[4-19]