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Penitencia Water Treatment Plant Residuals Management Project

Notice of Intent to Adopt a MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION

Topic: Penitencia Water Treatment Plant (PWTP) Residuals Management Project

What: Notice of Intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration

Why: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Santa Clara Valley Water

District (Valley Water), as the lead agency for the proposed Penitencia Water

Treatment Plant (PWTP) Residuals Management Project has prepared a Draft

Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) to evaluate

environmental impacts of the Project.


In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (California Public
Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq.) and CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, California
Code of Regulations, Sections 15000 et seq.), an Initial Study of the Penitencia Water
Treatment Plant (PWTP) Residuals Management Project was prepared to evaluate
environmental impacts. Based on the Initial Study, it has been determined that a
Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is the appropriate level of review. This is a
Notice of Intent to adopt an MND for this project in accordance with CEQA Guidelines
Section 15072.


Project Location: The Project is located within the Penitencia Water Treatment Plant,
addressed as 3959 Whitman Way, San Jose, CA 95132.


Project Description: Penitencia Water Treatment Plant (PWTP) Residuals Management
Project (Project) involves improvements to various components of the PWTP
Residuals Management System. The existing PWTP operations are constrained due
to inefficiencies of the Residuals Management System in meeting current regulatory
standards. The project will address the following components of the PWTP Residuals
Management System: washwater handling and treatment, sludge handling and
dewatering, and sedimentation basin sludge withdrawal. The project would address
age, capacity, efficiency, and reliability issues with the existing Residuals Management
System. Additionally, the project would ensure that the PWTP efficiently and reliably
provides potable water to retailers in Valley Water’s service area and meets current
regulatory standards. The project construction is proposed to begin in 2025 and be
complete by 2030.


Public Review: Valley Water will release the Draft IS/MND on the project for public review
beginning on Friday, September 27, 2024, and ending on Monday, October 28, 2024. The
Draft IS/MND may be reviewed at valleywater.org/public-review-documents.


The Draft IS/MND is also available for in-person review during normal business hours at:


• Valley Water, 5750 Almaden Expressway, San José, CA 95118


• City of San Jose, Berryessa Branch Library located at 3355 Noble Ave,
San Jose, CA 95132.


The public comment period on the Draft MND will run for 30 days upon Valley Water’s
electronic posting of the document beginning Friday, September 27, 2024. The public
comment period closes at 5 p.m. on Monday, October 28, 2024.


Comments: Written comments can be emailed to [email protected].
Please include the name and mailing address of the commenter in the body of the email
and add “Penitencia Water Treatment Plant (PWTP) Residuals Management Project” in
the subject line.


Written comments on the Draft IS/MND should be submitted electronically via email or
by hard copy via US mail by 5 p.m. not later than 5 pm on Monday, October 28, 2024.

Comments by US Mail should be sent to:
Santa Clara Valley Water District
C/O Michael F. Coleman, AICP
Environmental Planner
5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA 95118


For additional information, please contact Michael Coleman at (408) 630-3096 or via
email at: [email protected].