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4. Water Quality Impacts. <br />The EPA recommends the EIS include an accurate description of surface and ground <br />water resources, as both aze essential to understanding the potential effects of the project.. The <br />EIS should clearly describe water bodies within the analysis azea which may be impacted,by <br />project activities. Identifying affected watersheds on maps of the various alternatives helps <br />convey their relationship with project_activities. The EIS should summarize the available data <br />and the condition (reliability, gaps in data, etc.) of that information. <br />A discussion of project area geology, topography, soils a~ stream stability in terms of <br />erosion and mass failure potential may be necessary to adequately portray the potential risk to <br />surface and subsurface water quality and quantity, aquatic habitat and other resources. Section <br />313 of the Clean Water Act requires that Federal agencies comply-with State and Local pollution <br />requirements. Therefore, the appropriate State-identified Best Management Practices (BMPs) to <br />reduce potential non-point sources of pollution from this project's proposed activities should be <br />designed into the alternatives under consideration and disclosed. . <br />The EIS should show the extent to which aquatic habitat could be impaired by project <br />activities. This includes effects on surface and subsurface water quality and quantity, aquatic <br />biota, stream structure and channel stability, streambed substrate including seasonal and <br />spawning habitats, large organic material supplies (woody debris), stream bank vegetation, and <br />riparian habitats. The analysis should disclose whether the project will cause any reductions in <br />habitat capability or impair designated uses. Other information relevant to the analysis, such as <br />aquatic species habitat and the condition and productivity of that habitat, should also be included. <br />Particular attention should be directed at evaluating and disclosing the cumulative effects of <br />increased levels of erosion and sedimentation. Water quality parameters such as conductivity, <br />dissolved and suspended solids, metals, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and physical aquatic <br />habitat parameters may also be important monitoritig indicators for deteanining stream or lake <br />impairment or stress, as well as its sensitivity to further impacts. Existing water quality standards <br />applicable to the affected water bodies should be presented to provide a basis for determining <br />whether existing uses will be protected and water quality standazds met. <br />Events such as pipeline breaks, vehicular spill of hazazdous or toxic material, or vazious <br />other operational activities could result in significant adverse habitat and water quality impacts. <br />The EIS should discuss the frequency or likelihood of such events, and describe the spill and <br />release response capabilities (i.e. available response equipment, personnel, expected response <br />times, etc.). <br />The EIS will need to analyze potential impacts to surface water (wetlands, riparian areas, <br />and perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral streams), groundwater (including groundwater <br />hydrologically-connected to surface water), and existing and potential drinking water. Impacts to <br />consider include water quality, quantity, and any adverse change to current water quality of the <br />any rivers, streams and their tributaries. No Surface Occupancy (NSO) lease stipulations may be <br />appropriate to protect current or potential drinking water sources. The EIS needs to evaluate <br />' 3 <br />