Análisis, Diagnóstico Y

Control - Ambiental, Corp.

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PRELIMINARY JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATION

FOR THE GASODUCTO DEL SUR PROJECT FROM TALLABOA WARD (PEÑUELAS)

TO AGUIRRE WARD (SALINAS) PUERTO RICO

JULY 2006 REVISED – AUGUST 2007

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INDEX 1.0 INTRODUCTION 4 2.0 LOCATION & TOPOGRAPHY 5 3.0 SAMPLING SITES 14 4.0 WETLAND HYDROLOGY 17 5.0 SOILS 25 6.0 HYDRIC SOILS 39 7.0 VEGETATION 41 8.0 JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATION 44 9.0 RESULTS AND CONCLUSION 45 10.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 46 11.0 APPENDIX 48 A. National Wetland Inventory Maps 49

B. Data Form-Routine Wetland Determination 61 C. Professional Collaborators 101

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Location Map 5 Figure 2 Puerto Rico Aquifer Map 7 Figure 3 Peñuelas – Ponce Aerial View 8

Figure 4 Peñuelas – Ponce Aerial View 9 Figure 5 Ponce Aerial View 10

Figure 6 Ponce – Juana Díaz Aerial View 11 Figure 7 Santa Isabel Aerial View 12 Figure 8 Santa Isabel Aerial View 13

Figure 9 Salinas Aerial View 14 Figure 10 Soil Map – Juana Díaz Area 35

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LIST OF PHOTOS

Photo 1 Wetland Area at Juana Díaz 18 Photo 2 EcoElectrica Channel 21 Photo 3 Peerless Channel 22 Photo 4 Ditch Located in Juana Díaz 23 Photo 5 Ditch Located in Salinas 24

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Positional Location of the Sampling Sites 15 Table 2 Plants Identified at the Sampling Points 42

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Puerto Rican Electric Authority (PREPA) is engaged in the

preliminary design for the construction of a natural gas pipeline that will be used to supply PREPA’s power plants. This pipeline construction will cover approximately 42.4 miles in the southern part of the island that will run from EcoElectrica in Tallaboa Ward at Peñuelas terminal to PREPA’s Aguirre Power Plant in Aguirre Ward at Salinas. The purpose of the construction of this pipeline is to provide natural gas as an alternate fuel source.

ADC, Corporation, as requested by PREPA and ENSR, was engaged

in the Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (JD) to fulfill the requirements to obtain a Department of Army permit to perform works in Jurisdictional Waters and/or in wetland areas.

The purpose of this study was to identify and delineate potential

wetland presence along the route. The wetland jurisdictional determination was conducted following the guidelines of the Corps of Engineer’s Wetland Delineation Manual (Technical Report Y-87, January 1987). The Onsite Inspection Necessary Method of the Routine Determinations Section was selected to perform this JD. The first fieldwork was conducted during July, 2006. Due a route change the JD was revised and the impacts to jurisdictional areas have change.

This report includes the description of wetlands located in the route

and the rivers systems that will be impacted by the construction of this project. It is the purpose of this report to determine if a significant nexus between wetland areas and navigable waters exists.

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2.0 LOCATION & TOPOGRAPHY

2.1 Location

The study area is located at the southern part of the island. It covers fourteen (14) wards within five municipalities. It begins at the state road PR-127 located at the Tallaboa Poniente Ward in the Municipality of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico (Figure 1) and ends at the Central Aguirre Power Plant in Aguirre Ward, Salinas municipality.

Peñuelas is located in the southern part of the Island. It borders north with Adjuntas, south with the Caribbean Sea, east with Ponce and west with Guayanilla. It is bathed by the Macaná, Tallaboa y Guayanés Rivers.

Ponce is bordered by Peñuelas on the west; Adjuntas on the northwest; Utuado and Jayuya on the north; and Juana Díaz on the east. Several gorges and rivers flow through the zone; most of them are intermittent courses. Most important is the Portugués River that flows through the urban zone. In the past it caused floods but it has been canalized to control flooding. It drains in the Bucana River and flow together into the Caribbean Sea seaport. The Cañas River runs by the west side and takes water from the Pastillo.

Figure 1 Location Map

Gasoducto del Sur Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward

Puerto Rico

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Juana Diaz is bordered at north with Orocovis, Jayuya, Ciales and Villalba, south with the Caribbean Sea, west with Ponce and east with Coamo and Santa Isabel. Juana Díaz is bathed by the Descalabrado River, the Inabón and the Jacaguas River.

Santa Isabel borders north with Coamo, south with the Caribbean Sea, west with Juana Díaz, and east with Salinas. It is watered by the Jueyes, Cayures, Coamo, Descalabrado Rivers.

Salinas is bordered by Coamo, Aibonito and Cayey to the north; the Caribbean Sea to the south; Coamo and Santa Isabel to the west; and Guayama to the east. It belongs to the region of the Southern Coastal Plain. To the north it has elevations that belong to the Cayey Sierra, a prolongation of the Cordillera Central.

2.2 Topography

The southern part of the island presents a variable topography which includes hills, caves and mountains. The south part of the island is separated form the north part of the island by the Cordillera Central, this mountain corridor present variation in form of hills. The Gasoducto del Sur project will be located in the geomorphic region known as the southern coastal valley, karst formation of the south and the semiarid hills of the south.

The proponed route for the construction of the pipeline is located on the

South Coast aquifer which is an alluvial aquifer that underlies the broad coastal plain that extends from Patillas to Ponce (Figure 2). The aquifer averages about 4 to 5 miles in width and extends east-west for about 40 miles. The topography in the area for the construction and installation of the pipeline is flat.

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The pipeline route (Figure 3) begins at Mile Post (MP) 0.0 in the

EcoElectric site; it crosses two channels before it crosses the Tallaboa River pipeline corridor. Near MP 2.5 the route turns right to run approximately parallel to PR #2 and continues on the south side of PR #2. From MP 2.5 to 3.0 the pipeline route stays south of PR #2 along the best route before crossing the highway near MP 3.5, then following PR #2 to the north past MP 5.75.

The route changed at Tallaboa Ward. This change consists of the

movement of the line to the North of the Union Carbide area in order to use their existing pipe. It runs parallel to the east side of the Tallaboa River ad to the north when it reaches the PR- #127 and crosses the PR - #2 to the Encarnacion Ward.

From Mile Post 2 to 7 the route was changed from the PR-#2 to the

mountain area in Peñuelas (Encarnación Ward). It runs behind Las Cucharas prison in Canas Ward (Ponce) to the east of Ponce Holyday Inn reaching the PR-#2.

Figure 2

Aquifer Map Gasoducto del Sur

Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward Puerto Rico

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At approximately MP 5.8, the pipeline crosses PR #2 to the south again; from here the route follows to the south, but is away from, PR #2. At MP 7.0, the route makes turns to avoid the existing water treatment facility before returning to the south of PR # 2 at MP 7.5 were the route continues south of the highway changing to the PR #52 (Figure 3 and 4).

Figure 3

Peñuelas Aereal View Gasoducto del Sur Route

Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward Puerto Rico

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The pipeline route returns to and continues along the south edge of PR

#52, crosses the Matilde River and passes MP 8.9. Continuing along PR #52, the pipeline diverts to the south near MP 10.15 to avoid development and the tollbooths, lining the route up for the crossing of the cloverleaf exchange between PR #52 and PR #12 between MP 10.15 and 11.0. The route return to the south of PR 52, crosses the Bucana River near MP 11.6 and follows PR #52 as it turns north (Figure 4).

The change between Mile Post 10 to Mile Post 12 corresponds to the

alignment of the route closer to the PR-#52. The line was mover north of the Puerto de Las Americas property.

Figure 4

Peñuelas-Ponce Aereal View Gasoducto del Sur Route

Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward Puerto Rico

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The pipeline, now east of PR #52 as it runs northerly continues with

the same general offset up to the cloverleaf at the PR #2/ PR #1 interchange near MP 13.0 to 14.0 where it follows the roadway where the route turn east (Figure 4). Once headed east the route follows SR1, to the south, until MP 22.1, at which point PR #1 turns north and the pipeline continues easterly through some Greenfield areas to MP 14.0 where it runs north of the Inabon River to SR1 and cross the Inabon River, then continues generally east on the south side of SR1 to MP 15.25. At MP 17.0, the pipeline turns north, crosses SR1 then continues north before turning east to cross the Rio Jacaguas then pass north of Arus.

The pipeline continues east to MP 18.4, where at the Hacienda Potala, the pipeline turns north, before turning back east south of the Fort Allen Naval Station (Figure 5). Between MP 18.5 and 19.0 the pipeline passes through a very tight area on the north end of Pastillo at the edge of current development; from here the route continues east. To the east the pipeline

Figure 4

Ponce Aerial View Gasoducto del Sur Route

Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward Puerto Rico

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turns north before it turns back to the east to cross the Rio Canas at MP 21.4. The route turns slightly south and continues past MP 22.2. The pipeline continues easterly, heading slightly south, till MP 23.0 where it turns north, then east, then south to avoid some buildings. The route continues south to eliminate multiple crossings of the Rio Descalabrado the route turns east to make the crossing of the Rio Descalabrado at MP 23.5.

At MP 24.0 the route turns north again to MP 24.4 where it again turns and returns to the general easterly direction. The pipeline continues easterly, changing direction to minimize impacts to agricultural areas and crosses the Coamo River near MP 26.0, then heads directly east to MP 27.0 (Figure 6) where it turns slightly south toward MP 28.0. On the same line, the line continues to MP 28.6 where it turns due east, continuing to skirt agricultural areas, to MP 29.0 where the route turns north, east, north and back east. All these turns are to avoid bisecting fields; the route is back to an easterly direction once past MP 30.0 (Figure 7).

Figure 5

Ponce – Juana Díaz Aerial View Gasoducto del Sur Route

Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward Puerto Rico

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The route continues easterly, crossing the Rio Cayures. The change at

Mile Post 32 to 35 consists of the alignment of the route with the PR-#543 in Salinas. Then it crosses the Jueyes River. As the route enters Las Carolinas Farm it was moved to the south of the original alignment and near Las Ochenta it runs parallel to the PR-#1 (Figure 7). At MP 35.0, the route heads southeast, crosses the Rio Nigua at MP 35.3 then turns to the east at MP 35.5. The route makes some adjustments to run between the development in Salinas and Playa de Salinas turning to the east-south-east and continues on that line pat MP 37.0.

Figure 6

Santa Isabel Aerial View Gasoducto del Sur Route

Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward Puerto Rico

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Near MP 37 the route turns directly east to MP 38.2, then turns and

runs directly south to MP 39.0. From MP 39.0 the pipeline continues due east until MP 40.6 where it turn to the south to enter the Aguirre Plant and then make several turns inside the plant to end at the proposed meter station at MP 44.1 (Figure 8). The last two miles at Aguirre Ward were changed to the north of the JOBANEER Reserve.

Figure 7

Santa Isabel Aerial View Gasoducto del Sur Route

Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward Puerto Rico

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3.0 SAMPLING SITES

A preliminary observation was performed along the proposed route to determine the areas that have wetland characteristics. On a flat area, wetland indicators were observed to proceed with the Jurisdictional Determination (JD) delineation. This study was performed using the standard procedures of the Corp of Engineers 1987 Wetlands Delineation Manual. The On-Site Inspection Necessary Method of the Routine Determination Section was the selected approach to perform this JD.

A total of seventeen (17) areas were assessed for vegetation, soil, and

hydrology (Table 1). These areas are distributed in three different systems: eleven (11) rivers, two (2) channels, three (3) ditches and one (1) wetland area. The photos 1 to 5 shows the locations of sampling sites in this study area.

Figure 8

Salinas Aerial View Gasoducto del Sur Route

Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward Puerto Rico

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Table 1. Positional Location of the Sampling Sites.

Site System type Mile post Coordinates Comments

PE – 1 Channel 0.1 17°59.655,9’ N

066°44.803,0’ W EcoElectrica

Channel

PE – 2 Channel 0.6 17°59.733,3’ N

066°44.338,0’ W Peerless Chanel

PO - 1 River 8.8 17°59.512 N

066°38.218 W Matilde River

PO - 2 River 11.5 17° 59.216’ N

066° 35.886’ W Bucaná River

PO - 3 River 15.3 18°0.355’ N

066°23.954’ W Inabón River

JD-1 River 17.1 18°0.445’ N

066°31.722’ W Jacaguas

JD-2 River 21.2 18°0.074’ N

066°23.954’ W Cañas River

JD-3 River 23.6 18°0.694’ N

066°25.712’W Descalabrado

River

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Table 1 (continuation). Positional Location of the Sampling Sites.

PE-Peñuelas PO-Ponce JD-Juana Díaz SI-Santa Isabel SA-Salinas

Site System type Mile Post Coordinates Comments

JD-4 Wetland 20.3 18°00.173’ N 066°29.033’W

Juana Díaz

JD-5 Ditch 20.8 18°00.304’ N 066°29.008’W

Juana Díaz

SI-1 River 26.0 17° 59.558’ N 066° 24.496’W

Coamo River

SI-2 River 30.6 17°59.680,5’ N

066°20.960,3’ W Cayures River

SI-3 River 31.5 17°59.651,3’ N

066°20.599,6’ W Jueyes River

SA-1 River 35.1 17°58.481,1’N

066°18.603,8’W Nigua River

SA Ditch 40.5 17°57.258’N

066°14.702’W Agricultural

Lands

SA Ditch 41.0 17°57.256’N

066°14.986’W Agricultural

Lands

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4.0 WETLAND HYDROLOGY

As established in the Wetland Delineation Manual, wetland hydrology refers to all hydrologic characteristics of an area that are periodically flooded or have saturated soils to the surface at some time during the growing season. Numerous factors (e.g. precipitations, stratigraphy, topography, soil permeability, and plant cover) influence the wetness of an area.

Indicators of wetland hydrology may include, but are not necessarily

limited to: drainage patterns drift lines, sediment deposition, watermarks, stream gage data and flood predictions, historic records, visual observation of saturated soil and visual observation of floods. Other indicators for the hydric soils are described by the US Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (1987). The test consists of produce of organic matter and reduction by the accumulation or loss of iron, manganese, sulfur or carbon compounds and by adding the indicators to the soil so it will change colors.

The wetland area present along the route is located at milepost 20.3 in Juana Díaz municipality. Approximately 0.3443 acres (0.3545 cuerdas) of inundated area is located at 18°00.173’N 066°29.033’ W (Photo 1). This area was inundated and the vegetation growing in and around it is typical of wetlands. The dominant species in this area were Cyperus papyrus, Acrostichum aureum, Ruellia tuberosa, Cyperus odoratus and Typha

dominguensis. In the areas adjacent to this wetland the following species were observed: Cryptostegia grandiflora, Malachra alceifolia, Guazuma

ulmifolia and Pithecellobium dulce.

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A total of eleven (11) rivers will be impacted by this project (Appendix A). The Matilde, Bucana, Portugués and Inabon Rivers are located in Ponce; Jacaguas, Canas and Descalabrado Rivers are located in Juana Diaz; Coamo, Cayures and Jueyes River are located in Santa Isabel and the Nigua River is located in Salinas.

Every river crossing will have an impact, due the construction of 75

foot on both sides, exceptions will occur when bridges structures are present on top of the river. As described in the engineering and field survey report (Palazzo, 2006) the proposed methods for water crossings will be done using Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) methods or Open Cuts (OC). The HDD method will be utilized to cross the rivers that cannot be open cut (due

permitting or technical reasons).

Photo 1

Wetland Area at Juana Díaz Gasoducto del Sur Project

Tallaboa Ward to Agurire Ward

Puerto Rico

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Matilde River: This is the first river at Ponce area and less than 200 feet either side of the river will be impacted due the presence of the Highway #52 Bridge on top of it. Vegetation in this area is mostly composed by Pennisetum purpureum and Ricinus comunis shrubs. The installation of the pipeline in this river will be using the HDD method. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this channel as an Estuarine and Marine Deepwater (E1UBL - Estuarine, Subtidal, Unconsolidated Bottom, Subtidal).

Bucana River: This river was canalized by the Army Corps of

Engineers 1992; the management of this canalization was transferred to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources in 1997. In this channel two rivers collide (Portugues and Bucana) and the area is dominated by Rhizophora mangle and Thespesia populnea trees on both side of the channel. Less than 200 feet either side of the river will be impacted due the presence of the Highway # 52 bridge on top of it. The installation of the pipeline in this channel will be using the HDD method. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this channel as an Estuarine and Marine Deepwater (E1UBLx – Estuarine, Subtidal, Unconsolidated Bottom, Excavated).

Inabon River: This river is located near the Mercedita Airport. The

dominant species in this area are Pennisetum purpureum, Echinocloa

colonum, Acasia farnesiana trees, Ricinus comunis shrubs, Cleome speciosa plants and cohitre. The installation of the pipeline in this channel will be using the HDD method. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this river as a Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland (PFO3C - Palustrine Forested Broad-leaved Evergreen, Seasonally Flooded).

Jacaguas River: This is the first river at Juana Diaz area. The

dominant species in this area are Pennisetum purpureum, Leucaena

leucocephala trees, Sesbania sericea shrubs and Cleome speciosa plants. The installation of the pipeline in this river will be using the HDD method. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this river as a Forested/Shrub Wetland (PFO3A – Palustrine Forested Broad-leaved Evergreen, Temporarily Flooded).

Cañas River (Portugues Canal): This river is located in the middle of

agricultural lands. The pipeline will cross the river near a dirt road that drives to the farms and an old railroad lines. At the moment of this study

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this area does not have presence of water. The vegetation in the area is composed by sugarcane grass, Solanum torvum and Ricinus comunis shrubs. The installation of the pipeline in this river will be using the OC method. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this river as a Freshwater Emergent Wetland (PEM1C-Palustrine, Emergent, Persistent, Seasonally Flooded).

Descalabrado River: The vegetation in the area is composed only by

Pennisetum purpureum and in the uplands near this river Pithecellobium

dulce trees. The installation of the pipeline in this river will be using the HDD method. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this river as a Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland (PFO3C - Palustrine Forested Broad-leaved Evergreen, Seasonally Flooded).

Coamo River: The vegetation in the area is composed by

Pennisetum purpureum, Ricinus comunis shrubs and Pithecellobium and

Leucaena trees. The installation of the pipeline in this river will be using the OC method. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this river as a Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland (PFO3A – Palustrine Forested Broad-leaved Evergreen, Temporarily Flooded).

Cayures and Jueyes Rivers: The vegetation in the area is composed

only by Pennisetum purpureum. The installation of the pipeline in this river will be using the HDD method. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies Cayures River as a Forested/Shrub Wetland (PFO3A – Palustrine Forested Broad-leaved Evergreen, Temporarily Flooded) and Jueyes River as a Freshwater Emergent Wetland (PEM1A- Palustrine, Emergent, Persistent, Temporarily Flooded).

Nigua River: The area in which the pipeline would cross this river is

a deep section of the river. The vegetation in the area is composed mostly by Pithecellobium and Leucaena leucocephala trees, Cleome speciosa shrubs and Pennisetum purpureum. The installation of the pipeline in this river will be using the HDD method. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this river as a Freshwater Emergent Wetland (PEM1C – Palustrine, Emergent, Persistent, Seasonally Flooded)

Of the channels/ditches that will be impacted only two appears in the

NWIM: one channel at the EcoElectrica site and one at the end of Peerless Oil Company property (Appendix A).

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The vegetation at the Union Carbide Channel in EcoElectrica will not be impacted by the installation of the pipeline because the line will be installed on the existing pipe rack. The vegetation in this area is composed by Thespesia populnea, Leucaena leucocephala and Rhizophora mangle. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this channel as an Estuarine and Marine Deepwater (E1UBL - Estuarine, Subtidal, Unconsolidated Bottom, Subtidal).

Peerless Oil & Chemicals Inc. Channel: this is a mangrove area that

is located at the end of Peerlesss Industry (Photo 7). The mangrove presents in this area is Rhizophora mangle. About 200 ft. on both sides of the channel border will be impacted. The installation of the pipeline in this channel will be using the pipe rack. The National Wetland Inventory Map classifies this channel as an Estuarine and Marine Deepwater (E1UBL - Estuarine, Subtidal, Unconsolidated Bottom, Subtidal).

EcoElectrica Channel Gasoducto del Sur Project

Tallaboa Ward to Aguirre Ward

Puerto Rico

Photo 2