ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

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2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Project Identification Projects: Scioto Water, Inc. Franklin Furnace Well Addition, Stockdale Water Storage Tank Replacement, and Cambria Water Main Extension Applicant: Jeff Spradlin, General Manager Scioto Water, Inc Gallia Pike Franklin Furnace, OH Loan Numbers: Franklin Furnace Well Addition (FS ) Stockdale Water Storage Tank Replacement (FS ) Cambria Water Main Extension (FS ) Project Summary Scioto Water, Inc. (SWI) has requested a total of approximately $1,080,725 from the Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) for three projects: installation of a new production well, construction of a new elevated storage tank, and water main extension to new customers currently served by private wells. The new well will be constructed in SWI s existing wellfield in Franklin Furnace, Scioto County. The new standpipe storage tank will replace the Stockdale tank in Madison Township, Scioto County, near State Route 335. An existing water main will be extended to serve 15 new residential customers in Greenfield Township, Gallia County and Madison Township, Jackson County. History and Existing Conditions SWI is a not-for-profit corporation established in the late 1960 s with the goal of providing water to rural areas of southern Scioto County. SWI originally purchased water in the early 1970 s from Scioto County Regional Water District No. 1 to extend service to northeast areas of the county and from the City of Portsmouth to extend service to southwest areas of the county. SWI continued to establish connections and purchase more water from the City of Portsmouth to extend service to additional areas of the county. A feasibility study completed in 1991 demonstrated that SWI could cost-effectively serve most of its customers in the central part of the county by operating its own treatment plant and water supply. In 1995, SWI developed a water supply source and constructed the Rose Hill Water Treatment Plant north of the Village of Lucasville. The plant service area is known as Rose Hill Distribution System and provides water to parts of Pike, Scioto, Jackson, and Lawrence Scioto Water Inc. New Well, Tank, and Water Main Extension 1

3 counties. The Rose Hill service area was later extended to supply water to the Village of Oak Hill in Jackson County. In 2015, due to increased demand and costs, SWI established another water supply source and constructed a second water treatment plant in Franklin Furnace to serve southeastern areas of the county previously served by water purchased from the City of Portsmouth. The existing wells in Franklin Furnace are experiencing plugging due to elevated levels of iron and manganese in the source water, resulting in reduced flow to the plant and extra strain on the treatment equipment. The proposed well will provide additional flow and is anticipated to have lower levels of manganese. The Stockdale storage tank is deteriorated and does not have adequate turnover during periods of low demand creating the potential for residual chlorine loss, freezing, and stagnant water in the tank. The proposed project includes installation of a new 234,000- gallon standpipe tank equipped with a solar power radio telemetry unit to monitor the tank s water level. A solar power radio telemetry unit and solenoid (on/off) control will also be added to the existing State Route 335 Main Pressure Reducing Station (MPRV), which regulates flow to the storage tank. The new tank s design in combination with the additional MRV control of flow to the tank will eliminate turnover issues during periods of low demand. The project will also extend 12,550-feet of 3-inch water main with valves, flushing hydrants, and meters to 15 new residential customers served by private wells that have elevated sulfur levels. Future Needs SWI bases estimates of future demand on population projections, area growth trends, and past production and sales data. Average SWI customer growth from 2003 to 2010 was 1.4% annually. Projections by the State of Ohio Office of Strategic Research through 2030 suggest an 11% population increase in the greater SWI area. Growth is typically concentrated in areas where water service already exists, and new customers connect to the water supply when private wells fail. SWI s practice of extending service upon request provides for regular increase in customer numbers. Alternatives The existing wells in Franklin Furnace have elevated levels of iron and manganese, resulting in plugging and decreased capacity for the water treatment plant. Doing nothing to address these issues would cause the treatment plant to continue to operate under capacity and cause strain in the treatment equipment. There are no options available to purchase raw water for the treatment plant. Purchasing treated water is an expensive Scioto Water Inc. New Well, Tank, and Water Main Extension 2

4 alternative and under-utilizes the existing water treatment plant, which was constructed to decrease the amount of purchased water provided in SWI s service area. The 30,000-gallon Stockdale water storage tank does not provide adequate storage for the service area and needs to be repaired, upgraded, and a new coating. The existing tank is deteriorated and showing signs of rust, which increases the potential for sources of contamination making their way into the tank. During periods of low demand, there isn t proper turnover in the tank allowing water to lose residual chlorine and become stagnant and even possibly freeze during cold weather. Doing nothing is not acceptable as it could pose a risk to public health. Repairing the tank will not increase its storage capacity, which is only about 30% of the recommended storage for the service area. Repairing the existing tank and constructing a new one to meet demand is more expensive than completely replacing the tank with one large enough to meet demand in the service area. Residents in SWI s proposed water main extension area are currently experiencing elevated sulfur levels in their private wells. If no changes are made, these residents would continue to deal with water quality issues and need to purchase bottled water for drinking, as well as maintain home treatment systems. Due to these circumstances, the do-nothing alternative isn t feasible. Jackson County Water (JCW) has an existing water main approximately 1 mile north of the proposed new service area but would require installation of a new water main adjacent to a portion of existing SWI water main and also require pumping and storage improvements to JCW s distribution system. This alternative would cost more than extending SWI s water main. Gallia County Rural Water has an existing water main over a mile east of the proposed new service area but would also require pumping and storage improvements to have sufficient pressure to serve the project area. Selected Alternative Based on the evaluation of each alternative, SWI selected the most cost-effective solution to address drinking water needs in that area. A new well will be constructed in SWI s existing wellfield in Franklin Furnace. The project will include a well platform sited above the 100- year flood level, electrical components, valve pit with shut-off valve, check valve, and flow meter, a connection to the existing raw water line, and an access drive. Additionally, a new 234,000-gallon standpipe storage tank will replace the existing Stockdale tank. Approximately 12,550 linear feet of 3-inch PVC water main, valves, flushing hydrants, and usage meters will be installed along Cambria, Potts and Shaffer School roads and County Road 48 to serve 15 residential customers in Greenfield Township, Gallia County and Madison Township, Jackson County. This water main size was selected because it will tie into the existing 3-inch water main and limited growth is expected in the immediate Scioto Water Inc. New Well, Tank, and Water Main Extension 3

5 surrounding area due the local terrain and Wayne National Forest land ownership. Each waterline will be installed at a minimum depth of four feet below the ground surface. All stream crossings will be directionally bored with no in-stream work. Figure 1 New well location (red star) Figure 2 New elevated tank location (red star) Scioto Water Inc. New Well, Tank, and Water Main Extension 4

6 Figure 3 Water main extension location (orange line) Implementation SWI will borrow $1,080,725 from the WSRLA with an interest rate of 2%. Based on the anticipated loan award date in February 2019, the project is expected to commence early 2019 and be completed by autumn Public Participation SWI holds regular board meetings, open to the public, to discuss details of upcoming projects. SWI also previously notified the public about funding information and the bid advertisement for these projects. SWI went door-to-door in the water main extension project area to obtain easements and provide billing information to future customers. Ohio EPA will make a copy of this document available to the public on its web page: (Under the What s New tab and then WPCLF Documents for Review and Comment ) and will provide it to interested parties upon request. Environmental Impacts These projects, which include installing a new water source and storage tank, and establishing a safe, reliable water supply to new customers, are unlikely to directly impact important environmental features. The well addition and storage tank installation will occur in previously disturbed and regularly mowed areas. The water main extension will primarily occur in shallow trenches within or adjacent to road rights-of-way and is designed to serve new customers in a limited area where significant growth is not Scioto Water Inc. New Well, Tank, and Water Main Extension 5

7 expected. No state-designated scenic rivers or state-designated or federally-designated wildlife areas are present in or near the work sites. No farmland losses are expected because of these projects. Surface Water and Ground Water: Erosion and sedimentation impacts from construction are unlikely because contractors will use standard controls to minimize the potential for excavated soil to enter surface water. The tank installation will not impact water resources. The well installation will be done so that ground water resources are not negatively impacted. The water main extension project will cross Cambria Creek in two locations using horizontal direction drilling, which should not impact aquatic habitats. The contractor is required to provide and adhere to an accidental release ( frac out ) contingency plan. Private wells will be properly abandoned to prevent any impact to groundwater. Terrestrial Habitat and Endangered Species: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) indicates that the endangered Indiana bat and threatened Northern long-eared bat can be found in the project areas. Tree clearing will only be done if necessary and only between the October 1 and March 31 to protect sensitive bat species. Several threatened or endangered aquatic species, including the Fanshell, Pink mucket pearly mussel, Sheepnose, Snuffbox, Clubshell, Northern riffleshell rayed bean, Small whorled pogonia, Virginia spirea and Eastern hellbender are present in Gallia, Jackson, and Scioto counties. However, the project does not include any in-stream work. Therefore, no impacts to aquatic species are anticipated. There is no suitable habitat for the Bald eagle (prefers large trees for nesting) or the Timber rattlesnake (prefers quiet forested areas with sunlit gaps) in the project areas, therefore it is unlikely that these species will be affected. Running Buffalo Clover prefers partially shaded wooded or mowed areas along streams and trails and should also be unaffected by the projects. Air Quality: There are no new permanent air contaminant sources being installed as part of these projects. There will be short term increases in dust and exhaust emissions from heavy equipment operations and construction activities which will be controlled with standard best management practices. For these reasons, the projects should have no significant short or long-term adverse impacts on the local air quality. Dust, Noise, and Odors; Safety and Traffic: Construction noise will be audible but insignificant compared to normal vehicle traffic and only during daytime hours. Traffic will be disrupted temporarily during the water main extension due to street excavation and will Scioto Water Inc. New Well, Tank, and Water Main Extension 6

8 be controlled and minimized by standard traffic controls (signs, barricades, flaggers, etc.). Public safety will be ensured by proper traffic management in the construction area and by covering or filling trench excavations at the end of each work day. Local aesthetics will be unchanged after construction and restoration are complete; road surfaces will be repaved, and the off-road easement will be planted with grass. Archaeological and Historical Resources: There are no Ohio Historic Inventory properties within the project disturbance areas. An archaeological/historical survey was conducted for all project areas. SWI will have an archaeological contractor on site to oversee all ground disturbing activities in the new well project area and has provided a plan to respond to any finds during construction. Based on this information, Ohio EPA has determined that the projects will not cause any significant adverse effect to archaeological or historical resources (properties listed or eligible for the listing in the National Register of Historic Places). In the event of any archaeological find, Ohio Revised Code Section requires contractors and subcontractors to notify the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of any archaeological discoveries in the project areas, and to cooperate with the SHPO on archaeological and historic surveys and in salvage efforts when appropriate. Local Economy: New customers are connecting voluntarily to SWI s distribution system at their request. Debt for these projects will be repaid from monthly service fees that were raised in February of Rates lower than 1.8% of MHI are generally considered affordable. Rates for rural water service are typically higher than for more densely populated areas due to the cost of constructing and maintaining a distribution system over a large area with few customers. SWI reviews budget costs each year and will make rate adjustments as necessary to cover expense changes. By using the WSRLA low-interest financing for these projects, the District has minimized the cost to customers and the impact on the local economy. Conclusion Ohio EPA concludes that no significant short-term or long-term adverse direct environmental impacts will result from these projects as related to the environmental features discussed in this Environmental Assessment. This is because these features do not exist in the project areas, the features exist but will not be adversely affected, or the impacts of construction will be temporary and mitigated. These projects equally serve the entire project areas and no particular segment of the community will be faced with additional adverse impacts or be deprived of environmental benefits, compared to any other segment. Scioto Water Inc. New Well, Tank, and Water Main Extension 7

9 For these reasons, these projects, alone or in combination with other projects, is not expected to result in any significant indirect or cumulative short-term or long-term adverse environmental impacts. Ohio EPA expects the economic impact of these projects on the average user to be acceptable because of the significant grant and principal forgiveness loan assistance that will minimize the overall cost. These projects will alleviate the documented public health threat of elevated levels of iron and manganese in raw water, reduce the potential for stagnant water in the storage tank, and eliminate failing residential private wells with elevated levels of sulfur. For more information, please contact: Lesley Jenkins Ohio EPA DEFA-OFA P.O. Box 1049 Columbus, OH (614) Scioto Water Inc. New Well, Tank, and Water Main Extension 8