EVALUATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICANT PREPARED ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DOCUMENT AND DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)

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1 EVALUATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICANT PREPARED ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DOCUMENT AND DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) Wastewater Improvements Project City of Basalt Bingham County, Idaho January 2019 Introduction and Background Information The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (Corps), proposes to assist the city of Basalt, Idaho (City) with its Wastewater Improvements Project under the authority of Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1999, as amended. The City of Basalt is a small community with a population of around 400 located in southeastern Idaho. The City s wastewater system includes collection pipes and a treatment facility. Wastewater flows that exceed Basalt s treatment capacity are pumped to the neighboring City of Firth. Basalt has been very proactive in assessing their wastewater system and partnered with Firth to fund a facilities study to evaluate and identify issues within the system before they became emergencies. The City has poorly graded and deteriorated concrete sewer trunk lines and plans to replace over 5,000 linear feet of this pipe. Currently, the trunk line shows severe wall deterioration, sags, and cracking. The facilities study determined that many of the issues detected are a direct result of hydrogen sulfate gas created in sagging areas of the pipe. The gas reacts with the concrete pipe and walls causing erosion. A collapse of the main trunk line would cause sewage backup in town, as well as in residential homes, creating unsanitary conditions for the entire community. The trunk line is the main pipe that the smaller branch lines (from the homes) connect to. The trunk line carries the wastewater to the treatment facility. The collection system is aging with many lines subject to collapse in the next ten years. If the City does not repair the collection system with point repairs and line replacement, maintenance of the system will multiply. Because of the depth of the Basalt sewage collection system, the likelihood of sewer backup into homes is less likely with a quick response, but equally harmful and more difficult to repair if they occur. The difficulty and the cost of extreme cleaning and jetting in worn out pipe would worsen without replacement. The Corps is not assisting the City with the full proposed action. The Corps and the City have agreed that the Corps would provide funding (under Section 595) for replacement of approximately 1,670 linear feet of pipeline, reconnecting service lines of the City s failing sewer trunk line, and a Closed Circuit Television Inspection (remote video

2 surveillance) of the Corps-funded pipelines. This is hereafter referred to as the Corps Project. Section 595 of WRDA 1999 [Public Law (PL) ], authorizes the Corps to participate in water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects in rural Nevada and Montana. In 2003, Section 126 of PL amended PL to include rural Idaho. As a result, the Corps is able to participate in the Basalt Wastewater Improvements Project, as explained above. Applicant Prepared Environmental Information Document In accordance with 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (b), the Corps is authorized to allow applicants to prepare environmental documentation, as long as the Corps performs its own evaluation of the environmental issues and makes its own findings on potential impacts. The City submitted the City of Firth/Basalt Wastewater Facilities Planning Study, Environmental Information Document (EID), prepared by Schiess & Associates. The Corps had no role in the preparation of the EID, but did undertake an independent review of the document and determined the information contained therein is accurate and satisfies the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, except as supplemented or explained below in Section V. The EID is, therefore, incorporated (in its entirety) herein by reference and made a part hereof (Attachment A). Purpose and Need The purpose of the Corps Project is to assist the City, under Section 595, with upgrading the City s aging wastewater system, as described in Section I above. The Corps Project is needed because the wastewater system is aging and the trunk pipe shows severe wall deterioration, sags, and cracks, which if it were to collapse would cause sewage backup in the town and in the households of the residents. Project Alternatives The EID evaluated two alternatives to improve the collection system. No Action: Under the No Action Alternative, the City would not repair the collection system and maintenance costs would multiply. Although this alternative does not meet the stated purpose and need, it was carried forward to serve as the baseline environmental condition for comparison with other alternatives as required by NEPA. Proposed Action: Replacement of Aging pipes. Under this alternative, thirty percent of the collection system (approximately 1,670 linear feet) and all manholes would be replaced. The pipes identified for replacement are concrete pipes. Open-cut replacement is expected to be used to improve grade characteristics. There are also many point repairs recommended on pipes not

3 warranting replacement at this time. The combination of replacement and point repairs would ensure safe and effective sewage collection. The proposed action includes improvements to the lift station by installing a drain and flow meter in the existing valve vault, reconnecting service lines and CCTV inspection. Environmental Effects The EID evaluated the effects of the Proposed Action on the following resources: Land Use Climate and Physical Aspects Floodplain Development Wetlands Cultural Resources Flora and Fauna Recreation and Open Space Agricultural Lands Water Quality Wild and Scenic Rivers Population, Economic and Social Profile Air Quality Energy Public Health The analysis did not identify any significant impacts to the human environment should the Proposed Action be implemented. Short-term negative effects that may occur during project construction include temporary disruption of the wastewater systems, increased noise, increased dust pollution, increased potential for stormwater runoff, and disruption of localized traffic conditions. There would not be long-term or cumulative effects as a result of the Proposed Action. The contractor would be responsible for managing the temporary disruptions of the system and implementing Best Management Practices to reduce negative construction effects. a. Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Corps obtained a species list from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) dated October 16, 2018 (Consultation Code: 01EIFW SLI-0072). The USFWS indicated that Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) are listed as threatened in the vicinity of the Corps Project. The Corps has determined the Corps Project would have no effect on these species (Attachment B). There are no ESAlisted species under jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in the project area. b. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The City followed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) prescribed process, to include consultation with the Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and regional Tribal Governments, including the Shoshone-

4 Bannock Tribe, whose Fort Hall Indian Reservation is located just south of Basalt. The EID contains correspondence documenting the consultation with the SHPO and the Tribes. The only response the City received was from the SHPO, which confirmed that all the requirements of 36 CFR Part 800 had been satisfied (Attachment C), and that the proposed action would result in no historic properties affected. The Corps has independently reviewed the proposed action and associated documentation and concurs with the SHPO s determination and finding. The Corps has determined the City and HUD s documentation and consultation satisfies the requirements of the NHPA (Section 106) and the Corps can adopt the same without any need for further supplementation or consultation. c. Clean Water Act (CWA). Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) requires a Department of the Army permit be obtained for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. Based on information provided to the Corps of Engineers Regulatory Office in Idaho Falls in February 2014, it was determined that the proposed action area would not involve work in areas subject to the Corps jurisdiction and that a 404 permit is not required. Section 402 requires that all construction sites on an acre or greater of land, as well as municipal, industrial and commercial facilities discharging wastewater or stormwater directly from a point source (a pipe, ditch or channel) into a surface water of the U.S. must obtain permission under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The City must obtain a Construction General Permit from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and implement Best Management Practices to control erosion and stormwater runoff throughout construction activities. d. Executive Order 11988: Floodplain Management. This EO requires Federal agencies to avoid to the extent possible the long and short-term adverse impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of floodplains and to avoid direct and indirect support of floodplain development wherever there is a practicable alternative. The Idaho Department of Water Resources verified that no part of the City of Basalt appears to be within the 100-year floodplain. Coordination Coordination with Federal, state, local agencies, organizations and tribes has been conducted by the consultant, Schiess and Associates. Those contacted include the

5 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Idaho Department of Water Resources, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Corps Regulatory Office, Idaho State Historic Preservation Office, Shoshone-Paiute Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Southeast District Health Department. Each agency, organization, or tribe was provided information on the proposed improvements to the wastewater system and given an opportunity to comment. In compliance with NEPA, this draft FONSI and all attachments will be made available for a 15-day public comment period beginning on or about January 9, 2019 and concluding on or about January 23, Finding Having reviewed the EID, I find that the actions addressed in the EID are substantially the same actions that the Corps is authorized and committed to participate in pursuant to Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 with the City. Further, the EID provides sufficient discussions on the need for the Proposed Action, alternatives to the Proposed Action, the environmental impacts of the Proposed Action and the alternatives, and a listing of agencies and persons consulted. Finally, after an independent review of the EID, the Corps has determined the document provides both sufficient evidence and analysis to meet its requirements pursuant to NEPA, except as supplemented or explained above. I have taken into consideration the technical aspects of the Corps Project, best scientific information available, public comments, and the information contained in the EID. Based on this information, I have determined that the proposed Corps Project would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment, and therefore an environmental impact statement is not required. The Corps will proceed to fund the proposed Corps Project under the authority of Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, when funds are made available for that purpose. CHRISTIAN N. DIETZ Lieutenant Colonel, EN Commanding Date