Categorical Exclusion Determination, Town of Fort Laramie, Sewer and Water Phase V

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Categorical Exclusion Determination, Town of Fort Laramie, Sewer and Water Phase V

The Department of Environmental Quality/Water Quality Division (DEQ) has conducted a review of the proposed Sewer & Water Improvements - Phase V project in accordance with EPA and State of Wyoming procedures for implementing the State Environmental Review Process. DEQ has determined that this project is eligible for a categorical exclusion. Accordingly, DEQ is exempting the project from further substantive environmental review requirements under the State Environmental Review Process. Neither an Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact nor an Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision will be required for the proposed action. The following is a brief description of the situation and the proposed action and a brief statement of how the action meets the criteria for a categorical exclusion.

The Sewer & Water Improvements - Phase V project for the Town of Fort Laramie will allow the Town to remove/abandon and replace existing and outdated sanitary sewer collection pipelines and water distribution pipelines and associated appurtenances from Laramie Avenue east to Miles Avenue and from Railroad Street south to South Street. This project will also allow for the installation of Cured-In-Place (CIP) Liner improvement in Laramie Avenue from Otis Street south to State Street and from east of Miles Avenue at State Street south across BNSF Railroad Right-of-Way to Railroad Street. The estimated cost for these improvements includes engineering, contingencies, legal and administrative fees is $2,884,680.00, with a Clean Water SRF Loan amount of $1,192,044.00 and a Drinking Water SRF Loan amount of $1,692,636.00.

Repayment of the loans will be through the town's sanitary sewer and water utility billing rates. The Town is also seeking matching funds through a State of Wyoming SLIB Mineral Royalty Grant. As a result of this project, the town plans to raise their sanitary sewer and water utility rates. The Town intends to increase their sanitary sewer base rate from $36.00 per customer to $40.00 per customer; and they intend to seek a water utility base rate increase of at least $2.00 from $47.00/15,000 gallons to $49.00/10,000 and reduce the base rate consumption amount from 15,000 gallons to 10,000 gallons.

The Town of Fort Laramie is aware of and accepts the fact that they will be responsible for any required mitigative actions associated with and including storm water runoff, erosion control, archeological/historic artifacts, and air quality concerns. These will be part of the standard State Revolving Funds Program contract conditions. The Air Quality Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality have identified the following mitigation measures to address potential air quality concerns because of the construction process on this project:

1. Chapter 3, Section 2(f)(i-ii) Dust: This section of Chapter 3 requires the control of fugitive dust emissions to be properly addressed during construction.
2. Chapter 3, Section 8, Asbestos: This section of Chapter 3 requires asbestos containing material (ACM) be properly addressed during construction.
3. Chapter 10, Section 2, Open Burning: This section of Chapter 10 prohibits the disposal of any trade waste, including wood, construction materials, cardboard, or any other discarded materials by open burning.

DEQ is granting an exclusion because this project replaces and rehabilitates existing sanitary sewer collection and water distribution pipeline infrastructure within the public right-of-way or established BNSF Right-of-Way for which right-of-way permits have been or will be secured. This project will be completely constructed in previously disturbed ground, specifically ground disturbed by previously installed sanitary sewer and water distribution pipelines and appurtenances. DEQ has determined that exempting the proposed project from further review under the State Environmental Review Process will not result in adverse impacts to the population or the area of Fort Laramie, Goshen County, Wyoming.

The documentation to support this decision will be on file in the DEQ Cheyenne Office and is available for public review upon request. Requests for information about the proposed decision may be directed to Greg Crocker, SRF Project Manager by email ([email protected]) or phone (307) 777-6941). Written comments shall be addressed to Greg Crocker, Department of Environmental Quality, 200 W. 17th St., Suite 200, Cheyenne, WY 82002 or via FAX (307) 635-1785., and be postmarked on or before 5:00 p.m. on January 27, 2025, to be considered. Electronic comments may only be submitted through and accepted by the Wyoming DEQ comment portal provided at http://wq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com/. Phone or email comments will not be accepted.

Para español, visite deq.wyoming.gov. Americans with Disabilities Act: special assistance or alternative formats will be made available upon request for individuals with disabilities. Please provide at least fourteen (14) days before the close of the public comment period for such requests.

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