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CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION DETERMINATION
For the Town of Baggs, 2023 Sewer Improvements Project
Carbon County, Wyoming
The Department of Environmental Quality/Water Quality Division (DEQ) has conducted a review of the proposed 2023 Sewer Improvements 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 proposed project will include rehabilitation and replacement of existing sanitary facilities within the Town of Baggs. The scope of work will include rehabilitation of the existing sewer lift station at the Town’s sewer lagoon by replacing existing discharge piping, pump rails, appurtenances, and by installing a protective coating on the existing concrete wet well. The project will also include replacement of the Meadowlark lift station and portions of the accompanying South Street sewer force main. Additionally, the installation of a new grease interceptor in Osborne Street will be included in the scope of work as an alternate to be awarded should funding allow. The project is necessary to reduce ongoing operating and maintenance costs and to mitigate risks associated with the potential failure of this critical infrastructure.
The estimated cost for the 2023 Sewer Improvements Project is $920,000. The Town of Baggs has requested a Wyoming Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund in the amount of $920,000. Principal forgiveness in the amount of $460,000 (50%) has been requested but may not be available at the time of award. The Town of Baggs has allocated $460,00 of specific purpose tax funds to be used to repay the balance of the CWSRF loan upon completion of the project. The Town of Baggs anticipates increasing user rates as a result of this project. The Town of Baggs will raise sewer rates by 15% per year for the next six years and 5% annually thereafter if 50% of the loan principal is not forgiven.
The Town of Baggs 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. No significant environmental impacts that require mitigation have been identified.
DEQ is granting an exclusion because the PROJECT REPLACES OR REHABILITATES EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND WILL NOT EXTEND BEYOND THE EXISITNG FACILITY BOUNDARIES. This project will be completely constructed in previously disturbed ground, specifically ground disturbed by PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED SEWER LIFT STATIONS, DISCHARGE PIPING, PUMP RAILS, APPURTENANCES, AND FORCE MAIN. 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 Baggs, Carbon County, Wyoming.
The documentation to support this decision will be on file in the DEQ Cheyenne Office and is available for public scrutiny upon request. Comments concerning this decision may be addressed to Shawn King, SRF Project Manager, Department of Environmental Quality, 200 W. 17th St. Suite 200, Cheyenne, WY 82002, Tel. (307) 777-6941, FAX (307) 635-1784, email: shawn.king2@wyo.gov.
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