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The Department of Environmental Quality/Water Quality Division (DEQ) has conducted a review of the proposed Lead Service Line Investigation & Replacement 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 project will include potholing investigations to identify unknown service line materials and replacement of lead and lead impacted service lines to comply with EPA mandates in the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. Based on current cost estimates, BOPU plans to borrow twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) from the Wyoming Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund administered by the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments. Water rates will not be increased to repay the loan. Current water rates will be used to repay the loan. Loan terms will be 0% interest rate for a twenty-year term with an annual payment of one million dollars ($1,000,000). BOPU will request principal forgiveness of 25% to reduce loan repayment amount to fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) with annual payments of seven-hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000).
The BOPU 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. BOPU has received a floodplain development permit from the City of Cheyenne Engineer’s Office to perform any investigations or replacements that occur in the 100-year floodplain.
DEQ is granting an exclusion because the project replaces existing infrastructure, consists of minor upgrades, and all construction will occur adjacent to on the property of existing facilities. This project will be completely constructed in previously disturbed ground, specifically ground disturbed by a previously installed water service line. 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 Cheyenne and Laramie County, Wyoming.
The determination shall become effective upon distribution by the Department and may be re-evaluated and the determination changed at any time that adverse information is made available. The documentation to support this decision will be on file in the DEQ Cheyenne Office and is available for public review upon request. To request a copy of the categorical exclusion, contact:
Greg Crocker, SRF Project Manager
Tim Eisenhauer, SRF Principal Engineer
Department of Environmental Quality
200 W. 17th St.
Suite 200
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Tel. (307) 777-6941
FAX (307) 635-1784
gregory.crocker@wyo.gov
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.
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