CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION DETERMINATION
For the Town of Manville projects Manville Waterlines and Manville Sewer Replacement, Niobrara County, Wyoming
The Department of Environmental Quality/Water Quality Division (DEQ) has conducted a review of the proposed Manville Waterlines and Manville Sewer Replacement projects 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.
This project includes replacing the entirety of the Town of Manville’s water distribution and wastewater collection lines, analyzing the current water treatment system to recommend necessary modifications to improve water quality.
The water distribution system and wastewater collection systems, constructed between 1913 and 1920, are over 100 years old. The cast iron pipes used for water distribution are degrading, leading to breaks, infiltration, and reduced water quality. The wastewater system, composed of vitrified clay pipe, has also exceeded its design life, resulting in frequent breaks, and excessive maintenance.
Based on current cost estimates, the Town of Manville plans to borrow $9,456,300 from the Wyoming Drinking and Clean Water State Revolving Funds administered by the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments to fund this project. Loan terms will be 2.5% interest rate and 30 years. User fees and the Specific Purpose Excise Tax enacted in Niobrara County beginning in the year 2021 will repay the loan.
The Town of Manville is aware of and accepts the fact that they will be responsible for any 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.
DEQ is granting an exclusion because this project replaces existing infrastructure. This project will be completely constructed in previously disturbed ground, specifically ground disturbed by previously installed water and wastewater lines. 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 Manville, Niobrara 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 Stan Miller, SRF Project Engineer, Department of Environmental Quality, 200 W. 17th Street Suite 200, Cheyenne, WY 82002, Tel. (307)777-6371, FAX (307) 635-1784, email: stanley.miller@wyo.gov
Para español, visite deq.wyoming.gov
Public Notice No. 5738. Published in The Lusk Herald on March 16, 2022.
