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The Department of Environmental Quality/Water Quality Division (DEQ) has conducted a review of the proposed Elk Refuge Sewer District Wastewater Conveyance Project in accordance with EPA and State of Wyoming procedures for implementing the State Environmental Review Process (SERP). 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 SERP. Neither an Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FNSI) nor an Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision (EIS/ROD) will be required for the proposed action.
Project Description
The Elk Refuge Sewer District (ERSD) proposes the construction of a wastewater conveyance system to connect the Elk Refuge Inn and Flat Creek Inn to the Town of Jackson’s sewer system. The project includes:[email protected]
• A gravity collection system with 6-inch sewer main lines, a grinder manhole, and a lift station.
• An 8,000-foot HDPE force main to pump wastewater to Jackson’s sewer system.
• Capacity for future expansion, with the ability to extend the sewer line to neighboring properties within the 500-foot land development regulations.
The project will eliminate effluent discharge into the soil and water table adjacent to the Elk Refuge, Flat Creek, and the underlying aquifer, significantly reducing nitrate and pathogen contamination in Flat Creek and the Snake River Aquifer.
Estimated Costs and Funding
• Total Project Cost: $3,626,264
• SRF Loan Principal: $3,626,264 at 0% interest over 30 years.
• CWSRF Grant: $494,370 (13.63% of total project cost).
The ERSD is requesting a grant contribution of $1,565,947 from Teton County to reduce the financial strain on the district and its clients.
Justification for Categorical Exclusion
DEQ is granting a categorical exclusion because:
1. The project replaces and rehabilitates existing inadequate septic systems and leach fields, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and improving water quality.
2. The project consists of minor upgrades and expansions to existing infrastructure, including the installation of sewer lines and a lift station on previously disturbed ground.
3. The project will be constructed in areas already disturbed by existing infrastructure, such as roads and utilities, and will not result in significant environmental impacts.
DEQ has determined that exempting the proposed project from further review under the SERP will not result in adverse impacts to the population or the area of Teton County, Wyoming.
Mitigative Actions
The ERSD is aware of and accepts responsibility for any required mitigative actions, including stormwater runoff, erosion control, archeological/historic artifacts, and air quality concerns. These will be part of the standard State Revolving Funds Program contract conditions.
Effective Date and Public Notice
This 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.
The Categorical Exclusion Determination will be published in a local paper of general circulation and posted on DEQ’s SRF public notice feed.
For further information or to request a copy of this determination, please contact: Greg Crocker, SRF Project Manager
Department of Environmental Quality
Phone: (307) 777-6941
Email: [email protected]
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
Department of Environmental Quality
200 W. 17th St.
Suite 200
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Tel. (307) 777-6941
FAX (307) 635-1784
[email protected]
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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