The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District invites public comments on its draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the City of Pierce, Idaho, Wastewater Improvements Project. Comments are due to the Corps no later than Monday, Sept. 24, 2018.
The Corps proposes to assist the city with upgrades to their wastewater system. The city’s proposed project includes improvements to the sewer collection system, upgrades to the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) and construction of a parallel treatment system to meet redundancy requirements. The existing sludge drying beds would be replaced with mechanical dewatering, and equalization storage and concrete sediment basin would be installed at the Water Treatment Plant.
The Corps is not assisting the city with the entire proposed project. The Corps and the city have agreed the Corps would provide funding for separable elements that are part of their Phase II improvements at the WRRF for disinfection upgrades and construction of the headwork’s facility. The Corps' participation in this project is authorized under Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999.
The city prepared an Environmental Review (ER) document to address potential effects associated with implementation of the wastewater collection and treatment system improvements project. After an independent review of the city’s ER, the Corps found it to provide both sufficient evidence and analysis to meet the Corps’ requirements pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and has accepted and incorporated it as part of the Corps’ NEPA documentation.
The Corps’ draft FONSI, which includes the City of Pierce's ER as one of several attachments, is available for viewing or downloading on the Walla Walla District website at www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental-Compliance. The Corps will accept public comments Aug. 23 through Sept. 24, 2018. All information and comments submitted will be included in the public record.
Public comments may be submitted electronically to the Corps using the online comment form on the webpage, or via email NEPANWW@usace.army.mil. Written comments may also be sent via U.S. Postal Service, addressed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District
ATTN: CENWW-PPL-C (Pierce 595)
201 North 3rd Ave.
Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876
Please contact the Environmental Coordinator at 509-527-7256, if you have questions.
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