City of Kennebec C461283-03
CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION DETERMINATION FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT IN KENNEBEC, SOUTH DAKOTA
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has conducted a review of a proposal from the City of Kennebec located in Lyman County to make improvements to sanitary sewer and storm sewer on Main Street.
The current storm sewer on Main Street does not provide adequate capacity. There is standing water from a lack of proper drainage which has resulted in a deteriorated street surface. The area drains within street crossings are improperly located and water stands in the curb and gutter. The sanitary sewer was televised in 2016 and showed sewer deficiencies that include settling, joint offsets, separated joints, collapsed pipe, fractures, and root buildup. These deficiencies result in infiltration into the sewer system created excess flow.
The project will replace approximately 800 feet of sanitary sewer and 1,500 feet of storm sewer along with curb and gutter, storm sewer inlets, and asphalt surfacing. This will increase capacity of the storm sewer and provide adequate drainage as well as prevention of infiltration into the sanitary sewer system.
The City of Kennebec was awarded a $666,500 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan (2.125 percent – 30 years) and a $1,725,500 ARPA grant for this and other forthcoming sewer replacement projects. Repayment of the SRF loan will be from sewer surcharge revenues. Current sewer rates in Kennebec are $35 per month based on 5,000 gallons usage. A surcharge of $20 is required to achieve 110 percent debt coverage.
Listed below are the reasons for granting a categorical exclusion:
1. No comments requiring mitigative action were received from the South Dakota Historical Society, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, United States Department of Interior, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, or through the public participation process; and
2. The project involves sanitary sewer and storm sewer infrastructure within the developed portion of the community.
The proposed action does not involve any serious local objections nor does it meet any of the criteria for not granting a categorical exclusion as specified in Section 6.505(c) (i) through (iii) of 40 CFR Part 6, Subpart E.
The project area will not affect any archaeological or historic resources. In the event of an archaeological or historic resource being unearthed during construction, the immediate stoppage of work would be required by the contract specifications. The new improvements should have no adverse effects on plant life or wildlife. The proposed project will have no effect on prime or important farmland. No other environmentally sensitive issues have been identified in the planning of this project. Minor noise, air pollution, and soil erosion problems will occur during construction, but these will be only temporary in nature.
The review process did not indicate that significant environmental impacts would result from the proposed projects. Consequently, a preliminary decision not to prepare an EIS has been made. This action is taken on the basis of a careful review of the engineering report, environmental information documents, correspondence with responsible governmental agencies and other supporting data which are on file at the Division of Financial and Technical Assistance, Environmental Funding Program, DANR, Pierre, South Dakota, and are available for public scrutiny at the City Hall, Kennebec, South Dakota.
Comments supporting or disagreeing with this decision may be submitted for consideration by DANR after publication of the Categorical Exclusion Determination. After evaluating the comments received, DANR will make a final decision.
DATE:June 29th, 2022
Michael A. Perkovich
Administrator
Published once at the approximate cost of $49.70.