198 - Winamac’s Water Improvements Project
Sample Combined Notice
Notice to Public of No Significant Impact on the Environment and
Notice to Public of Request for Release of Funds
Town of Winamac, Pulaski County
120 W. Main Street
Winamac, IN 46996
TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS:
On or about November 17, 2017, the Town of Winamac will request the release federal funds from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) for Community Development Block Grant Funds from the State of Indiana under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-383) for the following project:
Winamac’s Water Improvements Project
The project will consist of running two new raw water transmission lines underneath the Tippecanoe River to the current water treatment plant.
Finding of No Significant Impact
It has been determined that such request for release of funds will not constitute an action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and accordingly the above-named Town of Winamac has decided not to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190). The reasons for such decision not to prepare such statement are as follows:
All preliminary environmental reviews by state and county agencies indicated that the proposed project would not endanger the environment under any capacity.
An Environmental Review Record regarding the proposed project has been made by the above-named Town of Winamac which documents the environmental review of the project and more fully sets forth the reasons why such statement is not required. This Environmental Review Record is on file at the above address and is available for public examination and copying upon request at the Winamac Town hall between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. No further environmental review of such project is proposed to be conducted prior to the request for release of funds.
Public Comments of Findings
All interested agencies, groups, and persons disagreeing with this decision are invited to submit written comments for consideration by the Town of Winamac to the Winamac Town Hall, 120 W. Main Street, Winamac, Indiana 46996. Such written comments should be received by November 16, 2017. All such comments so received will be considered and the Town of Winamac will not request the release of federal funds or take any administrative action on the proposed project prior to the date specified in the preceding sentences.
Release of Funds
The Town of Winamac will undertake the project described above with Community Development Block Grant funds from the State of Indiana under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The Town of Winamac is certifying to the State that the Town of Winamac and Tom Murray, in his official capacity as Council President consents to accept the jurisdiction of the federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to environmental reviews, decision making, and action; and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. The legal effect of the certification is that upon its approval the Town of Winamac may use the Block Grant funds and the State will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Objections to State Release of Funds
The State will accept an objection to its approval only if it is on one of the following basis: (a) that the certification was not in fact executed by the certifying officer or other officer of applicant approved by the State; or (b) that the applicant’s environmental review record for the project indicated omission of a required review process. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedure (24 CFR Part 58) and may be addressed to the OCRA, Environmental Specialist, One North Capitol, Suite 600, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2027.
Objections to the release of funds on basis other that those stated above will not be considered by the State. No objections received after December 6, 2017 will be considered by the State.
Tom Murray
Council President
Town of Winamac
Notice of Explanation of Project Located In a Floodplain
This is to give notice that the Town of Winamac has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 to determine the potential affect that its activity in the floodplain will have on the environment. The Town of Winamac has determined that there is not a practicable alternative other than locating the proposed Community Development Block Grant project described below in a floodplain.
Run two new raw water transmission lines underneath the Tippecanoe River to the current water treatment plant.
The improvements must be located in the floodplain because the existing well field has reached the end of its useful life. The new well field which was identified by hydrologist is located east of the Tippecanoe river and it is necessary to run a raw water main under the Tippecanoe River from the new well field to the water treatment plant.
Other alternatives considered included looking at other well fields on the west side of the river which is the same side of the river as the water treatment plant. There were no suitable locations for a new well field on the west side of the river due to various contamination sources such as underground storage tanks and abandoned dump sites. Thus, we were forced to locate the new well field on the east side of the Tippecanoe river where suitable sites were available. The location of the well field on the east side of the river meant there was no other option but to cross the river to connect the new well field to the existing water treatment plant.
Mitigation measures include directional drilling of new water main. The new water main will be drilled below the floodplain with construction boring and receiving pits located outside of the floodplain during construction. Surface restoration will be done quickly, and silt screens will be provided to prevent any erosion materials from exiting the construction site. Due to the boring extending for outside the floodplain to outside the floodplain on both sides of the river, impact to the actual floodplain should be non-existent.
By publication of this notice, Town of Winamac is inviting any final written comments prior to undertaking the proposed action. All comments should be addressed to Mike Kleinpeter, Kleinpeter Consulting Group LLC, P.O. Box 37 Whiteland, IN 46184 not later than November 10, 2017.
Tom Murray
Town Council President
Town of Winamac
198-17 G 11/01