Groton, South Dakota

C462051‑03

DATE __________________________

CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION DETERMINATION

FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT AT GROTON, SOUTH DAKOTA

The proposed project will replace approximately 60 percent of the water meters throughout the city. The city will also install a new meter reading system. The new meters and meter reading system will reduce water loss, replace outdated equipment, and streamline data collection and billing. The water meters will be installed in Brown County in the SE ¼ of Section 13 and E ½ of Section 24, T123N, R61W and the SW ¼ of Section 18 and W ½ of Section 19, T123N, R60W.

Listed below are the reasons for granting a categorical exclusion:

1. The actions are solely directed toward minor rehabilitation of existing facilities, functional replacement of equipment, or towards the construction of a new ancillary facility adjacent or appurtenant to existing facilities.

2. The action does not affect the degree of treatment or capacity of the existing facility.

3. No comments requiring mitigative action were received from any of the five review agencies or through the public participation process.

The proposed action did not result in any serious local objections at the public hearings 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 estimated project cost is $272,000. The city of Groton will fund the project with a $272,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan with 100 percent principal forgiveness made through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Water rates are $33.25 for 5,000 gallons.

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, Water Resources Assistance Program, DENR, Pierre, South Dakota, and are available for public scrutiny at the Groton City Hall, Groton, South Dakota.

Comments supporting or disagreeing with this decision may be submitted for consideration by DENR after publication of the Categorical Exclusion Determination. After evaluating the comments received, DENR will make a final decision.

James Feeney

Administrator

Published once at the total approximate cost of _______.