Notice

Fall River Water Users District
C462435-05
Date: November 17, 2022
Categorical Exclusion Determination
for the Proposed Project in Custer County, South Dakota
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has conducted a review of a proposal from the Fall River Water Users District located in Custer County to make improvements to the existing Fairburn Well.
The project consists of completing the development of a well with only the well casing in place. The well is located southwest of Fairburn, South Dakota. Flow tests will be performed on the well and a pump/motor and pitless unit will be installed. This project is one of several improvements FRWUD plans to undertake. This Categorical Exclusion covers only the well improvements. Future projects will require separate environmental reviews.
The Fall River Water Users District was awarded a $2,915,450 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan (2.125 percent – 30 years) and a $7,091,550 American Rescue Plan Act Grant for all proposed improvements. Repayment of the SRF loan will be from revenue bonds. Current Fall River Water Users District water rates are $82.50 per month based on 5,000 gallons usage and are adequate 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 is solely directed toward minor rehabilitation of existing facilities, functional replacement of equipment, or towards the construction of new ancillary facilities adjacent or appurtenant to existing facilities.
3. The project is solely directed toward minor rehabilitation of existing facilities, functional replacement of equipment, or towards the construction of new ancillary facilities adjacent or appurtenant to existing facilities.
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 Fall River Water Users District office, in Oral, 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.
Michael A. Perkovich
Administrator
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Published: Nov. 17, 2022