CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION DETERMINATION for Town of Buffalo

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality | view as a webpage

Public Notice: Categorical Exclusion for Town of Buffalo Tank Rehabilitation Project

The Department of Environmental Quality/Water Quality Division (DEQ) has conducted a review of the proposed Buffalo Tank Repair project in accordance with EPA and State of Wyoming procedures for implementing the State Environmental Review Process. DEQ has determined that this project is eligible for a categorical exclusion. Accordingly, DEQ is exempting the project from further substantive environmental review requirements under the State Environmental Review Process. Neither an Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact nor an Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision will be required for the proposed action. The following is a brief description of the situation and the proposed action and a brief statement of how the action meets the criteria for a categorical exclusion.

The Town of the City of Buffalo owns a 600,000-gallon water storage tank located on the West side of town that was construction in 1995. After 30 years of holding chlorinated water, the ceiling of the structure that is exposed to open air inside the tank containing chlorine gases is deteriorating and needs replaced. The tank also needs to be painted both on the interior and exterior. The project will prolong the useful life of this asset in the city's public water system. The city is applying for a State Revolving Fund loan in the amount of $600,000. This loan has principal forgiveness available in the amount of $288,460. The remaining $311,540 will have an interest rate of .75%. The city is nearing the end of two existing loans in the water fund with the French Creek Water Tank retiring in June 2027 and the Water Treatment Plant Expansion retiring in May 2028. The loan payments will be paid from water fund reserves and is not projected to increase user rates.

The Town of the City of Buffalo is aware of and accepts the fact that they will be responsible for any required mitigative actions associated with and including storm water runoff, erosion control, archeological/historic artifacts, and air quality concerns. These will be part of the standard State Revolving Fund Program contract conditions. There are no noteworthy environmental issues/impacts/mitigation issues.

DEQ is granting an exclusion because the project is the restoration of an existing water storage tank. This project will be completely constructed in previously disturbed ground, specifically ground disturbed by the installation of the existing water storage tank. DEQ has determined that exempting the proposed project from further review under the State Environmental Review Process will not result in adverse impacts to the population or the area of the Town of the City of Buffalo, Johnson County, Wyoming.

The document to support this decision will be on file in the DEQ Cheyenne Office and is available for public review upon request. Requests for information about the proposed decision may be directed to Stan Miller, SRF Project Engineer by email ([email protected]) or phone (307)777-6371. Written comments shall be addressed to Stan Miller, Department of Environmental Quality, 200 W 17^th St., Suite 200, Cheyenne, WY 82002 or via FAX (307)635-1785, and be postmarked on or before 5:00 p.m. on December 7, 2024 to be considered.

Electronic comments may only be submitted through and accepted by the Wyoming DEQ comment portal provided at http://wq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com/. Phone or email comments will not be accepted.

Para español, visite deq.wyoming.gov. Americans with Disabilities Act: special assistance or alternative formats will be made available upon request for individuals with disabilities. Please provide at least fourteen (14) days before the close of the public comment period for such requests.

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