FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR THE CITY OF BOULDER PHASE I DRINKING WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
To: All interested persons
Date: January 8, 2024
Action: Drinking Water Improvements Phase 1
Location of Project:City of Boulder, Jefferson County, Montana
DEQ DWSRF Loan: $151,192
Total Project Cost: Approximately $1,334,000
A draft environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared by the Montana Department of Natural Resources (DNRC) for proposed funding for improvements to the City of Boulder Public Water Supply (PWS). The EA was prepared by Samantha Treu on December 9, 2023. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has prepared this Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) based on that EA. The proposed improvements include construction of a new well (Well 5) to replace the City’s existing Well 3, which was determined to be ground water under the direct influence of surface water. The project will also include reconditioning Well 1 and rehabilitating the pump for Well 1, re-connecting Well 4 to the PWS distribution system, upgrading supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software, and adding corrosion control and disinfection chemical feed systems for Wells 2, 4, and 5. The purpose of the project is to make improvements to the City’s PWS that are needed to protect public health.
The affected environment for new well construction will be an area located approximately 640 feet south of East 4th Avenue and 150 feet southeast of Rising Sun Street on Montana Highway Patrol property. The well location will require that the City of Boulder obtain an easement for the well location and any necessary pipe and building installation in this area of the city. Well 1 is located on the south side of W. 4th Avenue and approximately 125 feet east of S. Adams Street. Well 2 is located south of E. 3rd. Avenue and approximately 150 feet west of Main Street. Well 4 is located at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Parson Street.
The human environment affected will include residents and visitors to the Boulder area. Based on the EA, the project is not expected to have any significant adverse impacts upon terrestrial and aquatic life or habitat, including endangered species, water quality or quantity, air quality, geological features, cultural or historical features, or social quality.
As indicated above, this project may be funded in part with a low interest loan through the Montana Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program, administered by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The loan will be repaid by a Revenue Bond.
The DNRC utilized the City of Boulder 2021 Preliminary Engineering Report to develop this EA. This document was prepared by Morrison Maierle, Inc., the City’s consulting engineer.
In addition to these references, letters were sent to: Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ); Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP); Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) Floodplain Management, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT), United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe of the Fort Hall Reservation. Letters were also sent to the Crow, Confederated Salish and Kootenai, Fort Belknap, and Little Shell Tribal Historic Preservation Offices. Response letters that were received are noted in the EA. These references are available for review upon request by contacting:
Denver Fraser, P.E.
Montana DEQ
State Revolving Fund Program
P.O. Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620-0901
Phone (406) 444-5318
Email: dfraser@mt.gov
or
Megan McCauley, City Clerk
City of Boulder
304 North Main Street
Boulder, MT 59632
(406) 225-3381
Comments on this finding or on the EA may be submitted to DEQ at the above address. After evaluating substantive comments, DEQ may revise the EA or determine if an EIS is necessary. This finding will stand if no substantive comments are received during the 30-day comment period or if substantive comments are received and evaluated and the environmental impacts are still determined to be non-significant.
DEQ is aware of the recent district court opinion in Held v. State, ruling the statutory prohibition on including greenhouse gas analyses in MEPA reviews unconstitutional.(1) That decision is being appealed to the Montana Supreme Court and final resolution is yet unsettled. DEQ is also in the process of requesting a stay of the district court’s order, pending appeal.(2) While litigation is ongoing, and consistent with the court order, DEQ has started a process to assess and improve our environmental review processes, including consideration of future climate impact analyses.
(1) Held v. State, No. CDV-2020-307 (Mont. 1st Jud. Dist. Ct. Aug. 14, 2023).
(2) Rule 22 Motion for Stay of Order Pending Appeal; Motion for Clarification and for Stay of Judgment Pending Appeal; Brief in Support of Motion for Clarification and for Stay of Judgment Pending Appeal.
Signed,
Sandie Koenig, PE, acting DWSRF Engineering Manager
Engineering Bureau
Water Quality Division
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Legal 24-005 Published in the Boulder Monitor January 17, 2024 MNAXLP
