Environmental Assessment Report

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

I. PROJECT IDENTIFICATION Applicant: Lindon City Address: 100 North State Street, Lindon, Utah 84042 Project Number: 188 Contact Person: Ott Dameron, 801-785-5043

ABSTRACT

Lindon City is a growing residential, commercial, and industrial community located in Utah County, Utah approximately 36 miles south of Salt Lake City and nine miles north of Provo City. Incorporated in 1924, the City comprises approximately 8.56 square miles and extends from the Wasatch Front mountain range on the east to Utah Lake on the west; and from the city of Pleasant Grove on the north to the city of Orem on the south. The Lindon City Public Works Department provides water, storm drainage and sewer services for city residents.

Lindon City, in cooperation with the Utah Department of Water Quality (DWQ) proposes to replace an existing sewer lift station located at 990 North Geneva Road (SR-114) with a pump station, and proposes to replace the existing 18-inch pipeline under Geneva Road to a 24-inch pipeline through pipe bursting and open trench. The pipe replacement would extend north under Geneva Road from 990 North 0.75 miles, proceeding east on 1600 North Street for approximately 580 feet, turning north through a private driveway at approximately 830 West to intersect with the existing line under Interstate 15. The bursting process involves the use of a compressed air-driven, cone-shaped soil displacement hammer that is driven into the old pipe. The head continuously cracks and breaks the old pipe while pulling the new pipe through the bore hole. This results in a pipe replacement with minimal surface disturbance.

In order to install the new pipe, three access pits will be excavated on Geneva Road. The access pits will be approximately ten (10) feet wide and will vary in length from 40 to 80 feet depending on the depth of the sewer line (between 10 and 18 feet). Additionally, each manhole will be replaced necessitating a 10-foot by 20-foot excavation at those points. Excavations will be limited to the previously disturbed fill material to the depth of the sewer. The total project length is one mile with approximately 1.21 acres (52,800 square feet) affect. The area affected is located completely within highly disturbed commercial land and roadway.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be $4,506,000 and will be funded through a loan from the Utah Water Quality Board, which includes funding for engineering, survey, geotechnical, environmental, materials testing, Bond Attorney, Bond Closing, and construction. Funding for the project was authorized at the Utah Water Quality Board meeting on December 2, 2010.

The proposed pump station construction and sewer pipeline replacement will not have any significant effect to environmental resources within the proposed project area.

COMMENT PERIOD

1 No administrative action will be taken for at least thirty (30) days after the release of the Finding of No Significant Impact and the Environmental Assessment Report. For more information regarding the preparation and content of these documents contact: Bill Damery Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Quality P.O. Box 144870 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4870

II. PURPOSE AND NEED

The purpose of this project is to meet the need for the current and future wastewater flows for the planning area, which is nearly all of Lindon City and the northwest area of Orem. The current wastewater pipeline in the study area has reached its capacity and surcharges at locations along Geneva Road in Orem.

The planning area currently serves an estimated population of approximately 12,000 residents. The current maximum average day flow has been measured at 1.35 MGD and maximum peak hourly flow is 2.34 MGD. The 15-year projected average day flow is 1.8 MGD and peak hourly flow is 3.37 MGD for a projected 15,600 residents in the planning area.

III. PROJECT PLANNING AREA

Lindon City is a residential, commercial and industrial community located in the northeastern part of Utah County, Utah, which is near the eastern banks of Utah Lake. Lindon City has an approximate population of 10,750. Lindon City Public Works provides culinary water and sanitary sewer services for the Lindon City area.

With the exception of approximately 0.51 acres (22,500 square feet) of private property, the proposed project will be constructed within the footprint of the existing sewer pipeline and street right-of-way. The topography of the sewer pump station and sewer line is characterized by commercial and industrial development and roadway system. The pump station is located at an elevation of approximately 4,563 feet above mean sea level. The soils in this area exhibit good drainage with low salinity. The typical depth to groundwater is 1.5 to four (4) feet below the ground surface.

IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT

Flood Plains – The pump station and the transmission pipeline will be constructed above the 100-year flood plain. The piping, and any associated excavation will be covered and compacted and the ground surface will be restored to its preconstruction condition. The proposed project is situated at an elevation range between 4,551 and 4,563, and the subject area sits at least 56 feet above Utah Lake’s historic 100-year flood elevation of 4,495 above mean sea level.

2 Wetlands – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will not require a permit for construction and had no comment since there are no Waters of the U.S. within the project boundaries.

Cultural Resources - The Utah Department of Transportation Region 3 NEPA/NHPA Specialist, has recommended a determination of No Historic Properties Affected, in accordance with Stipulation II, Part A and Appendix B of the Memorandum of Understanding, State Assumption of Responsibility for Categorical Exclusions (23 USC §326) (executed June 30, 2008), the UDOT assumes responsibility, assigned by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), for ensuring compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA and with Section 4(f) of the DOT Act of 1966, as amended and with the Programmatic Agreement among the FHWA, the UDOT, the Utah State Historic Preservation Office, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Regarding Section 106 Implementation for Federal-Aid Transportation Projects signed into effect April 16, 2007 (see concurrence in Appendix). The 2007 PA assumes SHPO concurrence with projects having a No Historic Properties Affected determination on UDOT right-of way. If any artifacts are discovered during construction, the contractor or the consulting engineer will stop work and consult with the appropriate agencies.

Endangered Species – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified threatened or endangered species that may reside in the planning area including:

Common Name Scientific Name ESA Status Bonytail...... Gila elegans...... Endangered Canada lynx...... Lynx canadensis...... Threatened Clay phacelia...... Phacelia argillacea...... Endangered Colorado pikeminnow...... Ptychoceilus lucius...... Endangered Deseret milkvetch...... Astragalus desereticus...... Threatened Humpback chub...... Gila cypha...... Endangered June sucker...... Chasmistes liorus...... Endangered Razorback sucker...... Xyrauchen texanus...... Endangered Ute ladies-tresses...... Spiranthes diluvialis...... Threatened Utah valvata snail...... Valvata utahensis...... Endangered Western yellow-billed cuckoo...... Coccyzus americanus occidantalis...... Candidate

The bonytail is an Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed “endangered” minnow that is originally native to the Colorado River system. The near extinction of the bonytail can be linked back to flow regulation or alteration, habitat loss, and competition and predation by exotic fishes. Bonytail are opportunistic feeders; their prey includes: insects, zooplankton, algae, and higher plant matter. Bonytails spawn in the spring and summer over gravel substrate. Currently, many bonytail are raised in fish hatcheries and released into the wild when they are large enough to survive in their natural environment. Bonytail prefer stream habitat that consists of eddies, pools, and backwaters near swift current in large rivers (UDWR 2010).

The Canada lynx is an ESA listed “threatened” animal that is normally found in dense forested areas with an abundance of windfalls, swamps and brushy thickets (Maas 1997). Lynx require heavy cover for concealment when stalking prey. In addition, lynx are most likely to persist in areas that receive deep snow, for which the lynx is highly adapted (Maas 1997). In the western

3 U.S., lynx occurrences generally are found only above 4,000 feet in elevation (McKelvey et al. 2000).

Clay phacelia is an ESA listed “endangered” plant that occurs only in Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah County, Utah. As a member of the waterleaf family, this species is abundantly hairy with simple to branching stems that are 10 to 36 cm (3.94 to 14.17 inches) tall. This species flowers from June to August, with blue to violet flowers developing from a “Scorpion tail-like” inflorescence. Clay phacelia grows on barren, precipitous hillsides in sparse pinyon-juniper and mountain brush communities and is found in fine textured soil and fragmented shale derived from the Green River Formation. The known occurrence of this species ranges from 6,035 to 6,175 feet in elevation. Construction activities have modified some of this plants habitat, and the presence of exotic plant species in its habitat and grazing by native ungulates are potential threats (UDWR 2010).

The Colorado pikeminnow is an ESA listed “endangered” minnow that is originally native to the Colorado River system; currently, their range is limited to the upper Colorado River system. The near extinction of the Colorado pikeminnow can be linked back to flow regulation or alteration (e.g. the installation of dams), habitat loss, and competition and predation by non-native fishes.

Colorado pikeminnows are mainly piscivorous, meaning they eat fish; younger pikeminnows also eat insects and other invertebrates. They spawn in the spring and summer over gravel or smaller cobble substrate situated in riffle habitat. Adult Colorado pikeminnows prefer medium to large rivers. Young of the species prefer slow-moving backwaters. Historical accounts of six-foot long Colorado pikeminnows make this species the largest minnow in North America (UDWR 2010).

Deseret milkvetch is an ESA listed “threatened” plant that occurs at a single site in Utah County, Utah. This perennial herb is a member of the bean family, having gray-silvery leaves (4-5 cm, 1.57 to 1.97 inches long) and white to pinkish petals with lilac-colored keel-tips. This species flowers from April to early June, growing exclusively on sandy-gravelly soils weathered from conglomerate outcrops of the Moroni Formation. Found exclusively in open pinyon-juniper- sagebrush communities, at elevations ranging from 5395 to 5705 feet, this species prefers steep south and west facing slopes and thrives on west-facing road cuts. Habitat for this species is state and privately owned, and is mainly a wildlife management area that is also used for grazing (UDWR 2010).

The humpback chub is an ESA listed “endangered” minnow that is originally native to the upper Colorado River system. Humpback chub originally thrived in the fast, deep, white-water areas of the Colorado River and its major tributaries, but flow alterations (i.e. dams), which have changed the turbidity, volume, current speed, and temperature of the water in those rivers, have contributed to the significant population declines. Documented occurrences of the humpback chub in Utah are now confined to a few white-water areas in the Colorado, Green, and White Rivers. Humpback chub mainly eat: insects and other invertebrates, and occasionally algae and fish. The species spawns during the spring and summer in shallow, backwater areas with cobble substrate. Younger individuals reside in shallower, turbid habitats until they are large enough to move into white-water areas (UDWR 2010).

4 June suckers, an ESA listed “endangered” fish, are members of the sucker family; however, they are not bottom feeders (NatureServe 2006). Primarily, they feed on zooplankton in the middle of the water column. June suckers inhabit shallow and protected areas of Utah Lake except when spawning (NatureServe 2006; Sigler and Sigler 1987). Spawning occurs in June in shallower riffles over coarse gravel and cobbles within lower portions of the Provo River (NatureServe 2006). Flow alterations, pollution, drought and introduction of nonnative fish have been identified as causes for decline (UDWR 2010).

The Razorback sucker is an ESA listed “endangered” sucker fish that is originally native to the Colorado River system. The near extinction of the Razorback sucker can be linked back to flow regulation or alteration (e.g. the installation of dams), habitat loss, and competition and predation by non-native fishes. Razorback suckers mainly eat: algae, zooplankton, and other aquatic invertebrates. They spawn between February and June. Adult Razorback suckers prefer slow backwater habitats. The largest current concentration of Razorback suckers can be found in Lake Mohave (an impounded water-body), located along the Arizona - Nevada border (UDWR 2010).

Ute ladies’-tresses, an ESA listed “threatened” plant, is a member of the orchid family. Populations have been found in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Idaho, and Washington. The elevation ranges in which populations have been found vary from 750 to 7000 feet, with most populations above 4000 feet. It is found in wetlands and riparian areas, including spring habitats, mesic meadows, river meanders and floodplains. They require open habitats, and populations decline if trees and shrubs invade the habitat. They are not tolerant of permanent standing water, and do not compete well with aggressive species such as reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). The survey time for the species, as identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1995), is mid-August through mid-September.

The Utah valvata snail, an ESA listed “endangered” species, is 4.5 mm (0.177 inches) in height and the shell is turbinate (about equally high and wide) with up to 4 whorls (USFWS 1995). In the Snake River, Utah valvata inhabits areas between sand and silt/mud grains, in shallow shoreline water and in pools adjacent to rapids or in perennial flowing waters associated with large spring complexes (USFWS 1995). The species avoids areas with heavy currents or rapids. Utah valvata occurred historically in Utah Lake and in the Snake River of southern Idaho (Taylor 1987). At present, this species occurs in a few springs and mainstem Snake River sites in the Hagerman Valley (USFWS 1995). Additional locations include a few sites immediately upstream and downstream of Minidoka Dam, near Eagle Rock damsite and below American Falls Dam downstream to Burley (Taylor 1987).

The yellow-billed cuckoo is an ESA listed “candidate” species, and as the name suggests, has a yellow lower mandible (Alsop 2001). It has rufous wings that contrast against the gray-brown wing coverts and upperparts, and white underparts. Large white spots can be noted on its long black undertail. It is a neotropical migrant, which winters in South America. Breeding often coincides with the appearance of massive numbers of cicadas, caterpillars, or other large insects (Ehrlich et al. 1992). Its incubation/nestling period is the shortest of any known bird because it is one of the last neotropical migrants to arrive in North America and chicks have very little rearing time before embarking on their transcontinental migration. Yellow-billed cuckoos arrive in Utah

5 in extremely late May or early June and breed in late June through July. Cuckoos typically start their southerly migration by late August or early September (Parrish et al. 1999). Yellow-billed cuckoos are considered a riparian obligate and are usually found in large tracts of cottonwood/willow habitats with dense sub-canopies (below 33 feet).

It is highly unlikely that the proposed project will have any long-term impacts on any of the listed species or their habitat. Construction will predominantly occur beneath the Geneva Road right-of-way and the heavily disturbed industrial area of western Orem City, which does not contain the needed habitat to support any of the above-listed species.

Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife: The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources had no comment as there are no adverse impacts to fish and wildlife expected as a result of the proposed project.

Prime and Important Farmland – The project will not impact any Prime, Unique, Statewide and Farmlands of Local Importance. The project is located within the Lindon and Orem city limits and no farmland exists in the project area, or within 0.8 miles of the project area.

Air Quality – The proposed project is located in a non-attainment area for particulate matter (PM10 and 2.5), however, the Utah Division of Air Quality has determined that there will be no long-term impacts to air quality resulting from the project. Air quality will be very slightly degraded during construction due to exhaust from equipment. Fugitive Dust Rule 309 applies to this project which requires the project provide a fugitive dust control and mitigation plan prior to construction.

V. ALTERNATIVES

Four alternatives were considered during project planning: 1. Sewer and lift station replacement through pipe bursting and open trench along 1.0 mile of Geneva Road and 1600 North (600 South); 2. Open trench sewer pipe replacement for 3.5 miles along the west side of Orem City; 3. New pump station construction and open trench pipeline replacement on west side of the Lindon City system; 4. No action

Alternative 1: Alternative 1, the preferred alternative, proposes to replace an existing sewer lift station located at 990 North Geneva Road (SR-114) with a pump station to the north of the existing station on the same city-owned property. The new pump station would contain two sets of pumps: two low head pumps that will lift part of the flow up to the existing 18-inch gravity line that flows south; and two high head pumps that pump the larger flows to Orem City’s trunk line under 1200 West. This will direct the flow through the existing 12-inch force-main going south on Geneva Road to 800 North then east on 800 North to 1200 West (see Figure 1 in Appendix).

The existing 18-inch gravity line (installed in 1975-76) north of the pump station would be upsized to a 24-inch gravity line through pipe bursting and open trench. The proposed pipe replacement would extend north under Geneva Road from 990 North for approximately 0.75 6 miles, proceeding east on 1600 North Street for approximately 580 feet, turning north through a private driveway at approximately 830 West to intersect with the existing line under Interstate 15 (Figure 1, Preliminary Design). The bursting process involves the use of a compressed air- driven, cone-shaped soil displacement hammer that is driven into the old pipe. The head continuously cracks and breaks the old pipe while pulling the new pipe through the bore hole. This results in a pipe replacement with minimal surface disturbance.

Enlarging the existing 18-inch pipe to 24 inches will adequately convey an average day flow of 2.1 MGD with a peak hourly flow projected at 3.93 MGD which is estimated to meet the projected needs of 21,143 residents in the planning area. Therefore, the 24-inch pipeline will meet the need for future water demands in the planning area.

Alternative 2: Alternative 2 consists of increasing the 18-inch line under Geneva Road to a 24- inch line from 1000 South in Orem to 540 South 800 West in Lindon, a distance of approximately 3.5 miles (18,765 feet). This alternative was eliminated due to the lack of capacity achieved by the flatter grade found in the 4,500 feet between 1000 South and 350 South in Orem. Further, engineering study by Orem determined that there was excess capacity in their 1200 West outfall line than they would need for their city’s projected population build-out. This capacity could be used for increased flows from Lindon, however, a cost comparison showed this alternative to be more expensive than any of the other build alternatives.

Alternative 3: Alternative 3 consists of constructing a pump station adjacent to 800 West and 500 South in Lindon with a force-main leading from the station southeast along the frontage road to 600 South (1600 North in Orem), then east on 600 South to 1200 West in Orem, proceeding south on 1200 West to 1040 North, and terminating at Orem’s 1200 West outfall line where excess is present. The field survey showed that the high spot in the force-main would have been at 1600 North 1200 West in Orem which would create air locking in the force-main. Alternate routing of this force-main was considered, however the only available alignment achieving positive grade was through a private residential development with narrow streets located west of 1200 West between 1340 North and 1520 North. Constructability would have been difficult due to repeated conflicts with existing utilities and the curvature of the streets. Also, an easement would be required from private development between 1600 and 1520 North. The potential for property damage in the event of a rupture in the force-main would be greatly increased.

Alternative 4 (No Action): Under the No-Action Alternative, no improvements would be constructed by Lindon City to meet projected future sewer and sanitation demands. The City would rely on the existing sewer line to handle the existing and future capacity, which would continue to operate under substandard conditions, and ultimately result in sewer line failure due

7 to the increased demands placed on it by the planning area population. Limiting future capacity would limit future development opportunities.

VI. MEANS TO MITIGATE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Direct and Indirect Impacts

Construction will result in a sewer pump station and pipeline that will provide sufficient capacity for the residents of Lindon City and portions of Orem City. Increasing the capacity of the wastewater system may make previously undeveloped areas available for improvements. This may allow for an increase in the area’s population that would require changes in land use. Local planning and zoning officials should manage growth in areas that may impact environmentally sensitive areas.

The project is intended to supply adequate waste water capacity for Lindon City residents until the year 2030.

Unavoidable Adverse Environmental Impacts

Although there are no significant environmental impacts anticipated from this project, the following conditions will be implemented to reduce environmental effects during construction.

1. Plans and specifications will contain specific items to control and mitigate for fugitive dust, erosion, and sedimentation during construction.

2. If any archaeological artifacts are unearthed during construction, work will be immediately stopped as dictated by contract specifications. The City will promptly notify the State Historical Preservation Officer and the Division of Water Quality. These agencies will make a timely determination of steps necessary to mitigate adverse environmental impacts of the artifacts.

VII. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The project was presented to the Lindon City Planning Council in public hearings on June 1, 2010 and June 15, 2010 during the Lindon City budget hearing meetings. These meetings were held to discuss the project need, project benefits, alternatives considered, the selection of the preferred alternative, environmental impacts, financing and potential impacts on user charges. Members of the public and media were in attendance at the meeting and there were no adverse public comments expressed during the public comment period.

VIII. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

Alsop, F. 2001. Birds of North America (Western Region). DK Publishing, Inc. New York, New York.

8 Ehrlich, P.R., D.S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1992. Birds in Jeopardy: the Imperiled and Extinct Birds of the United States and Canada, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 259 pp.

Maas, D. 1997. North American Game Animals. Cowles Creative Publishing, Minnetonka, Minnesota.

McKelvey, K.S., K.B. Aubry, and U.K. Ortega. 2000. History and distribution of lynx in the contiguous United States. pp. 207-264. In Ruggiero, L.F., K.B. Aubry, S.W. Buskirk, G.M Koehler, C.J. Krebs, K.S. McKelvey, and J.R. Squires. (Tech. Eds.) Ecology and conservation of lynx in the United States. Univ. Press of Colorado. Boulder, CO. 480 pp.

NatureServe. 2006. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [On-line]. Version 6.0. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Accessed 2/6/07 at http://www.natureserve.org/explorer.

Parrish, J.R., F.P. Howe, and R.E. Norvell. 1999. Utah Partners in Flight draft conservation strategy. UDWR publication number 99-40. Utah Partners in Flight Program, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Salt Lake City.

Ransom, Jay Ellis. 1981. Complete Field Guide to North American Wildlife. Harper & Row Publishing. New York, New York.

Sigler, W. F., and J. W. Sigler. 1987. Fishes of the Great Basin: a natural history. University of Nevada Press, Reno.

Stalmaster, M.V. 1987. The Bald Eagle. Universe Books, New York, New York.

Stokes, D. and L. 1996. Stokes Field Guide to Birds. Little, Brown and Company, New York, New York

Taylor, D.W. 1987. Thousand Springs Threatened or Endangered Snails. Unpublished report submitted to the Nature Conservancy. 2pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995. Snake River Aquatic Species Recovery Plan December 1995. Snake River Basin Office, Ecological Services. Boise, Idaho.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995. Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis) Draft Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), Utah Conservation Data Center (UCDC). Learn about Utah’s species [On-line]. Accessed 11/8/2010 at http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/default.asp. IX. AGENCIES CONSULTED

The following agencies were consulted during the facility planning process: 1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 9 2. Natural Resource Conservation Service 3. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources 4. Utah Division of State History 5. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 6. Utah Division of Air Quality 7. USEPA, Region VIII 8. Shoshone-Bannock Tribe of the Fort Hall Reservation 9. Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation 10. Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation 11. Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians 12. Uintah and Ouray Ute Indian Reservation 13. Confederated Tribes of Goshute 14. Cedar Band of the Paiute Indians 15. USDA Soil Conservation Service 16. Utah Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security 17. Utah Department of Transportation, Region 3

X. APPENDIX

Preliminary Design of Preferred Alternative Project Area (USGS 7.5’ Quadrangle) Cultural Clearance from UDOT Region 3 NEPA/NHPA Specialist NRCS Prime Farmland Status letter