DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) City of Lincoln Park, Wayne County Environmental Assessment November 2019

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

Applicant Name: City of Lincoln Park, Wayne County

Authorized Representative: Mr. John Kozuh, Director of Public Services

Applicant Address: 1355 Southfield Road Lincoln Park, 48146

Project No: 5698-01

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The city of Lincoln Park is a largely populated suburb of the city of . Lincoln Park has municipal water and sanitary sewer services throughout the entire city. The water distribution and wastewater collection systems within the city are owned and maintained by the Department of Public Works. Sewage is discharged into the Downriver Utility Wastewater Authority (DUWA) Sanitary Sewer Disposal District and treated at the DUWA wastewater treatment facility located in the city of Wyandotte.

The project addressed in this Environmental Assessment is the rehabilitation of structurally deficient sewers within the city’s sewage collection system.

The total project cost is estimated to be $2,510,650. Lincoln Park has applied for a low-interest loan through the state of Michigan’s CWSRF loan program at a 2-percent interest rate. The loan will be repaid via a sewer rate increase of $9.59 per year or $0.80 per month for the average residential customer. Lincoln Park has been determined by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to be disadvantaged, which qualifies the city for principal forgiveness estimated at $500,000. The actual amount will be established at the time of loan award. Therefore, increased user costs from this project may not be as high as estimated.

PROJECT SETTING AND EXISTING SYSTEM

Lincoln Park is approximately 5.9 square miles and is bordered by the cities of Ecorse and Wyandotte to the east, the city of Southgate to the south, city of Allen Park to the west, and the cities of Melvindale and River Rouge to the north (see Figure 1). The primary land uses within the city are single-family residential, transportation, communication and utility infrastructure, and commercial/industrial. According to the Council of Governments, Lincoln Park’s population is expected to decrease from approximately 35,641 residents in 2019 to 35,083 residents by 2040.

1 The sanitary sewer system, owned by the city, discharges to the DUWA Sanitary Sewer Disposal District at four discharge points to the DUWA River Drive Interceptor. The four discharge points are: Applewood Street and Southfield Road, Farnham Avenue and River Drive, Cleveland Avenue and River Drive, and Emmons Boulevard and River Drive.

All the sanitary flow discharges to the DUWA Sanitary Sewer Disposal District with treatment facilities located in Wyandotte. The existing sanitary system was developed as new subdivisions were established in the 1930s and 1940s. The original sewer collection system was a combined sewer system, transporting both sanitary and storm water, otherwise known as surface water, entering the collection system for treatment. The sewer system was separated into separate sanitary and storm sewers in the early 1980s. The existing sewer collection system ranges from 8-inch-diameter to 30-inch-diameter sanitary sewer pipe. There are also nine pump stations located at various locations throughout the city.

PROJECT NEED

Lincoln Park has historically experienced events of sanitary sewer surcharging and residential basement backups since the sewer separation project in the 1980s. In addition, the sewer surcharging has periodically caused sanitary sewer overflows, which has affected Ecorse Creek. Lincoln Park has made a it a priority to address their sewer surcharging and basement backup events by applying for a variety of funding programs to determine why this is occurring.

Most recently, in November of 2016 Lincoln Park received a Stormwater, Asset Management, and Wastewater (SAW) grant. The purpose of the SAW grant was to conduct a comprehensive study of the condition of the sanitary sewer system. The work included cleaning and televising the sanitary sewer pipes, evaluating manholes, conducting flow monitoring, and evaluating the operation and functionality of the retention treatment basin and the pump stations located within the city’s limits. The study is part of the development of an asset management plan including a 5-year and 20-year capital improvement plan for the sanitary sewer system, which is expected to be completed in December of 2019.

The study found some sanitary sewer pipes within the city are in poor or very poor condition, which could lead to the pipe collapsing causing sewage backups into residential homes or sewage releasing into the neighboring waterway, Ecorse Creek. The sewers are over 50 years old and have exceeded their useful lives. The sewer pipes that have deficiencies range from 8-inch-diameter to 30-inch-diameter and are located throughout the city.

PROJECT ALTERNATIVES

No Action

Selecting a no-action alternative would result in the current sanitary sewer collection system to remain as is, causing the potential for sewer collapses, surcharging, and residential basement backups. Therefore, this alternative was not evaluated further.

Regional Alternative

For this proposed project, there are no regional alternatives to consider, as Lincoln Park maintains and operates its own wastewater collection system and does not expand into neighboring communities.

2 Optimal Performance of Existing Facilities

Two alternatives were evaluated to correct the existing sewer deficiencies.

Alternative No. 1 – Rehabilitation of Existing Sewers

The evaluation of the sanitary sewer system was conducted using the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP) rating system and CWSRF program requirements. The NASSCO’s PACP rating system consists of standardized codes for defined defects and observations that allow communities, such as Lincoln Park, the capability to document the condition of its sewers and provide consistent data that can be utilized at a community level, as well as to compare to other geographical areas. The CWSRF program currently allows for PACP structural ratings of Grade 4 and Grade 5 to qualify for loan assistance. A Grade 4 pipe condition is defined as a collapse is likely in the foreseeable future, and a Grade 5 pipe condition defect addresses pipes that have collapsed or a collapse is imminent. Many of Lincoln Park’s collection system pipes have areas that have received a PACP rating of Grade 4 or Grade 5.

This alternative involves the rehabilitation of the majority of the existing sewers with a Grade 4 or 5 rating with trenchless technologies that will utilize full length cured-in-place (FCIPP) and sectional length cured-in-place (SCIPP) sanitary sewer pipe lining based upon the televised results. Defects include longitudinal, circumferential, and/or multiple cracking, holes within the pipe, offset joints, and severe surface deterioration. Areas where lining is proposed may have to be repaired with a sectional removal and replacement technique due to the worsening condition of the sewer pipe. If the replacement of sewer pipe is needed as part of the project that will be determined at the time of construction.

Cured-in-place pipe is a seamless, resin saturated felt tube of polyester that is inverted or pulled into a deteriorated sewer. Hot water or steam is used to cure the resin and form a tight-fitting, jointless, and corrosion resistant replacement pipe. Once installed, service laterals are restored internally with a robotically controlled cutting device and then inspected by closed circuit television. FCIPP is used when line segments consist of several deficiencies along multiple locations throughout a pipe section. SCIPP is used when only a few segments consist of deficiencies requiring rehabilitation, such as specific locations within that segment where cracks or broken pipe are identified.

Alternative No. 2 – Remove and Replace Defective Sewers

This alternative involves the complete removal of existing sewers and replacement with new sewers, eliminating the defective sewers. There are a number of negative factors with this alternative as the sewers are located underneath or adjacent to paved streets requiring pavement removal and replacement. The closure of streets would greatly impact businesses and the general public by causing very limited access to homes for residents, emergency response personnel, mail delivery, and garbage pickup. The length of time to complete the removal and replacement of the defective sewers is significantly longer than rehabilitation. Due to the cost of this alternative and the amount of disruption to the area, this is not considered a principal alternative.

3 SELECTED ALTERNATIVE

Lincoln Park has selected to address its structural integrity issues by either installing the FCIPP lining or SCIPP lining in its sewers throughout the city (see Figure 2).

Table 1 shows the estimated construction and engineering costs related to the project.

Table 1 Estimated Project Cost Description Estimated Costs Construction Costs $2,131,510.00 Engineering, Legal, Financial, $379,140.00 Administrative, and Contingencies Total Estimate Project Cost $2,510,650.00

RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS

Water Quality Benefits

The upgrades to the existing sanitary sewer pipes rated as poor or very poor will minimize the effects of sanitary sewers backing up into residential basements or the release of sanitary overflows into Ecorse Creek. Should work be completed near a water body, such as the South Branch Ecorse Creek, proper sedimentation reduction practices and permits will be obtained prior to working in the area.

Short-term Construction Impacts

The project will result in typical short-term construction impacts such as noise, dust, increased (medium to heavy) vehicle traffic to the project site, and possible transportation detours when the sewer lining occurs. The construction should not significantly impact the surrounding residential and commercial properties.

Endangered Species

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s website indicates there are seven recognized species that are either listed as endangered, threatened, or proposed as threatened within the project area. The Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) was contacted to verify if any state recognized, threatened, or endangered species would be impacted by the proposed project. The response from the MNFI identified several at-risk species have been documented within 1.5 miles of the project site. Since the proposed project is located in underground pipes within existing roadways and in a previously disturbed area it has been determined these project areas do not contain suitable habitats for the identified species. Therefore, the project should not have any impact on the federally or state recognized, threatened, or endangered species. Should a recognized threatened or endangered species be found, work will cease, and a biological survey will be conducted.

Historic Preservation

The Michigan State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) was contacted regarding any historical impact that might be related to this project. The SHPO has responded that no historic properties are affected within the area of potential effects of this undertaking. In

4 addition, 14 federally recognized tribes were contacted regarding the project. At the time of this Environmental Assessment, one response had been received indicating there are no known historical or cultural artifacts located within the identified project area. Should either historical or cultural artifacts be encountered during the project, work will cease immediately, and SHPO and the tribes will be contacted.

Secondary Impacts

No secondary impacts are anticipated to occur as a result of the project. The goal of this project is to improve the water quality by increasing the operational efficiency with lining the existing sanitary sewer pipes, reducing the possibility of sewer surcharging into resident basements or causing sewer overflows into neighboring waterways.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

A public hearing was held on June 17, 2019, at the regular meeting of the mayor and city council of Lincoln Park in the John A. Aloisi Council Chambers. The notice of the public hearing was published in The News-Herald and on the thenewsherald.com website 33 days prior to the public hearing. The proposed project was also available for viewing at the office of the city clerk during the public comment period. The discussion presented the SAW grant program findings, the proposed project and potential alternatives, and the estimated user charge costs. Questions were received from the council and addressed. A resolution was unanimously passed by the city council adopting the project plan and the selected alternative on June 17, 2019.

THE REASONS FOR FINDING NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The proposed project will allow the sanitary sewers that have been determined to be in poor or very poor condition to be rehabilitated. No adverse impacts are expected to result from the project. Therefore, a Finding of No Significant Impact has been made.

Questions regarding this Environmental Assessment should be directed to:

Ms. Kelly Green, Administrator Water Infrastructure Financing Section Finance Division Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy P.O. Box 30457 Lansing, Michigan 48909-7957 Telephone: 517-284-5433 E-mail: [email protected]

5 Figure 1 Project Service Area

Google Maps 2019

6 Figure 2