September 10, 2004 TO: INTERESTED PARTIES RE: Shetek Area Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project Enclosed is the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the proposed Shetek Area Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project, Murray County. The EAW was prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and is being distributed for a 30-day review and comment period pursuant to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) rules. The comment period will begin the day the EAW availability notice is published in the EQB Monitor, which will likely occur in the September 13, 2004 issue. Comments will be accepted through October 13, 2004. In addition to the EAW, the MPCA’s draft National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit will also be available for public comment concurrently. The contact person for the Permit is Lisa McCormick at (320) 214-3786. Comments received on the EAW will be used by the MPCA in evaluating the potential for significant environmental effects from this project and deciding on the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A final decision on the need for an EIS will be made by the MPCA Commissioner after the end of the comment period. If a request for an EIS is received during the comment period, or if the Commissioner recommends the preparation of an EIS, the MPCA Citizens’ Board (Board) will make the final decision. The final EIS need decision will also be made by the Board if so requested by the project proposer, other interested parties or MPCA staff and if this request is agreed to by one or more members of the Board or the MPCA Commissioner. The Board meets once a month, usually the fourth Tuesday of each month, at the MPCA office in St. Paul. Meetings are open to the public and interested persons may offer testimony on Board agenda items. A listing of Board members is available on request by calling (651) 296-7306. Please note that comment letters submitted to the MPCA do become public documents and will be part of the official public record for this project. If you have any questions on the EAW, please contact Lynne Kolze of my staff at (651) 282-5992. Sincerely, Beth G. Lockwood Supervisor, Environmental Review Unit Operations and Environmental Review Section Regional Environmental Management Division BGL:gs Enclosure ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET Note to reviewers: The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) provides information about a project that may have the potential for significant environmental effects. This EAW was prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), acting as the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU), to determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be prepared. The project proposer supplied reasonably accessible data for, but did not complete the final worksheet. Comments on the EAW must be submitted to the MPCA during the 30-day comment period which begins with notice of the availability of the EAW in the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) Monitor. Comments on the EAW should address the accuracy and completeness of information, potential impacts that are reasonably expected to occur that warrant further investigation, and the need for an EIS. A copy of the EAW may be obtained from the MPCA by calling (651) 296-7398. An electronic version of the completed EAW is available at the MPCA Web site http://www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw/index.html#open-eaw. 1. Project Title: Shetek Area Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project 2. Proposer: Shetek Area Water and Sewer 3. RGU: Commission Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Contact Person Chris Hansen Contact Person Lynne Kolze and Title Water Resources Administrator and Title Project Manager Address 2500 - 28th Street, P.O. Box 57 Address 520 Lafayette Road North Slayton, Minnesota 56172 St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 Phone (507) 836-6148 ext. 156 Phone (651) 282-5992 Fax (507) 836-8904 Fax (651) 296-7782 4. Reason for EAW Preparation: EIS Mandatory Citizen RGU Proposer Scoping EAW X Petition Discretion Volunteered If EAW or EIS is mandatory give EQB rule category subpart number and name: Minn. R. 4410.4300, subpart 18 Wastewater Systems 5. Project Location: County Murray City/Twp Currie Along or within portions of Sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, 32, Township 108 North, Range 40 West; Along or within portions of Sections 13-15, 21-27, 35, 36, Township 108 North, Range 41 West; Along or within portions of Sections 6-10, 15, 16, Township 107 North, Range 40 West; and Along or within portions of Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, Township 107 North, Range 41 West. TDD (for hearing and speech impaired only): (651) 282-5332 Printed on recycled paper containing 30% fibers from paper recycled by consumers Figures for the EAW: Figure 1 Site Location – County Map; Figures 2A-2G U. S. Geological Survey Quad Map; Figure 3 Service Area; Figures 4 Stabilization Pond Location Map; Figure 5A-5C Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) letters; Figure 6A-6E National Wetland Inventory Map; Figure 7 DNR Protected Waters Inventory Map; Figure 8A-8C Soils Maps; and Figure 9 Minnesota Historical Society State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) response letter dated September 11, 2003. 6. Description: a. Provide a project summary of 50 words or less to be published in the EQB Monitor. The Shetek Area Water and Sewer Commission (SAWSC), Murray County, is proposing to construct a new sewage collection system around area lakes and expand the city of Currie’s wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) to treat a total Average Wet Weather Flow (AWW) of 319,000 gpd (gpd). The WWTF would serve Currie, as well as developed areas within the SAWSC. b. Give a complete description of the proposed project and related new construction. Attach additional sheets as necessary. Emphasize construction, operation methods and features that would cause physical manipulation of the environment or would produce wastes. Include modifications to existing equipment or industrial processes and significant demolition, removal or remodeling of existing structures. Indicate the timing and duration of construction activities. Background Portions of Lake Shetek’s and Lake Sarah’s shoreline is densely developed with both seasonal and permanent homes. Three islands in Lake Shetek are also fully developed. An estimated 614 permanent and seasonal homes, as well as, 17 business connections (total of 686 equivalent domestic units [EDUs]) are included within the SAWSC. The commercial developments include a restaurant and bar, a hotel, campgrounds, and a State Park. Wastewater treatment is currently provided by individual on-site septic systems. A significant number are not in conformance with the requirements of the state on-site septic system regulations (Minn. R. ch. 7080). In December 1996, a water quality study was completed for Murray County, which evaluated the wastewater and water needs for the lakeshore areas of Lake Shetek, Lake Sarah, Fremont Lake, and Bloody Lake. As a result of this study, the SAWSC was formed. Proposed Project Based on the condition of the current on-site septic systems in the area and projected sanitary service needs of the Lake Shetek area, the SAWSC proposes to construct a new sewage collection system and expand the city of Currie’s existing WWTF. The expanded (regionalized) WWTF would continue to treat wastewater from the city of Currie, as well as accommodate flow from the new service area around some area lakes (Figures 1-2). Shetek Area Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project Environmental Assessment Currie, Minnesota 2 Worksheet Ultimately, the project is designed to accommodate an additional 297 EDUs of future growth, for a total of 983 EDUs. The city of Currie’s WWTF currently has an AWW of 87,000 gpd. After the proposed project is completed, the AWW for the regionalized system would be 319,000 gpd. The expanded WWTF would be located east of the city of Currie, and would discharge treated effluent to the West Fork of the Des Moines River. Construction of the proposed project is expected to begin in the summer of 2005. The project would be divided into four parts – three parts would involve construction of the wastewater conveyance system, the fourth would involve the construction of the new wastewater stabilization ponds. The collection and treatment facility system is scheduled to begin operation in the summer of 2006. Sewage Collection System The entire length of sewer pipe that would be needed to service the project area is 33.8 miles (Figures 1-3). This would include 10.5 miles of gravity sewer pipe, 25 lift stations, and 23 miles of forcemain. The proposed conveyance system would be placed along established roadways and easements, where feasible. In addition, a portion (a total of 6100 linear feet) of the sewer pipe would be routed eight feet beneath the lakebed. The intent is to serve existing homes and businesses primarily along the shoreline of Lake Shetek, Lake Sarah, the Inlet, Smith Lake, Park Lake, Fremont Lake, Bloody Lake, and Armstrong Slough. The proposed sanitary sewer collection and conveyance system would commence on the northeast side of Lake Sarah along North Shore Drive, Lazy Lake Lane, and Benjamin’s Road. Wastewater would then be conveyed by forcemain south along the U.S. Highway 59 right of way to 201st Street (County Road [CR] 16) where it would tie into a forcemain which is directing wastewater flow collected from the south side of Lake Sarah along Pioneer Trail and Shady Lake Road. Wastewater would then be conveyed by forcemain along the 155th Avenue and 201st Street (County Road 16) right of ways to the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and 201st Street (CR 16). All wastewater flows from Lake Sarah would then be conveyed easterly along the north right of way of 201st Street (CR 50) to 180th Avenue and continue easterly to a point of intersection with the forcemain serving the Inlet development area (Pioneer Lane).