Omaha, Neb. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, is currently in the scoping phase of preparing an environmental assessment for the proposed upgrade and expansion of the wastewater treatment facility on federal property within the town of Fort Peck, Mont.
The purpose of the proposed project is to meet increased wastewater treatment needs of a temporary population expansion as a result of potential pipeline work if TransCanada’s Keystone XL Pipeline Project is approved for construction. Wastewater would be hauled by trucks daily from temporary housing facilities located in Circle, Hinsdale, and Fort Peck, Mont. to the wastewater treatment facility.
As a result of the upgrade, and following the departure of the temporary workers, the wastewater treatment facility would no longer discharge treated wastewater into the Missouri River. The facility would retain and evaporate all treated water. Temporary workers would likely relocate in less than three years from initiation of pipeline construction.
Modification of the existing easement is the federal action associated with this project. To ensure that all social, economic, and environmental effects are considered in this action, the Corps is soliciting the public’s views and comments on the proposed project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1500-15-8), Corps of Engineers Regulation ER 200-2-2 (33 CFR Part 230) and related environmental regulatory requirements.
BACKGROUND: The proposed project area is located just north of the town of Fort Peck in Valley County, Mont (map included with this release). The town of Fort Peck’s current system has three lagoons encompassing an area of approximately nine acres with an operational depth of two to four feet and a total depth of eight feet. The proposed project would consist of excavating approximately 11 acres and reconfiguring the current layout (map included with this release). No disturbances would occur beyond the project boundary and no material would be hauled off site. Any excavated material would be used to build up dikes to an approximate height of six feet, creating a total depth of 15 feet for the two lagoons.
Prior to beginning, the proposed project accreted sludge from the existing lagoons would be removed and disposed of following Montana Department of Environmental Quality requirements. Improvements to the wastewater treatment facility may include a new master lift station, aeration system, equalization basin, cell liners and a new transfer piping. Additionally, a supervisory control and data acquisition system would be added to allow for computerized monitoring and control.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the proposed project during the scoping period from March 26, 2013 to April 15, 2013. Comments can be mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-PM-AC; ATTN: Rebecca Bozarth; 1616 Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102-4901. Comments can also be emailed to: Rebecca.L.Bozarth@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or submitted no later than April 15, 2013.