MEDINA, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A draft environmental assessment for a proposal to improve the existing water and sewer infrastructure for the city of Medina is currently available for public review.
The draft EA evaluates the environmental impacts of replacing deteriorated water and sanitary sewer infrastructure on a city-wide basis.
The proposed project would include replacing sewer infrastructure that dates back to the 1940s to include brick manholes and clay pipe sewer mains.
“By replacing the sewer system, the city would mitigate potential health and safety hazards by eliminating deteriorated and unsafe manholes, broken pipe, and offset joints that create blockages within the sewer system,” the Army Corps of Engineers states. “Also included in the project is the replacement of deteriorated and undersized water mains and service lines, inoperable hydrants, gate valves and curb stops. Replacing the water infrastructure will reduce operation and maintenance costs, and allow the city to provide adequate fire protection and quality drinking water to its residents by adhering to water quality standards.”
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the draft environmental assessment, which is available for viewing here. Comments can be mailed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-PM-AC; ATTN: Matthew Vandenberg, Medina EA; 1616 Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102-4901. Comments can also be emailed to: cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than September 24, 2018.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) funding for this project is authorized under Section 594 (North Dakota Environmental Infrastructure and Resource Protection and Development Program) of the 1999 Water Resources Development Act as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. This authority allows the USACE to participate in projects for wastewater treatment, water supply, and related facilities in rural North Dakota.
This authority provides for a Federal grant or reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the total project costs.