February 22, 2021
To: All Interested Citizens, Organizations, and Government Agencies
Subject: FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Ketchikan Gateway Borough
South Tongass Water System – Ravenwood Tank
The purpose of this notice is to seek public input and comment on a preliminary decision by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required to implement the project discussed in the attached Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed water system infrastructure improvements, including construction of a new water tank and booster station, submitted by the applicant mentioned above.
HOW WERE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES CONSIDERED?
Alaska Administrative Code (AAC), 18 AAC 76.235, requires DEC to evaluate the environmental implications of a proposed water infrastructure project. The DEC has done this by incorporating an analysis of the environmental effects of the proposed alternative in its review and approval process. An environmental information document containing information on environmental impacts was prepared by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough and reviewed by DEC. The DEC has prepared the attached EA and found that the proposed project does not required the preparation of an EIS.
WHY IS AN EIS NOT REQUIRED?
The DEC environmental review concluded that no significant environmental impacts would result from the proposed action. Any potential adverse impacts will be reduced by the implementation of mitigative measures discussed in the attached EA.
HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Information about the project, including a project map, is attached to this notice. The attached EA discusses the alternatives considered, impacts of the proposed action, and the basis for the DEC decision. Further information can be obtained by emailing Adele Fetter, Environmental Impact Analyst, at adele.fetter@alaska.gov or calling (315) 226-2369.
HOW DO I SUBMIT COMMENTS?
The State of Alaska, DEC complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact Brian Blessington at (907) 269-6272 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
In the absence of substantive comments during this period, the preliminary decision will become final. The applicant, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, will then be eligible to receive loan assistance from the DEC to construct the proposed project.
Your interest in this process and the environment is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Carrie Bohan
Facilities Programs Manager
STATE REVOLVING FUND (SRF) PROGRAM
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
PROJECT IDENTIFICATION
Applicant: Ketchikan Gateway Borough
Project Name: South Tongass Water Utility Phase VI – Ravenwood Tank
SRF Project #: 482031
Date: February 19, 2021
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough (KGB) seeks low-interest loan financing through the Alaska State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program to finance construction of the South Tongass Water Utility Ravenwood Tank project.
KGB has requested a $1,600,000 loan from the SRF Program to finance the design and construction of this project. KGB has also submitted a grant application to the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance program administered by the Economic Development Agency (EDA), U.S. Department of Commerce. If the EDA grant is awarded, approximately 80% of project costs will be funded through the grant. In that case, the SRF loan would serve as the required 20% local match for the federal grant, and the amount of the loan would be adjusted accordingly.
EXISTING WATER SYSTEM
The South Tongass Water Utility is operated and maintained by the KGB Public Works Department on behalf of the South Tongass Service Area. The utility provides service to approximately 327 residential service connections serving a residential population of 725 people.
PROJECT NEED
The upper reaches of the Ravenwood development, from Lots 4-12, are at an elevation that exceeds the ability for the water storage tank at Fawn Mountain to sustain usable pressures during any demand event, such as firefighting, water main breaks, etc. This creates the risk of back siphonage occurring in the upper elevations and at the furthest ends of the Herring Cove neighborhood. Firefighting is inhibited in these periods.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS
The alternatives under consideration are the selected alternative (below) and the no build alternative, which represents a reasonable range of alternatives for the scope and nature of the proposed project.
SELECTED ALTERNATIVE
The proposed project will construct a 100,000-gallon water storage tank (28 feet height by 25 foot radius) and a booster station in the Ravenwood neighborhood of Ketchikan. Work will take place at both the booster station site and at the water storage tank site.
The booster station site work will clear vegetation and level the site for a 966 square foot booster station; install valves and new 8-inch ductile iron treated water mains into the new booster station; construct a 320 square foot manufactured, insulated wood-framed or metal building with concrete foundation; install two pumps to provide system pressures up to the Ravenwood tank.
The water storage tank site work will clear and grub the site; excavate and fill a 2,922 square foot pad for a glass-fused steel water storage tank with concrete foundation; excavate to a depth of no less than 4 feet for the installation of 600 linear feet of high density polyethylene (HDPE) treated water mains connected to 3-way valve clusters to be installed at two bends to provide for future expansion to the north and south; installation of an 18 inch corrugated plastic pipe (CPP) storm drain in two locations to address existing creeks; and construct or upgrade roadways atop the storm drains to a 15 foot width.
IMPACTS AND BENEFITS
Impacts analyzed include historical and archeological sites, wetlands, coastal zone areas, fish and wildlife (fish, aquatic resources, wildlife), endangered species, climate, hydrology, surface and ground water quality, air quality, geology and soils, vegetation, marine mammals, land use (management and zoning), noise, socioeconomics, subsistence, visual aesthetics, and recreation. Most impacts analyzed are anticipated to be minimal and temporary from construction activities.
Elements dismissed from discussion due to absence from the project area include floodplains, agricultural lands, wild and scenic rivers, sole source aquafers, hazardous materials/contaminated sites, and wellhead protection areas.
Wetland impacts will be mitigated through Best Management Practices (BMPs) and following all conditions in the USACE permit.
A conditional use permit will be obtained for the placement of the booster station within a residential neighborhood.
A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Notice of Intent will be implemented if ground disturbance exceeds 1 acre.
If previously unidentified archaeological or historic resources are discovered during construction, work must be interrupted, and the Alaska State Historic Preservation Office will be contacted immediately.
Heavy equipment operation will be limited to not more than 10 daytime hours per day to control noise impacts.
If contaminated soil or groundwater are suspected or encountered during construction activities, the contractor will stop work and contact the project engineer.
In 2016 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) identified three Bald Eagle nests in proximity to the proposed project area. Mitigation measures identified by USFWS include
• conduct an eagle nest survey well in advance of the start of work to determine nesting locations,
• restrict all blasting within one half mile of any nesting locations to dates outside of March 1 through August
31,
• provide a landscape buffer of no less than 330 feet of natural, forested vegetation or other shielding
between the project site and eagle nests, to be undisturbed throughout project activities,
• limit human activities within 660 feet of identified nesting sites,
• restrict external construction or landscaping activities within 660 feet of an identified site during the
nesting season, and
• secure an eagle take permit for any work that cannot be conducted in accordance with these
recommendations.
The contractor will follow dust suppression BMPs such as wetting active areas and minimizing or ceasing activities during high winds.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
On October 7, 2020 the KGB held a public meeting regarding the South Tongass Water Phase VI – Ravenwood Booster Station and Tank project. The presentation was attended by eight people and included an overview of the proposed project, locations, discussion of project need, and funding requirements. Public comments and discussion included elevations in relation to the surrounding neighborhood, property ownership and project intent, concern of noise from the booster station, as well as concerns not relevant to the proposed project including water main extensions in other areas and securing easements for previous phases of other projects.
AGENCIES CONSULTED
• United State Army Corps of Engineers
• United States Environmental Protection Agency
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• Alaska Department of Natural Resources
• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game
• Ketchikan Gateway Borough
REASONS FOR CONCLUDING NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
The project will have no adverse direct, indirect, or cumulative effects on socioeconomic, cultural, or environmental features. Minor construction impacts will be localized to the construction zones and will be temporary. These impacts can be mitigated with sound construction practices and adherence to permit requirements.