NOTICE OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION DETERMINATION
Exploratory Deep Water Source Well Project (Geotech)
Project Number 22ET67
Platinum, Alaska
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s (Department) Village Safe Water Program has conducted a review of the above referenced project. The Department has determined that this project is eligible for a Categorical Exclusion (CE) in accordance with 18 AAC 76.040. Accordingly, the Department is exempting the project from further environmental review requirements under the Village Safe Water Capital Improvement Project Grant Program.
The project will include drilling and installing a 6-inch diameter steel cased well with a track or wheel mounted drill rig, and a secondary well if the first well requires abandoning. The secondary well will be drilled approximately 200-feet from the first well. A 10-foot long well screen with a K-packer, gravel pack, and blank casing will be in the completed exploratory well. The project will also include developing and test pumping of the completed exploratory well. The well pumping will result in discharge well water to the ground surface, including temporary erosion control measures. Well casing will be installed and will stick-up approximately 24-inches above the ground surface with a secure locking sanitary well cap. Grouting of well casing as well as abandonment, if required, will meet DEC requirements. Mobilizing and demobilizing will include acquiring a barge, site clean-up, and providing “tundra mats” for overland transport of the drill rig in tundra areas as needed for land travel to the proposed well drilling sites.
The project is eligible for a CE because undertaking this action:
- Will not significantly affect the degree of treatment or capacity of the existing facility;
- Will not directly or indirectly affect cultural resources, habitats of endangered or threatened species, or environmentally important natural resources area;
- Will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment;
- Will not cause significant public controversy.
The determination shall become effective upon distribution by the Department and can be revoked at any time that adverse information is made available. The documentation to support this decision will be on file with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Village Safe Water Program. To request a copy of the CE, contact:
Becca Olson, Environmental Impact Analyst
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation – Village Safe Water Program
610 University Ave Fairbanks, AK 99709 Phone: (907) 451-2108
Email: becca.olson@alaska.gov
The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation 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 Megan Kohler at (907) 269-4198 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
Issued on the 22nd day of November 2024 in Fairbanks, Alaska.