Moscow Sewer Authority Church Street Sanitary Sewer Line Draft Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment

Published July 28, 2020

All interested parties: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (USACE) has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed construction of the Moscow Sewer Authority (MSA) Church Street Sanitary Sewer Extension located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. The proposed sewer extension would connect to the existing Moscow Borough Central Sanitary Sewer System at its current terminus, which is a sanitary sewer manhole near the Moscow Elementary School on Church Street (S. R. 690). The proposed action consists of installing approximately 6,000 feet of 1-1/2” to 4” diameter low pressure mains located along existing state and borough road right-of-ways. Low pressure sanitary sewer laterals would be constructed and grinder pumps installed at each residential or commercial location. The proposed project would service existing residents and commercial properties of Moscow Borough, totaling approximately 46.5 equivalent dwelling units.  

The project is authorized by Section 219 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1992 (Public Law 102-580), as amended. This authority directs USACE to provide assistance to non-federal interests for carrying out water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection projects. MSA is the non-federal sponsor. This project is located within the Borough of Moscow, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Projects in Lackawanna County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are specifically authorized in WRDA of 1999 (PL 106-53), §502(f)(11). 

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), USACE has prepared this draft EA and evaluated potential effects on the human environment. All applicable environmental laws have been considered. Short-term, minor, adverse impacts from the proposed project include dust, air emissions, and noise from construction activities; potential disruption of traffic during construction; and temporary loss of vegetation in areas disturbed. The extension of the sewer line would replace malfunctioning, on-lot sewage disposal systems, thereby benefitting the community through the use of safe and reliable sewage conveyance and treatment. Appropriate steps to minimize potential adverse impacts, such as the implementation of best management practices, would be incorporated into the project. 

USACE requests comments regarding the draft EA and FONSI within 30 days of the date of this notice. For federal and state agencies receiving a copy of this notice, we request that you provide comments concerning your responsibilities. The draft EA and FONSI are available at the USACE website: 
www.nab.usace.army.mil/home/public-notices/ops-public-notices. Comments can be submitted electronically to: Vanessa.m.campbell@usace.army.mil. Written comments can be sent to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: Vanessa Campbell, Planning Division, 10th Floor, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201. If you have any questions, please contact Vanessa Campbell by telephone at (410) 962-6704 or by email at the address above.