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 Central Hampshire Public Service District Southwestern Hampshire County Water Extension Project located in Purgitsville, West Virginia. The Baltimore District is cost sharing the extension of the waterline along US Route 220 from the Hampshire and Hardy County border, and extending north to the community of Rada, West Virginia. The non-federal sponsor is the Central Hampshire Public Service District. The proposed action consists of installing approximately 71,000 linear feet of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waterline, ranging from 2-inches in diameter to 6-inches in diameter and a 50-gallon per minute booster station. A 50,000-gallon water storage tank is also proposed as part of the larger installation but will be constructed under a separate contract, not associated with the Section 571 Program. The proposed extension would service residents and commercial properties along US Route 220, totaling approximately 120 Equivalent Dwelling Units. The proposed project would supplant existing private wells and cisterns that pose a potential risk to public health through untreated contaminants in the ground water.
The Northern West Virginia Environmental Infrastructure and Resource Protection and Development Program was authorized by Section 571 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1999 (PL 106-53), as amended, by Section 5155 of WRDA 2007 (PL 110-114), Section 352(b)(13) of WRDA 2020 (PL 116-260), and Section 8373 (PL 117-263) of WRDA 2022. The primary objective of the Section 571 Program is to provide design and construction assistance to non-Federal interests carrying out water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects in counties within northern West Virginia.
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. Potential impacts to the human and physical environment were assessed. 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 some areas. Permanent vegetation loss is expected for clearing of the access road and the 20-ft diameter, 50,000-gallon water storage tank. The extension of the waterline would replace personal wells and cisterns, thereby benefitting the community through provision of safe and reliable drinking water. Appropriate steps to minimize potential adverse impacts, such as the implementation of best management practices, will be incorporated into the project. The proposed project would not have an adverse effect on any threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat. No impacts to cultural resources or National Register of Historic Places properties are expected. Tribal coordination has also been completed and no impacts are expected.
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: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Central-WV-Infrastructure-571-Program/.
Comments can be submitted electronically to: Christopher.a.Johnson@usace.army.mil. Written comments can be sent to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: Chris Johnson, Planning Division, 10th Floor, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Johnson by telephone at (410) 962-2926 or by email at the address above.