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 (PSD) – Southwestern Hampshire County Water Extension Project, located in Purgitsville, West Virginia. The Baltimore District is cost sharing the project with the Central Hampshire PSD, the non-Federal sponsor. This project will extend a previous Section 571 project (Central Hampshire Public Service District – Southwestern Hampshire County Water Extension Phase I and Phase II) to encompass additional residents in the area. Phase III of the water system project will provide public drinking water access to 49 new customers in the areas of Russelldale Road, Mud Run Road, Huffman Road, and Route 220 north and south of Rada, WV. The Phase III project will consist of the installation of approximately 5,000 linear feet (LF) of 6-inch water lines, 20,000 LF of 4-inch water lines, 16,000 LF of 3-inch water lines and 10,000 LF of 2-inch water lines, including all necessary valves and appurtenances. In total, the project would install approximately 51,000 linear feet of new water line located within existing rights-of-way (ROWs) and previously disturbed areas.
The purpose of the proposed project is to provide safe drinking water to the residents of Purgitsville, WV and the surrounding neighborhoods and towns. Currently, the residents of this area rely on private wells and cisterns for drinking water. Water quality tests have shown these sources, in parts, have elevated levels of iron, lead, arsenic, and high levels of methane.
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. This project is located within Hampshire County, 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. Impacts from the proposed project include short-term, minor, (i.e., detectable and localized), adverse impacts to land use, soils, floodplains, air quality, noise, and traffic during construction. Short-term, minor, adverse impacts may occur to waterways in the form of excess sedimentation caused by adjacent earth removal and soil disturbance. Appropriate steps to minimize potential adverse impacts, such as the implementation of best management practices will be incorporated into the project. It is the non-Federal sponsor’s responsibility to coordinate with the state of West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and with USACE Baltimore District – Regulatory Branch, as it pertains to the Clean Water Act (Sections 401, 402, and 404), Waters of the U.S. and to secure and comply with the respective permits required for the project. As of June 2024, the necessary permits have not been secured but it is the non-federal sponsor’s responsibility to ensure the project is compliant with the
Clean Water Act and any other relevant requirements before the start of construction. No adverse effects will occur to 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 with no concerns of impacts.
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 email at the address above.