Site work for a water / sewer project in Parker, Colorado. Working plans call for site work for a water / sewer project.

he South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has conducted a review of a proposal from the city of Parker located in Turner County that involves replacing water distribution, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer lines within portions of the city. The drinking water portion of the project will install 7,600 feet of new PVC watermain in various locations throughout the community. The wastewater portion of the project will replacement of approximately 3,000 feet of clay sanitary sewer with PVC and 4,000 feet of storm sewer in various locations throughout the community. This project is a continuation of Parker Phase 6 Utility improvement and continues to address deteriorating water and sewer mains in locations throughout the city. On March 28, 2024, the city of Parker was awarded a $1,215,000.00 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan and a $862,000.00 Drinking Water Construction program (DW-Const) grant for the drinking water portion of the project. The loan will have a rate of 3.750 percent and a term of 30 years. Repayment of the Drinking Water SRF loan will be with a project surcharge of $11.00 which will provide the required 110 percent coverage. Current residential drinking water rates are $80.80 for 5,000 gallons usage. On March 28, 2024, the city of Parker was awarded a $1,669,000.00 Clean Water SRF loan for the sanitary and storm sewer portion of this project. The loan will have a rate of 3.750 percent and a term of 30 years. Repayment of the Clean Water SRF loan will be with a project surcharge of $15.60 which will provide the required 110 percent coverage. Current residential wastewater rates are $52.45 for 5,000 gallons usage. Listed below are the reasons for granting a categorical exclusion: 1. The project involves sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and water distribution lines within the developed portion of the community. 2. No comments requiring mitigative action were received from the South Dakota Historical Society, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, United States Department of Interior, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, or through the public participation process. The proposed action does not involve any serious local objections, nor does it meet any of the criteria for not granting a categorical exclusion as specified in Section 6.505(c) (i) through (iii) of 40 CFR Part 6, Subpart E. The project area will not affect any archaeological or historic resources. In the event of an archaeological or historic resource being unearthed during construction, the immediate stoppage of work would be required by the contract specifications. The proposed improvements should have no adverse effects on plant life or wildlife. The proposed project will have no effect on prime or important farmland. No other environmentally sensitive issues have been identified in the planning of this project. Minor noise, air pollution, and soil erosion problems will occur during construction, but these will be only temporary in nature. The review process did not indicate that significant environmental impacts would result from the proposed projects. Consequently, a preliminary decision not to prepare an EIS has been made. This action is taken on the basis of a careful review of the engineering report, environmental information documents, correspondence with responsible governmental agencies and other supporting data which are on file at the Division of Financial and Technical Assistance, Environmental Funding Program, DANR, Pierre, South Dakota, and are available for public scrutiny at the City Hall, Parker, South Dakota.