By Aberdeen Insider - May 22, 2025 in CITY OF ABERDEEN
FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
TO ALL INTERESTED GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND PUBLIC GROUPS
As required by guidelines for the preparation of environmental impact statements, an environmental review has been performed on the proposed Clean Water State Revolving Fund action below:
PROJECT: Water Reclamation Facility Improvements
LOCATION: Aberdeen (Brown County), South Dakota
PROJECT NUMBER: C461072-05
TOTAL FUNDING/
SRF C461003-05 SHARE: $81,323,000 / $30,000,000
In April 2022, the City of Aberdeen received a funding package from BWNR totaling $51,323,000 for a Water Reclamation Facility Improvements project. Bids came in over budget, and the project will require an additional $30,000,000 to cover increased costs.
The City of Aberdeen received a $32,426,100 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Loan and a $18,896,900 American Rescue Plan act grant on April 13, 2022. On March 27, 2025, Aberdeen received an additional $30,000,000 CWSRF loan with a rate of 3.75 percent and a term of 30 years. Aberdeen has pledged a surcharge to repay this second loan. The surcharge is $16.05 per user per month.
The Water Reclamation Facility Improvements project will not affect any historical or archaeological resources as determined by a Cultural Resources Inventory Survey of the project area. In the event of an archaeological or historical resource being unearthed during construction, work will be stopped and the State Historic Preservation Office will be notified. The project should have no direct or indirect adverse effects on plant life or wildlife. The improvements, if necessary, will be flood proofed to above the 100-year base flood elevation. The proposed project will not adversely affect wetlands. The United States Department of Agriculture determined that there will be no significant impact on farmland of statewide importance in Brown County, and the Department of Agriculture determined that no further alternatives need be considered.
The review process did not indicate that significant environmental impacts would result from the proposed project. Consequently, a preliminary decision not to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement has been made. This action is taken on the basis of a careful review of the engineering report, environmental information documents, and other supporting data which are on file at the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Division of Financial and Technical Assistance, Pierre, South Dakota, and are available for public scrutiny at the city office in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Comments supporting or disagreeing with this decision may be submitted to [email protected] for consideration by DANR. After evaluating the comments received, the Department will make a final decision; however, no final administrative action will be taken on the project for at least 30 calendar days after release of the First Amendment to the Finding of No Significant Impact.
/s/Tina McFarling
Tina McFarling,
Program Administrator
Environmental Funding Program
Published once on May 22, 2025, at the total approximate cost of $31.92 and may be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.aberdeeninsider.com