NOTICES

PENNSYLVANIA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AUTHORITY

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Environmental Assessment Approvals for PENNVEST Funding Consideration

[53 Pa.B. 8039]
[Saturday, December 23, 2023]

 Scope: Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Projects for consideration at the January 24, 2024, meeting of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) Board.

 Description: PENNVEST, which administers the Commonwealth's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), is intended to be the funding source for the following projects. The Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) review of these projects, and the information received in the Environmental Report for these projects, has not identified any significant, adverse environmental impact resulting from any of the proposed projects. The Department hereby approves the Environmental Assessment for each project. If no significant comments are received during this comment period, the Environmental Assessment will be considered approved and funding for the project will be considered by PENNVEST.

 To be considered, the Department must receive comments on this approval on or by Monday, January 22, 2024. Electronic comments should be submitted using the Department's eComment site at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment. Written comments can be submitted by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov or by mail to the Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Use ''PENNVEST SRF-Environmental Assessment'' as the subject line in written communication.

 For more information about the approval of the following Environmental Assessments or the CWSF and DWSRF Programs, contact Richard Wright, Bureau of Clean Water, Department of Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 8774, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8774, (717) 772-4059, riwright@pa.gov, or visit the Department's web site at www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Water/CleanWater/ InfrastructureFinance/Pages/default.aspx.

 Comments received during the comment period, along with the Department's comment and response document, will be available on the Department's web site at www. dep.pa.gov/Business/Water/CleanWater/Infrastructure Finance/Pages/EnvironmentalReview.aspx.

 Upon approval, the full list of approved projects and their costs can be found in a press release on PENNVEST's web site at www.pennvest.pa.gov.

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CWSRF Projects Being Considered:

Applicant:	Elizabethtown Borough
County:	Lancaster
Applicant Address:	600 South Hanover Street Elizabethtown, PA 17022

 Project Description: The Radio Road Interceptor Improvements Project involves replacing and rehabilitating approximately 11,400 linear feet (LF) of deteriorated and hydraulically limited sewer main. It includes replacing the existing 15-inch diameter pipe between manholes K15 and G5, upgrading the interceptor between manholes G5 and L39 from 15-inch diameter pipe to 18-inch diameter pipe, upgrading the interceptor between manholes L36 and J30 from 18-inch diameter pipe to 21-inch diameter, replacing the existing 21-inch diameter pipe between manholes J30 and C44 and realignment of various sanitary sewer mains segments to improve sewer flow. The goal of the project is to reduce infiltration and inflow and provide for adequate hydraulic capacity for existing and future flows.

 Problem Description: The Radio Road interceptor experiences peak flows in excess of its hydraulic capacity leading to sewer back-ups and overflows during periods of wet weather and high groundwater table. The facility is under a corrective action plan (CAP) to remediate overloading. Findings from studies conducted in 2016 and later in 2020 under the CAP showed that the interceptor was deteriorated due to age and hydraulically limited causing the surcharging and overload in the sewer system.

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Applicant:	Curwensville Municipal Authority
County:	Clearfield
Applicant Address:	314 South Street Curwensville, PA 16833

 Project Description: This project involves rehabilitating the sanitary sewer collection system and the wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) operated by Curwensville Municipal Authority (Authority). The sanitary sewer collection system rehabilitation includes slip lining 2,300 LF of 8-inch diameter clay sewer mains, replacing 10 brick manholes with concrete manholes, replacing 400 LF of existing sewer laterals and 650 LF of 4-inch force main. The WWTF rehabilitation includes replacing existing valves, piping and appurtenances in the raw wastewater pumping system, replacing the existing utility water system, updating the WWTF's remote pumping station alarm systems and constructing an auger system for spreading out biosolids. It also includes upgrading the control building, effluent pump station tank, sewer inspection camera, sewer cleaning jet, lab equipment and the security system.

 Problem Description: The Authority was notified in 2010 that the WWTF would be assigned annual nutrient discharge limitations as part of Pennsylvania's Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy. In response, the Authority prepared an Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan Special Study to evaluate how to address the nutrient limitations and other needs within its system. Other needs identified include failing rotating biological contactors, anaerobic digesters and other existing equipment at the WWTF, hydraulic overload within the collection system causing sanitary sewer overflows and erosion of an Anderson Creek stream crossing that may lead to a sewer main break and discharge of sewage.

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Applicant:	Shinglehouse Borough
County:	Potter
Applicant Address:	103 North Pleasant Street P.O. Box 156 Shinglehouse, PA 16748

 Project Description: This project involves demolishing the primary clarifier, final clarifier and trickling filter at the Shinglehouse Borough wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Construction activity includes a new headworks building to house the existing screening equipment, installing a grit removal system within the new headworks building, installing a two-channel oxidation ditch process with a preanaerobic reactor tank for biological treatment and two new final clarifiers.

 Problem Description: Shinglehouse Borough owns and operates a wastewater collection, conveyance and treatment system that serves Shinglehouse Borough. The WWTP was constructed in 1966 and is mostly original equipment. Small repairs and modifications have been made over the past 50 years to keep the facility in operation and in compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. In 2016, the WWTP was evaluated and it was determined that the existing equipment had reached the end of its useful life and the current treatment process would not be capable of reliably meeting certain effluent limitations.

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Applicant:	North East Township Water and Sewer Authority
County:	Erie
Applicant Address:	10300 West Main Road P.O. Box 156 North East, PA 16428

 Project Description: This project involves the installation of approximately 3,587 LF of 2-inch high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 4,969 LF of 3-inch HDPE and 8,600 LF of 4-inch HDPE low-pressure sewer lines to extend service to additional properties located on lots that are immediately adjacent to the shore of Lake Erie between Chase Road and the Pennsylvania-New York state line. Additional activities include constructing 114 one-and-a-quarter inch HDPE lateral connections, 13 air release/vacuum valves in manholes at high points on the mains, 22 cleanout connections and 1 discharge connection.

 Problem Description: The septic systems of many parcels between the existing gravity sewer system on Seitzinger Road and the Pennsylvania-New York state line are failing, causing direct discharges to Lake Erie and forcing property owners who address the issue to resort to expensive small flow treatment systems.

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DWSRF Projects Being Considered:

Applicant:	North Warren Municipal Authority
County:	Warren
Applicant Address:	44 Hospital Drive North Warren, PA 16365

 Project Description: The project will involve the installation of 4,450 LF of new 8-inch diameter C900 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) water main along Hillcrest Drive between the existing Water Pump Station No. 1 and the Hillcrest Development. Additionally, approximately 4,650 LF of 8-inch and 1,950 LF of 6-inch water main will be replaced with new C900 PVC waterline within the Hillcrest Development. Fourteen new fire hydrants will be installed/replaced along Hillcrest Drive and within the development. Lastly, a pressure reducing valve vault will be installed where the new Hillcrest main makes connection to the existing system.

 Problem Description: The Hillcrest Development's water system is prone to leaks and pressurized by a booster pump station that is not capable of providing fire protection.

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Applicant:	Sandy Lake Borough
County:	Mercer
Applicant Address:	3271 South Main Street Sandy Lake, PA 16145

 Project Description: Sandy Lake Borough (Borough) is proposing improvements to the water system. Sandy Lake proposes replacing approximately 22,000 LF of waterline and the addition of 1,400 LF of new waterline. The proposed construction will consist of the replacement of nonPVC waterlines within the Borough and portions of Sandy Lake Township, tie-ins with new meters and meter pits to residential and commercial areas along the new waterlines, erosion and sedimentation controls, and all other appurtenances necessary, such as the installation of new curb stop boxes and valves, replacing fire hydrant assemblies and valves and replacing non-operable valves.

 Problem Description: This project proposes problem resolution to the current water distribution system's deteriorating conditions. Certain portions of the distribution system have been replaced over time; however, a significant part of the system requires replacement, exhibiting on average about 60 waterline breaks a year. Characterization of the water line breaks generally include pipeline fractures in the cast iron, pin holes in the copper pipe, splitting in the asbestos cement materials and service saddles/fitting bolts rusting off, all indicative of acidic soil/metallic piping reactions. Another issue is that residential customers do not have metered water. This makes it more difficult to locate breaks in the system.

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Applicant:	Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority
County:	Greene
Applicant Address:	1442 Jefferson Road Jefferson, PA 15344

 Project Description: The Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority (SPWA) is proposing to extend the SPWA water distribution system to serve the Brave Water and Sewer Authority (BWSA) system located in Wayne Township. The project includes the extension of approximately 23,350 LF of 8-inch diameter water main and all associated valves, fittings, fire hydrants, service connections and restoration.

 Problem Description: BWSA currently purchases its water through several districts/boards in West Virginia. BWSA has a history of exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for total trihalomethane (TTHM). This is due to receiving water that often exceeds the MCL for TTHM due to the age of the water. It is very difficult to eliminate this contaminant from the water without considerable expense. Water proposed to be furnished by SPWA to BWSA will have a lower water age and is treated to minimize the formation of disinfection by-products including total TTHM.

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Applicant:	Washington Township Municipal Authority
County:	Franklin
Applicant Address:	11102 Buchanan Trail East Waynesboro, PA 17268

 Project Description: This project consists of the installation of 9,700 LF of new 12-inch ductile iron (DI) water main between the Brookdale Water Treatment Plant and the Pine Hill tank, decommissioning the Green Ridge tank, relocating the Green Ridge booster pumping station to the Pine Hill tank and installing 4,800 LF of new 12 inch diameter DI water main between the new Pine Hill booster pumping station and the distribution system that feeds Tall tank.

 Problem Description: This project aims to eliminate water service interruptions due to a demand spike (for example, fire event or main break) within the pressure zone served by Washington Township Municipal Authority's Green Ridge tank.

JESSICA SHIRLEY, 
Interim Acting Secretary
Department of Environmental Protection

ROBERT H. BOOS, 
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 23-1783. Filed for public inspection December 22, 2023, 9:00 a.m.]

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