Alabama Department of Environmental Management
P.O. Box 301463 (Zip 36130-1463)
1400 Coliseum Boulevard (Zip 36110-2400)
Montgomery, Alabama
(334) 271-7700

CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
ADEM Fund Code 203

City of Florence
Lauderdale County
SRF Project No. CS010412-06

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has made $7,500,000 in financial assistance available to City of Florence using funds from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan program. In accordance with State and Federal regulations that govern the program, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management has conducted a review to assess the potential impacts upon the environment that may result from implementation of this project.

The City of Florence proposes a long-range project to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant and replace and rehabilitate lift stations and the collection system. The proposed project consists of replacing influent lift station bar screens, influent flow meters, conveyors and mixers, lime stabilization and blending units, the polymer storage and feed system, primary scum pumps, lines and strainer, demolishing the old influent lift station and lagoon generator, installing covered biosolids storage area, blowers with variable frequency drives (VFDs) and dissolved oxygen (DO) analyzers and new aeration basin mixers at the Cypress Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, replacing and rehabilitating concrete and clay sewer lines throughout the system, replacing aerial creek crossings, replacing Cox Creek, Industrial Park and Sweetwater Sewer Interceptors, upgrading Veteran’s Drive Lift Station, McFarland Park Lift Station #2 and Briar Cliff Lift Stations. Completion of this project will reduce sanitary sewer overflows (SSO), reduce inflow/infiltration (I/I), maintain current and future regulatory compliance, and improve the treatment plant’s energy efficiency. 

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has determined that the project qualifies for a Categorical Exclusion (CE) from further environmental study under the guidelines specified by the State Environmental Review Process (SERP) which specifically include actions which are solely directed toward minor rehabilitation of existing facilities, functional replacement of equipment, or towards the construction of new ancillary facilities adjacent or appurtenant to existing facilities. However, this decision may be reconsidered if significant adverse information concerning the potential environmental impacts of the project is discovered.

Comments relative to this project should be submitted in writing to Mrs. Chavon R. Jones, SRF Section, Permits & Services Division, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, P.O. Box 301463, Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1463, no later than 30 days after the date of this public notice. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management will not take formal action to proceed with the project without carefully evaluating any public comments opposing the project.

Notice is hereby given this 18th day of November, 2020, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

_________________________
Lance R. LeFleur
Director

Nondiscrimination Statement: The Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in the administration of its programs.