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

Utilities Board of the City of Oneonta
Blount County
SRF Project No. FS010055-02

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has made $6,500,000 in financial assistance available to the Utilities Board of the City of Oneonta using funds from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) 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 Utilities Board of the City of Oneonta proposes a project to provide improved drinking water distribution and source reliability within its water system. The proposed project will consist consolidation of the Sawyer Mountain Water System. Installation of new water mains that are adequately sized to handle the demand and pressure surges throughout the system with adequate isolation valves to minimize service disruptions. Existing water meters will be replaced with smart meters and smart meter registers to match existing meter manufacture equipment to more accurately measure water sales. Water pumps will be replaced with energy efficient Variable Frequency Drive controls to minimize pressure surges and emergency generators and updated electrical components and SCADA system updates will be installed for increased reliability. Buildings will be updated with new roofs and doors. Storage tanks will be painted and rehabilitated. Existing booster pump stations will be rehabilitated or replaced as required to for the current distribution system. The water treatment facilities will be updated with new chemical feed systems, pumps, electrical components, SCADA, and VFD’s on service pumps and valves. A new screw press with a building and necessary controls will be added to the treatment system. Natural gas electrical generators will be added at existing well sites for reliability. Completion of these improvements will provide an improved quality of life for The Utility Board’s customers by providing safe, reliable drinking water in a cost-effective manner.

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 Mr. William A. Lott, 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 20th day of October, 2021, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

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.