FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, PROJECT NAME: FORT KNOX POTABLE WATER UTILITY SYSTEM

By Fort Knox DPWJanuary 31, 2019

Project Description: Hardin County Water District No. 1 proposes to implement 15 projects to improve the water quality; water pressure; fire flows; and water treatment plant capacity, reliability, and resiliency of the Fort Knox Water System. Improvement projects include upgrades to the Muldraugh Water Treatment Plant, the construction of two new elevated storage tanks, improvements to and installation of new water lines, installation of water quality flushing units, and the removal and/or decommissioning of unnecessary infrastructure.

Alternatives Considered: Alternatives considered for this action are as follows:

• Alternative 1: No action. The Fort Knox Water System would be operated and maintained as it currently exists.

• Alternative 2 (Preferred): Hardin County Water District No. 1 will construct the proposed action including the 15 improvement projects for the Fort Knox Water System.

For this Environmental Assessment, Alternatives 1 and 2 were considered.

Facts and Conclusions: This Environmental Assessment indicates that no significant adverse environmental impacts would result from the proposed action described in Alternative 2 and that Alternative 2 would be the best alternative for the Army and Fort Knox. This determination is based on the following:

• Under Alternative 2, potable water service to Fort Knox would be improved through improved water quality; increased water pressure; increased fire flows; and increased water treatment plant capacity, reliability, and resiliency.

• The proposed action would not result in negative impacts to air quality, water quality, soils/land, biological resources, cultural resources, noise levels, or child health and safety, or result in disproportionate adverse human health or environmental effects on minority or low-income populations.

• Most construction will occur on previously disturbed land and land will be returned to the appropriate land cover following construction.

• Asbestos removal will be coordinated with the Fort Knox Environmental Management Division and performed by a licensed abatement contractor. An Asbestos Removal Work Plan will be approved by the Environmental Management Division prior to asbestos removal.

• A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan will be developed in accordance with Kentucky storm water permitting regulations prior to construction.

• Standard erosion prevention and sediment control best management practices will be used in accordance with the Fort Knox Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to prevent construction storm water runoff from transporting sediment to nearby streams or wetlands.

• Appropriate mitigation techniques under guidance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be enacted in areas that may impact potential bat habitat.

• Trees over 3-inches in diameter at breast height will not be removed unless approved by the Fort

Knox Environmental Management Division and tree clearing will be limited to unoccupied season for

Indiana, gray, and Northern long-eared bats or as required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• No impacts to cultural resources are anticipated.

• A Spill Contingency Plan will be submitted to the Fort Knox Environmental Management Division

prior to construction.

• All hazardous waste and hazardous materials handling procedures will follow Fort Knox

Environmental Management Division standards.

There are no long-term cumulative environmental impacts anticipated as result of the proposed action. Therefore, the proposed action would not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate.

This Environmental Assessment has been prepared in accordance with 32 Code of Federal Regulation

(CFR) Part 651, Environmental Analysis of Army Actions; Final Rule, as published in the Federal

Register on March 29, 2002, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (Public Law (PL) 91-190,

42 United States Code 4321 et seq.) as amended in 1975 by PL 94-52 and PL 94-83. This action does not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, the action does not require the preparation of a detailed environmental impact statement under Section 102(2) (c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

Public Availability: The EA, Draft Finding of No Significant Impact, for the Fort Knox Water System

Improvements are available for a 30-day public review and comment period, from February 1, 2019

through March 3, 2019. Documents were made available at the Barr Library (400 Quartermaster

Street, Fort Knox, Kentucky), the Hardin County Library (800 South Logsdon Parkway, Radcliff,

Kentucky), the Hardin County Public Library (100 Jim Owen Drive, Elizabethtown, Kentucky), Bullitt

County Library Hillview Branch (155 Terry Boulevard, Hillview, Kentucky), Bullitt County Library

Lebanon Junction Branch (11382 S. Preston Highway, Lebanon Junction, Kentucky), Bullitt County

Library Mt. Washington Branch (214 N. Bardstown Road, Mt. Washington, Kentucky), Bullitt County

Library Ridgway Memorial (127 N. Walnut Street, Shepherdsville, Kentucky) and the Meade County

Public Library (400 Library Place, Brandenburg, Kentucky). A Public Notice was published in three

local newspapers (News Enterprise, Meade County Messenger and The Pioneer News). The Draft

Finding of No Significant Impact was also available on two Fort Knox websites

(https://www.knox.army.mil and https://www.army.mil/knox). Comments from the public were

requested to be submitted to Daniel Clifford at dclifford@HCWD.com, 270-351-3222.