EARLY NOTICE AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN A 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN

EARLY NOTICE AND PUBLIC

REVIEW OF A PROPOSED

ACTIVITY IN A 100-YEAR

FLOODPLAIN

To: All interested Agencies,

Groups and Individuals

This is to give notice that the

Town of Washtucna has conducted

an evaluation as required

by Executive Order 11988 and/

or 11990, in accordance with

HUD regulations at 24 CFR

55.20 Subpart C Procedures

for Making Determinations on

Floodplain Management and

Protection of Wetlands to determine

the potential affect that its

activity in the floodplain and/or

wetland will have on the environment.

The Town of Washtucna

proposes to deepen their Main

Well (which experienced a mechanical

failure due to increased

drawdown in September 2020)

to increase available drawdown

and increase water flow from

the basalt aquifer. After deepening

the well the Town plans to

replace all or portions of the piping,

electrical components, and

pump house structure that have

reached the end of their service

life. In order to fund the proposed

improvements, the Town has secured

funding from the following

sources: Community Development

Block Grant (CDBG). The

proposed project would likely

be constructed in two phases:

1) Deepening the Existing Town

Well and 2) Improvements to the

pump station. These two phases

are discussed below.

Ground disturbing activities are

expected within the footprint

of the pump station and some

trenching for connection to the

water distribution system and

for a discharge line for flushing

from the well.

Deepen Town Well: Construction

will consist of deepening the

existing well by drilling approximately

800 vertical feet or until a

change in the aquifer level is encountered.

The finished well may

be as deep as approximately

1,300 feet in order to maximize

available drawdown and inflow

into the well.

Construct pump station for Town

Well: Once the well deepening

and well testing is complete the

pump house improvements will

be designed and constructed

based on the capacity of the

deepened well. This will consist

of one approximately 25 ft x 20

ft well pump station (houses well

pump, electrical, controls, piping,

appurtenances, etc) and installation

of a buried, ≈ 8-inch PVC or

Ductile Iron (DI) main from the

well pump station to the Town’s

existing distribution system. The

Town’s distribution system is

relatively close (approximately

100 LF). The Town will also construct

an approximately 8-inch

buried flushing piping that will

daylight to a nearby drainage

way (approx. 150 LF).

As proposed, both phases of

construction will occur within the

100-yr floodplain.

The proposed project is located

165 North Columbia River Lane

in Washtucna, Adams County,

WA.

There are three primary purposes

for this notice. First,

people who may be affected by

activities in floodplains/wetlands

and those who have an interest

in the protection of the natural

environment should be given

an opportunity to express their

concerns and provide information

about these areas. Commenters

are encouraged to offer

alternative sites outside of the

floodplain/wetland, alternative

methods to serve the same

project purpose, and methods to

minimize and mitigate impacts.

Second, an adequate public

notice program can be an important

public educational tool.

The dissemination of information

and request for public comment

about floodplains/wetlands can

facilitate and enhance Federal

efforts to reduce the risks and

impacts associated with the

occupancy and modification of

these special areas. Third, as

a matter of fairness, when the

Federal government determines

it will participate in actions taking

place in floodplains/wetlands, it

must inform those who may be

put at greater or continued risk.

This project will be funded by the

HUD/Community Development

Block Grant Program administered

by the Washington Department

of Commerce.

Written comments must be received

by the Clerk-Treasurer

at the Town of Washtucna at the

following email address (clerkwashtucna@

gmail.com) on or

before January 26, 2024.

Date: January 10, 2024

Published January 10 and 17,

2024