DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RED ROCK RURAL WATER SYSTEM LAKES AREA EXPANSION PROJECT Rural Development Red Rock Rural Water System: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Rural Utility Service, USDA Rural Development ACTION: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utility Service (RUS), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) in connection with possible impacts related to a project pro- posed by the Red Rock Rural Water System (RRRWS) of Jeffers, MN. RRRWS has authorized this study to evaluate the feasibility of providing rural water service to new rural customers located on the shores of Lake Shetek and Lake Sarah, rural users in Murray County, and the city of Avoca. This project is referred to as the Lakes Area Expansion Project. The expansion area includes the townships of Lake Sarah, Shetek, Mason, Murray. Slayton, Lime Lake, Des Moines Riv- er, Bondin, and Belfast in Murray County. Water for the new members will be provided from a combination of RRRWS's current Lake Augusta water source and the new Lindstrom water source. The Lindstrom water source is located 5 miles east of the city of Avoca and will be developed as a part of this project. Water from the Lindstrom Source will be deliv. ered to an elevated tank located west of Lake Shetek., which will serve the rural area as well as the lake homes. Shetek Elevated Tank May00 Dory If implemented, the proposed project will construct the proposed wells in the 100-year flood plain. The portion of the project which would affect the floodplain equals about 1-acre. In accordance with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3, Land Use Policy, the parpose of this notice is to inform the public of this proposed conversion or effect and request comments concerning the proposal, alternative sites or actions that would avoid these impacts, and methods that could be used to minimize these impacts. Slayton Radey sy: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Gilmore, Area Specialist, USDA Rural Development, 1810 30th ST NW Faribault MN, 507-332-7418, edward.gilmore@usda.gov Linstrom WTP/ Well Fleld SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lindstrom Water Source is located on the western edge of the Red Rock Sys- tem within the boundaries of the Lakes Area Expansion Project. RRRWS currently owns a 32-acre parcel in the SW1/4 of Section 20 in T106N R39W. The site is on a shallow alluvial aquifer consisting of sands and gravels down to approximate- ly 50 feet below the ground surface. RRRWS has acquired a water withdrawal permit from the MN DNR for 100,000,000 MGY, an average flow rate of 325 gpm and a peak flow rate of 500 gpm. Constructing a new water treatment plant (WTP) at this site will provide RRRWS with a new water source for the system. Diversifying sources allows RRRWS to be more resilient to maintenance issues, such as pipeline leaks, routine water treatment plant maintenance, etc. Constructing a new water treatment plant would also increase maintenance costs for the system. These costs would be offset by the increase in customers of the Lakes Area Expansion Project. The quantity of water available at the Lindstrom source is limited and would not offer much room for expansion outside of the proposed Lakes Area project boundary. The designed peak flow rate of 500 gpm is higher than the average 325 gpm flow rate of the water source due to the high peaking factor of seasonal homes. Increased storage is planned at the site to offset the peak source deficit during the day. The Lindstrom Water Source has similar water quality to the Lake Augusta Water Source. Primary contaminants of concern are iron, manganese and arsenic. Iron and manganese levels are above the secondary MCL limit and the Arsenic levels are at or above the primary MCL limit. Total hardness is comparatively high to other water systems, but RRRWS has chosen to allow the customer to decide if the water needs to be softened. The proposed water treatment plant is designed to be a filtration plant for removing iron and manganese. Arsenic will co-precipitate out of the water with iron and manganese removal. Wa- ter from the wells will be pumped to a forced draft aerator to oxidize iron. The manganese will be oxidized using a chemical feed system. Water will then flow to the filter system for removal of contaminants. Water will be stored onsite in a combination of below-grade clear well and 300,000-gallon ground storage reservoir. Vertical turbine high service pumps will then be used to deliver water to elevated storage in the system. DGR Engineering, an environmental consultant, prepared an environmental assessment for RUS that describes the project, assesses the proposed project's environmental impacts, and sum- marizes as applicable any mitigation measures used to minimize environmental effects. RUS has conducted an independent evaluation of the environmental assessment and believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed project. No significant impacts are expected as a result of the construction of the project. Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the address provided. RUS will accept ques- tions and comments on the environmental assessment for 14 days from the date of publication of this notice. Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal environmental laws and regulations and completion of environmental review procedures as prescribed by 7 CFR Part 1970, Environmental Policies and Procedures. RON S The location maps for the proposal are shown below. Dated: January 12, 2022 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RED ROCK RURAL WATER SYSTEM LAKES AREA EXPANSION PROJECT Rural Development Red Rock Rural Water System: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Rural Utility Service, USDA Rural Development ACTION: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utility Service (RUS), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) in connection with possible impacts related to a project pro- posed by the Red Rock Rural Water System (RRRWS) of Jeffers, MN. RRRWS has authorized this study to evaluate the feasibility of providing rural water service to new rural customers located on the shores of Lake Shetek and Lake Sarah, rural users in Murray County, and the city of Avoca. This project is referred to as the Lakes Area Expansion Project. The expansion area includes the townships of Lake Sarah, Shetek, Mason, Murray. Slayton, Lime Lake, Des Moines Riv- er, Bondin, and Belfast in Murray County. Water for the new members will be provided from a combination of RRRWS's current Lake Augusta water source and the new Lindstrom water source. The Lindstrom water source is located 5 miles east of the city of Avoca and will be developed as a part of this project. Water from the Lindstrom Source will be deliv. ered to an elevated tank located west of Lake Shetek., which will serve the rural area as well as the lake homes. Shetek Elevated Tank May00 Dory If implemented, the proposed project will construct the proposed wells in the 100-year flood plain. The portion of the project which would affect the floodplain equals about 1-acre. In accordance with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3, Land Use Policy, the parpose of this notice is to inform the public of this proposed conversion or effect and request comments concerning the proposal, alternative sites or actions that would avoid these impacts, and methods that could be used to minimize these impacts. Slayton Radey sy: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Gilmore, Area Specialist, USDA Rural Development, 1810 30th ST NW Faribault MN, 507-332-7418, edward.gilmore@usda.gov Linstrom WTP/ Well Fleld SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lindstrom Water Source is located on the western edge of the Red Rock Sys- tem within the boundaries of the Lakes Area Expansion Project. RRRWS currently owns a 32-acre parcel in the SW1/4 of Section 20 in T106N R39W. The site is on a shallow alluvial aquifer consisting of sands and gravels down to approximate- ly 50 feet below the ground surface. RRRWS has acquired a water withdrawal permit from the MN DNR for 100,000,000 MGY, an average flow rate of 325 gpm and a peak flow rate of 500 gpm. Constructing a new water treatment plant (WTP) at this site will provide RRRWS with a new water source for the system. Diversifying sources allows RRRWS to be more resilient to maintenance issues, such as pipeline leaks, routine water treatment plant maintenance, etc. Constructing a new water treatment plant would also increase maintenance costs for the system. These costs would be offset by the increase in customers of the Lakes Area Expansion Project. The quantity of water available at the Lindstrom source is limited and would not offer much room for expansion outside of the proposed Lakes Area project boundary. The designed peak flow rate of 500 gpm is higher than the average 325 gpm flow rate of the water source due to the high peaking factor of seasonal homes. Increased storage is planned at the site to offset the peak source deficit during the day. The Lindstrom Water Source has similar water quality to the Lake Augusta Water Source. Primary contaminants of concern are iron, manganese and arsenic. Iron and manganese levels are above the secondary MCL limit and the Arsenic levels are at or above the primary MCL limit. Total hardness is comparatively high to other water systems, but RRRWS has chosen to allow the customer to decide if the water needs to be softened. The proposed water treatment plant is designed to be a filtration plant for removing iron and manganese. Arsenic will co-precipitate out of the water with iron and manganese removal. Wa- ter from the wells will be pumped to a forced draft aerator to oxidize iron. The manganese will be oxidized using a chemical feed system. Water will then flow to the filter system for removal of contaminants. Water will be stored onsite in a combination of below-grade clear well and 300,000-gallon ground storage reservoir. Vertical turbine high service pumps will then be used to deliver water to elevated storage in the system. DGR Engineering, an environmental consultant, prepared an environmental assessment for RUS that describes the project, assesses the proposed project's environmental impacts, and sum- marizes as applicable any mitigation measures used to minimize environmental effects. RUS has conducted an independent evaluation of the environmental assessment and believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed project. No significant impacts are expected as a result of the construction of the project. Questions and comments should be sent to RUS at the address provided. RUS will accept ques- tions and comments on the environmental assessment for 14 days from the date of publication of this notice. Any final action by RUS related to the proposed project will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal environmental laws and regulations and completion of environmental review procedures as prescribed by 7 CFR Part 1970, Environmental Policies and Procedures. RON S The location maps for the proposal are shown below. Dated: January 12, 2022