AGENCY: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – Rural Utilities Service

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Final Notice of Potential Impact to Floodplains and Wetlands with the construction of 4.5 miles of replacement pipeline including associated components/structures.

ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact and Final Notice Regarding Potential Impacts to Floodplains and Wetlands.

SUMMARY: The USDA Rural Utilities Service, has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a request for possible financing assistance to Southwest Regional Water District for the cost of constructing 4.5 miles of replacement pipeline, including associated components/structures, in rural Page County, Iowa.

FURTHER INFORMATION: To obtain copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and FONSI, or for further information, contact: Dee Fischer, Area Director, USDA-Rural Development/Rural Utilities Service, 712-254-4360 or email dee.fischer@usda.gov The EA and FONSI are also available for public review at USDA Rural Development, 511 W. 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project consists of the construction of 4.5 miles of replacement pipeline, including associated components/structures, in Grant and Tarkio Townships in rural Page County, Iowa. The alternatives are discussed in the EA. The Rural Utilities Service has reviewed and approved the EA for the proposed project.

The availability of the EA for public review was announced via notice in the following newspapers: Southwest Iowa Herald and the Red Oak Express published on February 19th and 26th, 2025. A 14-day comment period was announced in these newspaper notices. The EA was also available for public review at the USDA Rural Development office as well as the office of Southwest Regional Water District. No comments were received.

Based on its EA, commitments made by Southwest Regional Water District, and no public comments received, the Rural Utilities Service has concluded that the project would have no significant impact (or no impacts) to water quality, land use, aesthetics, transportation, or human health and safety.

If implemented, portions of the pipeline corridor will be constructed in areas that are potentially designated as 100 and 500-year floodplains and/or wetlands in Page County, Iowa. The piping will be buried, with the floodplain and/or wetland area(s) returned to its pre-existing condition. There will be no conversion of a floodplain or wetland with the construction of the replacement pipeline.

The proposed project will have no adverse effect on resources listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The Agency has also concluded that the proposed project is not likely to affect federally listed threatened and endangered species or designated critical habitat thereof. The proposed project would not disproportionately affect minority and/or low-income populations.

No other potential significant impacts resulting from the proposed project have been identified. Therefore, the Rural Utilities Service has determined that this FONSI fulfills its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR §§ 1500-1508), and USDA Rural Development's Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1970) for its action related to the project.

Rural Utilities Service is satisfied that the environmental impacts of the proposed project have been adequately addressed. Rural Utilities Service federal action would not result in significant impacts to the quality of the human environment, and as such it will not prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for its action related to the proposed project.

Dated: March 5, 2025