Categorical Exclusion

To All Interested Agencies and Public Groups:

As provided by the state environmental review process adopted in the Permanent Rules of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) 31 Texas Administrative Code §375, Subchapter E for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program and consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S. Code §4321, et seq., the Executive Administrator of the TWDB has determined that the proposed action identified below may be exempted from formal environmental review requirements:

City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
CWSRF Project Number 72275
Total Board Loan Commitment: $28,000,000
Total Estimated Project Cost:  $4,050,000
Total Estimated CWSRF funds to be used for this project: $3,525,000
Local Funds: $525,000

The City of Fort Worth (City) is proposing to use proceeds from a State Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 CWSRF Tier II loan from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for functional replacement of existing sanitary sewer lines within existing rights-of-way (ROW). Specifically, the proposed project (Contract 72 Part 2 and Contract 74) will involve replacement of approximately 30,000 feet of 6- to 12-inch sewer line with 8- to 12-inch line. The primary method of installation is open cut replacement with some lines being rehabilitated via pipe bursting or pipe enlargement techniques.

The proposed project involves functional replacement of existing lines. All work will be conducted within the existing previously disturbed ROW. This project will not impact wetlands or waters of the United States (U.S.) that are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, no impacts to significant or potentially significant cultural resources or protected species or critical habitat are expected. This Categorical Exclusion is granted because the specified project elements should not entail significant adverse impacts to the quality of the human environment. Documentation supporting this determination is on file at the Fort Worth Water Department and the TWDB.

The exclusion shall be revoked if (1) it is found that, due to changes in the project, the proposed action no longer meets the criteria for an exclusion, (2) evidence is found that the project may have serious environmental effects, or (3) it is found that Federal, State, or local laws are being or may be violated by implementation of the project. The project activities must comply with the following conditions:

• Standard emergency condition for endangered species; and,
• Standard emergency condition for cultural resources.

Comments regarding this determination may be submitted to the Director, Project Engineering and Review Division, Texas Water Development Board, Austin, Texas 78711.

Sincerely,

Mark D. Hall, P.E., Director
Project Engineering and Review Division