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
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