McGregor Main Street construction to start April 3
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, on March 1, issued an Iowa State Revolving Fund Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) for the upcoming McGregor Main Street Sewer Replacement Project. If no comments during a 30-day review period need to be addressed, work on phase 1 of the project will start Monday, April 3.
“We’re almost there,” said McGregor City Administrator Lynette McManus. “It’s a great relief. We’ve done everything [the State Historic Preservation Office] has asked us to do. We’ve got all the documents.”
The project, which includes water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer utility upgrades and full reconstruction of Main Street, will be completed over two years. Phase 1, through the city’s downtown, was slated to begin in 2022. However, delays in SHPO approval around this time last year scuttled the project for a whole construction season while the city worked to meet agency requirements to identify potential effects on archeological and/or historical sites and mitigation techniques to lessen the risk of potential impacts.
The city of McGregor has applied for financial assistance through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan program to build the project. The State Revolving Loan Program is a program authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in partnership with the Iowa Finance Authority.
As part of this process, an environmental review must be performed based on the procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FNSI states that proposed action will not result in significant impacts to the surrounding environment.
According to the FNSI, the project will not significantly affect the pattern and type of land use or growth and distribution of population; conflict with local, regional or state land use plans or policies; or affect the 100-year floodplain, provided all necessary permits and terms are abided by.
Work will not impact wetlands, parklands, preserves or other public areas, and it will not affect threatened and endangered species and their habitats. No significant impact to surface water quality, fish, shellfish, wildlife or their natural habitats is expected provided that an NPDES General Permit Number 2 (for storm water discharge associated with construction activities) is obtained and the terms are abided by.
Additionally, work will not adversely impact local ambient air quality, noise levels, surface water quantity, groundwater quality or quantity or water supply.
In order to address the effects of the McGregor Main Street Sewer Replacement project on historic sites, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among the city of McGregor, Iowa DNR, Iowa SHPO, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and the Office of the State Archaeologist regarding was executed. Implementation of the terms of the MOA is evidence that the Iowa DNR has taken into account the effects of this project on historic properties.
McGregor downtown business and property owners, shopkeepers, residents and other members of the public are encouraged to attend an informational meeting for phase 1 of the Main Street project on Tuesday, March 14. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Backwoods Event Center in McGregor.
Additional info and construction updates are also available on the city of McGregor website at www.cityofmcgregoriowa.com/construction-info.html.
