DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Development Rumford-Mexlco Sewerage District: Notice of Avallability of an Environ- mental Assessment AGENCY: USDA ACTION: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the USDA as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) in connection with possible impacts related to a project proposed by Rumford-Mexico Sewerage District (RMSD), of Mexico, Maine. The proposal is for construction of a wastewater treatment facility upgrade and pump station upgrades in Mexico, Maine and Rumford, Maine. The Rumford-Mexico Sewerage District has submitted an application to USDA for funding of the proposal. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessie Archer, Area Loan Specialist, USDA Rural Development, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston, ME 04240, 207- 241-5359 or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rumford-Mexico Sewerage District proposes to construct a comprehensive upgrade to its wastewater treatment facility located at 228 River Road, Mexico, Maine. It also intends to construct comprehensive upgrades to wastewater pump stations located on 20 Dix Avenue in Mexico, Maine, Prospect Avenue in Rumford, Maine and South Rumford Road in Rumford, Maine. Wright-Pierce, an environmental consultant, prepared an environmental assessment for USDA that describes the project, assesses the proposed project's environmental impacts, and summarizes as applicable any mitigation measures used to minimize environmental effects. Rumford-Mexico Sewerage District intends to seek financial assistance from USDA RUS for wastewater treatment facility and pump station upgrades. The proposed project consists of comprehensive upgrades to a wastewater treatment facility located at 228 River Road in Mexico, Maine; a pump station located at 20 Dix Avenue in Mexico, Maine, a pump station located on Prospect Avenue in Rumford, Maine and a pump station located on South Rumford Road in Rumford, Maine. If implemented, the proposed project will convert 810 cubic feet of 100-year and 500-year floodplain by construction of miscellaneous unoccupied structures at a pump station located at Prospect Avenue in Rumford, Maine and the pump station located on South Rumford Road in Rumford, Maine. In accordance with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3, Land Use Policy, the purpose of this notice is to inform the public of this proposed conversion or effect and request comments conceming the proposal, alternative sites or actions that would avoid these impacts, and methods that could be used to minimize these impacts. USDA 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 USDA at the address provided. USDA will accept questions and comments on the environmental assessment for 14 days from the date of publication of this notice. Any final action by USDA 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. A general location map of the proposal is shown below FIGURE 1-1 RUMFORD MEXICO SEWERAGE DISTRICT MAIN WWTF AND PUMP STATIONS Dated: July 10, 2021 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Development Rumford-Mexlco Sewerage District: Notice of Avallability of an Environ- mental Assessment AGENCY: USDA ACTION: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the USDA as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) in connection with possible impacts related to a project proposed by Rumford-Mexico Sewerage District (RMSD), of Mexico, Maine. The proposal is for construction of a wastewater treatment facility upgrade and pump station upgrades in Mexico, Maine and Rumford, Maine. The Rumford-Mexico Sewerage District has submitted an application to USDA for funding of the proposal. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessie Archer, Area Loan Specialist, USDA Rural Development, 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston, ME 04240, 207- 241-5359 or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rumford-Mexico Sewerage District proposes to construct a comprehensive upgrade to its wastewater treatment facility located at 228 River Road, Mexico, Maine. It also intends to construct comprehensive upgrades to wastewater pump stations located on 20 Dix Avenue in Mexico, Maine, Prospect Avenue in Rumford, Maine and South Rumford Road in Rumford, Maine. Wright-Pierce, an environmental consultant, prepared an environmental assessment for USDA that describes the project, assesses the proposed project's environmental impacts, and summarizes as applicable any mitigation measures used to minimize environmental effects. Rumford-Mexico Sewerage District intends to seek financial assistance from USDA RUS for wastewater treatment facility and pump station upgrades. The proposed project consists of comprehensive upgrades to a wastewater treatment facility located at 228 River Road in Mexico, Maine; a pump station located at 20 Dix Avenue in Mexico, Maine, a pump station located on Prospect Avenue in Rumford, Maine and a pump station located on South Rumford Road in Rumford, Maine. If implemented, the proposed project will convert 810 cubic feet of 100-year and 500-year floodplain by construction of miscellaneous unoccupied structures at a pump station located at Prospect Avenue in Rumford, Maine and the pump station located on South Rumford Road in Rumford, Maine. In accordance with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3, Land Use Policy, the purpose of this notice is to inform the public of this proposed conversion or effect and request comments conceming the proposal, alternative sites or actions that would avoid these impacts, and methods that could be used to minimize these impacts. USDA 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 USDA at the address provided. USDA will accept questions and comments on the environmental assessment for 14 days from the date of publication of this notice. Any final action by USDA 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. A general location map of the proposal is shown below FIGURE 1-1 RUMFORD MEXICO SEWERAGE DISTRICT MAIN WWTF AND PUMP STATIONS Dated: July 10, 2021