U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 300 
Kansas City, Missouri, 64114-3372 

 

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT 
CITY OF STORM LAKE SANITARY SYSTEM MITIGATION PROJECT 
STORM LAKE, IOWA 
FEMA-1763-DR-IA 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with local, state and other 
federal agencies to coordinate the response to the Midwest storms of 2008, a federally declared 
disaster in Iowa. The City of Storm Lake identified mitigation measures in their 2009 FEMA-
approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to reduce their vulnerability to losses as the result of 
natural and human-related hazards. Among the mitigation measures, the City identified the need 
to replace sewer lines and to construct or elevate lift stations to alleviate flooding and 
surcharging of the sanitary system which has historically led to sewage backing up into homes. 
The proposed project consists of installing a new diversion force main to the west and south, 
retrofitting two lift stations and constructing five new lift stations, relocating the grit screening 
equipment, replacing intrachannel clarifiers with traditional clarifiers, expanding the lagoon cell, 
and providing a backup generator to operate the wastewater treatment facility during power 
outages.
FEMA was authorized under Presidential Disaster Declaration, FEMA-DR-1763-IA, to provide 
federal disaster assistance to the State of Iowa, as a result of damages during the incident period 
beginning May 25, 2008 and ending August 13, 2008 (Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act, 42 USC 5121-5207, as amended; Stafford Act, Public Law 93-288). 
The scope and magnitude of this disaster declaration authorized the Hazard Mitigation Grant 
Program to issue funds for mitigation projects in the State of Iowa as identified by communities 
to reduce or eliminate known risks for future disasters (44 CFR 206 subpart N). The National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires that FEMA evaluate the potential 
environmental effects of the agency’s proposed and alternative actions prior to obligating disaster 
assistance funds. The President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has developed a 
series of regulations for implementing the NEPA. These regulations are included in Title 40 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 1500–1508. 
The CFR requires that a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) include an evaluation of 
alternative means of addressing damages caused in declared disasters, and a discussion of the 
potential environmental effects of the proposed Federal Action. In accordance with both CEQ 
and FEMA regulations implementing NEPA in 44 CFR Part 10, FEMA prepared a Draft 
Environmental Assessment (EA) to identify and evaluate potential environmental impacts 
resulting from the alternatives presented in the EA and to determine whether the potential effects 
of the Proposed Action will require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The EA contains an evaluation of the potential 
impacts associated with constructing mitigation measures to the Storm Lake Sanitary System. 
Alternatives evaluated in the EA include: 1) no action, i.e. no mitigation measures constructed, 2) 
construction of a new conveyance to the west and south with associated system improvements 
(proposed), 3) construction of a new conveyance to the east and south with associated system 
improvements, 4) upgrade the existing system and replace the existing Memorial Lift Station, and 
5) rehabilitate the system by lining the sanitary sewers and associated system improvements. The 
proposed action (number 2) was selected as the preferred alternative as the least costly option 
that satisfied the objectives of providing additional capacity to accommodate the existing flow 
levels in the system. The Draft EA was made available for public review and comment from 
October 15 to November 15, 2011; FEMA did not receive substantive comments on the Draft 
EA. 
FINDING 
Based upon the project scope of work, site design, and EA; and in accordance with FEMA’s 
regulations in 44 CFR Part 10 for environmental consideration, including Executive Orders (EO) 
addressing floodplains (EO 11988), wetlands (EO 11990), and environmental justice (EO 
12898), FEMA determined the Proposed Action will not significantly affect the quality of the 
natural and human environment and does not have the potential for significant cumulative effects 
when combined with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions in accordance with 
44 CFR Part 10.8 (d)(3)(x). The following best management practices (BMP), coordination, and 
permitting are required as project conditions;
*	Construction activities would be required to minimize fugitive dust emissions through 
watering, controlling entrainment of dust by vehicles, and/or other measures to reduce the 
disturbance of particulate matter.
*	During site preparation and construction, the contractor would:
o	Minimize land disturbance;
o	Suppress dust on traveled paths that are not paved through wetting, use of 
watering trucks, chemical dust suppressants, or other reasonable precautions to 
prevent dust from entering ambient air;
o	Cover trucks when hauling soil;
o	Minimize soil track-out by washing or cleaning truck wheels before leaving the 
construction site;
o	Stabilize the surface of soil piles; and
o	Create wind breaks.

*	During site restoration, the contractor would:
o	Revegetate any disturbed land not used with native species in accordance with 
Executive Order (EO) 13112
o	Remove unused material, and
o	Remove soil piles via covered trucks.
*	Use site and project appropriate sediment and erosion control best management practices:
o	Non-structural sediment control BMP may utilize the minimization of disturbance, 
preservation of natural vegetation and re-vegetation of exposed slopes and soils to 
minimize erosion and to stabilize slopes;
o	Structural erosion controls BMP include the placement of mulch or grass, the 
covering of stockpiles, silt fencing, and sediment traps.
*	Use site appropriate traffic controls in construction zones such as signage, flagmen, and 
possibly escort vehicles to sustain traffic flow while maintaining safe working and traffic 
conditions.
*	Prepare a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and obtain a general National 
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for ground disturbance of one 
acre or more from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
*	Coordinate with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for Section 404 permit and 
any USACE required mitigation measures if impacts to wetlands are unavoidable.
*	Coordinate with the IDNR in the event that unanticipated hazardous substances are 
encountered during the project; work cannot continue until the IDNR indicates that no 
further assessment is needed of the discovery.
*	In the event that archaeological deposits are encountered, work must stop and FEMA 
must be notified; work cannot continue until the sensitive area is evaluated and 
consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office has been completed.
*	In the event that federally protected species are encountered during the project, work 
must stop and FEMA must be notified; work cannot continue until FEMA has consulted 
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  
As a result of the information and analysis contained in the environmental assessment, a Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been prepared. An Environmental Impact Statement will 
not, therefore, be prepared based on the fact that there will be no long-term adverse impacts to 
the natural or human environment as a result of this project and therefore, based upon the 
findings above, the project may proceed. 
APPROVAL

Kenneth Sessa
Regional Environmental Officer 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region VII