SUNBURST, Mont. (NMB) – A team recently completed the design to connect the Oilmont County Water District distribution system to the storage tank located about nine miles east of the Town of Sunburst. A press release says that this portion of Segment W5-A is an additional 2.4 miles of proposed water pipeline, which will be incorporated with the construction of the rest of the segment.
As part of the submission for review to Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the Bureau of Reclamation, additional environmental and cultural resources studies were performed. The studies were completed by a professional team of scientists and designed to comply with Federal and State environmental laws. This ensures the project respects and appropriately considers impacts to the natural and cultural resources of the region.
The environmental survey was designed to identify and delineate wetland areas in the project corridor. This was accomplished by studying the project soils, vegetation, landscape, hydrology, and topography of the proposed pipeline route. The project identified two wetland areas totaling 2.4 acres. The cultural resource survey consisted of a pedestrian inventory of the project corridor to identify any archaeological or historical resources. The survey did not find any historical resources in the project corridor.
The design and environmental investigation information was reviewed by the Montana DEQ in November and a Finding of No Significant Impact was determined. Final approvals are anticipated this month.
Construction of this segment of the non-core portion of the Rocky Boy/North Central Montana Regional Water System project began on October 29th.
