TORRINGTON – In a recent public notice, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announce categorical exclusion determination for the City of Torrington’s FY25 East D Street improvement project. 

“The Department of Environmental Quality/Water Quality Division (DEQ) has conducted a review of the proposed FY25 East D Street Improvements project in accordance with EPA and State of Wyoming procedures for implementing the State Environmental Review Process. DEQ has determined that this project is eligible for a categorical exclusion. Accordingly, DEQ is exempting the project from further substantive environmental review requirements under the State Environmental Review Process,” the notice said. “Neither an Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact nor an Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision will be required for the proposed action. The following is a brief description of the situation and the proposed action and a brief statement of how the action meets the criteria for a categorical exclusion.”

In an effort to replace the over 50-year-old waterline and storm sewer located on East D Street from U.S. Highway 26 to 30th Avenue. 

“The existing undersized 18-inch diameter Reinforced Concrete Pipe (RCP) storm sewer will be replaced with 2,976 feet of 30-inch diameter RCP, 728 feet of 24-inch diameter RCP, and 344 feet of 18-inch diameter RCP. All trunk lines will be fed by 15-inch diameter RCP laterals (total of 1208 feet) connected to 36 standard curb inlet catch basins. Seventeen storm sewer manholes will also be replaced: (5) 48-inch, (11) 60-inch, and (1) 72-inch,” the public notice explained. “The existing undersized 4-inch diameter Ductile Iron Pipe water main will be replaced with 6,750 feet 8-inch diameter C900 PVC pipe. New service connections and curb stops will be provided to residents connected to the main line. After all the underground work is completed, the street will be reconstructed including the curb, gutter, and sidewalk.”

The project is estimated at $6,400,000, including the inspection, the release further explained.

“A Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan in the amount of $2,500,000 will fund the storm sewer replacement and a Drinking Water SRF loan in the amount of $2,700,000 will fund the waterline replacement,” the public notice explained. “The street reconstruction will be funded using the State’s Urban Systems Program funds in the amount of $1,280,000 and a Capital Construction loan in the amount of $400,000.”

Users will see a fee increase to repay the loan with an average increase of $1.91/month per user, the notice explained. 

“Loan terms are 1.0% DWSRF and 1.5% CWSRF interest rate for 20 years,” the notice said. “The City of Torrington is aware of and accepts the fact that they will be responsible for any required mitigative actions associated with and including storm water runoff, erosion control, archeological/historic artifacts, and air quality concerns. These will be part of the standard state revolving funds program contract conditions.” 

According to the notice, the DEQ granted the exclusion because the construction project replaces existing infrastructure in previously disturbed ground, more specifically, ground disturbed by the installation of the existing waterline and storm sewer over 50 years ago.