Public Notice: Clean Water Act Certification for the Grant Village Wastewater Treatment Plant and Grant and Canyon Village Collection Systems Project in Yellowstone National Park
Summary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received a request from the National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park for a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 water quality certification (WQC) for the above project. Section 401(a)(1) of the CWA requires applicants for Federal permits and licenses that may result in any discharge into waters of the United States to obtain certification or waiver from the certifying authority where the discharge would originate.
The EPA acts as the certifying authority on lands of exclusive federal jurisdiction in relevant respects, in this case on lands within Yellowstone National Park. The EPA will act on this certification request by either: (1) granting certification; (2) granting certification with conditions; (3) denying certification; or (4) expressly waiving certification consistent with CWA Section 401 and the EPA’s implementing regulations at 40 CFR 121.
The proposed project would be covered under USACE CWA Section 404 Nationwide Permit (NWP) 58. NWP 58 authorizes utility line activities for water and other substances and addresses impacts to waters of the U.S. from pipeline activities that are not related to oil, natural gas, or petrochemicals.
Project Description
Applicant
Yellowstone National Park
Project Location
44.388528, -110.538219 in Yellowstone National Park
Waterways
Unnamed wetlands in the Yellowstone River watershed
The proposed project is to replace the Grant Village Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and rehabilitate Canyon and Grant Wastewater Collection Systems. A separate project is addressing the Canyon WWTP and was posted for public notice December 19, 2024.
Work completed below the ordinary highwater mark is specific to the Canyon Wastewater Collection System and includes sewer replacement using open cut excavation that is then backfilled with the soil removed. A trenchless method (installation of cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining) will also be used to replace existing pipes where wetland mats or similar material will be used to allow access to the manholes and other areas of the system.
Upland work at the Grant WWTP includes expansion at the Treatment Site and rehabilitation and replacement of the Grant Village Wastewater Collection System which discharges to the Headworks building of the Grant Village WWTP.
Impacts to waters of the U.S. under this permit will be limited to the work completed at the Canyon Wastewater Collection System and will be temporary (0.086 acres) due to temporary fill (300 cubic yards), excavations, and temporary disturbance from contractor access to the site. Temporarily disturbed areas will be returned to their original contours and revegetated with an appropriate seed mix upon completion of construction activities.
Public Comments
Submit comments as described in the “How to Comment” box at the righthand side of this webpage. The EPA must receive comments by 11:59 pm MST on January 28, 2025.
All comments received prior to the end of the comment period will be considered in the preparation of the Clean Water Action Section 401 Water Quality Certification and will be part of the administrative record. Contact Estella Moore (R8CWA401@epa.gov; 303-312-6329) to request additional information, public notice updates, submit comments or provide additional information relevant to this certification.
At this time there is no opportunity to review the submitted material and documents in person at an EPA office. These documents are only available electronically and can be provided upon request.
Notice of any extension of the comment period will be published on this page and sent to those who have requested updates.
Public Hearings
Any person may request, in writing within the comment period specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. If the Administrator, in his or her discretion, determines that a public hearing is appropriate or necessary, the EPA will schedule a public hearing. You may request a public hearing using the information in the “How to Comment” box on the righthand side of this webpage.
Project Applicant
Yellowstone National Park
Cameron H. Sholly, Superintendent
(307) 344-2002
Cam_sholly@nps.gov
Authorized Agent
Sara Straub, Environmental Protection Specialist
Yellowstone Center for Resources
Sarah_straub@nps.gov