Department of Agriculture Notice – City of La Joya

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Development
City of La Joya: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA
ACTION: Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), 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 City of La Joya, Hidalgo County, Texas. The proposal is for construction of a wastewater treatment plant expansion. City of La Joya has submitted an application to RUS for funding of the proposal.
City of La Joya intends to seek financial assistance from RUS for a wastewater treatment plant expansion. The proposed project is described below. The project location is approximately 1.5 miles south-southwest of the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 and FM-2521. If implemented, the proposed project will convert floodplains. 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 concerning the proposal, alternative sites or actions that would avoid these impacts, and methods that could be used to minimize these impacts.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: To obtain copies of the EA, or for further information, contact: Terry Czerwien, State Environmental Coordinator, 101 South Main Street, Temple, Texas 76501, at 254-742-9789 or terry.czerwien@usda.gov. The EA is also available for public review at La Joya City Hall, 701 E. Expressway 83, La Joya, Texas 78560.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: City of La Joya proposes to upgrade and expand its wastewater treatment capacity by building a new wastewater treatment plant adjacent to the existing wastewater treatment plant.
Big D Engineering, an environmental consultant, prepared an environmental assessment for RUS that describes the project, assesses the proposed project’s environmental impacts, and summarizes as applicable any mitigation measures used to minimize environmental effects.
RUS 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 RUS at the address provided. RUS will accept questions and comments on the environmental assessment for 14 days from the date of publication of this notice.
Any final action by RUS 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.

DATED: DECEMBER 25, 2020