Public Hearing Notice for FY2025 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Projects

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) announces a Public Hearing regarding Project Plans for the following three proposed projects: 1) Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Outfall Rehabilitations, 2) Oakwood and Leib CSO Improvements, and 3) Rehabilitation of the 7 Mile Sewer System. The purpose of this public hearing is not only to inform, but to gather feedback from people who will be affected. The projects are eligible for participation in the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) low interest Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan program and GLWA will be seeking funding for FY 2025. The following is a brief description of each project:

CSO Outfall Rehabilitation Phase VI project consists of the rehabilitation of nineteen (19) outfall sewers located along the Rouge River. The outfall sewers function as the interface between collector sewers and the Northwest Interceptor (NWI) throughout the City of Detroit. The current condition of the 19 outfalls is very poor with risk of failure. Maintaining and repairing the outfalls is necessary in relieving the NWI and preventing negative upstream hydraulic impacts such as basement flooding. The positive impact of the proposed structural rehabilitation of the outfalls will extend the service lives by another 25 to 30 years and allow them to continue to provide relief to the NWI and other GLWA and City of Detroit assets during wet weather events. The temporary impact of construction activities will be minimized using trenchless rehabilitation approaches and the use of existing access points to the facilities wherever possible. Improvements to the outfall infrastructure are needed to maintain the long-term reliability of these assets and the role they play in preventing negative upstream hydraulic impacts.

Adverse impacts on historical, archaeological, geographic, or cultural areas are not expected. However, if any potential impacts arise, construction will be halted, and the proper steps will be taken to proceed following all appropriate guidelines.

The total cost of this project is currently estimated at $10,000,000. Oakwood Leib CSO Improvements project involves significant series of improvements at the Oakwood CSO Retention Treatment Basin and storm/ sanitary pumping station, and the Leib CSO Screening and Disinfection Facility (SDF). The required improvements will address the disinfection, flushing, electrical, and instrumentation and control (I&C) systems and site improvements at both facilities, as well as HVAC and structural/architectural improvements at Leib. In addition, engineering services will be included for the study of disinfection improvements at the Baby Creek SDF, and the Connor Creek Retention Treatment Basin (RTB) CSO facilities. The proposed improvements will increase facility reliability, flexibility, operation, maintenance, and safety to support planned increases in utilization for the Oakwood and Leib CSO facilities upon completion of other projects that are being planned to divert flow from the Northwest Interceptor the Oakwood CSO Facility and to divert flow from the Meldrum for treatment in the Leib SDF.

The temporary impact of construction activities will be minimized as all work is planned to occur within existing buildings and facilities.

Adverse impacts on historical, archaeological, geographic, or cultural areas are not expected. However, if any potential impacts arise, construction will be halted, and the proper steps will be taken to proceed following all appropriate guidelines.

The total cost of this project is currently estimated at $51,000,000. Rehabilitation of the 7 Mile Sewer System project consists of the rehabilitation of several large diameter combined sewers including Segments 1, 2, and 3 of the 7 Mile Sewer, the East 7 Mile Relief Sewer, and the West 7 Mile Relief Sewer. This sewer system transports dry and wet weather flow to other GLWA assets including the Seven Mile Sewer Retention Treatment Basin (RTB) Facility and other large diameter sewers that transport flow to the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF). The current condition of portions of the 7 Mile Sewer System is very poor with risk of failure. The positive impacts of the project include structural rehabilitation of the sewers which will extend their service lives by another 25 to 30 years and allow them to continue to convey flow to the GLWA WRRF and provide relief to other components of the regional conveyance system during wet weather events.

The temporary impact of construction activities will be minimized by adopting a targeted spot repair approach that will utilize existing manholes for repair access. Repairs to this infrastructure will be completed in-pipe while the pipe is in service, minimizing above-ground impacts. Improvements to these sewers are needed to maintain the long-term reliability of these assets and the role they play in conveying wastewater and storm water to the WRRF.

Adverse impacts on historical, archaeological, geographic, or cultural areas are not expected. However, if any potential impacts arise, construction will be halted, and the proper steps will be taken to proceed following all appropriate guidelines. The total cost of this project is currently estimated at $30,000,000.

The Public Hearing on the FY 2025 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Projects proposed by the Great Lakes Water Authority will be held for the purpose of receiving comments from interested persons. The presentations at the Public Hearing will provide a description of the improvements, its evaluation, and estimated costs, as well as the cost per household impact for customer communities. Comments and viewpoints from the public are requested. Information on the Project Plan will be available for review online after April 9, 2024, at the GLWA Website: https://www.glwater.org/

THE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON:
DATE: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
TIME: 2:00 PM, Eastern Time (US and Canada)
PLACE: In person, Zoom Videoconferencing, and Telephonic Hearing Join Zoom Meeting
https://glwater.zoom.us/j/83998212561?pwd=b2VpVXdoK2VBdE1kUjVUUitQbDJtZz09

Meeting ID: 839 9821 2561
Passcode: 100496

In Person (subject to capacity)

Michigan DNR Outdoor Adventure Center

1801 Atwater Street
Detroit, Michigan 48207

Telephonic
Public Call-In Number: 877-853-5247 US Toll-Free or 888-788-0099 US Toll-Free
Meeting ID: 839 9821 2561
Passcode: 100496 Members of the public may offer comments in the following manner:

By Zoom Videoconferencing: Members of the public who wish to use Zoom videoconferencing to attend the meeting and/or offer public comment may utilize the following link to attend:
https://glwater.zoom.us/j/83998212561?pwd=b2VpVXdoK2VBdE1kUjVUUitQbDJtZz09

During the portions of the hearing designated for public participation may “raise their hand” by using that feature within the software program.

In Person (subject to capacity): Members of the public who, subject to capacity, wish to attend the meeting and/or off public comment in person may attend the meeting in the Michigan DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, 1801 Atwater Street, Detroit, MI 48207.
By Telephone: Members of the public who wish to attend the meeting and/or offer public comment by telephone should call in at the number indicated above, press *9 on their keypad to “raise their hand for public comment.” During other portions of the meeting, members of the public are asked to mute their line by pressing *6 on their keypad to mute or unmute their line.

By E-Mail: Members of the public may provide written comments to the Board by emailing those comments to CEO@glwater.org on or before 5:00 p.m. EST. on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, and should reference “April 24, 2024 Public Hearing on proposed FY 2025 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Projects” in the subject line of the e- mail. The opportunity to submit written comments by e-mail may remain open throughout the duration of the Public Hearing.

By U.S. Mail: Members of the public may provide written comments by United States mail addressed to:
Suzanne R. Coffey, Chief Executive Officer Great Lakes Water Authority
735 Randolph
Detroit, Michigan, 48226
Written comments by U.S. mail should reference “April 24, 2024 Public Hearing FY 2025 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Projects” in the letter. The opportunity to submit written comments by U.S. mail may remain open throughout the duration of the Public Hearing.

If a member of the public requires accommodation due to a disability, please contact CEO@glwater.org or (844) 455-GLWA (4592) not less than 72 hours prior to the date of the meeting.