U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District BUILDING STRONG®
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321, et seq.) (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Yavapai Apache Nation’s (YAN) proposed Middle Verde Water Reclamation Facility (MVWRF). The purpose of the EA is to evaluate potential environmental impacts associated with development of the MVWRF. The proposed project would be funded in part by the Corps through the Section 595 Rural Infrastructure Program authorized under the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, Public Law 106-53, as amended (Section 595). As provided for under Section 595, the Corps is authorized to provide design and construction assistance for water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects in Arizona, Idaho, Montana, rural Nevada, New Mexico, rural Utah, and Wyoming, including projects for wastewater treatment and related facilities, water supply and related facilities, and surface water resource protection and development.
The agreement between the Corps and the YAN was entered into on October 8, 2024, for an initial increment of work consisting of the design and construction of the MVWRF. While the Corps is partnering with the Nation for this initial increment of work of designing wastewater treatment facilities and various earth work improvements, there may be additional increments of work and identified amount of Federal funds available for such work in support of the design and construction of the MVWRF. Since there is a possibility of future Corps participation through additional increments of work and/or future work would be related to this initial increment of work for which the Corps is participating in, the scope of the EA would include the proposed design, construction and routine operation and maintenance of the MVWRF as a whole.
The project site is located within the YAN Middle Verde District near Camp Verde, approximately 6.1 miles northwest of the Town’s business district in Yavapai County, Arizona. The MVWRF would replace the existing Middle Verde Lagoons, which currently manage wastewater from residential and commercial activities on YAN lands. The new facility would modernize wastewater treatment infrastructure, accommodating future residential and economic growth while producing Class A+ effluent for agricultural irrigation. The project aligns with YAN’s goals of improving public health, sanitation, and environmental sustainability.
The Project site and all infrastructure improvements associated with the Project are located entirely within the boundaries of the YAN Middle Verde Reservation lands. The Proposed Action includes the design and engineering and construction of a new water reclamation facility on the northern half of a previously disturbed agricultural field located just east of the Middle Verde Lagoons. The cells associated with the Middle Verde Lagoons would also be slightly reconfigured with the demolition of Cell 3 and the reconfiguration of Cell 2 into an agricultural storage pond. An electrical transmission line would be constructed from the MVWRF site east along Pattea Street then north along Hamaley Avenue to connect to an existing Arizona Public Service (APS) structure along Curtis Street to supply three-phase power to the MVWRF. Additionally, two separate pipes would be installed to direct effluent from the MVWRF. An effluent pump station would be constructed near the southeast corner of the MVWRF. The first effluent pipeline would be placed at the pump station and head east along Harrington Street, north on Mocasque Avenue, then east again draining into the existing pond used to irrigate fields for the Nation’s agricultural operation. The second pipeline would be placed at the pump station and head west, north of the agricultural fields before entering Cell 2, which would be reconfigured as the new irrigation storage pond.
The project is located adjacent to the Verde River, which supports riparian and aquatic ecosystems providing habitat for species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Corps is currently conducting consultation under Section 7 of the ESA with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to evaluate potential effects on the northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops), narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus), southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), and Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). The consultation process aims to minimize impacts to these species and their habitats and ensure compliance with ESA requirements. The findings of the Section 7 consultation will be integrated into the EA. Preliminary analysis suggests that the proposed action will have temporary, minor to moderate adverse impacts and long-term, minor beneficial effects on biological resources. Mitigation and conservation measures, including biological monitoring and habitat preservation efforts, are proposed to avoid and reduce potential adverse impacts and effects.
If the EA identifies significant impacts that cannot be mitigated to a level that is less than significant, an Environmental Impact Statement would be prepared. If no unmitigable, significant impacts are identified, then a Finding of No Significant Impact would be prepared. Preliminary environmental analysis anticipates that there would be no unmitigable, significant impacts on environmental resources.
Comments regarding the Proposed Action are invited and will be accepted through January 20, 2025. Feedback can be submitted electronically to Andrew.T.Gilham@usace.army.mil, or mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Yavapai Apache Wastewater Treatment Project, Attn: Andrew Gilham, Planning Division, 3636 N. Central Ave, STE 650, Phoenix AZ 85012