Preliminary Notice of Potential Conversion of Prime Farmland The USDA, Rural Utilities Service has received a request from the Lakeland Regional Sewer District to amend their original project previously approved for funding in 2010. As required by the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act and the Section 106 process, the Rural Utilities Service has prepared an Environmental Review that evaluated the potential environmental effects and consequences of the proposed project. This notice announces the availability of the Environmental Review and Section 106 documentation for public review and comment. The proposed amendment consists of a change in the locations of three pump stations, extension of a force main on CR 500 N, and a change in the alignment of a force main from 100 N. to the proposed waste water treatment plant. This project will directly convert less than half an acre of prime farmland. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of this proposed conversion and request comments concerning the proposed project, alternative sites or actions that would avoid these impacts and methods that could be used to minimize these impacts. Mitigation measures are included in the Environmental Review in accordance with directives from the US Army Corps of Engineers; the Department of Interior US Fish & Wildlife Service; the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Divisions of Historic Preservation & Archaeology, Water, and Fish & Wildlife; and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Copies of the environmental review as well as the Historical Preservation Section 106 documentation are available for review at Lakeland Regional Sewer District at 301 North Main Street, North Webster, IN 46555, on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 9 am – 4 pm and the office of the Engineer, DLZ Indiana, LLC, 111 West Columbia Street, Suite 100, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm. If you have any questions, please contact Thomas Bernhard, USDA Rural Development, 260-244-6266 ext. 120. Any person interested in commenting on this proposed project may submit written comments to USDA Rural Development at 788 W. Connexion Way, Suite E, Columbia City, IN 46725 by 30 days from the first publication date for this notice. Rural Development is an Equal Opportunity provider, lender, and employer. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. 7-31, 8-1,2 hspaxlp
