BOISE, Idaho - The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking public comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the impacts of a proposed increase in wastewater flows from the Sorrento Lactalis dairy products facility in Nampa, Idaho.
Sorrento is proposing to increase production at the Nampa facility over the next several years. This growth in production will increase the plant’s wastewater flows from 1.2 cubic feet per second (cfs) to approximately 4.5 cfs. Sorrento has submitted an application to Reclamation to accommodate this increase in discharge from its treatment plant.
Sorrento’s wastewater flows into the Purdam Drain next to its Nampa facility. From the Purdam Drain, the discharge flows down Mason Creek to the Boise River. With the exception of a short segment immediately downstream of the Sorrento facility, this drainage route is under Reclamation’s jurisdiction. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has regulatory responsibility for the water quality of the discharges under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit process.
The initial draft EA was released for public review in mid-2016. Due to public comments, additional information and analyses were added to this new draft EA. Impacts of the proposed alternatives on the natural and human environment are evaluated in this draft EA. Download the draft EA at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/idaho/sorrento/index.html.
Please send written comments no later than Oct. 22, 2018, to Richard Jackson, natural resource specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, 230 Collins Road, Boise, ID 83702 or by email at sra-nepa-comments@usbr.gov.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
