The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact for public review and comment for 30 calendar days before making the decision on whether, and if so how, to proceed with a proposed action. The EA evaluated the issuance of a Community Grant award to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Recycling Project. The project will support the construction of the Water Reclamation System of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Organics Recycling Facility (ORF) in Shakopee, MN. This system will address the water reuse components at the newly constructed ORF, which diverts waste from landfills, protects water resources and promotes sustainable industrial development. Congress appropriated $2,500,000 earmarked for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) for the FY 2023 Recycling Project.

EPA considered two alternatives for the Proposed Project: The Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative, which are analyzed in this EA pursuant to Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and EPA’s NEPA procedures under 40 CFR part 6. The EA did not identify significant effects to resources because of implementing either the Proposed Action or the No Action Alternative. However, EPA will consider public and agency comments prior to making its decision regarding implementation of the proposed project. After evaluating any comments received, EPA will make a final decision. The preliminary decision and finding will become final after the 30-day comment period expires if no new significant information is provided to alter this finding.

The EA is available for download from EPA’s NEPA Compliance Database at https://cdxapps.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-II/public/action/nepa/details?nepaId=456699. Questions and public comments may be sent to: Felicia Gaines, gaines.felicia@epa.gov, on or prior to March 15, 2024.