Public Notice: Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact – Dillingham Landfill Improvements

FILES FOR DOWNLOAD

Environmental Assessment for the Dillingham Landfill Improvements and Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (EPA No. N2025193)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact, EPA No. N2025193, 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 Congressionally Directed Spending grant award to the City of Dillingham for the landfill improvements at the Dillingham Landfill located in Dillingham, Alaska. The Dillingham Landfill Improvements Project seeks to modernize and enhance the operational capacity of the region's primary waste management facility through targeted infrastructure upgrades and equipment acquisitions.

This comprehensive project includes:

• repair of the existing incinerator,
• installation of a waste oil burner, and
• procurement of essential waste processing equipment, including a shredder/baler for scrap metal and a glass crusher. Heavy equipment acquisitions, including a D7 Waste Handler, 352 Excavator, Wheeled Loader, and Skid steer loader, will improve daily operations and waste handling efficiency.

The project also encompasses critical infrastructure improvements, as follows:

• construction of a weather port/equipment hangar,
• construction of a dry storage facility,
• replacement of three ground monitoring wells, and
• installation of six methane monitoring wells.

Overall, the above listed improvements will extend the facility's operational lifespan, ensure environmental compliance, and provide the community with sustainable waste management services for years to come. Total project cost is targeted to enhance operational efficiency while maintaining regulatory compliance and environmental protection standards.

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 as a result 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 substantive 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=512279.    

Questions and public comments may be sent to:

Comments should be received on or prior to July 7, 2025.