Forest Service approves city surface water pipeline project

New release from the Forest Service:

John Allen, Forest Supervisor for the Deschutes National Forest, has signed a decision to issue a Special Use Permit to the City of Bend for use of Forest Service lands for planned improvements to the City’s water facility and replacement of the City’s aging water supply pipelines.

The decision follows the Deschutes National Forest’s environmental analysis of the City’s proposal to install a new waterline within an existing right-of-way on Skyliner’s road and to improve the accessibility, efficiency, and safety of the City’s existing intake facility.

The new waterline will replace two existing water supply pipelines that are showing signs of deterioration. One pipeline was built in 1926 and the other was built in 1957. Improvements to the intake facility, also constructed in 1926, will address accessibility, fire protection, energy efficiency, emergency response, flow control, and seismic risk issues as well as obsolete mechanical and electrical systems.

In 2010, the City began the process of applying for the Special Use Permit. The Deschutes National Forest issued an Environmental Assessment on the project on March 13, 2012, which was followed by two 30-day public comment periods. Today’s release of Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice is the final stage of the analysis process. A 45-day appeal period on the Decision Notice starts today and ends on August 27, 2012.

You can find more information about the Surface Water Improvement Project at bendoregon.gov/surfacewater.