FLOOD09102

• County: Logan
• Community: Sterling
• Basin: South Patte
• Title: Sterling Flood Control Interceptor Channel Project
• Date: 4/1/2002
• Prepared For: Sterling
• Prepared By: URS
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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SEC11IITHREE Anected Environments and Environmental Consequences

small, short-term beneficial effect on the local economy associated with the purchase of goods
and services during the construction of the project.

3,5,1,3

Alternative 3 -Improve Routing of Pawnee Creek Flood Flows

Other than the conversion of agricultural land to flood control facilities as discussed in Section
3.2.2, impacts associated with this alternative are beneficial. To the extent possible, land would
be purchased on a "willing seller" basis. However, the City is prepared to use the condemnation
process on a limited basis to acquire needed land and/or easements. The condemnation process
generally requires approximately 60 days to complete. The potential for flooding would be
reduced for Sterling within the floodplain of Pawnee Creek. Based on the flooding that occurred
during the 1997 flood, this alternative would have prevented floodwaters from entering Sterling.
It is estimated that the alternative would have prevented over $10 million in damage to
residential, commercial, and infrastructure in Sterling. In addition, Alternative 3 would have a
small, short-term beneficial effect on the local economy associated with the purchase of goods
and services during the construction of the project.

3,5,2 Environmental Justice (E.O, 12898)

On February II, 1994, the President signed E.O. 12898 entitled "Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations." The E.O. directs
federal agencies "to make environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and
addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income
populations in the United States..."

The 2000 U.S. Census Bureau (Census) information was used to characterize the ethnicityof
residents of Sterling. According to this information, approximately 7.7 percent of the 11,360
residents of Sterling are considered to be minorities, with the predominant minority population
being Native American, comprising approximately 1.2 percent ofthe population (Census 2002a).

At the present time, the 2000 Census information for income and poverty has not yet been
released. Therefore, 1997 Census estimates for poverty in Logan County was used to determine
if any low-income populations are present in the project area. According to the 1997 Census
estimates, approximately 13.4 percent of the residents of Logan County live in poverty (Census
2002b).

3,5,2.1

Alternative 1 - No Action

Since the alternative does not change current conditions within the City of Sterling, it would not
have a disproportionate adverse impact on any citizen in the community.

3-9