It didn't happen as quickly as Cape Girardeau officials would have liked, but the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has approved a facilities plan for a new $66 million wastewater treatment plant expected to break ground next year.

Over about a year, the department reviewed design factors, possible alternatives and the effect the project is expected to have on the those who live nearby, land use and the overall environment.

The 11-page report concludes that the new treatment plant, which was approved by city voters in April, and its effect on the environment should be negligible and that the project is worthwhile.

"The new treatment plant should provide a reliable wastewater treatment and collection system to serve and protect water quality and public health," said the report that is signed by David Uhlig, the department's project review engineer.

The actual finding is for "nonsignificant impact," said department spokeswoman Renee Bungart, a document the department issues in accordance with its wastewater projects seeking low-interest state loans.

"The main purpose of the document is to show that local environmental issue related to the proposed project has been looked into and that the project in question will not impact, or have a negative impact, on a local environment," she said.

The city has been approved for loans in the amount of $31 million the first year and for $39 million the next, meaning the entire estimated cost of constructing the plant is being covered by the loans but only some of the upgrades will be paid for depending on how low the construction bids come in, said city Public Works director Tim Gramling.

Anything over the $70 million in loans will be covered by the bonds Cape Girardeau voters approved, though city leaders expect bids to come in lower than originally anticipated.

The city intends to build the new facility by 2014 to come into compliance with state regulations. The city plans to use a combination of lower interest bonds and a sales tax to pay for the plant and $6 million in other infrastructure upgrades and financing costs.

The state's finding is the "final environment step," Gramling said, that has been in the works for more than a year.

"It's significant in the fact that it's a completion of a very long and drawn-out process," Gramling said. "I was a little bit disappointed in the amount of time it took DNR to approve our facilities plan. I don't think it should have taken that long. But I suppose they have challenges in their office, too, and a lot of other projects."

But the length of DNR's approval did not delay the city, Gramling said, as it was able to continue with the design process.

"To this point, we don't anticipate any delays in the time frame," Gramling said. "We're still on target."

Also on target are plans to upgrade commercial recycling at the city's transfer station, Gramling said. The existing wastewater treatment plant has allowed untreated sewage to bypass the plant and go directly into the Mississippi River, which is why the state required a new plant be built. The city paid a civil penalty of $15,000 up front and agreed to upgrade some other public works facility to avoid larger fines.

The city has built a $111,000 commercial recycling component to its transfer station to avoid further penalties, but it is waiting on a piece of equipment. Gramling said he expects a temporary commercial recycling system to be in place within the next four to six weeks.

"We're sort of in a study phase," he said. "The overall goal is to add commercial recycling."

The city entered into a contract with a private company to provide a high-production bailer that has 10 times the capacity of the current bailer. City officials are still working out whether to build a multiuse facility to combine the transfer station where trash is hauled now and recycling into one facility.

"We're still looking to see if we can get some efficiencies there," Gramling said. "Or if we're just going to upgrade our existing recycling facilities."

Gramling hopes to take something to the Cape Girardeau City Council about that by the end of the year, he said.

The next step for the wastewater treatment plant is to submit an application to DNR for a construction permit. That will likely happen in November or December, he said. He said construction is still expected to start in the spring and is slated for completion next year.

As for utility rates being dropped, Gramling said, the city won't know until construction bids come back in. If the project comes in under their estimates, the rates could drop, he said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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