The Seminole Utilities Authority is seeking a $20 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to replace the city’s decadesold wastewater treatment plant, and a city official said the application is on a “fast track” for approval.

Several months ago, City Manager Steve Saxon told the authority, which is comprised of city council members, that a new sewer plant is needed because the current one is not in compliance with Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations. The plant has been flagged with multiple DEQ violations and Saxon said the city has been spending anywhere from $350,000 to $500,000 each year to keep it up and running.

A public hearing was held Tuesday evening as notice that the city intends to apply for funds from the USDA for the project, which culminated with the authority approving a resolution to begin the grant application process.

“Our original wastewater plant was built between 1930 and 1940,” Community Development Director Sharon Emmitt said during the hearing. “It has been rehabilitated twice, once in the 80s and once in the 90s. When it was originally built, I’m sure it was cutting edge, but now there are newer and better things. It’s really not mechanically sound to be rehabbed for a third time. The majority of the treatment units have reached the end of their service life.”

According to Emmitt, a plan sent to the DEQ by engineer Brandon Wall has already gained approval, which should speed up the grant application process.

“We’re on a fast track with the USDA,” Emmitt said. “It can take up to three years to get approved, but they know our needs are very great. Actually, the USDA has been calling us asking, ‘where is your application?’ We’re fast tracking this as best we can.”

Emmitt added that Wall had sent an Environmental Impact Document to multiple agencies, including the DEQ, Army Corps of Engineers, the Fish and Wildlife Department and the Seminole Nation Historic Preservation Office. All have returned letters stating there would be no adverse impact upon the environment if a new plant is built.

Authority member Trace Conner asked Saxon if the existing plant would be torn down upon completion of a new one.

“Ultimately, yes, we will be going through some demolition,” Saxon said. “I don’t think the DEQ has made that a requirement, but just for aesthetics and safety issues, we’ll eventually do some demolition.”

The new plant is expected to cost about $20 million and will utilize an “aero-mod system,” which removes nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater using a high oxygen as well as an oxygen-free process in a series of tanks. From there, wastewater goes to clarifiers, which are gravity fed rather than by mechanical means.