March 20, 2024

Invitation to submit bids for wastewater construction project

Angelina & Neches River Authority “(ANRA)” will receive bids TWDB Project No. 73829 Regionalization of ACFWSD1 WWTF.   Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at the ANRA Central Office located at 2901 N. John Redditt Dr., Lufkin, TX 75904.  The bids will be opened and read aloud at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at the ANRA Central Office located at 2901 N. John Redditt Dr., Lufkin, TX 75904.

The project consists of decommissioning the existing Angelina County Fresh Water Supply District No.1 WWTF, installation of lift stations with associated line work to transfer flow to the ANRA’s North Angelina County Regional Wastewater Facility (NACRWF), and improvements to the chlorination and disinfection system at NACRWF as an additive bid option.

Bid/Contract Documents, including Drawings and Technical Specifications are on file at Schaumburg & Polk, Inc., 320 S. Broadway Ave, Suite 200, Tyler, Texas 75702, 903-595-3913 Phone. Bid/Contract Documents can also be found on https://www.civcastusa.com/project/65fad36fe35d4d068e294be5/summary

PLANS & SPECIFICATIONS may be examined without charge at the ANRA Central Office and at the office of Schaumburg & Polk, Inc. One copy of each set of documents may be obtained from Schaumburg & Polk, Inc., upon payment of $100.00.  No refunds will be made.

A Bidder’s Bond, Certified or Cashier’s Check in an amount not less than (5%) of the total bid shall accompany each quote as a guarantee that, if awarded the contract, the Contractor will promptly enter into contract with the Angelina & Neches River Authority.

Attention is called to the fact that not less than, the federally determined prevailing (Davis-Bacon and Related Acts) wage rate, as issued by the Texas Department of Rural Affairs, and contained in the contract documents, must be paid on this project. In addition, the successful bidder must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin.

There will be a pre-bid conference at the ANRA Central Office located at 2901 N. John Redditt Dr., Lufkin, TX 75904, at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Attendance is mandatory.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids and waive any or all irregularities. No bid may be withdrawn until the expiration of 60 days from the date bids are open.

This contract is contingent upon release of funds from the Texas Water Development Board. Any contract or contracts awarded under this Invitation for Bid (IFB) is/are expected to be funded in part by financial assistance from the TWDB. Neither the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the State of Texas, nor any of its departments, agencies, or employees, are or will be a party to this Invitation for Bid or any resulting contract.

FOR CWSRF: Any contract(s) awarded under this Invitation for Bids is/are subject to the American Iron and Steel (AIS) requirements of Section 608 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

This contract is subject to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, which includes EPA-approved fair share goals toward procurement of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) businesses. EPA rules require that applicants and prime contractors make a good faith effort to award a fair share of contracts, subcontracts, and procurements to M/WBEs through demonstration of the six affirmative steps. For more details of the DBE Program and the current, applicable fair share goals, please visit http://www.twdb.texas.gov/dbe.

Equal Opportunity in Employment – All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the Department of Labor regulations at 41 CFR Part 60-4, relating to Construction Contractors–Affirmative Action Requirements, which include the President’s Executive Order No. 11246, as amended by Executive Order No. 11375 and Executive Order No. 13672, in the award and administration of contracts awarded under TWDB financial assistance agreements. Failure by the Contractor to carry out these requirements is a material breach, which may result in the termination of the awarded financial assistance.

Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements apply to the construction, alteration or repair of treatment works carried out, in whole or in part, with assistance made available by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) or a construction project financed, in whole or in part, from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The Davis- Bacon prevailing wage requirements apply to Contractors and Subcontractors performing on federally funded or assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 for the construction, alteration or repair (including painting) of a treatment works project under the CWSRF or a construction project under the DWSRF. For prime contracts in excess of $100,000, Contractors and Subcontractors must also, under the provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, as amended, pay laborers and mechanics, including guards and watchmen, at least one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The Fair Labor Standards Act may also apply to Davis-Bacon covered contracts. Any contracts or subcontracts in excess of $2,000 must include the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Wage Rate Requirements found in TWDB Guidance No. DB-0156. Wage Determinations – U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) wage determination must be included in the bidding and contract documents. DOL wage determinations may be obtained online at http://www.wdol.gov/. Once it is determined that Davis-Bacon wage rates will apply to a construction contract, the Applicant must state in the solicitation that Davis- Bacon prevailing wage rates are applicable and bid packages must include the current Davis-Bacon general wage determination for the area where construction will occur. While the solicitation remains open, the Applicant must monitor www.wdol.gov on a weekly basis to ensure that the wage determination contained in the solicitation remains current. The Applicant must amend the solicitation if the DOL issues a modification more than 10 days prior to the closing date (i.e. bid opening) for the solicitation. If DOL modifies or supersedes the applicable wage determination less than 10 days prior to the closing date, the Applicant may request a finding from TWDB that there is not reasonable time to notify interested Contractors of the modification of the wage determination. For additional information on Davis-Bacon Wage Rate Requirements and its applicability to this contract, please consult TWDB Guidance No. DB-0156.

This contract is subject to the federal requirements of Subpart C of 2 CFR Part 180 and Part 1532 regarding Debarment and Suspension. The Contractor will comply with the assurances provided with the bid that leads to a contract.

Angelina & Neches River Authority does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familiar status or disability.  Angelina & Neches River Authority is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer & encourages the participation of Section 3 residents and businesses.

February 23, 2024

BOIL WATER NOTICE RESCINDED for Prairie Grove Utilities Customers

On February 22, 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) required the Prairie Grove Utilities public water system (PWS ID Number TX0030027) to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Prairie Grove Utilities has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by Prairie Grove Utilities used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of February 23, 2024.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Mr. Chris Key, P.E., Executive Manager, Utilities, Angelina & Neches River Authority at (936) 632-7795 or (800) 282-5634.

If you wish to contact TCEQ, you may call (512) 239-4691.

Boil-Water-Notice-Rescinded-to-All-PGU-Customers-2024-02-23

December 13, 2023

Community Workshop Invitation

Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Opportunities in East Texas

January 9th, 2024 – Lufkin, Texas

Water Finance Exchange (WFX) and RSAH2O, in partnership with T.L.L. Temple Foundation, Communities Unlimited, and the Angelina & Neches River Authority, are hosting an invitation-only workshop, Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Opportunities in East Texas, of public and private sector leaders to discuss the needs and opportunities to support communities in need of financial and technical assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure.

This one-day workshop will focus on the water infrastructure and economic development challenges of rural communities in East Texas. We would like to extend an invitation to attend this workshop, which will be held in the Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin, Texas. The address for the event is 601 N 2nd Street, Lufkin, TX 75901.

The workshop will be on January 9th, 2024 beginning at 9:00am. A draft agenda for the workshop can be found below. Speakers and panelists will include state and federal agency officials, community representatives, and other thought leaders in the water and wastewater sectors.

This workshop will be an intimate conversation of 50-75 water sector leaders, communities seeking to address sustainable water management needs, and public officials. The informational exchange will identify primary challenges facing smaller and underserved East Texas communities, outline financing opportunities, and generate ideas for collaboration going forward.

Registration Instructions

  • Click here to go to the registration page
  • In the dropdown menu labeled “Workshop”, select East Texas – Lufkin, Texas – Jan. 9th, 2024
  • Fill in the remaining information on the page
  • Click “Send”
  • You will receive further information and updates as the event gets closer
    If you any other questions on the workshop, please reach out to Josh Clement, WFX’s Director of Programs and
    Development, at Jclement@waterfx.org or 763-226-3461.
November 3, 2023

Notice of upcoming repair activities

To All Prairie Grove Water Customers:  ANRA has been made aware of a water leak on FM 1818 near Gossett Rd and is planning to make the repair on Monday, November 6, 2023.  During the course of the repair, you may experience short periods of low water pressure.  Operations staff will be working diligently to complete this repair as quickly as possible and we apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.  Please do not hesitate to contact us at (936) 632-7795 if you have any questions.

August 11, 2023

Notice Of Public Hearing Regarding The Proposed Issuance Of Bonds

ANGELINA AND NECHES RIVER AUTHORITY
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held on August 22, 2023, at 8:00 o’clock a.m., at the Angelina and Neches River Authority Administrative Office, 2901 N. John Redditt Drive, Lufkin, Texas, with respect to a plan of finance for multiple facilities located at or adjacent to 2001 Kurth Drive, Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas 75901, which facilities include solid waste disposal facilities and may also include sewage treatment and sewage disposal facilities (the “Project”).  The Project is currently owned by Jefferson Enterprise Energy, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “Borrower”).    The facilities proposed to be financed include the revitalizing of the Aspen Power Plant, an electrical power generation facility that uses solid waste such as wood and other agricultural waste to drive steam generators (the “Power Plant”).  The Borrower is developing the Project as a renewable fiber complex in Lufkin, Texas, to produce “green” products using renewable energy. The Project includes the Power Plant and a waste-to-pulp pulp mill (the “Pulp Mill”).   The Pulp Mill is designed to convert agricultural waste, including wood waste, vegetative waste products (“biomass”), excess sugar cane bagasse (“bagasse”) or energy sorghum into bleached, bone-dry pulp fiber. The Company anticipates that the Pulp Mill will produce 146,000 tons per year of pulp fiber meeting the quality specifications for use in manufacturing products such as paper towels, paper plates, napkins, paper cups, fiber containers and similar products. In addition, it is anticipated that a black liquor co-product could be produced at the Pulp Mill that may be thermochemically converted to sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) pellets for sale to the glass and soap manufacturing markets. The Pulp Mill will be powered by electricity from the Power Plant to produce a pulp that can be used to manufacture products such as paper towels, paper plates, napkins, paper cups, and other products.   The Project may also include facilities for the treating of sewage and the development of a specialty chemicals plant using electricity from the Power Plant along with waste brine water to produce sodium chlorate and other co-products.

The plan of finance will include the issuance from time to time of one or more series of bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250,000,000 (the “Bonds”), which may include refundings thereof, by the Angelina and Neches River Authority Industrial Development Corporation (the “Issuer”).  Proceeds of the Bonds will be loaned to the Borrower or an affiliate thereof to finance or refinance the Project, including but not limited to, financing the costs of acquiring, constructing, rehabilitating, developing, improving and equipping capital improvements, equipment, land and infrastructure and pay related financing costs and to finance capitalized interest and working capital for the Borrower for the Project.

The Borrower, Jefferson Enterprise Energy, LLC, is a Texas limited liability company and is the current owner and operator(s) of the Project.  The Borrower’s headquarters are currently located at 9595 Six Pines Drive, Suite 6370, The Woodlands, TX 77380.

The maximum aggregate face amount of the Bonds to be issued in more or more series pursuant to such plan of financing is $250,000,000.   Such plan of financing is an addition to the outstanding bonds already issued by the Issuer for this Project, the proceeds of which have been loaned by the Issuer to the Borrower, and which outstanding bonds include the Issuer’s (i) $22,000,000 Solid Waste Disposal and Wastewater Treatment Facilities Revenue Bonds (Jefferson Enterprise Energy, LLC Project), Series 2020 Bonds, (ii) $35,000,000 Solid Waste Disposal and Wastewater Treatment Facilities Revenue Bonds (Jefferson Enterprise Energy, LLC Project), Series 2021A Bonds, (iii) $30,000,000 Solid Waste Disposal and Wastewater Treatment Facilities Revenue Bonds (Jefferson Enterprise Energy, LLC Project), Series 2021B-1 Bonds and (iv) $35,000,000 Solid Waste Disposal and Wastewater Treatment Facilities Revenue Bonds (Jefferson Enterprise Energy, LLC Project), Series 2021B-2 Bonds.

The public hearing will be conducted by Kelley Holcomb, who is a director and officer of the Issuer, or by an authorized representative and hearing officer appointed by Kelley Holcomb.

All interested persons are invited to attend such public hearing to express their views with respect to the issuance of the Bonds and with respect to the nature and location of Project. Questions or requests for additional information may be directed to attorney Lance Fox, Creighton, Fox, Johnson & Mills, PLLC, bond counsel for the Issuer, at 3535 Calder Avenue, Suite 310, Beaumont, Texas 77706, telephone 409-833-0062, fax 409-833-0084, or e-mail lcf@cfjmlaw.com.

Any interested persons unable to attend the hearing may submit their views in writing prior to the hearing to Lance Fox at the address, fax or email stated above or alternatively to the Issuer, Angelina and Neches River Authority Industrial Development Corporation, Attention:  Kelley Holcomb, General Manager, 2901 N. John Redditt Drive, Lufkin, TX 75904; Telephone: (936) 632-7795; Fax:  (936) 632-2564;  Email:  kholcomb@anra.org.

This notice is published and the hearing is to be held in satisfaction of the requirements of Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

August 9, 2023

Notices of Non-Compliance with TCEQ Requirements

The following customer notice is required by the TCEQ as a result of the non-compliances associated with Disinfection Byproducts Monitoring. This customer notice has also been mailed directly to every active water customer of the utility.

June 21, 2023

Boil Water Notice Rescinded (June 21, 2022)

On June 17, 2023, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) required the Prairie Grove Utilities public water system (PWS ID Number 0030027) to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Prairie Grove Utilities has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by Prairie Grove Utilities used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of June 21, 2023.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Mr. Chris Key, P.E., Executive Manager, Utilities, Angelina & Neches River Authority at (936) 632-7795 or (800) 282-5634.

If you wish to contact TCEQ, you may call (512) 239-4691.

June 17, 2023

Boil Water Notice Issued (June 17, 2023)

June 17, 2023
To: Prairie Grove Utilities Customers (Public Water System ID # 0030027)
Subject: BOIL WATER NOTIFICATION

Due to low water pressures in the water distribution system, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the Prairie Grove Utilities public water system (PWS ID Number 0030027) to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, Prairie Grove Utilities officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking or human consumption purposes. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, Prairie Grove Utilities will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Mr. Chris Key, P.E., Executive Manager, Utilities, Angelina & Neches River Authority at (936) 632-7795 or (800) 282-5634.

If you wish to contact TCEQ, you may call 512-239-4691.

June 17, 2023

Prairie Grove June Update #1

Update Saturday 12pm:

Since our last post, we’ve been carefully monitoring the tank levels, and unfortunately, they’re sticking very close to the worst case forecast that we provided yesterday afternoon.

If current demand levels continue, the tanks will be below 7 ft at 11pm tonight. (Tanks are full at 17 ft, and are at 11 ft at the time of this message)

Safety’s built into the tank fill controls shut the system down once it gets too low.

Unless something drastic changes between now and then, our plan is to shut the system down at 9pm to allow it to recover overnight and have it back on at 7 am tomorrow morning for showers and the like. We will likely need to either shut it down again midday Sunday or overnight between Sunday and Monday, but we will make that determination after we see the demand Sunday morning.

The more we can conserve today, the better off we’re going to be. If any of your friends or neighbors are not on social media seeing these messages, please let them know whats going on, and everyone please, please discontinue any outdoor water use.

We’ll post an update this evening or as needed.

As always, we appreciate your understanding, patience, and help with these conservation measures.

May 22, 2023

Request for Public Comment – Clean Rivers Program 2023 highlights report

A draft of ANRA’s 2023 Clean Rivers Program Basin Highlights Report is now available for public review and comment.

The document is available on the CRP reports page at anra.org.

Comments will be accepted via email at crp@anra.org until 5 pm CST June 9, 2023

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We appreciate your participation!