Attachment 003 Geotechnical Activities Categorical Exclusions.pdf

Geotechnical Activities Categorical Exclusion

August 22, 2018

Project Name

Winchester Creek Bridge Replacement

Project Number (FLH Accounts Table)

OR FLAP DOUGLAS 251(2)

Project Manager

Wendy Schmidt

Project Description (Briefly describe the geotechnical activities and attach any relevant maps.)

The project’s purpose is to replace the seismically vulnerable Winchester Creek Bridge, which has substandard bridge rail and sidewalk width, and no approach guardrail. The bridge carries Salmon Harbor Drive over Winchester Creek in Winchester Bay, Oregon. The replacement bridge will be a single-span, wider structure that meets current roadway design standards and current seismic design criteria. The action covered by this CE is the geotechnical drilling.

Two geotechnical borings at locations (BH26-01, BH26-02) will be drilled to investigate the subsurface soil, rock, and groundwater conditions throughout the project site within the road right-of-way. Depending on the type of drill rig and method, the borings will be advanced using a combination of large-diameter solid flight auger, hollow stem auger, rotary wash, and/or rock core drilling techniques to total exploration depths between 50 and 130 feet below the ground surface.

Additional drilling details include: Boring locations will be finalized in the field by a WFLHD Geotechnical Engineer or Engineering Geologist with the driller after contract award, but will remain within the roadway prism. Water will be used to advance holes when using rotary wash and rock coring, as well aswhen mixing grout for vibrating-wire piezometer installation. Generally, return water from the borehole is recirculated and reused for drilling. Excess drill water and drill cuttings will be drummed and disposed of at a location approved by Douglas County personnel, if a government provided waste area is identified. Otherwise, the cuttings and drilling fluids will be disposed of off-site.

Borings will be backfilled in accordance with State of Oregon regulations and resurfaced to match surrounding conditions, including cold patch in paved areas. Borings with installed instruments drilled in paved areas will be completed at the surface with 12-inch diameter flush-mounted, traffic rated monuments.

The estimated time for each geotechnical boring, including mobilization to and from the drill location, instrument installations, and ground surface completions, is between approximately 6 to 7 full days, with a total investigation duration of between one to two weeks.

A. The geotechnical activities described above meet the categorical exclusion activity described in 23 CFR 771.117(c)(24): Localized geotechnical and other investigation to provide information for preliminary design and for environmental analysis and permitting purposes, such as drilling test bores for soil sampling; archeological investigations for archeology resources assessment or similar survey; and wetland surveys.

B. The geotechnical activities meet the definitions of a categorical exclusion as defined in 23 CFR 771.117(a).

The activities described above:

a. do not induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area;

b. do not require the relocation of significant numbers of people;

c. do not have a significant impact on any natural, cultural, recreational, historic or other resources;

d. do not involve significant air, noise, or water quality impacts;

e. do not have significant impacts on travel patterns; or

f. do not otherwise, either individually or cumulatively, have any significant environmental impacts.

C. Independent Utility and Logical Termini: The geotechnical activities comply with NEPA requirements related to connected actions and segmentation (i.e. the project must have independent utility, connect logical termini when applicable, be usable and be a reasonable expenditure even if no additional transportation improvements in the area are made and not restrict further consideration of alternatives for other reasonably foreseeable transportation improvements). (FHWA Final Rule, "Background," Federal Register Vol. 79, No. 8, January 13, 2014.)

Section 1: Definitions of Categorical Exclusion

D. Exceptions to Categorical Exclusions/Unusual Circumstances (23 CFR 771.117[b]).

FHWA regulation 23 CFR 771.117(b) provides that any action which normally would be classified as a CE but could involve unusual circumstances requires the Department to conduct appropriate environmental studies to determine if the CE classification is proper.

The project does not include unusual circumstances that involve:

- Significant environmental impacts;

- Substantial controversy on environmental grounds;

- Significant impact on properties protected by section 4(f) of the DOT Act or section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; or

- Inconsistencies with any Federal, State, or local law, requirement or administrative determination relating to the environmental aspects of the action.

Section 2: Environmental Processes A. Section 106 compliance is complete (select the appropriate finding):

Screened undertaking✔ No Historic Properties Affected Adverse Effect

Programmatic Agreement (identify if using partner agency PA) PA Date and Stipulation

N/A

SHPO Concurrence Date: N/A

No Adverse Effect No Potential to Effect

B. Endangered Species Act:

No Section 7 Consultation Needed✔ Section 7 Consultation Complete

Finding (effect determination) [attach documentation]:

No Effect✔ Not Likely to Adversely Affect Likely to Adversely Affect

Programmatic Agreement

N/A

PA Number and Date

C. Other Relevant Environmental Processes or Permits (including Section 404 permit for geotechnical survey activities):

Not Applicable✔ Applicable and described below

Please describe any relevant information:

Section 106: No Potential to Effect Historic Properties Section 106 Memo (signed 9/2/2026)

ESA Section 7 - FHWA No Effect Determination Form (9/15/2026). Source /Ipac: https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/location/ FQFN6XBOWJHUTNRUTOOLJUUZQU/resources (Created 9/2/2026)

Commitment measure for ESA includes conducting geotechnical drilling between October 1 and January 31 outside of nesting seasons for MAMU and NSO species.

Section 3: Certification Based on project proposal and known information, the project is determined to be a Categorical Exclusion pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act listed in 23 CFR 771.117(c)(24)

Prepared By:

Approved By: Jennifer Chariarse (print name)

Title: Environmental Manager

Signature:

A. The geotechnical activities described above meet the categorical exclusion activity described in 23 CFR 771.117(c)(24): Localized geotechnical and other investigation to provide information for preliminary design and for environmental analysis and permitting purposes, such as drilling test bores for soil sampling; archeological investigations for archeology resources assessment or similar survey; and wetland surveys.

B. The geotechnical activities meet the definitions of a categorical exclusion as defined in 23 CFR 771.117(a).

The activities described above:

a. do not induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area;

b. do not require the relocation of significant numbers of people;

c. do not have a significant impact on any natural, cultural, recreational, historic or other resources;

d. do not involve significant air, noise, or water quality impacts;

e. do not have significant impacts on travel patterns; or

f. do not otherwise, either individually or cumulatively, have any significant environmental impacts.

C. Independent Utility and Logical Termini: The geotechnical activities comply with NEPA requirements related to connected actions and segmentation (i.e. the project must have independent utility, connect logical termini when applicable, be usable and be a reasonable expenditure even if no additional transportation improvements in the area are made and not restrict further consideration of alternatives for other reasonably foreseeable transportation improvements). (FHWA Final Rule, "Background," Federal Register Vol. 79, No. 8, January 13, 2014.)

D. Exceptions to Categorical Exclusions/Unusual Circumstances (23 CFR 771.117[b]).

FHWA regulation 23 CFR 771.117(b) provides that any action which normally would be classified as a CE but could involve unusual circumstances requires the Department to conduct appropriate environmental studies to determine if the CE classification is proper.

The project does not include unusual circumstances that involve:

- Significant environmental impacts;

- Substantial controversy on environmental grounds;

- Significant impact on properties protected by section 4(f) of the DOT Act or section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; or

- Inconsistencies with any Federal, State, or local law, requirement or administrative determination relating to the environmental aspects of the action.

Section 2: Environmental Processes A. Section 106 compliance is complete (select the appropriate finding):

B. Endangered Species Act:

Finding (effect determination) [attach documentation]:

C. Other Relevant Environmental Processes or Permits (including Section 404 permit for geotechnical survey activities):

Section 3: Certification Based on project proposal and known information, the project is determined to be a Categorical Exclusion pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act listed in 23 CFR 771.117(c)(24) (print name) 11.0.0.20130303.1.892433.887364 WFLHD Service Desk January 18, 2018 Information Technology

WFLHD

Geotechnical Activities Categorical Exclusion August 22, 2018

The project’s purpose is to replace the seismically vulnerable Winchester Creek Bridge, which has substandard bridge rail and sidewalk width, and no approach guardrail. The bridge carries Salmon Harbor Drive over Winchester Creek in Winchester Bay, Oregon. The replacement bridge will be a single-span, wider structure that meets current roadway design standards and current seismic design criteria. The action covered by this CE is the geotechnical drilling.

Two geotechnical borings at locations (BH26-01, BH26-02) will be drilled to investigate the subsurface soil, rock, and groundwater conditions throughout the project site within the road right-of-way. Depending on the type of drill rig and method, the borings will be advanced using a combination of large-diameter solid flight auger, hollow stem auger, rotary wash, and/or rock core drilling techniques to total exploration depths between 50 and 130 feet below the ground surface.

Additional drilling details include: Boring locations will be finalized in the field by a WFLHD Geotechnical Engineer or Engineering Geologist with the driller after contract award, but will remain within the roadway prism. Water will be used to advance holes when using rotary wash and rock coring, as well aswhen mixing grout for vibrating-wire piezometer installation. Generally, return water from the borehole is recirculated and reused for drilling. Excess drill water and drill cuttings will be drummed and disposed of at a location approved by Douglas County personnel, if a government provided waste area is identified. Otherwise, the cuttings and drilling fluids will be disposed of off-site.

Borings will be backfilled in accordance with State of Oregon regulations and resurfaced to match surrounding conditions, including cold patch in paved areas. Borings with installed instruments drilled in paved areas will be completed at the surface with 12-inch diameter flush-mounted, traffic rated monuments.

The estimated time for each geotechnical boring, including mobilization to and from the drill location, instrument installations, and ground surface completions, is between approximately 6 to 7 full days, with a total investigation duration of between one to two weeks.

Section 106: No Potential to Effect Historic Properties Section 106 Memo (signed 9/2/2026)

ESA Section 7 - FHWA No Effect Determination Form (9/15/2026). Source /Ipac: https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/location/FQFN6XBOWJHUTNRUTOOLJUUZQU/resources (Created 9/2/2026)

Commitment measure for ESA includes conducting geotechnical drilling between October 1 and January 31 outside of nesting seasons for MAMU and NSO species.