NEPA_Doc_CE.pdf

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Categorical Exclusion Form

Project: PRA-BLRI 2H14 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct)

PEPC Project Number: 52377

Project Description:

Blue Ridge Parkway Date: 06/19/2015

The project includes Linn Cove Viaduct bridge rehabilitation work on the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC, at Milepost (MP) 304. The bridge was built in 1983. Since then, only bearing pads were reset in 2000 and the stone masonry wingwalls were repointed in 2014, but no other repairs have been performed on the bridge. Project will replace the waterproofing membrane and wearing surface course on the Linn Cove Viaduct bridge. The bridge is 1,249 feet long and consists of 153 pre-cast segments weighing 50 tons each. The viaduct, being the first post-tensioned, precast segmental box girder bridge built in the United States, has received eleven design awards and is a signature bridge for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Remove existing asphalt surface course and the waterproofing membrane from the concrete bridge deck and resurface the bridge deck with a spray-on membrane and an asphalt surface course. The work also includes deck scupper extension/adjustment, resetting existing stone curb/placing silicone seals in the joint between parapet wall and curb, replacing missing hardware from the metal rails, replacing deck joints, placing riprap at wet area next to northwest wingwall, and reconstructing asphalt bridge approaches.

The project was scoped on 5/21/14. Linn Cove Viaduct bridge is 1,249' long segmental box girder bridge with reinforced concrete deck, and continuous steel rails. It consists of 8 spans, and carries two lanes of traffic with curb to curb width of 34.3 '. The substructure consists of 7 tall cast-in-place piers and 2 concrete abutments.

Specific work required is as follows:

• Mill existing asphalt surface course from the precast concrete bridge deck and resurface the bridge deck with a spray-on membrane and an asphalt surface course. A profile grade raise of no more than 1" will be .

permitted.

• Extend existing metal deck scuppers to match top of asphalt. Currently, the scuppers are below the overlay, they were installed flush with the concrete deck. •Replace two existing expansion bridge deck joints.

• Reset existing stone curb as needed and seal open joint between stone curb and concrete railing curb as needed.

• Replace missing hardware from the aluminum rails (1 nut and 2 rail caps).

• Adjust existing inlet located at the bridge's north approach on northbound lane.

• Place dumped riprap in the wet area next to northeast wingwall.

• Reconstruct 100'± of asphalt bridge approaches.

• Mill and overlay Yonahlossee Overlook parking area located near the north bridge approach at the end of the project as it will be used as a staging area.

Plans, specifications, estimates, and contracts will be administered by FHW A Project oversight and supervision will be provided by DSC-T.

Categorical Exclusion Form - PRA-BLRI 2H14 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct) - PEPC ID: 52377

Project Locations:

Location County:

District:

Geo. Marker:

Mitigation(s):

Avery Highlands 304 (Milepost)

State:

Section:

Other:

NC

2H

• Construction vehicles shall access the construction site via SR 221.

• Staging shall be in the immediate area of the southern bridge abutment. However, if full road closure is required, staging shall take place on the motor road.

• No riprap shall be placed in the wetland on the northern end of the wall. Riprap is to prevent erosion below the structure and should be placed below the wetland where terrain begins the downward slope and erosion is taking place.

• Park natural resource staff shall need to survey the area next to the northwest wingwall prior to any work occurring (i.e., riprap placed, etc.) to determine if it is a location that needs to be protected.

• To prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS), anyone going inside the viaduct shall be escorted by the Park's Wildlife Biologist on their first visit and will follow the protocol outlined in the WNS Policy by wearing Tyvek (or similar) coveralls and then disinfecting themselves and equipment during all visits to the site.

• All construction generated debris will be removed from the park to an approved landfill.

Describe the category used to exclude action from further NEPA analysis and indicate the number of the category (see Section 3-4 of D0-12):

C.9 Repair, resurfacing, striping, installation of traffic control devices, repair/replacement of guardrails, etc., on existing roads.

On the basis of the environmental impact information in the statutory compliance file, with which I am familiar, I am categorically excluding the described project from further NEPA analysis. No exceptional circumstances (e.g. all boxes in the ESF are marked "no") or conditions in Section 3-6 apply, and the action is fully described in Section 3-4 of D0-12.

Suzette Malling NPS Contact Person

199 Hem2hill Knob Road Address fc, - .':) ~3 -/j Date

Environmental Prot ection Specialist Tit1e

828 /34 8-343 2 Phone number

Categorical Exclusion Form - PRA-BLRI 2H14 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct) - PEPC ID: 52377

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Blue Ridge Parkway Date: 06/23/2015

Letter of Compliance Completion

Memorandum

To: Project Leader, Michael Moiling

From: Environmental Protection Specialist

Subject: NEPA and NHPA Clearance: PRA-BLRI 2H14 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct) (52377)

The Resources Management and Science Division has reviewed the proposed project and completed its environmental assessment documentation, and we have determined that there:

• Will not be any adverse effects on threatened, endangered, or rare species and/ or their critical habitat.

• Will not be any adverse effects on historical, cultural, or archeological resources.

• Will not be serious or long-term undesirable environmental or visual effects.

The subject proposed project, therefore, is now cleared for all NEPA and NHPA compliance requirements as presented above. Project implementation can commence.

For the proposed project actions to be within compliance requirements during construction and/or project implementation, the following mitigations must be adhered to:

• Construction vehicles shall access the construction site via SR 221.

• Staging shall be in the immediate area of the southern bridge abutment. However, if full road closure is required, staging shall take place on the motor road.

• No riprap shall be placed in the wetland on the northern end of the wall. Riprap is to prevent erosion below the structure and should be placed below the wetland where terrain begins the downward slope and erosion is taking place.

• Park natural resource staff shall need to survey the area next to the northwest wingwall prior to any work occurring (i.e., rip rap placed, etc.) to determine if it is a location that needs to be protected.

• To prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS), anyone going inside the viaduct shall be escorted by the Park's Wildlife Biologist on their first visit and will follow the protocol outlined in the WNS Policy by wearing Tyvek (or similar) coveralls and then disinfecting themselves and equipment during all visits to the site.

• All construction generated debris will be removed from the park to an approved landfill.

Letter of Compliance Completion - PRA-BLRI 2Hl 4 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct) - PEPC ID: 52377

For complete compliance information see PEPC Project 52377. If you have any questions, please let me know.

b~'tYl~ Suzette Moiling cc: Debbie Northrop Matt Henderson Scott Green Carolyn Sparks Monika Mayr Jackie Holt Steven.Kidd Bambi Teague Chris Ulrey Bob Cherry Lillian McElrath Neal Labrie Debra Flowers David Anderson Dave Bauer Susan Gonshor Tina White Teresa McCall Laura Nelson Mark Woods Wesley Greene Larry Hultquist, DSC-T Andy Otten, DSC-T Y anina Kirtley, FHW A

Letter of Compliance Completion - PRA-BLRI 2H14 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct) - PEPC ID: 52377

Assessment of Effect Form - PRA-BLRI 2H14 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct) - PEPC ID: 52377

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Blue Ridge Parkway Date: 06/19/2015

ASSESSMENT OF ACTIONS HAVING AN EFFECT ON

HISTORIC PROPERTIES

A. DESCRIPTION OF UNDERTAKING

1. Park: Blue Ridge Parkway

2. Project Description:

Project Name: PRA-BLRI 2H14 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct)

Prepared by: Steven Kidd Date Prepared: 04/22/2015 Telephone: 828-348-3438 PEPC Project Number: 52377

Locations:

Describe project:

The project includes Linn Cove Viaduct bridge rehabilitation work on the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC, at Milepost (MP) 304. The bridge was built in 1983. Since then, only bearing pads were reset in 2000 and the stone masonry wingwalls were repointed in 2014, but no other repairs have been performed on the bridge. Project will replace the waterproofing membrane and wearing surface course on the Linn Cove Viaduct bridge. The bridge is 1,249 feet long and consists of 153 pre-cast segments weighing 50 tons each. The viaduct, being the first post-tensioned, precast segmental box girder bridge built in the United States, has received eleven design awards and is a signature bridge for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Remove existing asphalt surface course and the waterproofing membrane from the concrete bridge deck and resurface the bridge deck with a spray-on membrane and an asphalt surface course. The work also includes deck scupper extension/adjustment, resetting existing stone curb/placing silicone seals in the joint between parapet wall and curb, replacing missing hardware from the metal rails, replacing deck joints, placing riprap at wet area next to northwest wingwall, and reconstructing asphalt bridge approaches.

The project was scoped on 5/21/14. Linn Cove Viaduct bridge is 1,249' long segmental box girder bridge with reinforced concrete deck, and continuous steel rails. It consists of 8 spans, and carries two lanes of traffic with curb to curb width of 34.3'. The substructure consists of 7 tall cast-in-place piers and 2 concrete abutments.

Specific work required is as follows:

Mill existing asphalt surface course from the precast concrete bridge deck and resurface the bridge deck with a spray-on membrane and an asphalt surface course. A profile grade raise of no more than 1" will be permitted.

Extend existing metal deck scuppers to match top of asphalt. Currently, the scuppers are below the overlay, they were installed flush with the concrete deck. •Replace two existing expansion bridge deck joints.

Reset existing stone curb as needed and seal open joint between stone curb and concrete railing curb as needed.

Replace missing hardware from the aluminum rails (1 nut and 2 rail caps).

Adjust existing inlet located at the bridge's north approach on northbound lane.

Place dumped riprap in the wet area next to northeast wingwall.

Assessment of Effect Form - PRA-BLRI 2H14 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct) - PEPC ID: 52377

Reconstruct 100'± of asphalt bridge approaches.

Mill and overlay Yonahlossee Overlook parking area located near the north bridge approach at the end of the project as it will be used as a staging area.

Plans, specifications, estimates, and contracts will be administered by FHWA. Project oversight and supervision will be provided by DSC-T.

Area of potential effects (as defined in 36 CFR 800.16[d])

3. Has the area of potential effects been surveyed to identify historic properties?

No X Yes

4. The proposed action will: (check as many as apply)

No Destroy, remove, or alter features/elements from a historic structure Yes Replace historic features/elements in kind

No Add non-historic features/elements to a historic structure

No Alter or remove features/elements of a historic setting or environment (inc. terrain)

No Add non-historic features/elements (inc. visual, audible, or atmospheric) to a historic setting or cultural landscape

No Disturb, destroy, or make archeological resources inaccessible

No Disturb, destroy, or make ethnographic resources inaccessible

No Potentially affect presently unidentified cultural resources

No Begin or contribute to deterioration of historic features, terrain, setting, landscape elements, or archeological or ethnographic resources

No Involve a real property transaction (exchange, sale, or lease of land or structures)

B. REVIEWS BY CULTURAL RESOURCE SPECIALISTS

The park 106 coordinator requested review by the park's cultural resource specialist/advisors as indicated by check-off boxes or as follows:

[ X ] 106 Advisor Name: Beth Byrd Date: 04/22/2015 Check if project does not involve ground disturbance [ ] Assessment of Effect: No Potential to Cause Effect No Historic Properties Affected X No Adverse Effect Adverse Effect X Streamlined Review Recommendations for conditions or stipulations:

Doc Method: Streamlined Review (PA) Streamlined Activity:

1. Preservation Maintenance and Repair of Historic Properties

3. Repair/Resurfacing/Removal of Existing, Roads, Trails and Parking Areas

[ X ] Archeologist Name: Steven Kidd Date: 04/22/2015 Check if project does not involve ground disturbance [ ] Assessment of Effect: No Potential to Cause Effect No Historic Properties Affected X No

Recommended by Park Section 106 coordinator:

Name: Steven Kidd Title: Park Section 106 Coordinator

D. SUPERINTENDENT'S APPROVAL

The proposed work conforms to the NPS Management Policies and Cultural Resource Management Guideline, and I have reviewed and approve the recommendations, stipulations, or conditions noted in Section C of this form.

Signature of Park Superintendent 1fie-niL '172ut:(J Date: _ _,,(;;.,..._.,-d___."3_-~1_5~-fi~ jl

Assessment of Effect Form - PRA-BLRI 2Hl 4 (Repair Linn Cove Viaduct) - PEPC ID: 523 77