AG-64R4-S-13-0017AY_Construction_of_Low_Water_Crossing_-_Categorical_Exclusion_Form.pdf

Categorical Exclusion Form Mark Twain National Forest

Washington County, Missouri

Project: MO-PFH-059-1(001) Date: March 30, 2012

Project description, including location:

The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the Forest Service proposes to replace undersized crossings on Brazil Road (Co Rd 657) with low water crossings to facilitate Aquatic Organism Passage. The existing structures will be replaced with embedded concrete box culverts or bottomless arc pipes at Town Branch crossing and at Courtois Creek crossing. These alternative structures will simulate the natural steam flow and improve aquatic organism passage. Once the structures are in place, they will have long term benefits for aquatic biota and the health of the watershed.

Mark Twain National Forest is the largest public land manger the state, with over 5% of the land base. Missouri’s only national forest, the Mark Twain, encompasses roughly 1.5 million acres, mostly within the Ozark Highlands. Mark Twain’s forest roads provide access to the forest’s many resources, including recreation, fire protection, timber and wildlife management. The existing low water crossings on Brazil Road at Town Branch and Courtois Creek were constructed in the mid-1970s and do not fully meet desired conditions as stated in the current Forest Plan.

Access for local traffic must be maintained at all times. No work will be allowed on weekends or National holidays. All Missouri State standards and specifications will be used on this project.

In-stream construction would create sediment; therefore the stream will be diverted during the construction phase. The use of Best Management Practices will reduce the amount of sediment from entering the streams.

Describe the category used to exclude the action from further NEPA:

23 CFR 771.117 (d)(1) Modernization of a highway by resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, reconstruction, adding auxiliary lanes (e.g., parking, weaving, turning, climbing).

The proposed action was described and analyzed in the Mark Twain National Forests’ Shoal Creek Environmental Assessment (EA). The Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) Decision Notice was signed on June 26, 2007. The proposed project is also consistent with the goals indicated in the 2005 Forest Plan and is compliant with the Programmatic Biological Opinion.

Describe any public or agency involvement effort conducted:

Public involvement, including public scoping and the public comment period, was completed with the EA. Tribal, Missouri State Historic Preservation Officer, and Fish and Wildlife Service consultation was also completed with the EA. Documentation for the public and agency correspondence relating to these efforts are documented in the EA and are on file with the Mark Twain National Forest.

23 CFR 771.117 Categorical exclusions (CEs) are actions which meet the definition contained in 40 CFR 1508.4, and, based on past experience with similar actions, do not involve significant environmental impacts.

The proposed action will: YES NO Induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area

X

Require the relocation of significant numbers of people

X

Have a significant impact on any natural, cultural, recreational, historic, or other resource

X

Involve significant air, noise, or water quality impacts

X

Have significant impacts on travel patterns X Otherwise, either individually or cumulatively have any significant environmental impacts

X

If any box is checked yes, the action may not be categorically excluded and an EA or EIS must be prepared. If none are checked yes, attach Environmental Screening Form, notes from consultation with agencies and/or the public, notes of site visits and any other material related to the environmental impact of the proposal. This becomes the NEPA piece of the statutory compliance file.

Environmental Screening Form

Project: MO-PFH-059-1(001) Date: March 30, 2012

Yes

No

Don’t Know

1. Described fully in one of the list of categorically excluded actions?

x

2. Consultation with any affected agencies or tribes complete?

3. Site visit completed?

4. Are any significant impacts possible on the following physical, natural, or cultural resources?*

A. Geological resources - soils, bedrock, streambeds, etc.

B. From geohazards?

C. Air Quality, Traffic, or from Noise

D. Water Quality or Quantity

E. Streamflow characteristics x

F. Marine or Estuarine Resources

G. Land Use, including agricultural lands

H. Rare or unusual vegetation-old growth timber, riparian, alpine, etc.

I. Species of special concern (plant or animal; state or federal listed or proposed for listing) or their habitat

J. Unique ecosystems, biosphere reserves, World Heritage sites

K. Unique or important wildlife or wildlife habitat

L. Unique or important fish or fish habitat

M. Introduce or promote non-native species (plant or animal)

N. Recreation resources

O. Visitor experience, aesthetic resources

P. Cultural resources, cultural landscape, etc.

Q. Minority and Low Income Populations

R. Socioeconomics

Yes

No

Don’t Know

S. Energy Resources x

T. Other agency or tribal land use plans or policies

U. Resource, including energy, conservation potential

V. Urban quality, gateway communities, etc.

W. Long term management of resources or land/resource productivity

* Insert the word “none” in the “no column” if the reason that a resource is not impacted is because the resource is not found in the project area.

This form is meant to be annotated with relevant information, such as notes of site visit, personnel conducting the site visit, agency officials contacted and their responses, etc. A site visit is required to complete this form, and so is required to categorically exclude a project (sec 3-4), prepare an EA or prepare an EIS.

If the answers to questions 1-3 are yes, and all answers to number 4 are no, complete the categorical exclusion checklist. If any of the answers to question 4 are don’t know, complete an EA. If any are answered yes, either a mitigated EA or EIS is required.