Att5_NEPA.pdf

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Interagency Fire Center, Boise, ID

Categorical Exclusion Documentation Format When Using Categorical Exclusions Not Established by Statute

A. Background The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) campus is located at 3833 S. Development Avenue in Boise, ID 83705. The NIFC campus is an urban environment on developed land that has been an administrative site since 1969. The NIFC campus was originally part of the Boise Airport and was operated by the Army National Guard until it was converted to its current use. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in conjunction with other Federal Government Agencies, currently owns and operates the land and buildings within the NIFC campus.

As part of the BLMs mission at the NIFC Campus operational changes and maintenance of the existing facilities is often warranted and new facilities are constructed as needed. The Boise Air Center will be a new facility will construction expected in 2024. It will function as a fire support building with a footprint of approximately 13,000 square feet. The Air Center will contain a Helitack Office and support offices, locker rooms, a large fitness room, and an attached garage for vehicle maintenance.

This Categorical Exclusion (CX) analysis is being performed to ensure that the proposed updates and improvements are in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A CX is defined as a, “category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and which have been found to have no such effect in procedures adopted by a Federal agency in implementation of these regulations and for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.”

A field survey to identify any potential environmental concerns was conducted on September 6, 2022. The locations of the proposed work has been previously disturbed and developed to a mix of asphalt roadway, concrete slabs, gravel parking areas, and landscaped areas (see Appendix A for maps of the proposed utility routing and improvements and Appendix B for photographs of the existing site).

Proposed Action Title/Type: Boise Air Center

Location of Proposed Action: NIFC Campus, Boise Idaho Description of Proposed Action:

The proposed action for the construction of a new fire support building on BLM-owned property and on the BLM-owned asphalt aircraft ramp (see Appendix A). The proposed Boise Air Center is a fire support building with a footprint of approximately 13,000 square feet. It is a new facility that will require civil and building construction.

B. Land Use Plan Conformance BLM Policy requires that a statement of land use plan conformance be included in a NEPA compliance document. Land use plans are established to guide management decisions on public lands to keep public landscapes healthy and productive. Conformance with the NEPA includes assessing the construction activity impacts against the objectives outlined in the land use plan.

The Kuna Management Framework Plan is in effect in the Boise District while The Four Rivers Field Office Resource Management Plan is in development. The proposed action is in conformance with the Kuna Management Framework Plan and the Four Rivers Field Office Management Plan, even though it is not specifically provided for Land Use Plan Name: Kuna Management Framework Plan and Four Rivers Field Office Resource Management Plan (in development) (FRFO RMP)

C. Compliance with NEPA The proposed action is categorically excluded from further documentation under NEPA in accordance with BLM Handbook H1790-1-2008 Appendix 4 E Realty #13 “Amendments to existing rights-of-way, such as the upgrading of existing facilities, which entail no additional disturbances outside the right-of-way boundary.” The NIFC campus was originally part of the Boise Airport and was operated by the Army National Guard until it was converted to its current use.

The Proposed Action is categorically excluded from further documentation under NEPA in accordance with BLM Handbook H1790-1-2008 Appendix 4 E Reality #16 “acquisition of easements for an existing road or issuance of leases, permits, or rights-of-way for the use of existing facilities, improvements, or sites for the same or similar purposes”

D. Extraordinary Circumstances This CX is appropriate in this situation because there are no extraordinary circumstances that may significantly affect the environment. The proposed action has been reviewed and none of the extraordinary circumstances described in 43 CFR 46.215 apply. Part 516 of the Departmental Manual (516 DM 2, Appendix 2) states that extraordinary circumstances exist for individual actions within CXs which may:

1. Have significant impacts on public health or safety.

During the construction of a new fire support building on BLM-owned property, appropriate best management practices (BMPs) will be implemented to ensure public safety associated with the construction site. There should be no risk of impacting public health.

2. Have significant impacts on such natural resources and unique geographic characteristics as historic or cultural resources; park, recreation or refuge lands; wilderness areas; wild or scenic rivers; national natural landmarks; sole or principal drinking water aquifers; prime farmlands; wetlands (Executive Order 11990); floodplains (Executive Order 11988);

national monuments; migratory birds; and other ecologically significant or critical areas.

The proposed project area was surveyed on September 6, 2022, to identify any of the aforementioned characteristics or items as being present or potentially impacted by implementing the Proposed Action. Due to the developed nature of the construction activities these items and characteristics are not present, and the proposed action will have no impact on these items.

3. Have highly controversial environmental effects or involve unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources NEPA Section 102(2) (E).

No highly controversial environmental effects or unresolved conflicts associated with available resources are known to be present or associated with the proposed route.

4. Have highly uncertain and potentially significant environmental effects or involve unique or unknown environmental risks.

The proposed project area should not result in any significant environmental effects and there are no unique or unknown environmental risks associated with this project.

5. Establish a precedent for future action or represent a decision in principle about future actions with potentially significant environmental effects.

Due to the nature of the environment and type of project, this project should not set precedence for future actions.

6. Have a direct relationship to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively significant environmental effects.

Due to the developed nature of the project area, the disturbance associated with this project should not result in significant cumulative environmental effects.

7. Have significant impacts on properties listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic P laces as determined by either the bureau or office.

The campus was originally developed as the Boise Interagency Fire Center (BIFC) in 1965 and the BLM obtained the existing campus in 1969 and has occupied it since. Other agencies have joined the group over the years and the campus was renamed the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in 1993. The structures on the campus are not of age that would make them eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or are not of historic significance.

8. Have significant impacts on species listed, or proposed to be listed, on the List of Endangered or Threatened Species, or have significant impacts on designated Critical Habitat for these species.

There is no suitable habitat for listed species within the project area.

9. Violate a Federal law, or a State, local, or tribal law or requirement imposed for the protection of the environment.

The construction of a new fire support building on BLM-owned property will comply with all relevant Federal, State, and local laws and regulations. Any required permits will be obtained prior to the initiation of construction activities.

10. Have a disproportionately high and adverse effect on low income or minority populations (Executive Order 12898).

There are no low income or minority populations in close proximity to the project area.

11. Limit access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites on Federal lands by Indian religious practitioners or significantly adversely affect the physical integrity of such sacred sites (Executive Order 13007).

There are no known sacred sites on the campus and previous development of site has likely removed any potential Indian sacred sites. Restriction of access, beyond those in place to access the NIFC campus, would be temporary in nature and in place during construction to ensure safety along the proposed route.

12. Contribute to the introduction, continued existence, or spread of noxious weeds or non-native invasive species known to occur in the area or actions that may promote the introduction, growth, or expansion of the range of such species (Federal Noxious Weed Control Act and Executive Order 13112).

Due to the previously developed nature of the project area it is anticipated that the project area would replace rock or be recovered in asphalt or concrete in the paved or asphaltic areas.

In consideration of the above analysis, and with implementation of standard BMPs related to construction projects, the project will have no potential for significant impacts.

E. Signature

Authorizing Official: _________________________________ Date: ___________________ Name: Chris Glode Title: Division Chief FA-200 National Interagency Fire Center 208-387-5065

Contact Person For additional information concerning this CX, contact:

Kyle Loch, Environmental Project Engineer LBYD Federal 1425 Higham Street Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402

(208) 419-4144 or Saige Ballock-Dixon, PE PMP, Environmental Senior Project Manager LBYD Federal 1425 Higham Street Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402

(208) 557-7832

Appendix A

• Maps of the proposed construction of new fire support building on BLM-owned property

• Map of utilities

Map 1. Proposed construction of new fire support building on BLM-owned property

Map 2. Existing utility schematic

Appendix B

• Photos of Project Area

Picture 1: Standing south of 410C-RAWS along south fence line facing west

Picture 2. Facing north standing along the south fence line south of 410C-RAWS

410C-RAWS

Photo 3. Standing northwest of gate M2 looking northwest