Attachment 2 OR DOT 20(3) Geotechnical Activities Categorical Exclusion-Form.pdf

Geotechnical Activities Categorical Exclusion

August 22, 2018

Project Name

US 20 Upper Sunken Grade - Geotechnical Investigation

Project Number (FLH Accounts Table)

OR DOT 20(3)

Project Manager

Matt Miller

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

The Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), is proposing addressing unstable roadway areas along the Santiam Highway (US20) on the West Slope of the Cascades, within the Willamette National Forest. The roadway is a 2-lane asphalt concrete paved highway, with various shoulder widths. This segment of highway is also a part of the Over the Rivers & Through the Woods Scenic Byway, an Oregon state scenic byway. The project is the third in a series of projects that are in development or have already occurred on various named landslides along the Route. In a 7 mile section of the road, there are 6 slides. This project will focus on the investigation to repair and mitigate of this slide:

• Upper Sunken Grade Slide, MP 56.1

The purpose of the geotechnical investigation is to gather geotechnical data to support landslide mitigation designs. The geotechnical investigation tasks for Upper Sunken Grade site will include geotechnical borings and instrumentation.

This project is located on US Route 20 (South Santiam Highway) in the Willamette National Forest, Linn County, OR. Upper Sunken Grade site is located near mile post (MP) 57 at GPS coordinates 44.4064°N, 122.2232°W.

The proposed project is to perform drilling in fall of 2019. Geotechnical borings will be drilled to investigate soil, rock, and groundwater conditions at the project sites. At this time, four borings are anticipated for Upper Sunken Grade site. All of the borings are accessible by a truck-mounted drill rig and will be drilled from the existing roadway or gravel surface. The other half will be accessible by either a track-mounted or portable drill rig. Hazard trees, identified by professional tree faller, may be required to be removed beyond the 50-foot diameter. Total duration of project is to be complete in approximately 3 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

OR DOT 20(3) Upper Sunken Grade RFQ # 69056720Q000028 Attachment 2

Geotechnical Activities Categorical Exclusion

August 22, 2018

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

June 4, 20042004 Programmatic Agreement between USFS & OR SHPO

SHPO Concurrence Date:

No Adverse 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 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 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: Scott Smithline (print name)

Title: Environmental Project Manager

Signature:

STEPHEN T MORROW Digitally signed by STEPHEN T MORROW Date: 2019.10.11 10:20:25 -07'00'

SCOTT RUSSELL SMITHLINE Digitally signed by SCOTT RUSSELL SMITHLINE Date: 2019.10.17 12:41:38 -07'00'

OR DOT 20(3) Upper Sunken Grade RFQ # 69056720Q000028 Attachment 2