Attachment 8 - NEPA CE AR FW BLD 11(1).pdf

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

AR FW BLD 11(1)

Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form

Project Number: AR FW BLD 11(1) Date: 3/11/2025

Project Name: Granary South Road

Location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge White County, Arkansas

CE Category 23 CFR 771.117 (c)(26): Modernization of a highway by resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, reconstruction, adding shoulders, or adding auxiliary lanes (including parking, weaving, turning, and climbing lanes), if the action meets the constraints in paragraph (e)[..]

See 23 CFR 771.117 for full description of CE categories, including additional requirements when applying (c)26-28.

Project Description Granary South Road is a two-lane gravel road within the Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge. It serves as a main access road to the refuge. Public uses include hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education. During large rain events and seasonal flooding, water flows over the road, making it inaccessible. More recent flooding seasons have been severe and have caused damage to Granary South Road and caused erosion of the road embankment. The road is now very susceptible to flooding on a regular basis and can be inundated for weeks at a time.

The objective of the project is to rehabilitate Granary South Road while providing safe passage for the visiting public, thereby extending the service life of the roadway, and minimizing future maintenance requirements.

The work will consist of resurfacing, reconditioning, regrading, and restoring Granary South Road. The roadway crown would be re-established, and the profile would be raised, where needed. The work also includes reconstructing a low water crossing, providing bank stabilization, ditch reconditioning, culvert replacements and other miscellaneous work.

Environmental Commitments and Mitigation Measures No tree cutting from March 16 – November 14 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=842bb87055f89f1d0ff242f2b9e20ff7&mc=true&node=pt23.1.771&rgn=div5#se23.1.771_1117

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

AR FW BLD 11(1)

Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form

Summary of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act Compliance Tri-colored bat (proposed Endangered), Eastern Black rail (Threatened), Piping Plover (Threatened), Rufa Red knot (Threatened), Alligator Snapping turtle (proposed Threatened), Pink mucket (pearlymussel) (Endangered), Monarch Butterfly (proposed Threatened), Pondberry (Endangered). The action area does not contain designated critical habitat for listed species. The USFWS determined the project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, listed species.

The FHWA, Eastern Federal Lands concurs with the USFWS’ findings.

Summary of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act Compliance The USFWS has determined the proposed work will have no adverse effect to historic properties.

On January 3, 2025, the Arkansas Heritage (State Historic Preservation Office) concurred with the USFWS’ determination of effects. The FHWA, Eastern Federal Lands concurs with the USFWS’ determination of effects.

Additional Agency Coordination and Compliance N/A

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

Categorical Exclusion Recommendation:

On the basis of the environmental impact information in the statutory compliance file, with which I am familiar, I believe the project should be categorically excluded from further NEPA analysis.

Nicholle Braspennickx Environmental Protection Specialist

Federal Highway Administration

Date

Categorical Exclusion Determination:

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. The project meets the 23 CFR 771.117(a) definition of a categorical exclusion. No unusual circumstances per 23 CFR 771.117(b) apply.

Kevin S. Rose Environmental Team Leader

Federal Highway Administration

Date

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

Appendix A: Environmental Checklist

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act:

• Are Federally-listed species potentially present in the study area? ☒Yes, see Notesi ☐No If Yes, effects determination:

☐No Effect ☒May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect ☐May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act:

• Are historic properties known to be present in the study area? ☐Yes ☒No

If Yes, will they be impacted by the project? ☐Yes ☐No

• Will previously undisturbed ground be disturbed?

☐Yes ☒No

• Effects determination:

☐No Historic Properties Affected ☒No Adverse Effect ☐Adverse Effect, MOA Executed

• Was tribal consultation completed? ☒Yes ☐No

Water and Wetlands:

• Section 404 of the Clean Water Act

Are impacts to Waters of the US anticipated? ☒Yes ☐No If Yes, approval anticipated:

☒Nationwide Permit (NWP) ☐Regional General Permit ☐Individual Permit

• Section 401 of the Clean Water Act ☒NWP certified by State ☐Individual Certification

• Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Will the land disturbance threshold likely be exceeded to require a permit and SWPPP?

☐Yes ☒ No

• Is post-construction stormwater management review/approval anticipated? ☐Yes ☒No

• ☒Project is consistent with Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands

Floodplains:

• Is the project in a FEMA floodplain?

☒Yes ☐No ☐ Floodplain not mapped

• ☒ Project is consistent with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management

Section 4(f) of the USDOT Act:

• Does the project meet the Section 4(f) exemption for Federal lands transportation facilities under

Section 1119(c)(2) of MAP-21, 23 U.S.C. 138(a)? ☒Yes ☐No

• Is there a use of a Section 4(f) property in the study area? ☐Yes ☒No

If Yes, De Minimis Finding:☐ Programmatic:☐ Individual 4(f): ☐

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund:

• Was the property purchased with grant funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund?

☐Yes ☒No

• If Yes, was documentation of approval from National Park Service Director received for the conversion or replacement of 6(f) property? ☐Yes ☐No Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972:

• Is the project in a Coastal Zone? ☐Yes ☒No

• If yes, will a Federal Consistency Review be completed? ☐Yes ☐No

Right of Way:

• Is the project completely within the transportation facility’s right-of-way? ☒Yes ☐No

• If no, will the project require relocations or easements? ☐Yes ☐No

Hazardous Waste and Materials:

• Are hazardous materials or contamination exceeding regulatory thresholds (as set by U.S. EPA, County Environmental Health, etc.) present? ☐Yes ☒No

• If Yes, is the nature and extent of the hazardous materials or contamination fully known? ☐Yes ☐No, plan for securing information provided in Notes Section 7(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act:

• Are there Wild and Scenic Rivers? ☐Yes ☒No ☐Eligible If Yes, has review by the river-administering agency been completed? ☐Yes ☐No

Clean Air Act:

• Is the project in a non-attainment area? ☐Yes ☒No

If Yes, is the project on the Transportation Improvement Program(TIP)/State Implementation Plan(SIP)? ☐ Yes ☐No

Highway Traffic and Construction Noise Regulations:

• ☐ The proposed project is a Type I project (highway on a new location, substantial horizontal or vertical alteration, new through or auxiliary lanes). Noise analysis is required.

• ☐ The proposed project is a Type II project (retrofit for noise abatement).

• ☐ The proposed project is a Type III project (noise analysis not required).

• ☒ Does not apply.

Farmland Protection Policy Act for Highway Projects:

• Does the project displace, require acquisition of, or require an easement from farmland?

☐Yes ☒No Does the project affect any other resources not listed above? Explain below and list anticipated permits:

US Corps of Engineers Section 404 permit, an Erosion and Sediment Control/NPDES permit

1 Federally-listed species per U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s IPaC