Categorical Exclusion Form (NEPA) (NPS).pdf

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Natchez Trace Parkway

Categorical Exclusion Documentation Form (CE Form)

Project: Recurring Paving and Rehabilitation of Existing Roads along the Natchez Trace Parkway

PEPC Project Number: 114887

Description of Action (Project Description): This recurring CE covers future paved road rehabilitation projects at the Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway). Rehabilitation includes the mainline, access roads, interpretive pull-outs, parking areas, bridges, culverts, and associated safety improvements and striping. The Parkway works with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to design and implement road rehabilitation projects that range from minor overlays to full depth reclamation (FDR) with culvert and bridge repairs. Recently NEPA updates now allow for a CE to cover the typical actions needed to maintain a safe roadway even with the more intensive construction needed for FDR's, major culvert replacements, and introduction of raised profile striping. However, the NPS and FHWA are still responsible for taking a hard look at the impacts project by project and final construction plans will need to be reviewed by NPS to ensure the associated Section 7 consultation and Section 106 consultation are completed on a project-by-project basis. NEPA and NHPA coordinators shall review all projects to ensure they are in keeping with the activities covered under this CE.

Types of activities include:

-Full Depth Reclamation, defined "as a recycling method where all of the asphalt pavement section and a predetermined amount of underlying materials are treated to produce a stabilized base course.(1) Different types of additives, such as asphalt emulsions and chemical agents such as calcium chloride, portland cement, fly ash and lime, are added to obtain an improved base. The five main steps in this process are pulverization, introduction of additive, shaping of the mixed material, compaction, and application of a surface or a wearing course. If the in-place material is not sufficient to provide the desired depth of the treated base, new materials may be imported and included in the processing.(1) This method of recycling is normally performed to a depth of 100 to 300 mm (4 to 12 in)" (Source: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/recycling/98042/16.cfm) On previous Parkway projects, FDR has been performed at a maximum depth of 18". At this depth, ground disturbance is well within zones previously disturbed by construction.

-Pavement repair - including patch sealing, chip sealing, shoulder maintenance, crack and joint sealing, in-kind curb and gutter repair, and other similar pavement restoration activities including patching of ruts adjacent to the fog line with 'cold patch' or gravel.

-Milling, wedge and level of pavement with little or no change in pavement width.

- Addition of 20 inches of pavement outside the fog line in areas where rutting consistently occurs (curve widening) for public safety.

-Restriping and painting - including restriping and painting of existing road markings.

-Audible pavement markers.

-Non-historic culvert maintenance and replacement - includes repair, cleaning, and replacement 'in-kind' of existing non-historic culverts, as long as all best management practices are followed to minimize erosion and impacts to streams.

-Base material addition - addition of base material on existing roads as necessary.

-Grading/Blading - grading of existing road bed for drainage and level surface.

-Non-historic culvert maintenance and in-kind replacement - includes repair, cleaning, and replacement of existing non-historic culverts as necessary.

-Sign replacement - includes in-kind replacement of existing non-historic road, entrance, and regulatory signs as necessary with no change in capacity or appearance.

-Debris removal - rock removal, sweeping, and other debris removal from roadways.

-Brushing and shoulder grading-removal of small brush and rocks for proper drainage.

Project Locations:

County, State: Colbert, AL

County, State: Lauderdale, AL

County, State: Adams, MS

County, State: Attala, MS

County, State: Chickasaw, MS

County, State: Choctaw, MS

County, State: Claiborne, MS

County, State: Clay, MS

County, State: Hinds, MS

County, State: Itawamba, MS

County, State: Jefferson, MS

County, State: Leake, MS

County, State: Lee, MS

County, State: Madison, MS

County, State: Pontotoc, MS

County, State: Prentiss, MS

County, State: Rankin, MS

County, State: Tishomingo, MS

County, State: Webster, MS

County, State: Davidson, TN

County, State: Hickman, TN

County, State: Lawrence, TN

County, State: Lewis, TN

County, State: Maury, TN

County, State: Wayne, TN

County, State: Williamson, TN

Mitigation(s):

• Scope of approved activities included minor bridge repairs and maintenance activities. Bridge replacement is not approved under this compliance document.

• Scope of approved activities for culverts include repair and replacement of non-historic culverts that are less than 50 years old. Proposed repairs to historic culverts shall be reviewed and approved if repairs are minor or involve minimal in-kind replacement of materials such that it does not affect the culvert's integrity. Historic culvert replacement is not covered under this compliance document.

• Scope of approved activities included minor bridge repairs and maintenance activities. Bridge replacement is not approved under this compliance document.

CE Citation: DOI NEPA Handbook, Appendix 2, 12.5, C(9), (Feb. 2026). Repair, resurfacing, striping, installation of traffic control devices, repair/replacement of guardrails, etc., on existing roads.

CE Justification: All road rehabilitation work done under this CE will be withing the current footprint of the Natchez Trace Parkway motor road.

Extraordinary Circumstances:

If implemented, would the proposal... Yes/No Explanation

A. Have significant impacts on public health or safety? No Public safety will be improved by road repairs, but not to the extent that it will be significant.

B. 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; floodplains; national monuments; migratory birds;

and other ecologically significant or critical areas?

No No significant impacts from road repairs.

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

No Road repairs are common within the NPS and no uncertain or significant environmental impacts are anticipated.

If implemented, would the proposal... Yes/No Explanation D. Establish a precedent for future action or represent a decision in principle about future actions with potentially significant environmental effects?

No Road repairs are common within the NPS.

E. Have a direct relationship to other actions that implicate potentially significant environmental effects?

No No significant impacts from road repairs.

F. Have significant impacts on properties listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic Places as determined by the bureau?

No No adverse impacts to the Natchez Trace Cultural Landscape.

G. 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?

No No significant impacts to listed species will occur from road repairs.

H. Significantly 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?

No No limitation to sacred sites will occur from rad repairs.

I. Contribute to potentially significant effects resulting from the introduction, continued existence, or spread of noxious weeds or non-native invasive species known to occur in the area or from other actions that promote the introduction, growth, or expansion of the range of such species (Federal Noxious Weed Control Act)?

No Only native species will be used in revegetation and equipment should be cleaned before working in the park.

Decision: I find that the action fits within the categorical exclusion(s) above. Therefore, I am categorically excluding the described project from further NEPA analysis. No extraordinary circumstances apply.

Signature: Date:

Deputy Superintendent, Billy McDuffie