Categorical_Exclusion_Form_(NEPA).pdf

Categorical Exclusion Form White Mountain National Forest

Grafton County, NH

Project: NH PFH 47-1(001) Date: February 18, 2014

Project description, including location:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) proposes to rehabilitate approximately 1.5 miles of the asphalt section of Tripoli Road, which is located in the White Mountain National Forest in Grafton County, New Hampshire.

The proposed repairs would be on Tripoli Road, from the USFS gate to Russell Pond Road.

Work would include pulverization of the existing asphalt pavement; full-depth patch repairs where necessary; asphalt concrete pavement overlay; slight widening of roadway at select curves to improve safety; replacement of failing or undersized culverts; ditch grading to improve drainage; pavement markings, signage and other miscellaneous work.

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 shoulders, or adding auxiliary lanes (e.g. parking, weaving, turning, climbing).

Describe any public or agency involvement effort conducted:

In a letter dated August 14, 2013, the USFS submitted a Request for Project Review to the New Hampshire Division of Historic Resources (DHR) to initiate consultation regarding the proposed project’s potential to affect historic properties in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.

On August 21, 2013, the DHR determined that the proposed project would have no effect on historic properties.

In a letter dated January 31, 2014, the FHWA requested that the New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau (NHB) review the proposed project for its potential to affect rare species or exemplary natural communities.

In a letter dated February 6, 2014, the NHB determined that the proposed project would not have adverse impacts on rare species or exemplary natural communities.

On February 6, 2014, the FHWA conducted a preliminary search for federally-listed threatened and endangered species with the potential to occur in the project vicinity, using the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (FWS) Information, Planning and Conservation System (IPaC) database. There were no records of threatened or endangered species, or their critical habitat, in the project vicinity. In a letter dated January 7, 2014, the FWS had determined that projects for which no listed species are present require no further review.

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: NH PFH 47-1(001) Date: February 18, 2014

Yes

No

Don’t Know

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

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

S. Energy Resources

Yes

No

Don’t Know

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.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Natural Resources of Concern

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This resource list is to be used for planning purposes only — it is not an official species list.

Endangered Species Act species list information for your project is available online and listed below for the following FWS Field Offices:

New England Ecological Services Field Office

70 COMMERCIAL STREET, SUITE 300

CONCORD, NH 3301

(603) 223-2541 http://www.fws.gov/newengland

Project Name:

NH PFH 47-1(001) Tripoli Road http://www.fws.gov/newengland

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Project Location Map:

Project Counties:

Grafton, NH

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Geographic coordinates (Open Geospatial Consortium Well-Known Text, NAD83):

MULTIPOLYGON (((-71.6656757 43.9927443, -71.6656695 43.9927405, -71.6649427 43.9920946, -71.6641344 43.9917886, -71.6613058 43.9918502, -71.661298 43.9918488, -71.6601393 43.9913857, -71.6601379 43.9913851, -71.659065 43.9908602, -71.6590607 43.9908573, -71.6586335 43.9904884, -71.657181 43.9897508, -71.6542714 43.9898123, -71.6525153 43.9905211, -71.6525096 43.9905225, -71.6511813 43.9906458, -71.6495524 43.9911392, -71.6495448 43.99114, -71.6485127 43.9910489, -71.6485109 43.9910487, -71.6468384 43.9907402, -71.6457695 43.9906786, -71.6447929 43.9908914, -71.6441119 43.9915652, -71.6435147 43.9924552, -71.6433867 43.9932835, -71.6433439 43.9939603, -71.6433435 43.9939629, -71.6432148 43.9946144, -71.6432116 43.9946219, -71.6432056 43.9946276, -71.6429052 43.9948113, -71.6428979 43.994814, -71.6428901 43.9948136, -71.642883 43.9948104, -71.6428777 43.9948046, -71.642875 43.9947973, -71.6428754 43.9947895, -71.6428786 43.9947824, -71.6428844 43.9947771, -71.6431773 43.994598, -71.643304 43.9939564, -71.6433468 43.99328, -71.643347 43.9932782, -71.6434758 43.9924446, -71.643479 43.9924366, -71.6440798 43.9915413, -71.6440823 43.9915382, -71.6447689 43.9908589, -71.6447787 43.9908536, -71.6457636 43.990639, -71.6457691 43.9906385, -71.646842 43.9907003, -71.6468444 43.9907006, -71.6485172 43.9910092, -71.6495445 43.9910998, -71.6511716 43.990607, -71.6511756 43.9906062, -71.652503 43.990483, -71.6542598 43.9897739, -71.6542669 43.9897724, -71.6571852 43.9897107, -71.6571947 43.9897129, -71.6586538 43.9904539, -71.6586578 43.9904566, -71.6590849 43.9908254, -71.6601548 43.9913488, -71.661309 43.9918101, -71.6641374 43.9917485, -71.6641449 43.9917498, -71.6649603 43.9920585, -71.6649665 43.9920623, -71.6656933 43.9927082, -71.6665031 43.9930172, -71.6665097 43.9930214, -71.6665143 43.9930277, -71.666516 43.9930353, -71.6665147 43.993043, -71.6665105 43.9930496, -71.6665042 43.9930542, -71.6664966 43.9930559, -71.6664889 43.9930546, -71.6656757 43.9927443)))

Project Type:

Transportation

Endangered Species Act Species List (USFWS Endangered Species Program).

There are no listed species found within the vicinity of your project.

Critical habitats within your project area:

There are no critical habitats within your project area.

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/

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FWS National Wildlife Refuges (USFWS National Wildlife Refuges Program).

There are no refuges found within the vicinity of your project.

FWS Migratory Birds (USFWS Migratory Bird Program).

Most species of birds, including eagles and other raptors, are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703). Bald eagles and golden eagles receive additional protection under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668). The Service's Birds of Conservation Concern (2008) report identifies species, subspecies, and populations of all migratory nongame birds that, without additional conservation actions, are likely to become listed under the Endangered Species Act as amended (16 U.S.C 1531 et seq.).

Migratory bird information is not available for your project location.

NWI Wetlands (USFWS National Wetlands Inventory).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency that provides information on the extent and status of wetlands in the U.S., via the National Wetlands Inventory Program (NWI). In addition to impacts to wetlands within your immediate project area, wetlands outside of your project area may need to be considered in any evaluation of project impacts, due to the hydrologic nature of wetlands (for example, project activities may affect local hydrology within, and outside of, your immediate project area). It may be helpful to refer to the USFWS National Wetland Inventory website. The designated FWS office can also assist you. Impacts to wetlands and other aquatic habitats from your project may be subject to regulation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, or other State/Federal Statutes. Project Proponents should discuss the relationship of these requirements to their project with the Regulatory Program of the appropriate U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District.

There are no wetlands found within the vicinity of your project.

http://refuges.fws.gov http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/ http://www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/protect/laws.html http://library.fws.gov/Bird_Publications/BCC2008.pdf http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/ http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/RegulatoryProgramandPermits.aspx

New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau

NHB DataCheck Results Letter

Department of Resources and Economic Development DRED/NHB Division of Forests and Lands PO Box 1856

(603) 271-2214 fax: 271-6488 Concord NH 03302-1856

To: Kevin Rose, Federal Highway Administration 21400 Ridgetop Circle

Sterling, VA 20166

From: NH Natural Heritage Bureau

Date: 2/6/2014 (valid for one year from this date)

Re: Review by NH Natural Heritage Bureau of request submitted 2/4/2014

NHB File ID: NHB14-0522 Applicant: WMNF

Location: Woodstock Tripoli Road

Project Description:

Repaving approximately 1.5 miles of existing asphalt roadway, replacment of existing failing or undersized pipe culverts, ditch regrading and widening of roadway at select curves for safety reasons.

The NH Natural Heritage database has been checked by staff of the NH Natural Heritage Bureau and/or the NH Nongame and Endangered Species Program for records of rare species and exemplary natural communities near the area mapped below. The species considered include those listed as Threatened or Endangered by either the state of New Hampshire or the federal government.

It was determined that, although there was a NHB record (e.g., rare wildlife, plant, and/or natural community) present in the vicinity, we do not expect that it will be impacted by the proposed project. This determination was made based on the project information submitted via the NHB Datacheck Tool on 2/4/2014, and cannot be used for any other project.

New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau

NHB DataCheck Results Letter

Department of Resources and Economic Development DRED/NHB Division of Forests and Lands PO Box 1856

(603) 271-2214 fax: 271-6488 Concord NH 03302-1856

MAP OF PROJECT BOUNDARIES FOR: NHB14-0522