Report_1_NEPA.pdf

Categorical Exclusion Form National Mall & Memorial Parks

Washington, D.C.

Project: NAMA 17(1) Date: December 7, 2013

Project description, including location:

The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), proposes to repave Parkway Drive from Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway to Lincoln Circle, and rehabilitate Watergate Plaza Bridge and NPS Storage Area Bridge (#3400-036P) within the National Mall & Memorial Parks in Washington, District of Columbia.

Work on Parkway Drive would include asphalt milling and pavement, repairing exposed aggregate sidewalks, replacing damaged curbing, and replacing the existing substandard concrete ramp with an ADA-compliant ramp.

Work on the bridges would include repairing the concrete deck, placing a waterproof membrane, replacing damaged joints, repairing spalled and cracked concrete, and patching exposed rebar.

Drainage structures would be rehabilitated or replaced, and abandoned electrical cables and equipment would be removed. A drinking fountain, located at the volleyball courts, would be replaced.

Describe the category used to exclude the action from further NEPA:

NPS: DO-12, Sec. 3-4, C.9 Repair, resurfacing, striping, installation of traffic control devices, repair/replacement of guardrails, etc. on existing roads;

FHWA: 23CFR 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).

23 CFR 771.117 (d)(3) Bridge rehabilitation, reconstruction or replacement or the construction of grade separation to replace existing at-grade railroad crossings.

Describe any public or agency involvement effort conducted:

On December 5, 2013, the NPS determined that the proposed project would have no adverse effect on historic properties, and would have no effect on species of special concern (plant or animal; state or federal listed or proposed for listing) or their habitat.

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 NAMA 17(1) Date: December 7, 2013

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.