Categorical_Exclusion_Form_(NEPA).pdf

Categorical Exclusion Form Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Montgomery County, MD

Project: PRA-CHOH 10(1) Date: April 30, 2013

Environmental Commitments:

• NPS Environmental Protection Specialist will be notified of the start and end dates of construction, and will be notified of unexpected problems or modifications to project implementation. Any decisions made in the field that result in greater impacts than anticipated will undergo additional environmental review.

Project description, including location:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division, in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), proposes to construct safety improvements to Great Falls Entrance Road and an access road within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. The proposed work would include:

• Widening the Access Road at its beginning and at its curves, and replacing non-mountable curb with mountable curb, to allow access for emergency and other oversized vehicles;

• Adding powered gates, approach delineators and additional signage at the Toll booth to better regulate traffic flow;

• Widening the road at Curve # 6 of the Entrance road to prevent recurring accidents at that location, and adding guardrail, additional chevron signs at the outside of the curve, and centerline plowable pavement markers; and

• Widening the road at Curve # 5 of the Entrance Road, installing centerline plowable pavement markers, and adding guardrail to prevent vehicles from falling over the gabion wall.

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

23 CFR 771.117 (d)(2) Highway safety or traffic operations improvement projects including the installation of ramp metering control devices and lighting.

Describe any public or agency involvement effort conducted:

On April 30, 2013, the project was reviewed for NEPA compliance by the NPS, and it was categorically excluded from further NEPA analysis under DO-12, Section 3-4 B.1 Changes or amendments to an approved plan, when such changes would cause no or only minimal environmental impact.

The NPS reviewed the proposed project for conformity with the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA). The project will have no adverse effect on historic properties.

On April 10, 2013 the NPS reviewed the proposed project for conformity with the requirements of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and determined that the project will have no effect on threatened, endangered or rare species, or their critical 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: PRA-CHOH 10(1) Date: April 30, 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

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.

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Date: 04/30/2013

Categorical Exclusion Form

Project: Safety and Accessibility Improvements - Great Falls Entrance Road (MacArthur Blvd) PEPC Project Number: 46278 Project Description:

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park wishes to increase the road camber angles on two turns on the great falls entrance road and install vehicle gates at the entrance station. The Great Falls entrance road was recently improved and opened for public use in 2011. Since that time, the park has experienced several significant accidents with both cars and bikes using the road;

several incidents where trucks and ambulances have struck the fee booth; and complaints from emergency responders who cannot make the turn for accessing the road behind the Tavern.

The most significant vehicle accidents have occurred at turn #6. This turn is the last sharp turn before you reach the fee booth. The park has investigated and responded to four vehicles leaving the roadway at this turn, overturning on the embankment, and rolling into the wooded area below. In all cases, the vehicle entered the turn at a speed greater than the posted 25 mph limit. The pitch of the turn is at a negative angle on the lower portion of the turn. As a result, the back end of all the vehicles involved in accidents swung around causing the vehicle to lose control and go other the embankment facing toward the entrance.

This project will resurface the road at this turn and install an asphalt wedge that will increase the pitch on this turn. This will result in cars leaning into the turn instead away from it. Also, wooden guardrails will be installed along with Chevron signs and surface road delineators that will increase driver attention in this area.

Traffic Congestion at Fee Booth: The park has also had several accidents and close calls with bicyclists weaving in and out of cars who are stopped at the fee booth to ask questions or pay the entrance fee.

Bicyclists routinely use the entrance road as a bicycling route. The problem is at the bottom of the entrance road where a vast number of bicyclists will pass by the fee booth at a high rate of speed, narrowly missing cars and pedestrians in the area, go at a high rate of speed around the traffic circle and then exit and return to the entrance road. In order to combat this issue, fee booth operators routinely install barricades across the outside lane to narrow down the area that cars can pass through. However, as a result of this narrowing down effort, several large vehicles including an ambulance have struck the soffit on the fee booth causing damage to the both the vehicle and the booth.

This project will install traffic gates at the fee booth that will allow the fee booth operator to control the flow of vehicles into and out of the park. Two gates will be installed on the inlet side of the fee booth. A small gate will be located next to the fee booth for visitor use and a larger gate will be installed in the furthest lane from the booth to allow entry of park vehicles and oversized vehicles. A gate will also be installed on the exit side of the fee booth. This will be an automatic opening gate that will serve to slow down vehicles leaving the park and provide a safer area in front of the fee booth for bicyclist who will be turning around to peddle back up the entrance road.

Emergency Access to Road Behind Tavern: In order to access the towpath and get access to the river to perform rescue operations, local fire and rescue must travel down the one lane road located behind the tavern. The road is curved and narrow and has a very sharp turn at the entrance off the traffic circle. As a result, EMS crews towing rescue boat trailers must repeatedly drive over the curbs to gain access. This causes damage to the trailers and equipment and impedes the ability of the rescue crews to respond to an emergency.

This project will straighten out the curves on this access road, widen the entrance area, and install mountable curbs along the road so that equipment is not damaged if a vehicle or trailer tire were to come in contact with the curb.

Project Locations:

Location County: Montgomery County State: MD District: Palisades Section:

Geo. Marker: 14.3 (Milepost) Other:

Mitigation(s):

• Notify the Park Environmental Protection Specialist of the beginning and ending dates of the project(s). Also include notification of any unexpected problems or any modifications to project implementation. Any decisions made in the field that result in greater impacts than anticipated by the proposed action must undergo additional environmental analysis.

Describe the category used to exclude action from further NEPA analysis and indicate the number of the category (see Section 3-4 of DO-12):

B.1 Changes or amendments to an approved plan, when such changes would cause no or only minimal environmental impact.

Explanation:

This project supplements the environmental assessment completed for the great falls entrance road. The additional vehicle/pedestrian gates was not included in the original environmental assessment but was approved by cultural resource staff at the regional level.

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. No exceptional circumstances (e.g. all boxes in the ESF are marked "no") or conditions in Section 3-6 apply, and the action is fully described in Section 3-4 of DO-12.

Signature

Superintendent:

Date:

Kevin D. Brandt

NPS Contact:

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Date: 04/30/2013

ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING FORM (ESF)

DO-12 APPENDIX 1

Date Form Initiated: 04/08/2013

Updated May 2007 - per 2004 Departmental Manual revisions and proposed Director's Order 12 changes

A. PROJECT INFORMATION

Park Name: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Project Title: Safety and Accessibility Improvements - Great Falls Entrance Road

(MacArthur Blvd) PEPC Project Number: 46278 PMIS Number: 42973D, 42973C Project Type: Capital Improvement (CI) Project Location:

County, State: Montgomery County, Maryland District, Section:

Palisades, Geographic Marker: 14.3 (Milepost)

Project Leader: John Adams Administrative Record Location:

C&O Canal NHP HQ, Compliance Office

Administrative Record Contact:

John Hitchcock

Notes:

B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park wishes to increase the road camber angles on two turns on the great falls entrance road and install vehicle gates at the entrance station. The Great Falls entrance road was recently improved and opened for public use in 2011. Since that time, the park has experienced several significant accidents with both cars and bikes using the road;

several incidents where trucks and ambulances have struck the fee booth; and complaints from emergency responders who cannot make the turn for accessing the road behind the Tavern.

The most significant vehicle accidents have occurred at turn #6. This turn is the last sharp turn before you reach the fee booth. The park has investigated and responded to four vehicles leaving the roadway at this turn, overturning on the embankment, and rolling into the wooded area below. In all cases, the vehicle entered the turn at a speed greater than the posted 25 mph limit. The pitch of the turn is at a negative angle on the lower portion of the turn. As a result, the back end of all the vehicles involved in accidents swung around causing the vehicle to lose control and go other the embankment facing toward the entrance.

This project will resurface the road at this turn and install an asphalt wedge that will increase the pitch on this turn. This will result in cars leaning into the turn instead away from it. Also, wooden guardrails will be installed along with Chevron signs and surface road delineators that will increase driver attention in this area.

Traffic Congestion at Fee Booth: The park has also had several accidents and close calls with bicyclists weaving in and out of cars who are stopped at the fee booth to ask questions or pay the entrance fee.

Bicyclists routinely use the entrance road as a bicycling route. The problem is at the bottom of the entrance road where a vast number of bicyclists will pass by the fee booth at a high rate of speed, narrowly missing cars and pedestrians in the area, go at a high rate of speed around the traffic circle and then exit and return to the entrance road. In order to combat this issue, fee booth operators routinely install barricades across the outside lane to narrow down the area that cars can pass through. However, as a result of this narrowing down effort, several large vehicles including an ambulance have struck the soffit on the fee booth causing damage to the both the vehicle and the booth.

This project will install traffic gates at the fee booth that will allow the fee booth operator to control the flow of vehicles into and out of the park. Two gates will be installed on the inlet side of the fee booth. A small gate will be located next to the fee booth for visitor use and a larger gate will be installed in the furthest lane from the booth to allow entry of park vehicles and oversized vehicles. A gate will also be installed on the exit side of the fee booth. This will be an automatic opening gate that will serve to slow down vehicles leaving the park and provide a safer area in front of the fee booth for bicyclist who will be turning around to peddle back up the entrance road.

Emergency Access to Road Behind Tavern: In order to access the towpath and get access to the river to perform rescue operations, local fire and rescue must travel down the one lane road located behind the tavern. The road is curved and narrow and has a very sharp turn at the entrance off the traffic circle. As a result, EMS crews towing rescue boat trailers must repeatedly drive over the curbs to gain access. This causes damage to the trailers and equipment and impedes the ability of the rescue crews to respond to an emergency.

This project will straighten out the curves on this access road, widen the entrance area, and install mountable curbs along the road so that equipment is not damaged if a vehicle or trailer tire were to come in contact with the curb.

Target compliance completion date: 04/01/2014 Projected advertisement/Day labor start:

Construction start date:

Is project a hot topic (controversial or sensitive issues that should be brought to attention of Regional Director)? No

C. RESOURCE EFFECTS TO CONSIDER:

Identify potential effects to the following physical, natural, or cultural resources

No Effect

Negligible Effects

Minor Effects

Exceeds Minor Effects

Data Needed to Determine/Notes

1. Geologic resources – soils, Negligible Portions of the guardrail and asphalt work will be above a stream bedrock, streambeds, etc.

channel. The contractor will be required to place erosion and sediment control structures during construction to prevent any impacts to the stream.

2. From geohazards No

3. Air quality No

4. Soundscapes No

5. Water quality or quantity

No

6. Streamflow characteristics

No

7. Marine or estuarine resources

No

8. Floodplains or wetlands

No

9. Land use, including occupancy, income, values, ownership, type of use

No

10. Rare or unusual vegetation – old growth timber, riparian, alpine

No

11. Species of special concern (plant or animal;

state or federal listed or proposed for listing) or their habitat

No

12. Unique ecosystems, biosphere reserves, World Heritage Sites

No

13. Unique or important wildlife or wildlife habitat

No

14. Unique or important fish or fish habitat

15. Introduce or promote non-native species (plant or animal)

No

16. Recreation resources, including supply, demand, visitation, activities, etc.

No During the project, visitors will be reduced to one-lane traffic in and out of the Great Falls area leading to delay in travel times to and from the park at Great Falls.

17. Visitor experience, aesthetic resources

Negligible During the project, visitors will be reduced to one-lane traffic in and out of the Great Falls area leading to delay in travel times to and from the park at Great Falls.

18. Archeological resources

No

19.

Prehistoric/historic structure

No

20. Cultural landscapes

Negligible The vehicle gates will add a new structure onto the cultural landscape but will be of similar modern design that is indicative of the modern fee booth.

21. Ethnographic resources

No

22. Museum collections (objects, specimens, and archival and manuscript collections)

No

23. Socioeconomics, including employment, occupation, income changes, tax base, infrastructure

No

24. Minority and low income populations, ethnography, size, migration patterns, etc.

25. Energy resources

No

26. Other agency or tribal land use plans or policies

No

27. Resource, including energy, conservation potential, sustainability

No

28. Urban quality, gateway communities, etc.

No

29. Long-term management of resources or land/resource productivity

No This introduction of vehicle/pedestrian gates will add to the existing maintenance workload of the maintenance staff.

30. Other important environment resources (e.g.

geothermal, paleontological resources)?

No

D. MANDATORY CRITERIA

Mandatory Criteria: If implemented, would the proposal:

Yes No N/A Comment or Data Needed to Determine

A. Have significant impacts on public health or safety?

N

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 (Executive Order 11990); floodplains (Executive Order 11988); national monuments; migratory birds; and other ecologically significant or critical areas?

N

C. Have highly controversial environmental effects or involve unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources

N

(NEPA section 102(2)(E))?

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

N

E. Establish a precedent for future action or represent a decision in principle about future actions with potentially significant environmental effects?

N

F. Have a direct relationship to other actions with individually insignificant, but cumulatively significant, environmental effects?

N

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

N

H. 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?

N

I. Violate a federal law, or a state, local, or tribal law or requirement imposed for the protection of the environment?

N

J. Have a disproportionately high and adverse effect on low income or minority populations (Executive Order 12898)?

N

K. 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 (Executive Order 13007)?

N

L. Contribute to the introduction, continued existence, or spread of noxious weeds or non-native invasive species known to occur in the area or actions that may promote the introduction, growth, or expansion of the range of such species (Federal Noxious Weed Control Act and Executive Order 13112)?

For the purpose of interpreting these procedures within the NPS, any action that has the potential to violate the NPS Organic Act by impairing park resources or values would constitute an action that triggers the DOI exception for actions that threaten to violate a federal law for protection of the environment.

E. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Are personnel preparing this form familiar with the site? Yes

1.A. Did personnel conduct a site visit? Yes

2. Is the project in an approved plan such as a General Management Plan or an Implementation Plan with an accompanying NEPA document? Yes

2.A. If so, plan name: Rehabilitation of the Great Falls Entrance Road, Upper & lower parking lot and tavern yard area Plan Project ID:

2.B. Is the project still consistent with the approved plan? Yes

2.C. Is the environmental document accurate and up-to-date?

FONSI: Yes ROD: No Date approved: 09/21/2005

3. Are there any interested or affected agencies or parties? Yes

3.A. Did you make a diligent effort to contact them? Yes

4. Has consultation with all affected agencies or tribes been completed? N/A

5. Are there any connected, cumulative, or similar actions as part of the proposed action?

(e.g., other development projects in area or identified in GMP, adequate/available utilities to accomplish project) No

F. INSTRUCTIONS FOR DETERMINING APPROPRIATE NEPA PATHWAY

First, always check DO-12, section 3.2, "Process to Follow" in determining whether the action is categorically excluded from additional NEPA analyses. Other sections within DO-12, including sections 2.9 and 2.10; 3.5; 4.5(G)(4) and (G)(5), and 5.4(F), should also be consulted in determining the appropriate NEPA pathway. Complete the following tasks: conduct a site visit or ensure that staff is familiar with the site's specifics; consult with affected agencies, and/or tribes; and interested public and complete this environmental screening form.

If your action is described in DO-12 section 3.3, "CEs for Which No Formal Documentation is Necessary," follow the instructions indicated in that section.

If your action is not described in DO-12, section 3.3, and IS described is section 3.4, AND you checked YES or identified "data needed to determine" impacts in any block in section D (Mandatory Criteria), this is an indication that there is potential for significant impacts to the human environment, therefore, you must prepare an EA or EIS or supply missing information to determine context, duration, and intensity of impacts.

If your action is described in section 3.4 and NO is checked for all boxes in section D (Mandatory Criteria), AND there are either no effects or all of the potential effects identified in section C (Resource Effects to Consider) are no more than minor intensity, usually there is no potential for significant impacts and an EA or EIS is not required. If, however, during internal scoping and further investigation, resource effects still remain unknown, or are at the minor to moderate level of intensity, and the potential for significant impacts may be likely, an EA or EIS is required.

In all cases, data collected to determine the appropriate NEPA pathway must be included in the administrative record.

G. INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM SIGNATORIES

All interdisciplinary team members sign as directed or deemed necessary by the Superintendent. By signing this form, you affirm the following: you have either completed a site visit or are familiar with the specifics of the site; you have consulted with affected agencies and tribes; and you, to the best of your knowledge, have answered the questions posed in the checklist correctly.

H. SUPERVISORY SIGNATORY

Field of Expertise

Project Leader John Adams

Field of Expertise Technical Specialist Safety/Hazmat John Adams Superintendent Kevin Brandt Natural Resource Program Manager Michelle Carter Chief Ranger Bradley Clawson Acting Chief of Maintenance and Chief of Preservation and Project Management Daniel Copenhaver Historical Architect Catherine Dewey NEPA Specialist John Hitchcock Historic Landscape Architect Maureen Joseph Other Advisor Lana Lau Archeologist Stephen Potter Biologist Jennifer Ryan Chief of Resources Christopher Stubbs NHPA Specialist Ahna Wilson

Based on the environmental impact information contained in the statutory compliance file and in this environmental screening form, environmental documentation for this stage of the subject project is complete.

Recommended:

Compliance Specialist:

NEPA

John Hitchcock

NHPA

Ahna Wilson

Approved:

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Date: 04/30/2013

PARK ESF ADDENDUM

Today's Date: April 30, 2013

(This form should be attached to ESF document sent to the regional director's office for signature.

While you may modify this form to fit your needs, you must ensure that the form includes information detailed below and must have your modifications reviewed and approved by the regional environmental coordinator.)

PROJECT INFORMATION

Park Name: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Project Title: Safety and Accessibility Improvements - Great Falls Entrance Road (MacArthur

Blvd) PEPC Project Number:

Project Type: Capital Improvement (CI) Project Location:

County, State:

Montgomery County, Maryland District, Section: Palisades, Geographic Marker: 14.3 (Milepost)

Project Leader: John Adams

PARK ESF ADDENDUM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

ESF Addendum Questions Yes No N/A Data Needed to Determine/Notes

Sorry, no questions & answers are added for Park: 'Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park' Project/PIN:

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Date: 04/30/2013

ASSESSMENT OF ACTIONS HAVING AN EFFECT ON

CULTURAL RESOURCES

A. DESCRIPTION OF UNDERTAKING

1. Park: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

2. Project Description:

Project Name: Safety and Accessibility Improvements - Great Falls Entrance Road (MacArthur Blvd) Prepared by: Ahna Wilson Date Prepared: 04/10/2013 Telephone: (301) 714-2236 PEPC Project Number: 46278 Locations:

Describe project:

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park wishes to increase the road camber angles on two turns on the great falls entrance road and install vehicle gates at the entrance station. The Great Falls entrance road was recently improved and opened for public use in 2011. Since that time, the park has experienced several significant accidents with both cars and bikes using the road; several incidents where trucks and ambulances have struck the fee booth; and complaints from emergency responders who cannot make the turn for accessing the road behind the Tavern.

The most significant vehicle accidents have occurred at turn #6. This turn is the last sharp turn before you reach the fee booth. The park has investigated and responded to four vehicles leaving the roadway at this turn, overturning on the embankment, and rolling into the wooded area below. In all cases, the vehicle entered the turn at a speed greater than the posted 25 mph limit. The pitch of the turn is at a negative angle on the lower portion of the turn. As a result, the back end of all the vehicles involved in accidents swung around causing the vehicle to lose control and go other the embankment facing toward the entrance.

This project will resurface the road at this turn and install an asphalt wedge that will increase the pitch on this turn. This will result in cars leaning into the turn instead away from it. Also, wooden guardrails will be installed along with Chevron signs and surface road delineators that will increase driver attention in this area.

Traffic Congestion at Fee Booth: The park has also had several accidents and close calls with bicyclists weaving in and out of cars who are stopped at the fee booth to ask questions or pay the entrance fee. Bicyclists routinely use the entrance road as a bicycling route. The problem is at the bottom of the entrance road where a vast number of bicyclists will pass by the fee booth at a high rate of speed, narrowly missing cars and pedestrians in the area, go at a high rate of speed around the traffic circle and then exit and return to the entrance road. In order to combat this issue, fee booth operators routinely install barricades across the outside lane to narrow down the area that cars can pass through. However, as a result of this narrowing down effort, several large vehicles including an ambulance have struck the soffit on the fee booth causing damage to the both the vehicle and the booth.

This project will install traffic gates at the fee booth that will allow the fee booth operator to control the flow of vehicles into and out of the park. Two gates will be installed on the inlet side of the fee booth. A small gate will be located next to the fee booth for visitor use and a larger gate will be installed in the furthest lane from the booth to allow entry of park vehicles and oversized vehicles. A gate will also be installed on the exit side of the fee booth. This will be an automatic opening gate that will serve to slow down vehicles leaving the park and provide a safer area in front of the fee booth for bicyclist who will be turning around to peddle back up the entrance road.

Emergency Access to Road Behind Tavern: In order to access the towpath and get access to the river to perform rescue operations, local fire and rescue must travel down the one lane road located behind the tavern. The road is curved and narrow and has a very sharp turn at the entrance off the traffic circle. As a result, EMS crews towing rescue boat trailers must repeatedly drive over the curbs to gain access. This causes damage to the trailers and equipment and impedes the ability of the rescue crews to respond to an emergency.

This project will straighten out the curves on this access road, widen the entrance area, and install mountable curbs along the road so that equipment is not damaged if a vehicle or trailer tire were to come in contact with the curb.

Area of potential effects (as defined in 36 CFR 800.16[d]) Turn #6 of the Great Falls Entrance Rd located at MP 14, Fee collectors booth located at the entrance to Great Falls Tavern, emergency access road behind the new visitor comfort station.

3. Has the area of potential effects been surveyed to identify historic properties?

X Yes

Source or reference: National Register of Historic Places, List of Classified Structures, Great Falls Entrance Road Environmental Assessment

4. Potentially Affected Resource(s):

Historical Structures/Resources Notes: The Great Falls entrance road retains the original alignment of its construction in 1873 and retains its historic and park like character.

Cultural Landscapes Notes: The Great Falls Entrance Road and Fee Collection Booth are both within the overall Great Falls Cultural Landscape.

5. The proposed action will: (check as many as apply)

No Destroy, remove, or alter features/elements from a historic structure

No Replace historic features/elements in kind

No Add non-historic features/elements to a historic structure

No Alter or remove features/elements of a historic setting or environment (inc. terrain)

Add non-historic features/elements (inc. visual, audible, or atmospheric) to a historic setting or cultural landscape

No Disturb, destroy, or make archeological resources inaccessible

No Disturb, destroy, or make ethnographic resources inaccessible

No Potentially affect presently unidentified cultural resources

No Begin or contribute to deterioration of historic features, terrain, setting, landscape elements, or archeological or ethnographic resources

No Involve a real property transaction (exchange, sale, or lease of land or structures)

Other (please specify):

6. Supporting Study Data:

(Attach if feasible; if action is in a plan, EA or EIS, give name and project or page number.)

B. REVIEWS BY CULTURAL RESOURCE SPECIALISTS

The park 106 coordinator requested review by the park's cultural resource specialist/advisors as indicated by check-off boxes or as follows:

[ X ] Archeologist Name: Stephen Potter Date: 04/19/2013 Comments: Area has been previously surveyed for archeological resources and no intact, potentially intact, NR eligible archeological resources will be affected by this undertaking. Also, the Area of Potential Effect (APE) has been previously disturbed by road construction and landscaping.

Check if project does not involve ground disturbance [ ] Assessment of Effect: No Potential to Cause Effect No Historic Properties Affected X No Adverse Effect Adverse Effect X Streamlined Review Recommendations for conditions or stipulations:

Doc Method: Streamlined Review (PA) Streamlined Activity:

3. Repair/Resurfacing/Removal of Existing, Roads, Trails and Parking Areas

[ X ] 106 Advisor Name: Ahna Wilson Date: 04/10/2013 Comments: The work that will be done to increase the height of the outside edge of turn #6 will not impact the historic feel or setting of the Great Falls entrance road and is needed in order to keep the public safe while traveling to and from the park.

The inclusion of the guard rail at turn #6 will have a minimal overall impact to the historic setting and will be needed as further protective measures for the park and visitors. The posts for the guardrail will be driven into the existing road bed. This area was previously disturbed during the Great Fall Entrance Road improvements project in 2009.

The new entrance and exit gates that will be located at the fee booth at the inlet and outlet sides of the booth. The mechanical bases for the gates will be placed on top of concrete bases that will be poured onto the existing road surface. The arms for the gates will be of narrow width, enough for visitors to notice they are down but not be large visual intrusions on the Great Falls entrance area.

The new alignment of the emergency access road behind the comfort station will be on previously disturbed ground. This area was previously part of a parking area that was converted into walking area/lawn during the Great Fall entrance rd improvements project.

Check if project does not involve ground disturbance [ ] Assessment of Effect: No Potential to Cause Effect No Historic Properties Affected X No Adverse Effect Adverse Effect X Streamlined Review Recommendations for conditions or stipulations:

Doc Method: Streamlined Review (PA)

4. Health and Safety Activities

[ X ] Historical Landscape Architect Name: Maureen Joseph Date: 04/24/2013 Comments: The historic road alignment for the entrance road is preserved and the minor realignment of the emergency access road is along a non-historic section of the road. Please note on the FHWA drawings, the historic Washington Aqueduct building is incorrectly labeled as the "Visitor Center."

Check if project does not involve ground disturbance [ ] Assessment of Effect: No Potential to Cause Effect No Historic Properties Affected X No Adverse Effect Adverse Effect X Streamlined Review Recommendations for conditions or stipulations:

Doc Method: Streamlined Review (PA)

2. Rehabilitation and/or Minor Relocation of Existing Trails, Walks, Paths, and Sidewalks

No Reviews From: Curator, Historical Architect, Historian, Other Advisor, Anthropologist

C. PARK SECTION 106 COORDINATOR'S REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Assessment of Effect:

No Potential to Cause Effects

No Historic Properties Affected

X No Adverse Effect

Adverse Effect

2. Documentation Method:

[ ] A. STANDARD 36 CFR PART 800 CONSULTATION

Further consultation under 36 CFR Part 800 is needed.

[ X ] B. STREAMLINED REVIEW UNDER THE 2008 SERVICEWIDE PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT

(PA)

The above action meets all conditions for a streamlined review under section III of the 2008 Servicewide PA for Section 106 compliance.

APPLICABLE STREAMLINED REVIEW Criteria (Specify 1-16 of the list of streamlined review criteria.)

3. Repair/Resurfacing/Removal of Existing, Roads, Trails and Parking Areas.

[ ] C. PLAN-RELATED UNDERTAKING

Consultation and review of the proposed undertaking were completed in the context of a plan review process, in accordance with the 2008 Servicewide PA and 36 CFR Part 800.

Specify plan/EA/EIS:

[ ] D. UNDERTAKING RELATED TO ANOTHER AGREEMENT

The proposed undertaking is covered for Section 106 purposes under another document such as a statewide agreement established in accord with 36 CFR 800.7 or counterpart regulations.

Specify: __________________________

[ ] E. COMBINED NEPA/NHPA Document Documentation is required for the preparation of an EA/FONSI or an EIS/ROD has been developed and used so as also to meet the requirements of 36 CFR 800.3 through 800.6

[ ] G. Memo to SHPO/THPO

[ ] H. Memo to ACHP

3. Additional Consulting Parties Information:

Additional Consulting Parties: No

4. Stipulations and Conditions:

Following are listed any stipulations or conditions necessary to ensure that the assessment of effect above is consistent with 36 CFR Part 800 criteria of effect or to avoid or reduce potential adverse effects.

5. Mitigations/Treatment Measures:

Measures to prevent or minimize loss or impairment of historic/prehistoric properties:

(Remember that setting, location, and use may be relevant.)

No Assessment of Effect mitigations identified.

D. RECOMMENDED BY PARK SECTION 106 COORDINATOR:

Compliance Specialist:

NHPA Specialist

E. SUPERINTENDENT'S APPROVAL

The proposed work conforms to the NPS Management Policies and Cultural Resource Management Guideline, and I have reviewed and approve the recommendations, stipulations, or conditions noted in Section C of this form.

Date: 04/30/2013

Other Compliance/Consultations Form

Park Name: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park PEPC Project Number: 46278 Project Title: Safety and Accessibility Improvements - Great Falls Entrance Road (MacArthur Blvd) Project Type: Capital Improvement (CI) Project Location:

County, State: Montgomery County, Maryland District, Section: Palisades, Geographic Marker: 14.3 (Milepost) Project Leader: John Adams

ESA

Any Federal Species in the project Area? No If species in area: No Effect Was Biological Assessment prepared?

If Biological Assessment prepared, concurred?

Formal Consultation required? No Formal Consultation Notes:

Formal Consultation Concluded:

Any State listed Species in the Project Area? No Consultation Information:

General Notes:

Data Entered By: John Hitchcock Date: 04/08/2013

ESA Mitigations

Mitigation ID Text

No ESA mitigations are associated with this project.

Floodplains/Wetlands/§404 Permits

Question Yes No Details

A.1. Is project in 100- or 500-year floodplain or flash flood hazard area?

Y

Exempt from compliance with executive order:

Statement of findings approval date:

A.2. Is project in wetlands?

N Exempt from compliance with executive order:

B. COE Section 404 permit needed? N Issue Date:

Expiration Date:

Request Date:

C. State 401 certification? N

D. State Section 401 Permit? N Issue Date:

Expiration Date:

E. Tribal Water Quality Permit? N

F. CZM Consistency determination needed?

Date Review Requested:

Date Reply Received:

Date State Concurred:

G. Erosion & Sediment Control Plan Required?

H. Any other permits required? Y Permit Information: NPS Special Use Permit

FloodPlains & Wetlands Mitigations

No FloodPlains & Wetlands mitigations are associated with this project.

Other Permits/Laws Questions A & B are no longer used.

Question Yes No

C. Wild and scenic river concerns exist? N

D. National Trails concerns exist? N

E. Air Quality consult with State needed? N

F. Consistent with Architectural Barriers, Rehabilitation, and Americans with Disabilities Acts or not Applicable? (If N/A check Yes)

N

G. Other: N

Other Information:

Wilderness Compliance

A. Does this project occur in or adjacent to Designated, Recommended, Proposed, Study, Eligible, or Potential Wilderness?

B. Is the only place to conduct this project in wilderness?

C. Is the project necessary for the administration of the area as wilderness?

D. Would the project or any of its alternatives adversely affect (directly or indirectly) Designated, Recommended, Proposed, Study, Eligible, or Potential Wilderness (If Yes, Minimum Requirements Analysis required)?

E. Does the project or any of its alternatives involve the use of any of the Wilderness Act Section 4(c) prohibited uses: commercial enterprise, permanent road, temporary road, motor vehicles, motorized equipment, motorboats, landing of aircraft, mechanical transport, structure, or installation (If Yes, Minimum Requirements Analysis required)?

F. If the answer to D or E above is "Yes" then a Minimum Requirements Analysis is required. Describe the status of this analysis in the column to the right.

Initiation Date:

Completed Date:

Approved Date:

G. Other Information:

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Mitigations List Form

Date: April 30, 2013

Park: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Project: Safety and Accessibility Improvements - Great Falls Entrance Road (MacArthur Blvd) PEPC Project Number: 46278 Project Description:

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park wishes to increase the road camber angles on two turns on the great falls entrance road and install vehicle gates at the entrance station. The Great Falls entrance road was recently improved and opened for public use in 2011. Since that time, the park has experienced several significant accidents with both cars and bikes using the road;

several incidents where trucks and ambulances have struck the fee booth; and complaints from emergency responders who cannot make the turn for accessing the road behind the Tavern.

The most significant vehicle accidents have occurred at turn #6. This turn is the last sharp turn before you reach the fee booth. The park has investigated and responded to four vehicles leaving the roadway at this turn, overturning on the embankment, and rolling into the wooded area below. In all cases, the vehicle entered the turn at a speed greater than the posted 25 mph limit. The pitch of the turn is at a negative angle on the lower portion of the turn. As a result, the back end of all the vehicles involved in accidents swung around causing the vehicle to lose control and go other the embankment facing toward the entrance.

This project will resurface the road at this turn and install an asphalt wedge that will increase the pitch on this turn. This will result in cars leaning into the turn instead away from it. Also, wooden guardrails will be installed along with Chevron signs and surface road delineators that will increase driver attention in this area.

Traffic Congestion at Fee Booth: The park has also had several accidents and close calls with bicyclists weaving in and out of cars who are stopped at the fee booth to ask questions or pay the entrance fee.

Bicyclists routinely use the entrance road as a bicycling route. The problem is at the bottom of the entrance road where a vast number of bicyclists will pass by the fee booth at a high rate of speed, narrowly missing cars and pedestrians in the area, go at a high rate of speed around the traffic circle and then exit and return to the entrance road. In order to combat this issue, fee booth operators routinely install barricades across the outside lane to narrow down the area that cars can pass through. However, as a result of this narrowing down effort, several large vehicles including an ambulance have struck the soffit on the fee booth causing damage to the both the vehicle and the booth.

This project will install traffic gates at the fee booth that will allow the fee booth operator to control the flow of vehicles into and out of the park. Two gates will be installed on the inlet side of the fee booth. A small gate will be located next to the fee booth for visitor use and a larger gate will be installed in the furthest lane from the booth to allow entry of park vehicles and oversized vehicles. A gate will also be installed on the exit side of the fee booth. This will be an automatic opening gate that will serve to slow down vehicles leaving the park and provide a safer area in front of the fee booth for bicyclist who will be turning around to peddle back up the entrance road.

Emergency Access to Road Behind Tavern: In order to access the towpath and get access to the river to perform rescue operations, local fire and rescue must travel down the one lane road located behind the tavern. The road is curved and narrow and has a very sharp turn at the entrance off the traffic circle. As a result, EMS crews towing rescue boat trailers must repeatedly drive over the curbs to gain access. This causes damage to the trailers and equipment and impedes the ability of the rescue crews to respond to an emergency.

This project will straighten out the curves on this access road, widen the entrance area, and install mountable curbs along the road so that equipment is not damaged if a vehicle or trailer tire were to come in contact with the curb.

Project Locations:

Location County: Montgomery County State: MD District: Palisades Section:

Geo. Marker: 14.3 (Milepost) Other:

Funding Source(s):

PMIS

Number(s):

42973D, 42973C

Mitigation(s):

(the following is a complete list of all mitigations that will be incorporated into the above-referenced project)

• Park Operations & Mgmt - Communications : Notify the Park Environmental Protection Specialist of the beginning and ending dates of the project(s). Also include notification of any unexpected problems or any modifications to project implementation. Any decisions made in the field that result in greater impacts than anticipated by the proposed action must undergo additional environmental analysis.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Date: 04/30/2013

ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING FORM (ESF)

DO-12 APPENDIX 1

Date Form Initiated: 04/08/2013

Updated May 2007 - per 2004 Departmental Manual revisions and proposed Director's Order 12 changes

A. PROJECT INFORMATION

Park Name: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Project Title: Safety and Accessibility Improvements - Great Falls Entrance Road

(MacArthur Blvd) PEPC Project Number: 46278 PMIS Number: 42973D, 42973C Project Type: Capital Improvement (CI) Project Location:

County, State: Montgomery County, Maryland District, Section:

Palisades, Geographic Marker: 14.3 (Milepost)

Project Leader: John Adams Administrative Record Location:

C&O Canal NHP HQ, Compliance Office

Administrative Record Contact:

John Hitchcock

Notes:

B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park wishes to increase the road camber angles on two turns on the great falls entrance road and install vehicle gates at the entrance station. The Great Falls entrance road was recently improved and opened for public use in 2011. Since that time, the park has experienced several significant accidents with both cars and bikes using the road;

several incidents where trucks and ambulances have struck the fee booth; and complaints from emergency responders who cannot make the turn for accessing the road behind the Tavern.

The most significant vehicle accidents have occurred at turn #6. This turn is the last sharp turn before you reach the fee booth. The park has investigated and responded to four vehicles leaving the roadway at this turn, overturning on the embankment, and rolling into the wooded area below. In all cases, the vehicle entered the turn at a speed greater than the posted 25 mph limit. The pitch of the turn is at a negative angle on the lower portion of the turn. As a result, the back end of all the vehicles involved in accidents swung around causing the vehicle to lose control and go other the embankment facing toward the entrance.

This project will resurface the road at this turn and install an asphalt wedge that will increase the pitch on this turn. This will result in cars leaning into the turn instead away from it. Also, wooden guardrails will be installed along with Chevron signs and surface road delineators that will increase driver attention in this area.

Traffic Congestion at Fee Booth: The park has also had several accidents and close calls with bicyclists weaving in and out of cars who are stopped at the fee booth to ask questions or pay the entrance fee.

Bicyclists routinely use the entrance road as a bicycling route. The problem is at the bottom of the entrance road where a vast number of bicyclists will pass by the fee booth at a high rate of speed, narrowly missing cars and pedestrians in the area, go at a high rate of speed around the traffic circle and then exit and return to the entrance road. In order to combat this issue, fee booth operators routinely install barricades across the outside lane to narrow down the area that cars can pass through.