Final EFLHD ANC FONSI_LTL1.pdf

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

NOTICE OF ADOPTION AND DECISION

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

For the Arlington National Cemetery Southern Expansion

INTRODUCTION

In cooperation with the Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), a Direct Reporting Unit of the Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDOA), the Federal Highway Administration Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA) has determined that the Selected Alternative for the Arlington National Cemetery Southern Expansion will have no significant impact on the human or natural environment.

The Selected Alternative will establish a single, contiguous parcel of land south of the ANC by closing, relocating, and realigning local roadways and develop the parcel to increase internment capacity. The project creates an opportunity to increase multimodal transportation while upgrading safety and capacity levels along this portion of Columbia Pike. The Department of the Army is the lead Federal agency for this action. FHWA serves as a cooperating agency, in addition to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), and Arlington County.

The realignment of Columbia Pike and the Route 27 (Washington Boulevard)/Columbia Pike interchange is integral to a successful ANC expansion. The Environmental Assessment (EA) assessed the potential impacts of the realignment to ensure that the cumulative effects of the collective Federal actions (roadways and cemetery expansion) were considered.

The Selected Alternative includes: the closure and removal of Southgate Road; the construction of a new access road for traffic to/from Joint Base Meyer-Henderson Hall (JBMHH); the realignment of Columbia Pike; the modification of the Route 27 interchange at Columbia Pike;

the development of the space for cemetery use, including integration of the Air Force Memorial (AFM). The new access road will include traffic control (i.e. signage, speed limits, etc.) to meet Arlington County and VDOT design standards. As a part of the Arlington National Cemetery Southern Expansion, FHWA is designing and constructing the realignment of Columbia Pike and the modification of the Route 27 interchange at Columbia Pike.

The EA, incorporated by reference into this finding, analyzed the potential environmental consequences of activities associated with the proposed improvements needed to address the purpose and need. The EA also discussed avoidance and minimization of environmental impacts, and considered cumulative environmental impacts with other reasonably foreseeable future actions, including cumulative environmental impacts with other projects at ANC and the surrounding area.

This EA is tiered from the 2014 ANC Real Property Master Plan Programmatic Environmental Assessment (RPMP PEA) and contains references to and summaries of that document. The earlier document contained development alternatives of the Southern Expansion site including “Alternative 4 – Southern Expansion Site with Realigned Roadways.” This EA contains a robust analysis of Alternative 4 from the PEA. A Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI), signed on December 9, 2019, documented ANC’s decision to select the Relocate Operations Complex Alternative.

The FHWA is hereby adopting the EA and FONSI issued by ANC, and this document constitutes the review and determination of significance from the implementation of the Selected Alternative.

PURPOSE AND NEED

The Selected Alternative is needed to meet the forecasted interment/inurnment demands of eligible veterans and to preserve ANC as an active military cemetery. The purpose of the Selected Alternative is to establish a single contiguous parcel burial space for ANC through the realignment of roadways allowing several noncontiguous parcels to merge and the redevelopment of the resulting area. The Selected Alternative will also create the opportunity to maintain adequate multimodal access for transit, pedestrians and bicyclist in addition to motorist;

levels of service, and safety for the affected roadway network and interchange ramps, and transit, including this portion of the Columbia Pike Corridor.

The Department of the Army and ANC assessed the potential environmental consequences associated with the Selected Alternative pursuant to provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 United States Code (USC) 4321 to 4270d, implementing Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1500-1508.

ALTERNATIVES EVALUATED

Three action alternatives comprised of the Selected Alternative and two others, in addition to the No Action Alternative, were reviewed in accordance with NEPA as implemented by the regulations of the CEQ. The No Action Alternative represented the baseline to compare the remainder of the alternatives analyses. Alternatives 1-3 each include all of the actions listed under “Proposed Action;” the differences among the alternatives are as noted below. The alternatives included:

Relocate Operations Complex Alternative with an Underpass Alternative (Selected). This alternative follows the guidance provided in the RPMP – develop in a manner that represents the best use of the land. This alternative proposes the best land use opportunity to support the ANC mission by relocating the Operations Complex from its current location to the area south of Columbia Pike. The preferred location for the Operations Complex is the area abutting the VDOT Management Center facility, which is a land use that is compatible with the ANC Operations Complex.

The Columbia Pike (Route 244) realignment maximizes cemetery internment area in addition to providing land to the south for a relocated Cemetery Maintenance Operations and Pentagon

Memorial Visitor Education Center. The roadway limits are located between the western boundary limits of the old Navy Annex property adjoining the Foxcroft Heights property and the entrance to the Washington Boulevard (Route 27) underpass leading to the Pentagon. The road will follow the existing alignment along the Air Force Memorial, curve slightly to the north and then straight with a new intersection with South Joyce Street south of the current intersection, then curve back towards the north followed by another more, sharper curve to intersect a tight diamond interchange off and on ramps with Washington Boulevard and end at the underpass entrance. Columbia Pike will carry 4-lanes of traffic, with wider outer lanes for transit. Within the Columbia Pike Right-of-Way (ROW) will be pedestrian sidewalks on both sides, with a dedicated cycle track on the north side. The ROW will include landscape buffers between the sidewalks, cycle track, and the roadway limits. A median for a left turn lane onto South Joyce Street will divide opposing traffic east and west of the intersection with South Joyce Street.

South Joyce street leading to the I-395 overpass will be 4-lanes with wide sidewalks both sides for accommodating both pedestrians and bicyclists. The Southgate Road will be replaced with South Nash Street, as a minor arterial road with no curb cuts, that will serve Joint Base Myers Henderson Hall (JBMHH) and local traffic. New South Nash Street will be located along the western boundary of the old Navy Annex property in a 55-foot easement, and connect Columbia Pike as a T-intersection. The roadway will carry 2-lanes of traffic with a sidewalk on the western side.

The Columbia Pike tight diamond interchange with Washington Boulevard off ramp will have a shared left turn lane to the underpass, and for accessing the on ramp back to Washington Boulevard. In addition, there will be two right turn lanes onto Columbia Pike west.

This alternative will provide a direct, uninterrupted, safe, and secure passage to the cemetery grounds for ANC maintenance and operations vehicles; it would be used for cemetery operations only. This alternative will allow ANC maintenance vehicles to avoid daily public traffic on Columbia Pike, thereby reducing potential conflicts with vehicles and pedestrians, and allowing uninterrupted flow of traffic on both Columbia Pike and the proposed service roadway. The underpass option would provide the most efficient connection for avoiding duplicate security points (when compared with an at-grade crossing), maximizing burial capacity, maximizing the operating efficiency of Arlington County’s premium bus transit service in the Columbia Pike corridor, and improving safety on Columbia Pike.

The benefits of relocating the Operations Complex with an underpass are: 1) it would allow the maximum acreage for interments of all the alternatives, 2) it would move the Operations Complex to the edge of the proposed cemetery expansion, thereby keeping it out of the viewshed, 3) it would provide operational connectivity for cemetery maintenance vehicles, 4) it would replace the obsolete service complex facility, and 5) it would permit traffic on Columbia Pike to flow without constant interruption by operations personnel and equipment crossings, especially during peak travel times. The underpass crossing of Columbia Pike provides the best integration for cemetery operations, is consistent with the character of the cemetery, and provides less intrusions for visitors. This alternative will also include a suitable utility corridor that would not preclude future expansion by Arlington County.

The area south of Columbia Pike would include employee parking and controlled public parking for cemetery and AFM visitors in addition to the relocated Operations Complex.

Maintain Operations Complex with an Underpass Alternative. This alternative would keep the Operations Complex in its current location, but utilize the area south of Columbia Pike for other contractor support services such as spoils stockpiling. The area south of Columbia Pike would connect with the cemetery by an underpass and utilized for other cemetery support services with vehicles unable to travel on Columbia Pike including spoils transport and other contractor vehicles. Visitor parking and a bus turnaround is another planned improvement next to cemetery support services.

Maintain Operations Complex without an Underpass Alternative. This alternative would relocate support services/functions to the area between the existing Operations Complex and Washington Boulevard and to the area south of Columbia Pike. There would be no underpass constructed below Columbia Pike; support services relocated south of Columbia Pike would be limited to the landscaping contractor and laydown area (material and machinery). Without an underpass, contractors’ trucks and heavy machinery would travel on Columbia Pike to enter the cemetery at the existing Operations Complex entrance.

No Action Alternative. The No Action Alternative is defined as no comprehensive development, including no realigned roadway network, and no additional contiguous land available for burials.

The failure to realign the roadways would require ANC maintenance crews to routinely cross Southgate Road, Columbia Pike, and South Joyce Street to perform activities, resulting in traffic safety concerns along these highly traveled streets that serve the Pentagon and JBMHH. ANC likely would develop or use the noncontiguous parcels of the former Navy Annex for operational support functions, but the space would not be used for interments/inurnments since crossing a public road would be required. The No Action Alternative would not increase burial capacity.

Under the No Action Alternative, the site would not meet the purpose and need of the Proposed Action and thereby not achieve its intended goal of increasing burial capacity to extend the life of the cemetery nor increase the capacity for a regional multimodal transportation system on Columbia Pike. Further, the No Action Alternative would not meet the intent of Congressional authorization to expand by using the Southern Expansion site.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

No significant adverse effects would result from implementing the Selected Alternative.

Land Use and Sustainability – The Selected Alternative would have positive impacts to land use and supports the Army’s sustainability policies which included the Navy Annex facilities;

reusing previously developed land; using Best Management Practices (BMPs) during construction; and, using a location that provides multimodal transportation options. This Alternative will include opportunities for sustainable design elements. And not stimulate additional development. The multimodal improvements and road realignment would enhance the travel experience and connectivity between the populous Columbia Pike corridor and Pentagon City.

Air Quality – There will be temporary impacts resulting from construction vehicle air emissions and fugitive dust; however, the short-term impact will not have local or regional significance.

Emissions associated with construction were compared to the Clean Air Act (CAA) de minimis values with respect to General Conformity, the estimated emissions were below these values and therefore the Proposed Action is presumed to conform to the State Implementation Plan. The use of BMPs during construction, e.g. spraying water on disturbed/exposed soil areas, will minimize impacts from fugitive dust. Minimizing equipment idling during construction will reduce temporary air quality impacts. In the long-term, a multimodal transportation corridor may help reduce vehicular traffic, thereby reducing air emissions.

Noise – There will be temporary impacts from construction noise, primarily heavy equipment.

The construction project will adhere to VDOT’s construction noise limits and Arlington County’s local noise ordinance. Long-term impacts will include an increase in noise due to honor salutes, but the audible impact will be negligible or minor. Other long-term impacts will include vehicular traffic on the proposed South Nash Street; based on traffic modeling, the potential noise will not exceed VDOT’s noise abatement criteria or its substantial noise increase criteria. Once operational, maintenance and cemetery operational noise will be minor. Potential noise emanating from the relocated Operations Complex will be similar to the neighboring VDOT maintenance facility. Specialized vehicles at the Operations Complex include mowers, off-road utility vehicles, backhoe loaders, mini off-road dump trucks, etc. for daily operations and maintenance. The proposed design elevation of the relocated Operation Complex will be lower than Columbia Pike which will act as a buffer to further reduce potential noise impacts.

Topography, Soils, and Geology – The final cemetery and roadway designs will be based on geotechnical investigations. Potential impacts will be minor and effects will be mitigated by adherence to stormwater management plans and use of BMPs. The change in topography of the cemetery expansion will have a positive impact as it will reflect the image and character of ANC.

The cemetery design will eliminate the need for slope stabilization for the slope on the east side of the AFM.

Water Resources – Potential temporary stormwater associated with the roadway design impacts during construction will be avoided or minimized using BMPs and following the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) requirements for preparing an erosion and sedimentation control plan. All development will be planned and designed to avoid sensitive areas and will be consistent with the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program to the maximum extent practicable. There will be no direct impacts to surface water bodies, groundwater, floodplains, or wetlands. There will be a significant reduction in impervious surfaces from the 2006 condition, resulting in a reduction of stormwater runoff and pollutant loads.

Biological Resources – There will be no impact on any Federally- or State-listed threatened or endangered species as a result of the roadwork activities. The site was disturbed previously and does not contain natural habitat. Regardless, there will be a temporary disruption to wildlife inhabiting the Southern Expansion site. Upon the start of construction, wildlife species instinctively will move to adjacent areas. The temporary impact will be offset at the project completion by providing permanent positive impacts with new landscaping including turf, trees, shrubs, and other plant material in planting beds that will be native to and compatible with the geographic region. There will be a net increase in vegetation as native wildlife species re-inhabit the site upon completion.

Cultural Resources –Adverse effects to properties listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) have been identified. The adverse effects will be resolved through mitigation measures stipulated in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which has been executed. The impacts include the removal of the boundary wall along Southgate Road, conversion of part of Patton Drive to a pedestrian trail and relocation of the Operations Complex, all contributing to the ANC NRHP-listed historic district; and modification of the Air Force Memorial site, which has been determined NRHP eligible. The MOA between the State Historic Preservation Officer, Air Force District of Washington, and ANC, resolves adverse effects to cultural and historical resources. This MOA includes the mitigation necessary to offset the adverse effects, and is located in the Appendices of the EA. With the conclusion of this agreement there will be no significant impacts to cultural resources.

Visitor Use and Experience – Temporary impacts from dust and noise may be experienced due to increased construction traffic and other activities during the project’s construction. Any impacts will cease upon completion of the construction activities. These impacts will be isolated to families with loved ones directly adjacent to the construction area. Family members wishing to visit one of these gravesites will be provided either escorted or pre-arranged access, to minimize interruptions/intrusion of construction activities during the visit. The proposed construction will not preclude any family member from visiting a gravesite. While vehicular access to and parking at the AFM will be eliminated, a larger parking lot across Columbia Pike will provide nearby access. In addition, pedestrian access will be enhanced from both Columbia Pike and ANC. When Patton Drive is converted to a pedestrian trail, it will no longer be open to vehicular traffic; however, it will remain within the circulation routes. Gravesites along Patton Drive will still be accessible to pedestrians. New vehicular circulation roadways also will be available in the expansion area. There will be beneficial long-term impacts provided by new amenities including pedestrian gate(s) along the new boundary wall, thereby enhancing access to the Air Force Memorial, ANC, and 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Visitor’s Education Center; and, separate trails to accommodate pedestrians and bicycles, among others. The beneficial impacts will include expanding the footprint of the Cemetery to allow additional area for visitors to experience the history, heritage, honor, and sacrifice of our military service members.

Socioeconomic/Environmental Justice – The EA complies with EO 12898 – Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations by identifying and evaluating potential impacts and avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating them to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law. Although the Foxcroft Heights community may have a population greater than 50% minority, there are no disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on this community. The project will not induce growth on a local or regional level; the area is already highly developed. The beneficial impacts include providing a visually attractive land use and creating the opportunity for improving multimodal transportation capacity to the general population. ANC provided public participation early in the NEPA process beginning with a public scoping meeting on April 27, 2016 to allow the public to give feedback on the Proposed Action and to discuss the scope of the NEPA document. Interim meetings were held with the Foxcroft Heights Neighborhood Association to provide a forum for discussion and update of the project. Most recently, a public open-house meeting was conducted on August 22, 2018 to disseminate information from the Draft EA and to gather comments.

Traffic and Transportation – There will be short-term traffic delays due to construction activities.

Construction contractors will be responsible for minimizing delays by following an approved traffic management plan. The proposed redevelopment, including the realigned roadways and interchange, will maintain or extend routes for pedestrian and bicycle movements and will not sever any existing connections for these modes of transportation. According to the “Columbia Pike/Washington Boulevard Interchange Modification Report (IMR) (2017), there will be no significant impacts to traffic or transportation due to the road realignment. There will be a positive effect on transportation through the opportunity to upgrade Columbia Pike into a multimodal facility as well as an improved level of service at the new tight diamond interchange and the Joyce Street/Columbia Pike intersection.

FHWA, at the request of the County and VDOT, agreed to further traffic studies to consider the impact of Amazon HQ2, the 9/11 Visitor Center, changing development along Columbia Pike and access to Arlington National Cemetery on the modified access to Route 27 (Washington Boulevard) with Columbia Pike. The completed traffic study further validated the Interchange Modification Report’s results and included additional traffic counts along Columbia Pike corridor in October 2018. The result of this study are described in the Arlington National Cemetery – Southern Expansion Traffic Technical Memorandum – Future Conditions, dated April 15, 2019. This report received its final approval when the Arlington County Capital Project Management Coordinator, Ms. Susan Finotti, reviewed the document and provided her concurrence for the revised IMR by letter dated March 18, 2020. Its results will be used to inform roadway design improvements needed, due to this project. All roadways and trails will be constructed in accordance with American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), VDOT, and National Association of City Transportation Officials safety (NACTO) standards.

Utilities – No currently used utility services or functions are being eliminated or scaled back as part of these projects. There will be potential short-term interruptions to utility service during construction. Utility providers will inform customers of extended interruptions or any change in current utility line locations. The current or future land use will not create a new burden on consumption of local or regional utility services. There will be no long-term disruptions to local utility customers after construction. Although concern has been expressed about potential constraint of the underpass on the utility corridor along the proposed realignment of Columbia Pike, the underpass will be buried to a depth sufficient to accommodate the utility corridor. In addition, utility capacity upgrades will be made during construction to address the need for future expansion. In addition, because water-, sanitary sewer- and stormwater-related utilities will otherwise require the most space in the corridor, those utilities will remain within the Cemetery avoiding the possibility of constraining the corridor. A beneficial long-term effect will be realized by the upgrading of aging utility infrastructure.

Solid Waste – Construction activities will generate solid waste. The contractors will be responsible for following acceptable protocol for avoiding or minimizing impacts from generating solid waste at the site. In the long term, there will be no noticeable increase in the amount of solid waste produced from daily operations and no changes to ANC’s diversion rate or its adherence to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP).

Hazardous Waste and Materials – The Selected Alternative will not cause a significant increase in the amount of hazardous waste generated at ANC in either the short- or long term. The incremental increase in the Cemetery’s area and the maintenance required will not increase generation of hazardous waste. Earth disturbance during construction may create a risk of exposure to Asbestos Containing Material (ACM), residue from the FOB2 demolition and clean-

up. Designing to avoid ACM-contaminated soil and developing a construction-phase pollution prevention plan minimizes the risk. Documentation of a recent investigation will follow the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) requirements for achieving “No Further Action” status with VDEQ and USEPA. The quantity of hazardous materials used at the Operations Complex is not expected to increase due to the relocation. A full inventory of hazardous materials will be completed prior to demolition of the Operations Complex.

Visual and Aesthetic Resources – There will be temporary impacts during construction due to presence of heavy equipment and construction activities for both utility and road relocation. In the long-term, the redevelopment of the site will provide a visual improvement to the land. The relocation of the Operations Complex to an area on the edge of the proposed expansion area will benefit the viewshed, making the expansion seamless. The centrally located AFM, coupled with proposed landscaping and earth moving, will act as visual barriers to shield the relocated Operations Complex from most of the Southern Expansion site. The AFM will be incorporated into and connected to the Cemetery. There will be a long-term positive impact on the viewsheds.

The project will comply with all Federal, State, and local laws.

SECTION 4(f)

Under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, FHWA may not approve the use, as defined in 23 C.F.R. §774.17, of Section 4(f) property unless a determination is made that: (1) there is no feasible and prudent avoidance alternative, as defined in 23 C.F.R. §774.17, to the use of land from the property; and (2) the action includes all possible planning, as defined in 23 C.F.R. §774.17, to minimize harm to the property resulting from such use

As a part of the Arlington National Cemetery Southern Expansion, FHWA is designing and constructing the realignment of Columbia Pike and the modification of the Route 27 interchange at Columbia Pike. The activities associated with the realignment of Columbia Pike and the Columbia Pike/Washington Boulevard interchange will take place on existing right of way (ROW) and will not require land from any resource protected by Section 4(f), including the Arlington National Cemetery. Therefore, there will be no “use” of Section 4(f) property, and Section 4(f) does not apply.

AGENCY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Cooperating agency invitations were sent to five agencies: FHWA; USEPA; NCPC; VDOT; and, Arlington County, VA. All five agencies accepted and participated as such. A cooperating agency kick-off meeting was held on March 9, 2016, and coordination was conducted at key points in the process. Throughout the NEPA process and development of the EA, ANC coordinated with the cooperating agencies and considered their input.

Further outreach efforts included 42 invitations to a variety of organizations including governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and Federally-recognized Native American tribes.

A Notice of Intent to prepare an EA was published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2016.

ANC issued a press release, and public notices were also published in the Washington Post, the Washington Times and the El Tiempo Latino newspapers, and on ANC’s and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) websites. Brochures regarding the project were mailed to approximately 250 property owners, agencies, and civic leagues located near the project site and Columbia Pike. ANC and USACE also posted information on its websites for the expansion project during the NEPA process.

On April 27, 2016, a press conference and an open-house-style NEPA public scoping meeting were held at the Sheraton Pentagon City, Arlington, Virginia. Storyboards describing the project and the NEPA process were displayed. USACE, ANC, representatives from all five cooperating agencies, and consultant’s staff, as well as a Spanish-language interpreter were available to answer questions and obtain comments. Project brochures were also available. More than 75 people attended the scoping meeting. The public had an opportunity to provide written comments during the meeting, as well as throughout the comment period from April 20 through May 31, 2016.

A Notice of Availability of the Draft EA and notice of a public meeting was published on August 16, 2018, for a 30-day public comment period. The second public meeting was held on August 22, 2018 to disseminate information from the Draft EA and to gather comments on the Proposed Action. This was an open-house type meeting with approximately 51 people attending.

Numerous comments/suggestions were received from the public regarding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure along the Columbia Pike corridor in response to the Draft EA. These comments were addressed in the EA Appendix. Additional public comments were submitted in response to the Draft FONSI/Final EA. The comments received in response to the Draft FONSI/Final EA are addressed in a matrix attached to ANC’s FONSI. The conceptual roadway design presented in the Draft EA was a generic depiction intended to be consistent with State and local policies for "complete streets," and will preserve the bicycle and pedestrian trail link between Southgate Road and South Joyce Street via the proposed South Nash Street and Columbia Pike. Based on comments received, separate bicycle and pedestrian trails to connect with Arlington County's existing trails to the Pentagon are proposed. The public's specific design suggestions have been provided to the design team, and will be considered during the roadway and trail design process.

Two comment letters were received in response to the Draft FONSI/Final EA: one from the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), and one from Arlington County. NCPC stated that the EA should better describe the land transfer and provide an expanded discussion of long-term impacts on the setting of the AFM. The proposed land acquisitions and transfers are described in Section 2.3.2. It is worth noting that a long-term impact of this Federal undertaking will be the permanent loss of the County and Commonwealth land from their respective property inventories when it is transferred to the Federal government. As described in Section 3.7.1.3 of the Final EA, a study entitled “Air Force Memorial: Physical Description, Background Research, and Evaluation of Eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places,” was completed to determine eligibility of the AFM for the NRHP. The adverse effects on eligible properties, including the AFM are acknowledged and addressed in the Section 106 MOA. In addition, ANC is currently in the process of seeking NCPC approval for the Southern Expansion project, per the National Capital Planning Act Project Review Requirements for Federal Agencies (40 U.S.C. §§ 8722(a), (b)(1) and (d)).

Arlington County stated concerns about the adequacy of the EA analysis, the No Action Alternative, impacts on utilities, the roadway corridor, the timing of the ANC and FHWA FONSIs, and just compensation for the County’s property. ANC previously has addressed the comments regarding the EA analysis, the No Action Alternative, and impacts on utilities and the roadway corridor, both in previous correspondence and in the Final EA. The determination of just compensation is made and executed during the real estate acquisition process and is outside the scope of the EA.

CONCLUSIONS

The FHWA has determined that the roadwork associated with the proposed action to Relocate Operations Complex will not have a significant impact on the human or natural environment.

The Selected Alternative does not constitute an action that requires preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS).

Negative environmental impacts that could occur are negligible or minor in intensity. There are no significant impacts on public health, public safety, threatened or endangered species, sites or districts listed in or eligible for listing the National Register of Historic Places, or other unique characteristics of the region. No highly uncertain or controversial impacts, unique or unknown risks, significantly cumulative effects, or elements of precedence were identified.

Implementation of the action will not violate any Federal, State, or local environmental protection law.

The FHWA finds it in the public’s interest to adopt the ANC EA and incorporate by reference, information contained in the ANC FONSI as the basis for its own FONSI to meet NEPA requirements. The FHWA has reviewed the ANC EA and FONSI and finds that these documents meet the requirements for EAs and FONSIs set forth in 40 CFR 1500 to 1508, 23 CFR 771.119 and 771.121, and related environmental laws, executive orders, and implementing regulations. Based on this review the FHWA concurs and adopts the ANC’s findings, conclusions, and recommendations as presented in the ANC EA and FONSI and agrees that the proposed action will result in no significant impacts and that an EIS is not required.

Recommended for Approval:

Holly E. Bell Date Planning and Programs Branch Chief Federal Highway Administration Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division

Approved:

Kurt A. Dowden Date Chief of Business Operations Federal Highway Administration Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division