Report 1_NEPA CE - NP-BLRI 1M20.pdf

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

BLRI 1M20

Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form

Project Number: BLRI 1M20 Date: 6/10/2020

Project Name: Rehabilitate Roanoke River Bridge

Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 114.6 Roanoke County, Virginia

CE Category 23 CFR 771.117 (c)(28): Bridge rehabilitation, reconstruction, or replacement or the construction of grade separation to replace existing at-grade railroad crossings, if the actions meet the constraints in paragraph (e) of this section.

See 23 CFR 771.117 for full description of CE categories, including additional requirements when applying (c)26-28.

Project Description The project consists of deck overlay replacement and steel painting of the Roanoke River Bridge, located in Section "1M", at Milepost (MP) 114.6. Remove existing asphalt surface course from the cast-in-place concrete bridge deck and resurface the bridge deck with a spray-on membrane and an asphalt surface course. The work also includes repainting the structural steel, repairing cracks at top of piers, repairing hollow sounding/spalled concrete areas of the deck bottom, reconstructing settled and deteriorated asphalt bridge approaches, and cleaning all joints, deck scuppers, bridge rails, curb lines and storm drains.

Roanoke River Bridge is a 1,025' long girder-floorbeam-stringer bridge with reinforced concrete deck, and continuous steel rails. It consists of 6 spans, and carries two lanes of traffic with curb to curb width of 26'. The substructure consists of 5 tall cast-in-place piers and 2 concrete abutments. A railroad line crosses under the bridge.

Specific work required is as follows: a) Mill existing asphalt surface course from the cast-in-place concrete bridge deck and resurface the bridge deck with a spray-on membrane and an asphalt surface course. b) Remove existing lead paint from structural steel and repaint. c) Repair cracks at the top of piers, and repair hollow sounding/spalled concrete areas of the deck bottom as necessary. Remove climbing pitons from pier#1 and patch the resulting holes. d) Reconstruct 100'± of settled asphalt bridge approaches. e) Clean drainage pans underneath the two expansion joints. Paint both steel expansion joints. Also clean clogged deck scuppers along the curb lines and steel bridge rail on each side. f) Remove and replace inlet located at the bridge's south

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04) approach on southbound lane. g) Remove and replace existing asphalt waterway near the north abutment. h) Verify if scour protection is needed at pier#3. i) Repair undermining at southwest wingwall. j) Mill and overlay Roanoke River overlook area located near the south bridge approach at the end of the project as it will be used as a staging area. h) Mark the hiking trail aligned beneath the bridge as closed with signing during construction activities.

Environmental Commitments and Mitigation Measures

Staging and parking for vehicles, equipment and materials shall be confined to paved overlooks and parking areas. Other areas utilized shall be only as designated approved by Park Natural Resources Staff. Overlooks that serve as trailhead parking may only have 1/2 of the total parking area closed to visitors at any one time.

Erosion control measures shall be guided by NPS standards, federal, state, and local regulations if tree removal is necessary, park natural resource staff shall be notified prior to removal. If inspection reveals that it is necessary, a time of year restriction will be implemented for removal.

Trees shall be removed between October 15 and April 15 to meet the time of year restriction. No trees shall be cut between April 15 and October 15.

All painting shall match the existing color(s).

All precautions shall be taken to prevent contamination of area, including staging area, by spill, or disposal of removed flakes, debris, etc.

Lead based paint removed from bridge shall be completely contained from entering the surrounding environment.

Any lead based paint shall be transported to legal disposal sites in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. Required hazardous waste permit from EPA shall be obtained prior to work.

Existing structural steel paint has lead which will be removed as part of this project. Water Quality, as well as soil contamination, shall be monitored before, during, and after construction.

All construction generated debris will be removed from the park to an approved landfill.

Disturbance shall be limited to open and previously disturbed areas.

Because a railroad crosses underneath the bridge near the north end, FHWA shall obtain any required permits prior to construction.

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

The project will be monitored during ground disturbing activities for impacts to unidentified cultural resources.

Summary of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act Compliance A determination of effect is provided in the NPS Categorical Exclusion. Mitigation measures for bats are included with the project.

Summary of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act Compliance Consultation was initiated by NPS with the VASHPO on 3.26.20. The VA SHPO concurred with the finding of no adverse effect. The project will include archaeological monitoring.

Additional Agency Coordination and Compliance NPS completed a Categorical Exclusion for the project on 11/28/2018 (PEPC ID 36549).

The NEPA and NHPA compliance for this project has been reopened due to the expanded drainage impacts (March 2020). The scope of the drainage outfall for the project has changed and impacts a larger area; in addition, potential for disturbance of bat species that were not in evidence during the 2015 review required the NR spec to identify new mitigations to avoid that disturbance. CR Spec. felt that project no longer qualified for Streamlined Review under the NPS Nationwide Programmatic Agreement (PA) for Section 106 of the NHPA. The revised NPS CE was signed on 4/15/2020.

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

Categorical Exclusion Recommendation:

On the basis of the environmental impact information in the statutory compliance file, with which I am familiar, I believe the project should be categorically excluded from further NEPA analysis.

Ryan Kimberley Environmental Protection Specialist

Federal Highway Administration

Date

Categorical Exclusion Determination:

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. The project meets the 23 CFR 771.117(a) definition of a categorical exclusion. No unusual circumstances per 23 CFR 771.117(b) apply.

Kevin S. Rose Environmental Team Leader

Federal Highway Administration

Date

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

Appendix A: Environmental Checklist

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act:

Are Federally-listed species potentially present in the study area? ☒Yes, see Notesi ☐No If Yes, effects determination:

☐No Effect ☒May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect ☐May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act:

Are historic properties known to be present in the study area? ☒Yes ☐No

If Yes, will they be impacted by the project? ☒Yes ☐No Will previously undisturbed ground be disturbed?

☒Yes ☐No Effects determination:

☐No Historic Properties Affected ☒No Adverse Effect ☐Adverse Effect, MOA Executed Was tribal consultation completed? ☐Yes ☒No

Water and Wetlands:

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act

Are impacts to Waters of the US anticipated? ☐Yes ☒No If Yes, approval anticipated:

☐Nationwide Permit (NWP) ☐Regional General Permit ☐Individual Permit

Section 401 of the Clean Water Act ☐NWP certified by State ☐Individual Certification

Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Will the land disturbance threshold likely be exceeded to require a permit and SWPPP?

☐Yes ☒ No

Is post-construction stormwater management review/approval anticipated? ☐Yes ☒No ☒Project is consistent with Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands

Floodplains:

Is the project in a FEMA floodplain?

☐Yes ☒No ☐ Floodplain not mapped ☒ Project is consistent with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management

Section 4(f) of the USDOT Act:

Does the project meet the Section 4(f) exemption for Federal lands transportation facilities under

Section 1119(c)(2) of MAP-21, 23 U.S.C. 138(a)? ☐Yes ☒No Is there a use of a Section 4(f) property in the study area? ☐Yes ☒No

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

If Yes, De Minimis Finding:☐ Programmatic:☐ Individual 4(f): ☐ Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund:

Was the property purchased with grant funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund?

☐Yes ☒No

If Yes, was documentation of approval from National Park Service Director received for the conversion or replacement of 6(f) property? ☐Yes ☐No

Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972:

Is the project in a Coastal Zone? ☐Yes ☒No If yes, will a Federal Consistency Review be completed? ☐Yes ☐No

Right of Way:

Is the project completely within the transportation facility’s right-of-way? ☒Yes ☐No If no, will the project require relocations or easements? ☐Yes ☐No

Hazardous Waste and Materials:

Are hazardous materials or contamination exceeding regulatory thresholds (as set by U.S. EPA, County Environmental Health, etc.) present? ☒Yes ☐No If Yes, is the nature and extent of the hazardous materials or contamination fully known? ☒Yes ☐No, plan for securing information provided in Notes Section 7(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act:

Are there Wild and Scenic Rivers? ☐Yes ☒No ☐Eligible If Yes, has review by the river-administering agency been completed? ☐Yes ☐No

Clean Air Act:

Is the project in a non-attainment area? ☐Yes ☒No

If Yes, is the project on the Transportation Improvement Program(TIP)/State Implementation Plan(SIP)? ☐ Yes ☐No

Highway Traffic and Construction Noise Regulations:

☐ The proposed project is a Type I project (highway on a new location, substantial horizontal or vertical alteration, new through or auxiliary lanes). Noise analysis is required.

☐ The proposed project is a Type II project (retrofit for noise abatement).

☐ The proposed project is a Type III project (noise analysis not required).

☒ Does not apply.

Environmental Justice and Title IV Act:

Is an Environmental Justice population, as identified in Executive Order 12898, present?

☐Yes, explanation provided in Notes section ☒No Will the project induce disproportionately high and adverse impacts to minority, low income, or special groups? ☐Yes, additional analysis is needed ☐No Farmland Protection Policy Act for Highway Projects:

Does the project displace, require acquisition of, or require an easement from farmland?

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form EFL-TM-ENV-03(04)

☐Yes ☒No Does the project affect any other resources not listed above? Explain below and list anticipated permits: Project will require Erosion and Sediment Control review by Virginia DEQ.

i Federally-listed species per U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s IPaC: