HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190011 Ver 1_AlligatorRiver CE_signed_20190102Categorical Exclusion Form
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
D�re County, NC
Project: I��V-AI,RI 10(4) Date: Jan�iar�� 18, 2018
Project description, incli�ding loe�tioia:
The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division, of the Federal I-Iighway Administration (FHWA),
in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wilcllife Service (FWS) is �i•eparing plails foa• roadway
ill�}�rovements on Milltail Road and Milltail Roacl Brid�;e within tt�e Alligator River National
Wildlife IZ.efuge, Dare Coi�ilty, NC. Milltail Road is currently an 18' wide, two lane, ��avel road
flanked by a tidal channel and wetlands. T11e road provides access for visitoi�s and staff'to tlie
central portion of tl�ie Refilge. Milltail Bridge pz•ovides access to a parking area used by visitors
to canoe oi• lcayak in Milltail Creek.
'1'he objective of the project is to improve a 0.8-mile-loi�g scction of Milltail Ro�d by raising the
profile which would im�rove sust�ainabiliiy and resilience iii flood prone areas. Bz�idge work
includes repair of exposed reinforcing steel with e��oxy paint on tlle bent caps, cleaning and
resealing the expansionlrelief joi7lts, �ncl iilling areas thal h�ive subsided l�eneath the abutil�ent
footing. '1'hese i���p�-ovements will enhance safe travel on Milltail Road and Milltail Bridge
durin� and after high t•ain and wind events. Wetla��d impaets would be mii�iiiliized by reducing
the road«�ay width from 18' to 12' to the extent possible. Any impacts to wet�la»cis would be
rl�itigatcd in accordance wit11 federal and state regulatory ag�ncy r�quirements. No significant
impact�s to i�atural or cultural i•esources are anticipafed.
DescN•ibe the cate�ory used to exclude the actioi� fr•om further NEPA:
I�WS: 5l6 DM 2.3A(2) 1.6 Routine and continuing �;overnment business, including sliclz things
as supeivision, admit�istration, operatious, al�aintenance, renovatious, at�ci replacement� activities
having lin�ited context and ii7tensity;
FHWA: 23CFR 771.117 (c)(26) Moder►�ization of a highway by resurfacing, �•estoration,
rellabilitation, reconstruction, adding shoulders, or addin� auxiliary lanes (inchlding I�arking,
���e3ving, ttzrning, and climbing la�aes).
Describe any public or agenc�� involveine�lt effoa•t coi�ducted:
���daii�ered Species Act:
Oi� December 1 S, 20l 7, Alli�;�tor River National Wildlife Refu�e stai'f submitted 1n Ir�trca-
Ser>>icc l3iologrecil E>>�r1l.rcrtio�z I,orna to the TWS Ralei�;h Ecological Services Field Offic�.
The form inclucied a"May �{ff'ect, ��aot�likely to a�lversely crffect" deternlination in accordance
���ith Sectio��� 7 of the L;ndangerecl Species Act of 1973. The follo«�i�1g list of actions to
nlitigate/mi»i�nize in�pacts was included ir1 the eval�iation:
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�������i��i� �Ii��<�tc��� I�����e i� ���:t:t�c� ����� t�t�� ��r�ci�e, ��rc,ric ��rill b� ���s��cs�c�rcl t�i�tii
�- ilze �lli��:�t��r g����e�s � �{�fe clistailce <��tifa}�.
���is�:'�i�:t�r�.���i�e �f �7e�}al� ��cl ec�t�i}.aii�ei�t �3Til� lik.�l t� ��:��
%��dci F�i�le ,
���,�es ������t}' fi�^z�l tlie ��rnjec� ar�a.
i_i1'4't'�i fi4£s tt1i�'t�' �t?�i �C#ilIl� �FI r'���1�,'tiit3T �lir�'1'.
H�«�I�s��il�1 �e� tl�i�tle �s:�� F����ic� cFa� .r�.I?i�ator Ri�%�r.
�S 1�i=�1o�i�t� i�,=ill �.7� c��r�t�ltecl cttu�iu� il�� Ii#e ot�tli� prcfject rc�
isic�i��it� bat ��t�����iu� if an�F t�e,� i��f�r�l��tic�xi lias t�een c3i�c��r�red c��� i��t
�ase c�a� tL=e ��efi���. P��c�je�t wc�rk lic�ru;� aa� acti��ities ;��ill l��
:�ic��ii�i�d if ��ee�sary te ��rev�nt oi• za�i�i��iize ii�1�<�c�s.
� Ke�u��'� ri�lie�r �e� t�utl� �3�:,t �c�l�i7�i ozy �Ili�afc�r Ritirer.
I.:��tl�e��t��cl,: �e� ��rtle �1c�f fc�u�zd c�:3 �li���ar t�.ive��.
L���E���l�e�icl se� ttiitic �cst fc�tiuc� c�� Alli�aet�r Ri�-ei•.
E5 ��i�l�a�i�t� ���ill be cc,i��>�1ltecl citu�in� il�e lit� �f'ti�e ����r�j�ct t�
��»�tl��a�� �c�u������c� ���t c��i���i�i��e i� ����� z���v iFt#'�-r����tic��� ��a4 b��i� clis�c��-�recl ���� ��t
- ��sL �� tile ����iue_ Pr�j��:t ��r�rk 1���ur� c�r ��ti�Fi���� ��iil ��
i�1�7difi�ci zf u��e>s�r�� tc� ��resPc:nf �1� i�iini�l�.ize i�ii����tc�s.
Ie�c� �=�c�.-�t���e�l si�l�ti��:s c;�i �111i�<�tor Ri��er ��5�'�. eit���u�u r�i�?��l11S�
�i�ji1�� �>I�����r �i��t� ��u�t�y��:1ac�������er, I���iil�ar� clistu�l��n�� o�� ��rc,j��t ��cr��riti��
si�o��lci sei*�� t� �ziiuituize� a��� �u1���ct�.
��cl-����.Is�cle�l ;�-oc�d��ee.k�r ��,r�t l�ba�;��� i�.� oc�c��r ia� i�roj�c� i�i�e�.
I�.��:1 �v�.�if � �'o���c�iT��tic��i a��t.li I��cl ��'alf Prc>�r�a3i1 tc� ��rea�eizt i�u��f�ct�.
I����;ea�� T����i
5e:�i�e�cl� �izx<���<���tii
����i:yi�i�'r: joil'tf `,'i�cl1
�i`#vST 111t�1'<li� lii<�Ii<ti��
��s �-�,acvrr$� c3�� ���i�r,tc�r I�r�u�e�; l�L�svet�e�,1��i1���n elis#�i��a�z�ce
�I���alrl �er°�r� t� ��fi�r��i�� �iiy ii�7���icts.
i�� �e�:c�rr�eci �i�i�tu���y c�ii ��ili���tc�r �iv��� I�i�'R clj.tz���„ ia�c�il�l�lti�
�Il't Si.iri'¢tr5: � i�,��'�t'E'c� �%iIi1�111 C L5Tii1' ��t11c� 5 �1C>i�� t ti4�'� �t7
1�llliailllZ�` �i2j' 1i11�7<;ta5.
�t�t i�l��lcl c=�i �.11i���t�r �i����-.
?`��i>t f�t�3�ci �a�� �.�3i��t�r� �Z.i���r.
:�+Tc�t f��ix��e� rs�� .��11i��rc>l� R iz•��. �f t�a�P i� s��c�tte�1 j}�,��t�� tlie ��i-iti��,
rvc��lc .�+riil �>e ��a���7�k7tied lii�Til tite ����ii��t�� �i�c�ti��e=s � ;��f� cI_i��:���.�
ilt�'�i� ,
'The FWS �colo�ical Services Field Office concUr-red ���ith tl�e evaluation oi� January 27, 20] 8.
No additional protective meas��res were proposed. A copy of tl�e consultation is attached.
�,'�tion�l Historic Prescrvation Act:
On November 21, 2017, Richard Kanaski, F��S Regional Al•chaeologist se►1t a lette�� to tlle Nc�i�tl�
Caz-oliila State H�ist��ric Preservation Office (SHPO) contai»ing a"i10 effect" deternzinatioi�
because I�o histocic resources exist ii� th� project area. SHPO coi�curred with the z10 effect
dete��ulinatioi� on Decen�iber 4, 2017.
On November 2l, 2017, Mr. Kanaski also sent letters to the'I'ribal Historic Pr�servation Offices
of tlle Pami.rnkey Ti-ibe (Virginia) and tlie Tuscarora Nation (N�ew Yor•k) �uhicll included a"no
e�flect" detei7ninatioz�. No response has been received �iozil either tribe. lf either tribe expressed
cancerns at�out the project, the cone�rns wi11 be addressed arld a supplemenfal enviromnental
document will be completed.
23 �:'1+R i71.117 Categorical exclnsions (CEs} are act.ions which ine�t the definition eontaiized
iri 40 CF�It 1508.4, ancl, based on past experience witll si»�il�r actio�ls, do not involve significarlt
enviroz7lnental impacts.
----------- _ - ---- -- -_ _v.-
The proposecl action will: YES NO
---- _— __ -----
Izlduce significant inlpacts to planned growth or X
lai�d use for tl�e area
---------------- --- -- _ _..__..-- ---..
Requir� the relocation of srgnificant nunibers �f X
��_— pec7ple
IIave a significant i�ilpact oi1 any natural, culttual, X
__ recreatiolial, historic, or other resourc�
Iilvolve sig�nificant air, noise, or water qt��ality � X �
im �acts
_ _ __ l . ____.
__._- -- - ---
I�ave si��»ficant impacts on travel patt�erns X
Ot�her�vise, either individually or cumulatively have x
__ any s�nifi_cant enviroilinental ilnpacts
If auy box is checicec� yes, the action n�ay not be categorically excluded and an LA or F,IS must
���}�{�a�cl, I#�-neilc-��c Gl�cslc�cl��s; }�t�c}��z;�„=o��:�������c��et�iH��'��3r-t3flies f�°Qi�
consultation witll agencies and/or the p�ublic, notes of site visits ancl any�otllei• matcrial 1•elated to
the environmental inip��ict of tl�e }aropos��l. This l�ecoines the N�P11 pi'ece of tlie stahttory ��
couipliauce iite. �
Or� t11e basis o�'tlle enviroiln�erital impact information in tlie statutory co7npliance file, ti�it�h
��-hic�1� 1 am ��amiliar, 1 believe th� project shollld be categorieally excluded fi-oin fui•thei• NEI'�
���,��ys,�.
Pr�pa���d by:
_ ����,����`� ���.� d��,� %.
—����--
Ryan Kimbe�7ey �, �
Eilviromneiital Protection Specialist
Tederal Highway Administration
L;asteri� Federal Lailds Highway Division
� �
:�
�� � ��` � � � �"��
Date
�n the basis of the ei�vi�•�7�nental i�npact ia�fo��inati�n in tlle stat�atoly compl_iance iile, with
�vl�ich 1�m familiar, I am categorieally excluding tl�e described projeet from fiu-ther NEPA
a�lalysis. No exceptional circui�istances or coi�ditions apply and tl�e action is fully descril�ed in
23 CFR 77l .117 Categoi•ical Exclusiozis.
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��evr�il�S. Rose � Date
Environmental Coin��liance Manager �
Fedcral Iligh��vay Adi��inistration
E�stern Fedez•�1 Lands Highway Divisioil
I3ased on the environmental impact information in the statutoiy coinpliancc �le, wilh which I am
familiaz-, 1 am categorically excluding tl�e dcscribed praject froia� further NLPA analysis. No
Lxceptioi�al circuinst�nces ot• coiiditiorls a�ply ancl ihe action is fiilly described in 516 DM
2.3A(2).
ix���ei<an iviaritn � ~ —
Project I.�eader
Alligat�r River N�t�ional Wildlife IZ.eftiige
_. ____�—������
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