Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Delta-Clearwater Remediation Project, Delta Junction, AK, 5757-5758 [2010-2403]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 23 / Thursday, February 4, 2010 / Notices
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Done at Washington, DC, on January 25,
2010.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010–2290 Filed 2–3–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Notice of Availability of Final
Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for
the Delta-Clearwater Remediation
Project, Delta Junction, AK
AGENCY: Alaska State Office, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, USDA.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:31 Feb 03, 2010
Jkt 220001
Notice of availability.
SUMMARY: The Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) has
prepared an Environmental Assessment
(EA) and Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) consistent with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, to
construct the Delta-Clearwater
Remediation Project, authorized under
the Watershed Protection, Watershed
Surveys, and Flood Prevention Act of
1954 (Pub. L. 83–566, 83d Cong., 68
Stat. 666), as amended. Upon review
and analysis of potential environmental
impacts, the State Conservationist
(Alaska) found that the project would
not result in a significant impact on the
quality of the human environment.
Therefore, a FONSI was issued and no
environmental impact statement is
required.
DATES: The Final EA and FONSI are
available for review through March 8,
2010.
ADDRESSES: Public review copies are
available at the following locations:
1. Natural Resources Conservation
Service, Palmer State Office, 800 West
Evergreen, Suite 100, Palmer, AK 99645.
2. Natural Resources Conservation
Service, 1420.5 Alaska Highway, Jarvis
Office Building, Delta Junction, AK
99737.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Copies of the Final EA and FONSI, or
additional information on matters
related to the project, can be obtained by
contacting Mr. Phil Naegele, Assistant
State Conservationist (Operations),
USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 100,
Palmer, AK 99645. Telephone: (907)
761–7758.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S.
Department of Agriculture Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
is proposing a watershed remediation
project within the Rhoads Creek and
Granite Creek sub-watersheds of the
Delta-Clearwater River. The project
would involve removing the structural
watershed control measures installed by
NRCS in 2001 and remediation of the
site to prevent further erosion and
channelization of surface water flows.
The project is located in portions of
Sections 27, 28, 33, 34, and 35 of
Township 11 South, Range 12 East, and
Sections 3 and 4 of Township 12 South,
Range 12 East, of the Fairbanks
Meridian, near Mile 1408 of the Alaska
Highway (Latitude 63.914° North,
Longitude 145.388° West).
NRCS, in cooperation with the
Salcha-Big Delta Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD), Alaska
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
5757
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G),
Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation (ADEC) and the Alaska
Department of Natural Resources
(ADNR), conducted a watershed
planning effort which was completed in
1995. This plan included structural and
non-structural measures intended to
reduce sediment deposition into the
Delta-Clearwater River and Clearwater
Bog as well as reducing flood and
sediment damage to cropland, the
Alaska Highway, local roads, and
recreation areas. A supplement to this
plan was completed in 1998 in order to
address a reduction in the infiltration
rate from the original estimate to that
identified during field tests.
Phase I of construction, initiated in
September 1999, consisted of
approximately 5,000 linear feet of
infiltration basin along with side inlets
and training dikes installed at Mile 1408
Road on the south side of the Alaska
Highway. Construction of Phase I was
completed in July 2001. Flow events
during and after construction identified
numerous problems with the project as
designed. In response to these issues, a
formal engineering investigation was
completed in 2002. The report
recommended a revised planning effort
analyzing a wide variety of alternatives.
An extended planning effort involving
the project sponsors, other local, State
and Federal agencies, and the general
public was conducted between 2003
and 2008. The proposed project is the
outcome of this 5-year multi-agency
planning effort.
The proposed project would restore
the entire project site as closely as
practical to pre-project topography and
conditions. Site restoration would
involve removing the training dikes,
filling the side inlets, filling the
infiltration basin, removing the built-up
portion of 1408 Road, providing a
reasonable planting medium on the
restored surface of the site, either
seeding or relying on natural
regeneration, removal of the flow
splitting channels near the Alaska
Highway, and purchasing flood
easements for affected private property.
It is currently anticipated that topsoil
material for site restoration would be
obtained from berm piles located on
nearby agricultural land. These berms
are remnant from the land clearing
efforts that were part of the original
State of Alaska Delta Agricultural
Projects, and contain topsoil mixed with
high concentrations of organic matter
and some woody debris. Using the berm
material has numerous benefits as a
planting medium. The high
concentration of organic matter provides
both soil fertility and moisture retention
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
04FEN1
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
5758
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 23 / Thursday, February 4, 2010 / Notices
benefits. The berms also serve as seed
banks for native vegetation, and the
woody debris can be used on the
restored site to disrupt overland flow.
The berms screened for removal and use
will be selected based on criteria that
are currently being developed by NRCS.
Berms which are growing species which
are listed on the State of Alaska list of
noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020) will be
eliminated from consideration, and no
berms will be removed from lands
currently enrolled in the Cropland
Reserve Program.
The cost of this alternative is roughly
estimated at $8 to $10 million dollars.
Even with site restoration, some shortterm maintenance will be required if the
recently restored site is damaged by
flow events. While it will be relatively
expensive to restore the project site, the
re-planning team considered the
expense justifiable in light of current
conditions and public concerns. This
justification is premised on the
reduction of erosion from the existing
project site by removing the training
dikes and side inlets that concentrate
inflow to the basin, as well as removing
the artificially steep flow gradient into
the existing basin. In addition,
restoration efforts would involve
removing the built-up 1408 Road. The
road currently functions as a levee and
concentrates flow from the infiltration
basin to the Alaska Highway.
Agency scoping letters for the
proposed project were sent on July 10,
2009, with a scoping meeting and site
visit conducted on August 5, 2009. The
Draft Environmental Assessment was
made available for public and agency
review on September 17, 2009, with a
public open house being held in Delta
Junction on September 28, 2009. A
follow-up meeting with agencies was
held on September 29, 2009 also in
Delta Junction. Details regarding the
public and agency involvement are
discussed in the Final Environmental
Assessment.
Based on the information in the Final
Environmental Assessment the
proposed action is not a major Federal
action significantly affecting the quality
of the human environment, and a
Finding of No Significant Impact was
issued on January 11, 2010.
Signed in Palmer, Alaska, on January 11,
2010.
Robert N. Jones,
State Conservationist (Alaska).
[FR Doc. 2010–2403 Filed 2–3–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–2D–P
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:31 Feb 03, 2010
Jkt 220001
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bridger-Teton National Forest, Big
Piney Ranger District, WY; Piney
Creeks Vegetation Treatment
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Big Piney Ranger District
is proposing to implement vegetation
management in the Piney Creek
drainages throughout the next five–
seven years. The need for vegetation
management in this area has previously
been identified and studied in the
Bridger-Teton Forest Plan implemented
in 1990, in public meetings held on the
revision of the Forest Plan in 2008 and
comprehensive evaluation reports for
aspen, lodge pole pine, Douglas fir,
spruce fir and white bark pine. The
analysis area is approximately 20,000
acres within this watershed and
includes the creeks of South, Middle
and North on the Big Piney Ranger
District of the Bridger-Teton National
Forest. The area also includes Middle
and North Piney Lakes, Wyoming Peak
the Middle Piney Summer homes,
Sacajawea and Middle Piney Lake
campgrounds. Management
opportunities, practices, standards and
guidelines, and mitigation have been
developed to help achieve desired
resource conditions. These are the basis
for this proposal and for further site
specific analysis of effects. It is
approximately 25 miles west of Big
Piney, Wyoming in the Green River
drainage, on the east slope of the
Wyoming range. All lands within the
analysis area are National Forest System
lands within Sublette County,
Wyoming. The legal description
includes portions of T28N through
T31N and R112W through R114W.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
March 15, 2010. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in November 2011 and the
final environmental impact statement is
expected in April 2012.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
District Ranger, Big Piney Ranger
District, Box 218, Big Piney, Wyoming
83113. Comments may also be sent via
e-mail to
mailroorn_r4_bridger_teton@fs.fed.us
and on the subject line put only ‘‘Piney
Creeks Vegetation Treatment’’, or via
facsimile to 307–276–5250.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such a way that they are useful to the
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Agency’s preparation of the EIS.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered, however.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
District Ranger, Big Piney Ranger
District, Box 218, Big Piney, Wyoming
83113 or phone (307) 276–3710.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this proposal is to
improve Forest resource conditions in
the South, Middle and North Piney
Creek drainages, bringing them closer to
desired conditions. Desired conditions
for each of the DFC’s would help restore
healthy ecosystem functioning and
support sustainable resource use.
Proposed Action
This proposal was developed in
response to public issues from changes
since the approval of the Forest Plan in
1990, Forest Plan Revision meetings,
and recent resource issues. Treat up to
8,000 acres of aspen stands and the
surrounding sagebrush with mechanical
treatments and prescribed fire to
regenerate healthy aspen and sagebrush
and remove conifers. Harvest trees on
approximately 4,000 acres using various
cutting practices. This is to provide for
regeneration of the declining lodge pole
pine and mixed conifer forests and for
age class diversity across the landscape.
Possible Alternatives
This alternative is required under
NEPA regulations and also serves as a
baseline of information for comparison
of other alternatives. Though this
alternative does not respond to the
purpose and need for action, it does
address some issues.
Responsible Official
District Forest Ranger, Big Piney
Ranger District, P.O. Box 218, Big Piney,
Wyoming 83113.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
This decision will be whether or not
to implement specific vegetation
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5757-5758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2403]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for the Delta-Clearwater Remediation
Project, Delta Junction, AK
AGENCY: Alaska State Office, Natural Resources Conservation Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has prepared
an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended, to construct the Delta-Clearwater Remediation
Project, authorized under the Watershed Protection, Watershed Surveys,
and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (Pub. L. 83-566, 83d Cong., 68 Stat.
666), as amended. Upon review and analysis of potential environmental
impacts, the State Conservationist (Alaska) found that the project
would not result in a significant impact on the quality of the human
environment. Therefore, a FONSI was issued and no environmental impact
statement is required.
DATES: The Final EA and FONSI are available for review through March 8,
2010.
ADDRESSES: Public review copies are available at the following
locations:
1. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Palmer State Office, 800
West Evergreen, Suite 100, Palmer, AK 99645.
2. Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1420.5 Alaska Highway,
Jarvis Office Building, Delta Junction, AK 99737.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the Final EA and FONSI, or
additional information on matters related to the project, can be
obtained by contacting Mr. Phil Naegele, Assistant State
Conservationist (Operations), USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 100, Palmer, AK 99645. Telephone:
(907) 761-7758.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is proposing a watershed
remediation project within the Rhoads Creek and Granite Creek sub-
watersheds of the Delta-Clearwater River. The project would involve
removing the structural watershed control measures installed by NRCS in
2001 and remediation of the site to prevent further erosion and
channelization of surface water flows. The project is located in
portions of Sections 27, 28, 33, 34, and 35 of Township 11 South, Range
12 East, and Sections 3 and 4 of Township 12 South, Range 12 East, of
the Fairbanks Meridian, near Mile 1408 of the Alaska Highway (Latitude
63.914[deg] North, Longitude 145.388[deg] West).
NRCS, in cooperation with the Salcha-Big Delta Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD), Alaska Department of Fish and Game
(ADF&G), Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) and the
Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR), conducted a watershed
planning effort which was completed in 1995. This plan included
structural and non-structural measures intended to reduce sediment
deposition into the Delta-Clearwater River and Clearwater Bog as well
as reducing flood and sediment damage to cropland, the Alaska Highway,
local roads, and recreation areas. A supplement to this plan was
completed in 1998 in order to address a reduction in the infiltration
rate from the original estimate to that identified during field tests.
Phase I of construction, initiated in September 1999, consisted of
approximately 5,000 linear feet of infiltration basin along with side
inlets and training dikes installed at Mile 1408 Road on the south side
of the Alaska Highway. Construction of Phase I was completed in July
2001. Flow events during and after construction identified numerous
problems with the project as designed. In response to these issues, a
formal engineering investigation was completed in 2002. The report
recommended a revised planning effort analyzing a wide variety of
alternatives. An extended planning effort involving the project
sponsors, other local, State and Federal agencies, and the general
public was conducted between 2003 and 2008. The proposed project is the
outcome of this 5-year multi-agency planning effort.
The proposed project would restore the entire project site as
closely as practical to pre-project topography and conditions. Site
restoration would involve removing the training dikes, filling the side
inlets, filling the infiltration basin, removing the built-up portion
of 1408 Road, providing a reasonable planting medium on the restored
surface of the site, either seeding or relying on natural regeneration,
removal of the flow splitting channels near the Alaska Highway, and
purchasing flood easements for affected private property.
It is currently anticipated that topsoil material for site
restoration would be obtained from berm piles located on nearby
agricultural land. These berms are remnant from the land clearing
efforts that were part of the original State of Alaska Delta
Agricultural Projects, and contain topsoil mixed with high
concentrations of organic matter and some woody debris. Using the berm
material has numerous benefits as a planting medium. The high
concentration of organic matter provides both soil fertility and
moisture retention
[[Page 5758]]
benefits. The berms also serve as seed banks for native vegetation, and
the woody debris can be used on the restored site to disrupt overland
flow. The berms screened for removal and use will be selected based on
criteria that are currently being developed by NRCS. Berms which are
growing species which are listed on the State of Alaska list of noxious
weeds (11 AAC 34.020) will be eliminated from consideration, and no
berms will be removed from lands currently enrolled in the Cropland
Reserve Program.
The cost of this alternative is roughly estimated at $8 to $10
million dollars. Even with site restoration, some short-term
maintenance will be required if the recently restored site is damaged
by flow events. While it will be relatively expensive to restore the
project site, the re-planning team considered the expense justifiable
in light of current conditions and public concerns. This justification
is premised on the reduction of erosion from the existing project site
by removing the training dikes and side inlets that concentrate inflow
to the basin, as well as removing the artificially steep flow gradient
into the existing basin. In addition, restoration efforts would involve
removing the built-up 1408 Road. The road currently functions as a
levee and concentrates flow from the infiltration basin to the Alaska
Highway.
Agency scoping letters for the proposed project were sent on July
10, 2009, with a scoping meeting and site visit conducted on August 5,
2009. The Draft Environmental Assessment was made available for public
and agency review on September 17, 2009, with a public open house being
held in Delta Junction on September 28, 2009. A follow-up meeting with
agencies was held on September 29, 2009 also in Delta Junction. Details
regarding the public and agency involvement are discussed in the Final
Environmental Assessment.
Based on the information in the Final Environmental Assessment the
proposed action is not a major Federal action significantly affecting
the quality of the human environment, and a Finding of No Significant
Impact was issued on January 11, 2010.
Signed in Palmer, Alaska, on January 11, 2010.
Robert N. Jones,
State Conservationist (Alaska).
[FR Doc. 2010-2403 Filed 2-3-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-2D-P
