[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37114-37115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15758]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
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Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 120 / Monday, June 23, 2003 /
Notices
[[Page 37114]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Yellow River Watershed Structures No. 15 and No. 17: Gwinnett
County, Georgia
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102[2][c] of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations
(40 CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Regulations (7 CFR part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an
environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Yellow
River Watershed Structures No. 15 and No. 17, Gwinnett County, Georgia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jimmy Bramblett, Water Resources
Programs Leader, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal
Building, 355 East Hancock Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30601, Telephone
(706) 546-2073, e-mail [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Environmental Assessment of this
federally assisted action indicates that the project will not cause
significant local, regional or national impacts on the environment. As
a result of these findings, Leonard Jordan, State Conservationist, has
determined that the preparation and review of an environmental impact
statement is not needed for this project.
The project purpose is continued flood prevention. The planned
works of improvements include upgrading two existing floodwater
retarding structures.
The notice of a Filing of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been
forwarded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and to various
Federal, State, and local agencies and interest parties. A limited
number of the FONSI are available to fill single copy requests at the
above address. Basic data developed during the environmental assessment
are on file and may be reviewed by contacting Jimmy Bramblett at the
above number.
No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be
taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal
Register.
Leonard Jordan,
State Conservationist.
(This activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
under 10.904, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention, and is subject
to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires inter-
government consultation with State and local officials.)
Finding of No Significant Impact for Yellow River Watershed Structures
No. 15 and No. 17, Gwinnett County, Georgia, June 2003
Introduction
The Yellow River Watershed is a federally assisted action
authorized for planning under Public Law 106-472, the Small
Watershed Rehabilitation Act, which amends Public Law 83-566, the
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. An environmental
assessment was undertaken in conjunction with development of the
watershed plan. This assessment was conducted in consultation with
local, State, and Federal agencies as well as with interested
organizations and individuals. Data developed during the assessment
are available for public review at the following location: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,
355 East Hancock Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30601.
Recommended Action
This document describes a plan for upgrading an existing
floodwater retarding structure, Yellow River Watershed Structure No.
15 (Y-15) and No. 17 (Y-17), to meet current dam safety criteria in
Georgia. The plan calls for construction of a roller-compacted
concrete emergency spillway over the top of an existing earthen
embankment on each structure. Works of improvement will be
accomplished by providing financial and technical assistance through
an eligible local sponsor.
The principal project measures for each structure are to:
1. Construct a roller-compacted concrete emergency spillway over
the top of an existing earthen embankment. This constructed
emergency spillway is designed to bring the existing dam into
compliance with current dam safety criteria in Georgia. The current
emergency spillway will be removed from service by constructing a
berm from material excavated on the existing embankment. The roller-
compacted concrete spillway on Y-17 will be covered with grass to
accommodate concerns of local residents and project sponsors related
to Collins Hill Park, a local county owned and maintained
recreational facility.
2. The measures will be planned and installed by developing a
contract with the current operator of the dam.
Effects of Recommended Action
Installing a roller-compacted emergency spillway will bring
Yellow River Watershed Structure No. 15 and No. 17 into compliance
with current dam safety criteria. This will essentially eliminate
the risk to loss of life for individuals in 68 homes, 4 recreational
facilities, and 6 roads (5 bridges) downstream. Addition effects
will include continued protection against flooding, continued water
quality benefits, continued fishing activities, continued
recreational opportunities, protected land values, protected road
and utility networks, and reduced maintenance costs for public
infrastructure.
Wildlife habitat will not be disturbed during installation
activities. No wetlands, wildlife habitat, fisheries, prime
farmland, or cultural resources will be destroyed or threatened by
this project. Some 53 acres of wetland and wetland type wildlife
habitat will be preserved. Fishery habitats will also be maintained.
No endangered or threatened plant or animal species will be
adversely affected by the project.
There are no wilderness areas in the watershed.
Scenic values will be complemented with improved riparian
quality and cover conditions resulting from the installation of
conservation animal waste management system and grazing land
practices.
Alternatives
Seven alternative plans of action were considered in project
planning. No significant adverse environmental impacts are
anticipated from installation of the selected alternative. Also, the
planned action is the most practical, complete, and acceptable means
of protecting life and property of downstream residents.
Consultation--Public Participation
Original sponsoring Organizations include the Gwinnett County
Government, Gwinnett, County Soil and Water Conservation District,
and the Upper Ocmulgee River Resource Conservation and Development
Council. At
[[Page 37115]]
the initiation of the planning process, meetings were held with
representatives of the original sponsoring organizations to
ascertain their interest and concerns regarding the Yellow River
Watershed. Gwinnett County agreed to serve as ``lead sponsor'' being
responsible for leading the planning process with assistance form
NRCS. As lead sponsor they also agreed to provide non-federal cost-
share, property rights, operation and maintenance, and public
participation during, and beyond, the planning process. Meetings
with the project sponsors were held throughout the planning process,
and project sponsors provided representation at planning team,
technical advisory, and public meetings.
An Interdisciplinary Planning Team provided for the
``technical'' administration of this project. Technical
administration includes tasks pursuant to the NRCS nine-step
planning process, and planning procedures outlined in the NRCS-
National Planning Procedures Handbook. Examples of tasks completed
by the Planning Team include, but are not limited to, Preliminary
Investigations, Hydrologic Analysis, Reservoir Sedimentation
Surveys, Economic Analysis, Formulating and Evaluating Alternatives,
and Writing the Watershed Plan--Environmental Assessment. Data
collected from partner agencies, databases, landowners, and others
throughout the entire planning process, were evaluated at Planning
Team meetings held on various dates throughout the planning process.
Informal discussions amongst planning team members, partner
agencies, and landowners were conducted throughout the entire
planning period.
A Technical Advisory Group was developed to aid the Planning
Team with the planning process.
The following agencies were involved in developing this plan and
provided representation on the Technical Advisory Group:
[sbull] Gwinnett County Government;
[sbull] Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation Districts;
[sbull] Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental
Protection Division [EPD], Safe Dams Program;
[sbull] Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife
Resources Division [WRD], Game and Fisheries Section;
[sbull] Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission;
[sbull] United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Region IV;
[sbull] USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS);
[sbull] USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service (F&WS);
[sbull] US Army Corps of Engineers (COE).
A meeting and field tour with the Technical Advisory Group was
held on February 27, 2002, to assess proposed measures and their
potential impact on resources of concern. A review of National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) concerns was initiated at this
meeting. Effects of proposed measures on NEPA concerns reviewed were
documented. Additional field tours were held with the COE on March
11, 2002, to determine the most efficient 404 permitting process.
Suzanne Kenyon, Cultural Resources Specialist with the NRCS-
National Water Management Center, visited the project site in the
fall of 2001. She provided a methodology for considering culturally
significant resources, which was followed in this planning process.
An inventory of the watershed, and associated downstream impacted
area was completed with no culturally important or archaeological
sites noted. The area of potential effect was provided to the
Georgia State Historic Preservation Office with passive concurrence
provided.
Public Participation: Public meetings were held on November 12,
2002, and November 14, 2002, to explain the NRCS Watershed
Rehabilitation Program and to scope resource problems, issues, and
concerns of local residents associated with the Y-15 and Y-17
project area. Potential alternative solutions to bring Y-15 and Y-17
into compliance with current dam safety criteria were also
presented. Through a voting process, meeting participants provided
input on issues and concerns to be considered in the planning
process, and identified the most socially acceptable alternative
solution.
A second round of public meetings was held on March 27, 2003,
and April 3, 2003, to summarize planning accomplishments, convey
results of the reservoir sedimentation survey, and present various
structural alternatives. The roller compacted concrete alternative
was identified as the most complete, acceptable, efficient, and
effective plan for the watershed.
Conclusion
The Environmental Assessment summarized above indicates that
this Federal action will not cause significant adverse local,
regional, or national impacts on the environment. Therefore, base on
the above findings, I have determined that an environmental impact
statement for the recommended plan of action on Yellow River
Watershed Structure No. 15 and No. 17 is not required.
Dated: June 13, 2003.
Leonard Jordan,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 03-15758 Filed 6-20-03; 8:45 am]
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