[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2749-2750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1185]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


West Fork Kickapoo River Watershed, Vernon County, Wisconsin

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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 West Fork 
Kickapoo River Watershed, Vernon County, Wisconsin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Krapf, Water Resources Staff 
Leader, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 6515 Watts Road, Suite 
200, Madison, Wisconsin, 53719. Telephone (608) 276-8732, extension 
232.

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, Patricia S. Leavenworth, State 
Conservationist, has determined that the preparation and review of an 
environmental impact statement are not needed for this project. The 
project purpose is flood prevention. The planned work of improvement 
includes the upgrade of the dam to meet class (c) high hazard criteria.
    The Notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 
forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency and to various 
federal, state, and local agencies and interested parties. A limited 
number of copies 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 
Tom Krapf.
    No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be 
taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: January 4, 2003.
Patricia S. Leavenworth,
State Conservationist.

Finding of No Significant Impact for West Fork Kickapoo River 
Watershed-Supplement, Vernon County, Wisconsin

Introduction

    The West Fork Kickapoo River Watershed is a federally assisted 
action authorized for planning under Public Law 83-566, the Watershed 
Protection and Flood Prevention Act. An environmental assessment was 
undertaken in conjunction with the development of the watershed plan-
supplement. This assessment was conducted in consultation with local, 
state, and federal agencies as well as

[[Page 2750]]

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 (NRCS), 6515 Watts Road, Suite 200, Madison, WI 
53719.

Recommended Action

    The size of Klinkner Dam will be increased to meet NRCS class (c) 
criteria. This will consist of raising the height of the dam, widening 
the auxiliary spillway, increasing the size of the principal spillway, 
adding a riser to provide sediment storage, treatment of the abutments 
if geologic exploration indicates this is needed, and installing a 
flood warning system.

Effect of Recommended Action

    The recommended action will extend the life of Klinkner Dam for an 
additional 50 years. It will provide increased protection for homes and 
a school in the hydraulic shadow of the dam and will meet state 
requirements for a high hazard dam.
    The proposed action will have no effect on wetlands.
    An initial survey for any cultural resources that may be impacted 
by the project was conducted. The survey concludes that no significant 
adverse impacts will occur to cultural resources in the watershed 
should the plan be implemented. The NRCS has consulted with the State 
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) on the effects that planned 
measures will have on significant cultural resources. Significant 
cultural resources identified during implementation will be avoided or 
otherwise preserved in place to the fullest practical extent. If 
significant cultural resources cannot be avoided or preserved, 
pertinent information will be recovered before construction. If there 
is a significant cultural resource discovery during construction, 
appropriate notice will be made by NRCS to the State Historic 
Preservation Officer and the National Park Service. Consultation and 
coordination have been and will continue to be used to ensure the 
provisions of Section 106 of Public Law 89-665 have been met and to 
include provisions of Public Law 89-523, as amended by Public Law 93-
291. NRCS will take action as prescribed in the NRCS General Manual 
(GM) 420, Part 401, to protect or recover any significant cultural 
resources discovered during construction.
    No threatened or endangered species in the watershed will be 
affected by the project.
    No wilderness areas are within the watershed.
    Little impact will be made on scenic values. Project Sponsors will 
be required to enact a floodplain-zoning ordinance, which restricts 
development in the hydraulic shadow of Klinkner Dam prior to any 
federal reimbursement for relocation expenses.
    No significant adverse environmental impacts will result from 
installations.

Alternatives

    The planned action is the most practical means of protecting the 
watershed, minimizing the threat to loss of life, and complying with 
the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requirements. The 
Sponsors considered the following alternatives:
(1) No Action
    The No Action alternative was not a viable option, since the dam 
does not meet the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources dam hazard 
classification criteria.
(2) Structural and Non-Structural Rehabilitation
    This alternative would relocate the four homes and a school located 
in the hydraulic shadow of the dam. The dam would also need to be 
upgraded to meet current class ``a'' requirements.
(3) Structural Rehabilitation
    This is the recommended action.
(4) Dam Removal (Decommissioning)
    This alternative does not meet the project purpose because it does 
not reduce the risk of loss of life and it does not maintain flood 
control or watershed protection, and therefore it was not considered 
further.
(5) Non-Structural
    This alternative consists of removal of the homes and school from 
the hydraulic shadow but no repairs would be made to the dam. Under 
this alternative the dam would fail and all flood control and watershed 
protection afforded by the dam would be lost. Therefore it was not 
considered further.

Consultation and Public Participation

    Copies of the Plan Supplement have been sent out to the single 
point of contact for the State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of 
Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Department of Emergency Government, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Wisconsin State 
Clearinghouse, and the West Central Regional Planning Commission. The 
document was distributed to American Indian Tribes that have expressed 
interest in consulting with federal agencies in projects in Vernon 
County. The project sponsor, Vernon County, has met with the Amish 
community leaders to discuss the project. The Amish have a school 
located in the hydraulic shadow of the dam.
    A scoping meeting was advertised and held on December 10, 2001 and 
interdisciplinary efforts were used in the planning process. In 
addition to the general public, one federal agency (NRCS), two state 
agencies (DNR, SHPO), and three county agencies (Land Conservation 
Department, County Zoning Office, County Administration Department), 
and local conservation organizations were invited to participate in the 
scoping and planning process.
    Specific consultation was conducted with the State Historic 
Preservation Officer and the county historical society concerning 
cultural resources in the watershed.
    The environmental assessment was transmitted to all participating 
and interested agencies, groups, and individuals for review and comment 
on September 15, 2002. Public meetings were held as needed to keep all 
interested parties informed of the study progress and to obtain public 
input to the plan and environmental evaluation.
    Agency consultation and public participation to date have shown no 
unresolved conflicts with the implementation of the selected plan.

Conclusion

    The Environmental Assessment summarized above indicates that this 
Federal action will not cause significant local, regional, or national 
impacts on the environment. Therefore, based on the above findings, I 
have determined that an environmental impact statement for the West 
Fork Kickapoo River Watershed Plan Supplement is not required.

    Dated: January 4, 2003.
Patricia S. Leavenworth,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 03-1185 Filed 1-17-03; 8:45 am]
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