[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
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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]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-M