[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 175 (Monday, September 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53776-53777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17967]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


South River Watershed Structures Numbers 23, 25 and 26, Augusta 
County, VA

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 South River 
Watershed Dams Numbers 23, 25 and 26, Augusta County, Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Doetzer, State Conservationist, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 
209, Richmond, Virginia 23229. Telephone (804) 287-1691, 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, Denise Doetzer, 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 improvement include upgrading three existing floodwater 
retarding structures.
    The Notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact [FONSI] has been 
forwarded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and to various 
Federal, State, and local agencies and interested 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 Denise Doetzer 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.

M. Denise Doetzer,
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].

Introduction

    The South River Watershed Rehabilitation Project 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 
supplemental 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, 
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 209, Richmond, Virginia 23229-5014.

Recommended Action

    This document describes a plan for upgrading three existing 
floodwater retarding structures, South River Watershed Dams Numbers 23, 
25 and 26, to meet current dam design and safety criteria in the 
Commonwealth of Virginia. The plan calls for the widening and/or 
armoring of the auxiliary spillways, and raising the height of the top 
of each dam 4-5 feet through the construction of parapet walls. Works 
of improvement will be accomplished by providing financial and 
technical assistance through an eligible local sponsor.
    The principal project measures are to:
    1. Raise the top of each dam 4-5 feet by installing a concrete 
parapet wall on the upstream side of the dam crest. The auxiliary 
spillways will be widened and/or armored with articulated concrete 
blocks. These are the major structural components of the project. There 
are a number of smaller improvements such as elevating and lengthening 
the training dikes, cleaning the dam toe drains, replacing the square 
risers with rectangular risers, removing trees from the abutments, and 
improving the access road.
    2. The measures will be planned and installed by developing a 
project agreement with the current operator of the dam.

Effects of Recommended Action

    Making the proposed improvements will bring these three South River 
Watershed Dams into compliance with current dam design and safety 
criteria. This will essentially eliminate the risk to loss of life for 
individuals in 191 homes, 10 commercial buildings, 2 churches, 3 major 
roads and 13 residential roads downstream. The daily traffic counts for 
the three major roads total about 3,700 vehicles. Additional 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. 
About 3.75 acres of wetland and

[[Page 53777]]

wetland type wildlife habitat will be preserved. Fishery habitats will 
also be maintained.
    No endangered or threatened plant or animal species will be 
impacted by the project.
    There are no wilderness areas in the watershed.
    There are no planned mitigation requirements for the project.
    No significant adverse environmental impacts will result from the 
dam rehabilitation measures except for minor inconveniences to local 
residents during construction.

Alternatives

    Six 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 and Public Participation

    Original sponsoring organizations include the Augusta County Board 
of Supervisors, the City of Waynesboro, and the Headwaters Soil and 
Water Conservation District. At the initiation of the planning process, 
meetings were held with representatives of the original sponsoring 
organizations to ascertain their interest and concerns regarding the 
South River Watershed. The Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation 
District agreed to serve as ``lead sponsor'' being responsible for 
leading the planning process with assistance from 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.
    An Interdisciplinary Planning Team provided planning assistance for 
this project. Planning guidelines included the NRCS nine-step planning 
process and planning procedures outlined in the NRCS National Watershed 
Manual. Examples of tasks completed by the Planning Team include, but 
are not limited to, preliminary investigations, hydrologic analyses, 
reservoir sedimentation surveys, economic analyses, formulating and 
evaluating alternatives, and writing the Supplemental Watershed Plan--
Environmental Assessment. Data collected from partner agencies, 
databases, landowners, and others throughout the entire planning 
process were evaluated at Planning Team meetings. Informal discussions 
amongst Planning Team members, partner agencies, and landowners were 
conducted throughout the entire planning period.
    A scoping meeting was held on February 13, 2004 to identify issues 
of economic, environmental, cultural, and social concerns in the 
watershed. Representatives from the Virginia Department of Conservation 
and Recreation's Division of Dam Safety and Floodplain Management and 
the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, the Virginia Department of 
Emergency Management, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the 
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Department 
of Forestry, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the 
Augusta County Board of Supervisors, the City of Waynesboro, the 
Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District, the U.S. Forest 
Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the USDA Natural 
Resources Conservation Service participated in the meeting.
    A public meeting was held on October 30, 2003 to explain the Small 
Watershed Rehabilitation Program and to scope resource problems, 
issues, and concerns of local residents associated with the South River 
Watershed. Potential alternative solutions to bring the South River 
Watershed Dams into compliance with current dam design and safety 
criteria were also presented. Meeting participants provided input on 
issues and concerns to be considered in the planning process. A fact 
sheet was distributed which addressed frequently asked questions 
regarding the South River Watershed Dams.
    A second public meeting was held on March 9, 2004 to discuss the 
need for landowner permission to access the property during the 
planning process.
    A third public meeting was held on April 12, 2005 to summarize 
planning accomplishments, convey results of the reservoir sedimentation 
surveys, and present various structural alternatives. The selected 
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, based on the above 
findings, I have determined that an environmental impact statement for 
the recommended plan of action on South River Watershed Dams Numbers 
23, 25 and 26 is not required.


M. Denise Doetzer,
State Conservationist.

[FR Doc. 05-17967 Filed 9-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P