[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 107 (Monday, June 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32302-32304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8591]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Choccolocco Creek Multipurpose Dam No. 11, Calhoun County, AL

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a finding of no significant impact.

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[[Page 32303]]

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 
Choccolocco Creek Multipurpose Dam No. 11, Calhoun County, Alabama.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Aycock, Hydraulic Engineer, USDA 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 3381 Skyway Drive, Auburn, 
Alabama 36830, Telephone [334] 887-4525, 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, Gary Kobylski, 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 municipal water supply and flood 
prevention. The planned works of improvement include upgrading an 
existing municipal water supply, flood-prevention dam.
    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 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 Ken Aycock 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.

    Signed in Auburn, Alabama, on May 22, 2006.
Gary Kobylski,
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 Choccolocco Creek Watershed 
Multipurpose Dam No. 11, Calhoun County, Alabama

May 22, 2006.

Introduction

    The Choccolocco Creek 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, 3381 Skyway Drive, Auburn, Alabama 36830.

Recommended Action

    This document describes a plan for upgrading an existing municipal 
water supply, and flood-prevention structure, Choccolocco Creek 
Watershed Multipurpose Dam No. 11 [MPD No. 11], to meet current dam 
safety criteria for a high-hazard dam. The plan calls for raising the 
dam with a concrete parapet wall, raising/reinforcing the auxiliary 
spillway, and reinforcing downstream toe of dam. Works of improvement 
will be accomplished by providing financial and technical assistance 
through the Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Anniston, 
Alabama.
    The principal project measures are to:
    1. Construct a concrete parapet wall on top of the existing earth 
embankment to increase height of dam 5 feet and store flood water from 
the probable maximum precipitation rainfall event.
    2. Raise the auxiliary spillway 0.5 feet and reinforcing the 
surface utilizing turf reinforcement.
    3. Reinforce the downstream toe of dam using grouted riprap.
    The measures will be planned and installed by developing a contract 
with the current operator of the dam.

Effects of Recommended Action

    Installing these measures will bring MPD No. 11 into compliance 
with current dam safety criteria for a high-hazard dam. This will 
essentially eliminate the risk to loss of life for individuals in 21 
homes, 1 water treatment plant, 1 mile of roadway, and 2 bridges. 
Additional effects will include retention of the municipal water supply 
and continued protection against flooding, water quality benefits, 
fishing activities, recreational opportunities, protected land values, 
protected road and utility networks, and reduced maintenance costs for 
public infrastructure.
    Wildlife habitat will be minimally disturbed during installation 
activities since most construction activity will occur on the dam and 
spillway which are covered in grass. No wetlands, wildlife habitat, 
fisheries, prime farmland, or cultural resources will be destroyed or 
threatened by this project. The disturbance of soil from dam 
modification activities will temporarily impact a 0.5 acre wetland. The 
175-acre lake area and the beneficial characteristics it provides to 
the environment (pollutant filtration, ecological diversity, wildlife 
habitat, etc.) will be maintained. 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.

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 and maintaining the municipal 
water supply.

Consultation--Public Participation

    Original sponsoring organizations include the Water Works and Sewer 
Board of the City of Anniston, Alabama; Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, and 
Talladega County Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Calhoun, Clay, 
Cleburne, and Talladega County Commissions; and the Choccolocco Creek 
Watershed Conservancy 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 Choccolocco Creek Watershed. The Water Works and Sewer 
Board of the City of Anniston, Alabama, 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.
    An Interdisciplinary Planning Team provided for the ``technical''

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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 presented at the public 
meeting on June 28, 2005. Informal discussions amongst planning team 
members, partner agencies, and landowners were conducted throughout the 
entire planning period.

Public Participation

    A public meeting was held on June 28, 2005 to explain the Small 
Watershed Rehabilitation Program and to scope resource problems, 
issues, and concerns of local residents associated with the MPD No. 11 
project area. Potential alternative solutions to bring MPD No. 11 into 
compliance with current dam safety criteria for a high-hazard dam were 
also presented. Twenty-one meeting participants heard summaries of 
planning accomplishments to date, provided input on issues and concerns 
to be considered in the planning process, and identified which planning 
alternative [i.e. No Action, Decommission, Structural, Non-Structural] 
was most desirable.

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 Choccolocco Creek Watershed MPD No. 
11 is not required.

    Dated: May 22, 2006.
Gary Kobylski,
State Conservationist.
 [FR Doc. E6-8591 Filed 6-2-06; 8:45 am]
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