[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 161 (Monday, August 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48531-48532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13751]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Notice of Availability; Final Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has prepared 
a Final Environmental Impact Statement consistent with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, to disclose potential 
effects to the human environment resulting from proposed flood-control 
improvements to Coal Creek in Cedar City, Utah.
    The section of Coal Creek that traverses Cedar City, Utah, has 
channel stability and capacity deficiencies that pose a threat to 
existing infrastructure and development due to flooding. The NRCS 
proposes to modify the Coal Creek channel to safely convey floodwaters 
from a 100-year flood event. Also as part of this project, Cedar City 
proposes to improve and expand an existing parkway along Coal Creek to 
enhance aesthetic values and provide recreational opportunities for 
community residents and visitors.
    The Final EIS presents detailed analyses for three alternatives. 
Alternative A--No Action, would continue the frequency and level of 
dredging and other management actions as they are currently planned. 
Existing channel and structural deficiencies would not be corrected. 
Recreational opportunities associated with the creek would remain as 
they currently exist.
    Because of the purpose and need of the project, several proposed 
elements are common to both of the action alternatives (Alternatives B 
and C). Both action alternatives include modifying channel cross 
sections, altering the stream gradient in particular sub-reaches, 
stabilizing actively eroding banks, and constructing levees. Bank 
stabilization would be accomplished by laying the river banks back to a 
stable slope that supports channel stabilization methods and then 
armoring the banks via the use of rock (riprap), vegetation, soil 
cement, erosion control fabric, or some combination of these items. 
Existing riparian habitat and vegetation would be preserved on the 
streambanks, where possible. It is anticipated that both sides of the 
channel would be armored with riprap through the suburban corridor from 
Center Street to I-15 to prevent bank erosion from high stream 
velocities during flood events. Elements unique to each action 
alternative are listed below.
    Alternative B--Relocate Main Street Diversion, would remove the 
Main Street diversion/drop structure currently in use and relocate it 
to near 200 East. Implementation of this alternative would require 
approximately 3,550 feet of pipeline to be installed, flood and slope/
grading-related channel modifications from Center Street to I-15, and 
the continuation of periodic dredging as necessary. A sedimentation 
basin would be constructed to remove gravels from diverted irrigation 
water. The Woodbury diversion/drop structure would be reconstructed. 
Under this alternative, the parkway would be extended west to Airport 
Road and landscaped. Parkway Option B1 proposes a crosswalk at the Main 
Street Bridge. Parkway Option B2 proposes to access existing sidewalks 
from the pedestrian bridge at 400 North to cross Main Street and avoid 
additional property acquisition.
    Alternative C--Replace Main Street Diversion, would replace the 
Main Street diversion/drop structure by constructing a new structure 
that would have approximately half the drop. Implementation of this 
alternative would require the installation of

[[Page 48532]]

approximately 4,900 feet of pipeline, flood and slope/grading-related 
channel modifications from Center Street to west of I-15, and the 
continuation of periodic dredging as necessary. Two sedimentation 
basins would be constructed to remove gravels from diverted irrigation 
water. Additionally, the Woodbury diversion/drop structure would be 
reconstructed to allow for the safe passage of floodwaters. Under this 
alternative, the parkway would be extended to Airport Road and 
landscaped. In addition, a historic pedestrian truss bridge would be 
removed to prevent channel constriction and potential flooding. Parkway 
Option C1 would construct an elevated pedestrian pathway under the Main 
Street Bridge. Parkway Option C2 would construct a large box culvert 
for pedestrian use just north of the bridge and under Main Street.
    In response to public comment on the Draft EIS and to alleviate 
localized flooding tied to Coal Creek discharge levels, an additional 
option (the North Field Canal Option) was analyzed in the Final EIS. 
Under Alternative C, this option would construct a subgrade pipeline 
for several hundred feet along the southern portion of the North West 
Field Canal. It would traverse undeveloped city-owned property west of 
the Cedar City Cemetery, and follow the North Field Canal corridor from 
a point just south of 900 North Street to 1045 North Street. Water 
would be piped east and west along 1045 North Street to both the Union 
Field and Northwest Field Canals.
    As required by the NRCS for water projects, the National Economic 
Development (NED) benefit-cost process was used to determine benefit-
cost ratios for each alternative. All of the action Alternative/Option 
combinations have a benefit-cost ratio of 1.9:1 and are all considered 
viable NED Alternatives. The sole exception to this is Alternative C 
when coupled with Parkway Option C2 and the North Field Canal Option, 
which has a benefit-cost ratio of 1.8:1. This indicates that the costs 
and benefits of all of the alternatives are relatively consistent.
    Under CEQ regulations and the NRCS National Environmental 
Compliance Handbook, Section 610.38--Distribution and Publication of 
Environmental Documents, a Record of Decision (ROD) cannot be prepared 
until the Final EIS has been available to the public for at least 30 
days. Comments will be accepted on the FEIS during this period. 
Following this review period, notice of the ROD's availability will be 
published in the Federal Register.
    Effective Date: September 1, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marnie Wilson, Coal Creek EIS, USDA--
NRCS, Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 South State Street, Room 
4402, Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1100. Project information is also 
available on the Internet at: http://www.ut.nrcs.usda.gov under Public 
Notices.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Final EIS are available by 
request from Marnie Wilson at the address listed above. Basic data 
developed during the environmental evaluation are on file and may be 
reviewed by contacting Sylvia Gillen, Utah State Conservationist.

    Signed in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 11, 2006.
Sylvia A. Gillen,
State Conservationist.
 [FR Doc. E6-13751 Filed 8-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P