[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 105 (Thursday, June 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29738-29739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11646]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Gould Wash Flood Protection Project, Washington County, Utah

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Utah State 
Office announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Gould Wash Flood 
Protection Project within the Warner Draw Watershed in Washington 
County, Utah. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant 
issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS from all interested 
all interested individuals. The EIS process will examine existing flood 
control measures

[[Page 29739]]

and evaluate additional (new) alternatives identified during scoping.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by July 6, 2021. 
Comments received after this date will be considered to the extent 
possible.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit formal scoping comments. Comments 
may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected];
     Mail or hand delivery to: Ms. Bobbi Preite, McMillen 
Jacobs Associates, 1471 Shoreline Dr., Suite 100, Boise, ID 83702; or
     Telephone: (208) 985-1542.
    To be included on the EIS mailing list, please provide your contact 
information through any of the comment options above. Please note that 
any respondent's entire scoping comment, including their personal 
contact information, may be made publicly available at any time during 
the EIS process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Norm Evenstad; telephone: (801) 
524-4569; or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Purpose and Need

    The primary purpose for watershed planning and preparation of an 
EIS is flood prevention and flood damage reduction in Hurricane City, 
Utah. NRCS will provide technical assistance and financial support for 
the EIS process and the implementation of the selected alternative. 
Watershed planning was authorized under Public Law 83-566, the 
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954, as amended, and 
Public Law 78-534, the Flood Control Act of 1944.
    This action is needed because 50 percent of all the properties or 
portions of properties that adjoin Gould Wash through the town of 
Hurricane, Utah are flooded in any given year. Gould Wash has an 
uncontrolled drainage area of approximately 64.5 square miles. A total 
of 650 residences, 99 commercial businesses or offices, and 82 roads 
currently would be inundated during a 100-year flood. Flood control of 
Gould Wash is critical to prevent future flood damage and loss of 
property and life.
    Initial agency scoping of this federally assisted action indicates 
that proposed alternatives may have significant local and regional 
impacts to the environment. Norm Evenstad, State Conservationist, has 
determined that the preparation of an EIS is needed. This EIS will be 
prepared as required by section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and NRCS regulations that 
implement NEPA in 7 CFR part 650.
    Consultation with Tribal Nations and interested parties will be 
conducted as required by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 
(as amended through 1992) (16 U.S.C. 470f).

Description

    In efforts to control Gould Wash as it traverses through Hurricane 
City, various steps have been taken including hardening the stream 
banks to prevent erosion and straightening the channel to avoid private 
property and buildings. During small events these measures suffice in 
protecting property, however, during a 100-year flood event the channel 
is overtopped and flooding is widespread throughout Hurricane City. 
Watershed planning under the EIS will evaluate the effectiveness, 
environmental effects, and the socio-economic impacts of the original 
channelization efforts. The results of these analyses will provide the 
context for determining the environmental, economic, and social effects 
of considered alternatives for additional (new) flood prevention or 
flood damage reduction measures for the Gould Wash Flood Protection 
Project within the Warner Draw Watershed in Washington County, Utah. 
The focused planning area is 64.5 square miles.

Scoping Process

    NRCS invited all interested individuals and organizations, public 
agencies, and Tribes to comment on the scope of the EIS, including the 
project's purpose and need, alternatives proposed to date, new 
alternatives that should be considered, specific areas of study that 
might be needed, and evaluation methods to be used. One scoping meeting 
to present the project and develop the scope of the EIS was held on 
Tuesday, February 4, 2020, in the Bryce Canyon Room at the Hurricane 
Community Center in Hurricane, Utah. A presentation was conducted 
followed by a group question-and-answer period. Project team members 
were available for individual questions and discussions.

Alternatives

    The objective of the EIS is to formulate and evaluate alternatives 
for flood prevention or flood damage reduction in the Gould Wash 
channel through the Town of Hurricane City. Alternatives to be 
evaluated include the development of dam(s) in the Gould Wash 
headwaters and modifications of the channel through Hurricane City. The 
actions will require upland watershed treatments to reduce runoff, 
major rehabilitation of the channel through town and land use changes 
in the floodplain.
    Potential impacts include wetland and flood plain alteration. 
Permitting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding potential 
wetland impacts will be pursued prior to final design and construction. 
A draft EIS will be prepared and circulated for review and comment by 
agencies and the public per 40 CFR 1503.1, 1502.20, 1506.11, and 
1502.17, and 7 CFR 650.13. NRCS invites agencies and individuals who 
have special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or interest in the Gould 
Wash Watershed to participate and identify potential alternatives.

Federal Assistance Programs

    The title and number of the Federal assistance program in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance to which this NOFA applies: 
10.904 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention and is subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental 
consultation with State and local officials.

Emily Fife,
State Conservationist, Utah, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-11646 Filed 6-2-21; 8:45 am]
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