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Notice of Availability; Final Environmental Impact Statement
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: August 21, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 161)]
[Notices]
[Page 48531-48532]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au06-39]
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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