Quincy Furnace Brook EA
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Final Environmental Assessment Miller Street, Cross Street and Furnace Avenue Area Flood Control and Furnace Brook Restoration Project Quincy, Norfolk County, MA HMGP 4051-51 October 26, 2020 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 1 99 High Street, Sixth Floor Boston, MA 02110 Prepared by: This Environmental Assessment was prepared as a collaborative effort between the following parties: City of Quincy, MA Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Woodward & Curran Consulting LEC Environmental Consultants, Inc. and FEMA Region 1 Staff: David Robbins, Region 1 Environmental Officer Mary Shanks, Region 1 Deputy Environmental Officer Eric Kuns, Senior Environmental Protection Specialist Kathryn Emmitt-Peabody, Environmental Protection Specialist Kimberly De Muro, Environmental Protection Specialist Linda Hutchins, Environmental Protection Specialist Josh Helms, Environmental Protection Specialist Cover photo by David Robbins, FEMA. 2019 2 Final Environmental Assessment – Quincy Furnace Brook, October 26, 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 3 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 6 2.0 PURPOSE AND NEED ....................................................................................................................................... 6 3.0 PROJECT LOCATION AND BACKGROUND ................................................................................................. 6 4.0 ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................................................ 7 4.1 ALTERNATIVE 1: NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ................................................................................................... 7 4.2 ALTERNATIVE 2: PROPOSED ACTION ALTERNATIVE - MILLER ST., CROSS ST. AND FURNACE AVE. FLOOD CONTROL AND FURNACE BROOK RESTORATION .............................................................................................. 7 4.3 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND DISMISSED ................................................................................................. 9 4.3.1 Dismissed Alternative 1 ......................................................................................................................... 9 4.3.2 Dismissed Alternative 2 ......................................................................................................................... 9 4.3.3 Dismissed Alternative 3 ......................................................................................................................... 9 4.3.4 Dismissed Alternative 4 ......................................................................................................................... 9 4.3.5 Dismissed Alternative 5 ......................................................................................................................... 9 4.4 EFFECT EVALUATION ..................................................................................................................................... 10 5.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND POTENTIAL EFFECTS ....................................................................... 11 5.1 PHYSICAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................ 11 5.1.1 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................................ 11 5.2 WATER RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................. 12 5.2.1 Water Quality ....................................................................................................................................... 12 5.2.2 Floodplains .......................................................................................................................................... 13 5.2.3 Wetlands .............................................................................................................................................. 14 5.3 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................... 15 5.3.1 Wildlife and Fish .................................................................................................................................. 15 5.3.1 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................ 16 5.3.2 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................................... 17 5.4 CULTURAL RESOURCES .......................................................................................................................... 18 5.4.1 Identification of APE, Cultural Resources, and Consultation Process ................................................ 18 5.4.2 Historic (Standing) Structures ............................................................................................................. 19 5.4.3 Archaeological Resources ................................................................................................................... 20 5.5 SOCIOECONOMIC RESOURCES .............................................................................................................. 21 5.5.1 Public Services and Utilities ................................................................................................................ 21 5.5.2 Public Health and Safety ..................................................................................................................... 21 5.5.1 Environmental Justice .......................................................................................................................... 22 6.0 PERMITS AND PROJECT CONDITIONS ...................................................................................................... 23 7.0 AGENCY COORDINATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ..................................................................... 24 8.0 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................................. 24 9.0 COMMENTS/RESPONSE ................................................................................................................................ 25 3 Final Environmental Assessment – Quincy Furnace Brook, October 26, 2020 APPENDICES APPENDIX A: Figure 1: Locus Map (Aerial) Figure 2: USGS Map Figure 3: FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map Figure 4: Drainage Area Map, prepared by Woodard & Curran Figure 5: Existing 25-year Flood Delineation, prepared by Woodard & Curran APPENDIX B: Supporting Graphics Graphic 1: Project Overview (Figure 1A and Figure 1B), prepared by Woodard & Curran Graphic 2: Photographic Documentation APPENDIX C: Supporting Documents Document A – 8-Step Decision Making Document 4 Final Environmental Assessment – Quincy Furnace Brook, October 26, 2020 LIST OF ACRONYMS APE – Area of Potential Effect ASAPP - Archaeological Site Avoidance and Protection Plan CEQ - Council on Environmental Quality C.F.R. – Code of Federal Regulations CWA - Clean Water Act EO - Executive Order EPA – Environmental Protection Agency ESA – Endangered Species Act FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency FONSI – Finding of No Significant Impact HMGP - Hazard Mitigation Grant Program MACRIS - Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System MassDEP - Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection MEMA - Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act NHPA – National Historic Preservation Act NPDES - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NRHP – National Register of Historic Places PAL - Public Archaeology Lab, Inc. SHPO – State Historic Preservation Office USACE - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USFWS - United States Fish and Wildlife Service 5 Final Environmental Assessment – Quincy Furnace Brook, October 26, 2020 1.0 INTRODUCTION The President declared a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) on January 6, 2012 for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a result of a severe winter storm and snowstorm that occurred from October 29-30. This declaration, designated FEMA-4051-DR-MA, authorized the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) statewide. Under the HMGP, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide financial assistance for state, local, and tribal governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to implement hazard mitigation measures that are cost effective and substantially reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by the major disaster. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the recipient under the HMGP, responsible for submitting HMGP applications