NCPC File No. 6657

THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM INSTALLATION OF A INTERCEPTOR SYSTEM (PHASE II – HICKEY RUN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT)

3501 New York Avenue, NE Washington, DC

Submitted by the United States Department of Agriculture

Delegated Action of the Executive Director

August 26, 2010

Pursuant to delegations of authority adopted by the Commission on October 3, 1996 and 40

U.S.C. § 8722(b)(1) and (d), I approve the preliminary and final site development plans for the

installation of a stormwater interceptor system as part of Phase II of the Hickey Run Stormwater

Management Project at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, DC, as shown on

NCPC Map File No. 52.00(38.00)43057.

* * *

The United States Department of Agriculture has requested preliminary and final approval of site development plans for the installation of a stormwater interceptor system in Hickey Run at the United States National Arboretum in Washington D.C. The proposed area is just south of an existing stormwater outfall culvert that exists under New York Avenue, NE, on the Arboretum property. The proposed project is Phase II of the Hickey Run Stormwater Management Project. Phase I entailed the construction of an access road and service gate to the stormwater interceptor location. The stormwater interceptor is a precast system designed in three parts to remove grit, floatable trash, and oil and grease from Hickey Run.

The project location, although adjacent to the historic brickyard area of the Arboretum, will not adversely impact the boundary of the brickyard structures or the concrete drive. In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Department of Agriculture has determined, and NCPC staff concurs, that the proposed project will not adversely affect historic properties. The District of Columbia State Historic Preservation Officer has reviewed the project and also concurs with the Department of Agriculture’s determination of no adverse affect.

Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was achieved through the master plan process that identified and discussed the improvements necessary at NCPC File No. 6657 Page 2

the Arboretum, completed in October 2000, in a Finding of No Significant Impact determination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. After further environmental review, the Department of Agriculture found that the project can be categorically excluded under its environmental regulations 7 CFR Part 520 and the “Agricultural Research Service Procedures for Applying NEPA Regulations to Construction Project,” dated June 14, 1989, for construction projects that are “Emergency actions to protect life, property, environment; to preserve human health and safety; and to comply with legal requirements”. Staff’s review of the current submission finds the proposed site improvements in conformance with the NCPC categorical exclusion criteria of §8(C)(21) of the Commission’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Policies and Procedures as an action minimally modifying the existing landscape.

The Coordinating Committee reviewed the proposal at its August 11, 2010 meeting and forwarded it to the Commission with the statement that the proposal has been coordinated with all participating agencies. The participating agencies were NCPC, the National Park Service, the General Services Administration, the District of Columbia Office of Planning, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

The Department of Agriculture has identified improved water quality initiatives in its National Arboretum master plan, and has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the District of Columbia Department of Health and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DCWASA) to undertake improvements to the stormwater measures. Staff believes that the project will appreciably improve the water quality of Hickey Run, provide substantial local improvement to the Arboretum environment, and notably adheres to the Commission’s environmental Comprehensive Plan goals to improve the watershed.

______Marcel C. Acosta Executive Director