Finding of No Significant Impact Duportail Street
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Federal Highway Administration FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT for DUPORTAIL STREET BRIDGE BENTON COUNTY, WASHINGTON Issued Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332 (2)(c) and 23 U.S.C. 128 (a) This action complies with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, and Executive Order 12898, Environmental Justice. The Duportail Street project will construct a new four-lane bridge and a pedestrian/ bicycle path on the upriver side of the bridge. The project will also extend Tanglewood Drive eastward approximately 700 feet east and 1, 700 feet west of Duportail Street. Sidewalks will be installed where necessary to create a seamless pedestrian network in the project area. It will upgrade the intersection of Duportail Street and SR 240, install a signal at the intersection of Duportail Street and Tanglewood Drive, and build new access to Tanglewood Drive from properties south of Duportail Street. The existing water main, which crosses the Yakima River at this location, will be replaced with a water main onto the new bridge. The parking lot for the existing boat launch will be reconfigured and one nature trail will be designated. The Federal Highway Administration (FHW A) has determined that this proposal to construct a· bridge will have no significant impact on the human or natural environment. This Finding of no Significant Impact (FONSI) is based on the February 2013 Environmental Assessment. The environmental assessment was independently evaluated by the FHWA and determined to adequately and accurately discuss the need, environmental issues, impacts of the proposed project, and appropriate mitigation measures. The environmental assessment was released for public comments on March 3, 2013 and a public hearing was held on March 21, 2013. The public notice is included in Attachment A, and the distribution list for this notice is included in Attachment B. There were 28 comments submitted using the forms at the hearing, court recorder, and most popularly the online form. Less than half of the comments expressed opposition to the project. The remaining comments were evenly split between support for the project.and questions or concerns. The main question topics were the riparian area impacts and mitigation, the bicycle/pedestrian pathway and sidewalks, and traffic management in the neighborhood north of the project. Opposition comments were generally from nearby residents or those concerned about the cost of the project. The comments and a response matrix are included as Attachment C. A biological assessment was prepared to evaluate project effects on species protected under the Endangered Species Act. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) submitted a biological opinion dated October 10, 2012 determining that the project "may affect, is likely to adversely affect" Middle Columbia River steelhead and their designated critical habitat. NMFS determined that effects from the project will not jeopardize the continued existence of the species. Reasonable and prudent measures to minimize incidental take have been incorporated into the project. The effect determination of"may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect" was made in the biological assessment for bull trout and their designated critical habitat. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service submitted a letter dated July 2, 2012 concurring with the effects determination since the project related effects are considered discountable. The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) has reviewed the documentation on cultural resources in conformance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (as amended) and its implementing regulations 36 CFR 800. The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation concurred with WSDOT's determination that the project will have "no adverse effect" on historic properties per their letter dated June 3, 2010. FHW A has determined that with the proposed mitigation, the project's uses of Section 4(t) resources are de minimis and therefore no Section 4(t) evaluation is required. The US Army Corp of Engineers concurred with the FHWA de minimis determination for the use of property under their jurisdiction on April 26, 2011. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife concurred on February 24, 2012 that the project's use ofthe public boat launch will be de minimis. On June 3, 2010, DAHP determined that the project will have no adverse effect on the Columbia Irrigation District Canal. The Richland Parks Department concurred on December 21, 2012 that the project will have a de minimis use of the By-Pass Shelterbelt Park property. The EA, along with the comment response matrix included in this FONSI provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. The FHWA takes full responsibility for the accuracy, scope and content of the Environmental Assessment. Date of Approval Liana Liu, P.E., P.T.O.E. Area Engineer Federal Highway Administration Washington Division The following persons may be contacted for more information concerning this document: Liana Liu, P.E., P.T.O.E. Kathleen B. Davis Pete Rogalsky, P.E. Area Engineer Director, Public Works Director Federal Highway Administration Highways and Local Programs City of Richland Washington Division Washington State Department ofTransportation 840 Northgate Drive 7I I S. Capitol Way, Suite 50 I P.O. Box 4733 I Richland, WA 99352 Olympia, WA 9850I Olympia, WA 98504-7331 (360) 753-9553 (360) 705-7871 (509) 942-7500 Duportail Street Bridge Project PUBLIC NOTICE Draft Environmental Assessment This project is to construct a new four-lane bridge with a pedestrian/bicycle path across the Yakima River. It will also extend Tanglewood Drive to the north and south of Duportail Street, add a traffic signal at the intersection of Duportail Street and Tanglewood Drive, upgrade the intersection of Duportail Street and SR 240, and replace a water pipeline currently located in the Yakima River onto the new bridge. A new access road will connect the south extension of Tanglewood Drive to several properties south of the Shoreline Village Apartments. The City of Richland has developed a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for this project under direction from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). This EA will be used to determine whether a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be issued under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), or if greater environmental review is needed in the form of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The City also intends to use this evaluation to make a determination under the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA). In addition, this EA addresses the Section 4(f) de minimis determination for the impact to the USACE Property, WDFW Boat Launch and Parking, Columbia Irrigation District Canal, and By-Pass Shelterbelt Park. Printed copies of the EA are available at the Richland Public Library and City Hall. A PDF version can be found on the City of Richland’s website, at: http://www.ci.richland.wa.us/duportailbridge. Paper copies are available for the cost of printing. A public hearing to review the project and EA will be held on March 21, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the City of Richland’s City Shops, located at 2700 Duportail Street, Building 100. The comment period ends on April 3, 2013. Written comments are due by the close of business on this date. They may be submitted at the public hearing, online at http://www.ci.richland.wa.us/duportailbridge, or mailed to the City of Richland Public Works, Attn: Jeff Peters, P.O. 190, MS 26, Richland, WA 99352. For more information, please contact: Jeff Peters, P.E. Transportation and Development Manager E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (509) 942-7500 Por favor llame al (509) 942-7500 para más información o para solicitar este documento en español. Proposed Duportail Bridge - Looking South Proposed Duportail Bridge - Looking North Title VI Statement The City of Richland assures that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Civil Rights Restoration act of 1987 (P.L.100.259), be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity. The City of Richland further assures every effort will be made to ensure non discrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether those programs and activities are federally funded or not. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information If you would like copies of this document in an alternative format -- Large print, braille, cassette tape, or on computer disk, please call (509) 942-7385. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing please call the Washington State telecommunications Relay Services or Tele-Braille at 7-1-1, Voice 1-800-833-6384, and asked to be connected to (509) 942-7385. Recipients Distribution Public Notice or Document EIS Review Coordinator USEPA Region 10 1 paper 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, ETPA‐088 Seattle, WA 98101 Environmental Review USEPA, WA Operations Office electronic Mailed Notice 300 Desmond Dr., Suite 102 Lacey, WA 98503 FHWA WA Division Liana Liu, P.E., P.T.O.E. 1 paper copy 711 S. Capitol Way, Suite 501 Olympia, WA 98501‐0943 FHWA WA Division Environmental Program Manager 1 paper copy 711 Capitol Way, Suite 501 Olympia, WA 98501‐0943 US Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District Regulatory Branch electronic Mailed Notice PO Box 3755 Seattle, WA 98124‐3755 US Army Corps of Engineers Real Estate Division Walla Walla District 1 paper, 5 CD copies, 201 N Third Avenue Walla Walla, WA 99362‐1876 NW Regional NEPA Coordinator NOAA/NMFS email document or link to Emailed Document 7600 Sandy Point Way NE, Bldg 1 [email protected] Seattle, WA 98115 US Fish and Wildlife Service Western WA Fish and Wildlife Office 1 paper with optional CD 510 Desmond Dr.