FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT For MISSISSIPPI DRIVE (IOWA 92) FROM MAIN STREET TO NORBERT F. BECKEY BRIDGE IN MUSCATINE, MUSCATINE COUNTY, IOWA STP-U-5330(614)--27-70 The FHWA has determined that this project will not have any significant impact on the human and natural environment. This Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is based on the attached Environmental Assessment which has been 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. It provides 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 attached Environmental Assessment. Date For FHWA Mississippi Drive (Iowa 92) From Main Street to Norbert F. Beckey Bridge STP-U-5330(614)--27-70 Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa Finding of No Significant Impact DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION The proposed action consists of upgrading Mississippi Drive (Iowa Highway 92) through downtown Muscatine, Iowa. The Mississippi Drive Corridor Project begins south of the Main Street/Grandview Avenue intersection, continuing to the East 2nd Street/Norbert F. Beckey Bridge intersection, which marks the end of the project. It passes through a mix of commercial, residential, Central Business District and industrial land uses. The total length of the project is approximately 1.6 miles, including 19 intersections (6 with traffic signals). The current roadway is a 3- to 4-lane, urban facility with both divided and undivided medians. The roadway, ranging from 40 to 64 feet wide, is considered difficult to cross for pedestrians, especially for small children or elderly. The width of this roadway is being considered to be narrowed to improve the accessibility to the downtown from the Mississippi River riverfront area by pedestrians. This project also includes accommodations for bicycles and pedestrians and measures to reduce flooding on the roadway. NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AVAILABILITY Notification of the availability of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Section 4(f) Statement was forwarded to local, state and federal agencies on September 21, 2015. Notice for availability of the EA and Draft Section 4(f) Statement was published on September 19, 2015, in the Muscatine Journal newspaper. Advertisement of the public hearing was published in the Muscatine Journal newspaper on October 2, 2015. Availability of the EA and Draft Section 4(f) Statement was included on the city of Muscatine website at: http://ia-muscatine.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/12644. PUBLIC HEARING SUMMARY AND COMMENT PERIOD A Public Hearing was held for this project on October 15, 2015, in Muscatine, Iowa. There were approximately 17 persons present at the October 15, 2015, Public Hearing held as part of the Muscatine City Council meeting. Displays of the EA graphics, including the Preferred Alternative, were available for viewing, along with copies of the EA and Draft Section 4(f) Statement. The hearing included a presentation to the Mayor, City Council, and members of the public. Following the formal presentation, attendees were offered the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns. One question was asked following the formal presentation by a member of the City Council. No other questions or comments were made by those attending the hearing. There were no comment letters left during the hearing, nor were any received following the hearing. The closing date for comments on the Public Hearing, EA and Draft Section 4(f) was November 2, 2015. A transcript of the hearing has been prepared and forwarded to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The transcript, which is a separate written document, is 1 Mississippi Drive (Iowa 92) From Main Street to Norbert F. Beckey Bridge STP-U-5330(614)--27-70 Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa Finding of No Significant Impact available to anyone by request through the Iowa DOT Office of Location and Environment, Public Hearing Section. AGENCY COMMENTS Four agencies responded to the EA and Draft Section 4(f) Statement notification and distribution. Letters from the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources appear in Appendix A of this Finding of No Significant Impact. Responses to these agency comments are shown in Table 1 below. TABLE 1 SUMMARY OF AGENCY COMMENTS Date Agency and Comment Response Iowa Department of Natural Resources No site-specific records found. 10/2/15 If listed species are encountered in future phases, No Response Necessary additional studies and/or mitigation may be required. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Two Civil Works projects are located in the project area -- The Mississippi Drive bridge over Mad Creek will not Mad Creek and Muscatine Island Levee Flood Damage be replaced or upgraded as part of this project, and Reduction Systems -- and impacts from the Mississippi therefore no impact to the Mad Creek FDRS is 10/22/15 Drive project could occur. anticipated. Any Mississippi Drive work that alters these civil projects If project plans change, coordination with the Corps would require a Section 408 approval from the Corps. will be done to ensure all requirements are met. U.S. Department of Interior – Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance 10/26/15 Stated that the impacts to resources of concern to the No Response Necessary Department have been adequately addressed. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Recommends coordination with Iowa DNR to determine The former Beach Lumber Company (Carver where soils might be contaminated prior to finalizing this Riverfront Real Estate, Inc.) at 1030 Hershey document. Avenue was evaluated during the City of Muscatine’s EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant in 2010. Recognized Environmental Conditions were identified due to the historical use as a lumber yard dating back nearly a century. An Environmental Covenant is currently in-place between the Carver Pump Company property at 1056 Hershey and the Carver Riverfront Real Estate Property at 1030 Hershey. The 1056 Hershey Property experienced 10/29/15 a leak from an underground storage tank on the property. The leak was investigated, an environmental covenant was enacted on both properties, and the site received a letter of no further action from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Based on this information, every effort will be made to avoid this area during construction. If avoidance is not practical, the construction specifications will include language for the proper handling and disposal of the contaminated soils. In addition, language will also be included to make the contractor aware of possible contamination in the 2 Mississippi Drive (Iowa 92) From Main Street to Norbert F. Beckey Bridge STP-U-5330(614)--27-70 Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa Finding of No Significant Impact Date Agency and Comment Response area, provide worker safety precautions, and it will be noted if suspected contamination is found, to notify an environmental professional for assistance. Recommends avoidance or mitigation of the Slender Habitat for the Slender Dayflower will not be Dayflower (Commenlina erecta). impacted by the project. Recommends wildflower/bio-retention cells for pollinators The type of landscaping and water management and plantings of Slender Dayflower in coordination with systems will be determined during final design but Iowa DNR and USFWS. will try to incorporate comments from EPA and the public. BASIS FOR FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) This FONSI documents compliance with NEPA and all other applicable environmental laws, Executive Orders and related requirements. SPECIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH LOCATION APPROVAL Relocation Assistance Iowa DOT will provide more information about actual displacements during the final design process. Any displacements and other land acquisitions will be made in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended. Historic Documentation and Vibration Monitoring Due to the unavoidable impact to the TeStrake (Puritan Ice) Building, recordation of the building will be necessary. The recordation will be in the form of a historic property study booklet that can be viewed by the public once complete. The requirements and stipulations of the recordation are described in the Memorandum of Agreement in the attached Final Section 4(f) Statement. During final design, the city will monitor vibration levels in historic structures along Mississippi Drive. Details of which buildings are to be monitored, as well as other specifications, are shown in the Memorandum of Agreement attached in the Final Section 4(f) Statement. Permitting and Approvals Construction of the project will involve routine permitting. A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit will be obtained during final design of the project. L:\work\project\60190935\500_Submittals\501_REPORTS\US 218 Bremer - FONSI\US218 Bremer FONSI.doc 3 Appendix A Agency Comment Letters United States Department of the Interior OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance Denver Federal Center, Building 67, Room 118 Post Office Box 25007 (D-108) Denver, Colorado 80225-0007 October 26, 2015 9043.1 ER 15/525 Ms. Karen Bobo Iowa Division Administrator Federal