Job Number 040778 Tier 3 Categorical Exclusion Page 1 of 2 The Environmental Division reviewed the referenced project and has determined it falls within the definition of the Tier 3 Categorical Exclusion as defined by the ARDOT/FHWA Memorandum of Agreement on the processing of Categorical Exclusions. The following information is included for your review and, if acceptable, approval as the environmental documentation for this project. The purpose of this project is to replace the Onion Creek Bridge (M2569) on Highway 252 with a box culvert just north of Beverly in Sebastian County, Arkansas. Total length of the project is 0.28 mile. A project location map is attached. The existing roadway consists of two 10’ wide paved travel lanes with 2’ wide unpaved shoulders. Proposed improvements include two 11’ wide paved travel lanes with 2’ wide paved shoulders. Up to 17.1 acres of right of way may be required for this project. Of this acreage, 11.1 acres is Prime Farmland and 1.1 acres of Farmland of Statewide Importance. Form NRCS-CPA-106 is attached. Design data for this project is as follows: Design Average Daily Percent Design Speed Year Traffic Trucks 2020 150 6 55 mph 2040 200 6 55 mph The project will not involve relocations, underground storage tanks, hazardous materials, wellhead protection areas/public water supplies, any environmental justice issues, or cultural resources. The State Historic Preservation Officer’s clearance is attached. The project will replace the existing bridge with a concrete box culvert. Wetlands are located within the footprint of the proposed project and impacts are estimated not to exceed 0.5 acre. North of the existing bridge, Onion Creek parallels both sides of Highway 252. Onion Creek is classified as a perennial stream and impacts should not exceed 0.3 acres. Stream realignment should not exceed 460 linear feet. Construction should be allowed under the terms of a Nationwide Permit 23 for Categorical Exclusions as defined in the Federal Register 82 (4): 1860 – 2008. Compensatory mitigation will be provided for unavoidable stream and wetland impacts. The official species list obtained through the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Information for Planning and Consultation website lists the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), Job Number 040778 Tier 3 Categorical Exclusion Page 2 of 2 Spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta), American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus), rattlesnake-master borer moth (Papaipema eryngii), and Geocarpon minimimum as protected species potentially affected by the proposed project. Based on the lack of habitat, scope of the project, and distance to known species it is our determination that the proposed project will have “no effect” on the Piping Plover, Spectaclecase, rattlesnake-master borer moth, and Geocarpon minimum. Based on the lack of habitat and distance to known species it is our determination that the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the American burying beetle. The proposed action is within the scope of the Programmatic Biological Opinion for Transportation Projects within the Range of the Indiana Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat (PBO) including the following avoidance and minimization measure: the clearing of trees will be prohibited April 1 through November 15. The Action may affect the northern long-eared bat; however, any take that may occur as a result of the Action is not prohibited under the Endangered Species Act Section 4(d) rule. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service concurrence was received on September 4, 2019. Sebastian County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. The project is located in Zone A, Special Flood Hazard Area. The final project design will be reviewed to confirm that the design is adequate and that the potential risk to life and property are minimized. Adjacent properties should not be impacted nor have a greater flood risk than existed before project construction. None of the encroachments will constitute a substantial floodplain encroachment or a risk to property or life. This project has been determined to generate minimal air quality impacts for Clean Air Act criteria pollutants and has not been linked with any special mobile source air toxic (MSAT) concerns. As such, this project will not result in changes in traffic volumes, vehicle mix, basic project location, or any other factor that would cause a meaningful increase in MSAT impacts of the project from that of the no-build alternative. Based on the ARDOT noise policy, a noise analysis is not required for this project. The replacement of the bridge with a box culvert on existing location will not involve added capacity or expose noise sensitive land uses to a new traffic noise source. In compliance with federal guidelines, local authorities will not require notification. No other adverse environmental impacts were identified. No public involvement will be needed for the project. The checklist used to verify consideration of potential environmental impacts is attached. White Ln E Tate Ln Tate Rd ek e r C 2 1 7 y e k r u T 2 5 2 O n io n C reek Str. #M2569 â 9 6 Rainwater Craft Rd Khilling Rd Craft Rd Hickory Ridge Rd Project Location 2 1 7 ! SebastianCounty Franklin County Job 040778 0 1,000 2,000 Onion Creek Str. & Apprs. â Project Location Feet (Hwy. 252) ARDOT - Environmental GIS - Hopkins Sebastian County ³ August 29, 2019 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NRCS-CPA-106 Natural Resources Conservation Service (Rev. 1-91) FARMLAND CONVERSION IMPACT RATING FOR CORRIDOR TYPE PROJECTS 3. Date of Land Evaluation Request 8/26/2019 4. PART I (To be completed by Federal Agency) Job 040778 Sheet 1 of 1 1. Name of Project Onion Creek Str. & Apprs.(S) 5. Federal Agency Involved FHWA 2. Type of Project Bridge replacement 6. County and State Sebastian County, AR. 2. Person Completing Form PART II (To be completed by NRCS) 1. Date Request Received by NRCS 3. Does the corridor contain prime, unique statewide or local important farmland? 4. Acres Irrigated Average Farm Size YES NO (If no, the FPPA does not apply - Do not complete additional parts of this form). 5. Major Crop(s) 6. Farmable Land in Government Jurisdiction 7. Amount of Farmland As Defined in FPPA Acres: % Acres: % 8. Name Of Land Evaluation System Used 9. Name of Local Site Assessment System 10. Date Land Evaluation Returned by NRCS Alternative Corridor For Segment PART III (To be completed by Federal Agency) Corridor A Corridor B Corridor C Corridor D A. Total Acres To Be Converted Directly 12.2 B. Total Acres To Be Converted Indirectly, Or To Receive Services C. Total Acres In Corridor 17.1 PART IV (To be completed by NRCS) Land Evaluation Information A. Total Acres Prime And Unique Farmland 11.1 B. Total Acres Statewide And Local Important Farmland 1.1 C. Percentage Of Farmland in County Or Local Govt. Unit To Be Converted D. Percentage Of Farmland in Govt. Jurisdiction With Same Or Higher Relative Value PART V (To be completed by NRCS) Land Evaluation Information Criterion Relative value of Farmland to Be Serviced or Converted (Scale of 0 - 100 Points) PART VI (To be completed by Federal Agency) Corridor Maximum Assessment Criteria (These criteria are explained in 7 CFR 658.5(c)) Points 1. Area in Nonurban Use 15 0 2. Perimeter in Nonurban Use 10 0 3. Percent Of Corridor Being Farmed 20 20 4. Protection Provided By State And Local Government 20 0 5. Size of Present Farm Unit Compared To Average 10 5 6. Creation Of Nonfarmable Farmland 25 0 7. Availability Of Farm Support Services 5 5 8. On-Farm Investments 20 10 9. Effects Of Conversion On Farm Support Services 25 0 10. Compatibility With Existing Agricultural Use 10 0 40 TOTAL CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT POINTS 160 PART VII (To be completed by Federal Agency) 100 Relative Value Of Farmland (From Part V) 100 Total Corridor Assessment (From Part VI above or a local site 40 160 assessment) 140 TOTAL POINTS (Total of above 2 lines) 260 1. Corridor Selected: 2. Total Acres of Farmlands to be 3. Date Of Selection: 4. Was A Local Site Assessment Used? Converted by Project: 11.1 acres of Prime Farmland August 26, 2019 Existing Location 1.1 acres Statewide Importance YES NO 5. Reason For Selection: Best Location Signature of Person Completing this Part: DATE John Baber August 26, 2019 NOTE: Complete a form for each segment with more than one Alternate Corridor United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office 110 South Amity Suite 300 Conway, AR 72032-8975 Phone: (501) 513-4470 Fax: (501) 513-4480 http://www.fws.gov/arkansas-es In Reply Refer To: May 29, 2019 Consultation Code: 04ER1000-2019-SLI-0964 Event Code: 04ER1000-2019-E-01847 Project Name: Onion Creek Str. & Apprs. Subject: List of threatened and endangered species that may occur in your proposed project location, and/or may be affected by your proposed project To Whom It May Concern: The enclosed species list identifies endangered, threatened, proposed, and candidate species, as well as proposed and final designated critical habitat, that may occur within the boundary of your proposed project and/or may be affected by your proposed project. The species list fulfills the requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) under section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). This letter only provides an official species list and technical assistance; if you determine that listed species and/or designated critical habitat may be affected in any way by the proposed project, even if the effect is wholly beneficial, consultation with the Service will be necessary.