U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Watson Poultry, LLC Holly and Ronald Watson Hampshire County, West Virginia Prepared By Douglas L. Cyphers, State FLP Environmental Coordinator February 3 , 2021 COVER SHEET Proposed Action: The Farm Service Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture proposes to approve direct farm ownership and operating loans and a guaranteed farm ownership loan to construct three (3) 63’ X 704’ poultry broiler houses with dirt floors in Hampshire County, West Virginia. Type of Document: This is a site-specific Environmental Assessment Lead Agency: United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency Cooperating Agencies: None Further Information: Douglas L. Cyphers, FLP State Environmental Coordinator 1550 Earl Core Road Morgantown, WV 26505 (304) 284-4820 Comments: This Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared in accordance Commented [USDA1]: The date that comments need to be received and where to send them. See 1-EQ Par. 6C for public with USDA FSA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) comment period requirements. implementing procedures found in 7 CFR 799, as well as the NEPA of 1969 (40 CFR 1500-1508/42 US Code 4321-4347), as amended. A copy of the Draft EA can be found at the Hampshire County FSA Office, 500 East Main Street, Romney, West Virginia 26757 or online at www.fsa.usda.gov/wv Written comments regarding this EA can be submitted to the address below until close of business March 12, 2021: Farm Service Agency ATTN: Douglas L. Cyphers 1550 Earl L. Core Road Suite 102 Morgantown, WV 26505 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................7 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ................................................................................... 7 1.3 Regulatory Compliance ................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Right to Farm ....................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Public Involvement and Consultation ............................................................................................. 8 1.4.1 Public Involvement .............................................................................................................. 8 1.4.2 Agency Consultation ............................................................................................................ 8 2. Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives ............................................................................9 2.1 Proposed Action .............................................................................................................................. 9 2.2 No Action Alternative ..................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Alternative A …… ............................................................................................................................. 9 3. Affected Environment and Impacts ................................................................................................9 3.1 Resources Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis ..................................................... 10 3.1.1 Wildlife and Habitat ........................................................................................................... 10 3.1.2 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................. 10 3.1.3 Coastal Barrier ................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.4 Coastal Zone ...................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.5 Wilderness Areas ............................................................................................................... 10 3.1.6 Wild and Scenic Rivers/Nationwide Rivers Inventory (NRI) .............................................. 10 3.1.7 National Natural Landmarks .............................................................................................. 11 3.1.8 Sole Source Aquifers .......................................................................................................... 11 3.1.9 Floodplains ......................................................................................................................... 11 3.1.10 Wetlands .......................................................................................................................... 11 3.1.11 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 11 3.1.12 Water Quality ................................................................................................................... 11 3.1.13 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................ 12 3.1.14 Noise ................................................................................................................................ 12 3.1.15 Important Land Resources ............................................................................................... 12 3.1.16 Socioeconomic Impacts and Environmental Justice ........................................................ 12 3.2 Resources Considered with Detailed Analysis .............................................................................. 13 3.3 Wildlife and Habitat ...................................................................................................................... 13 3.3.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................. 13 3.3.2 Impacts of Proposed Action ............................................................................................... 13 3.3.3 Impacts of No Action ......................................................................................................... 13 3.4 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................ 14 3.4.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................. 14 3.4.2 Impacts of Proposed Action ............................................................................................... 14 3.4.3 Impacts of No Action ......................................................................................................... 14 3.5 Water Quality ................................................................................................................................ 14 3.5.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................. 14 3.5.2 Impacts of Proposed Action ............................................................................................... 15 3.5.3 Impacts of No Action ......................................................................................................... 15 4. Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................................................................... 16 4.1 Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions ..................................................................... 16 4.2 Cumulative Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 16 5. List of Preparers and Persons and Agencies Contacted.................................................................. 18 6. EA Determination and Signatures ................................................................................................ 19 APPENDICES A Maps A-1 Project Location Map A-2 Project Soils Map A-3 Project Aerial Map with Projected Footprint B Site Photos C Consultation Letters C-2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Consultation Letter C-1 SHPO/THPO Consultation Letter D Floodplains Supporting Documentation F-1 Floodplain Map E Wetlands Supporting Documentation G-1 FSA-858 Wetland Screening Tool and National Wetland Inventory Map F Water Quality Supporting Documentation I-1 Nutrient Management Plan Acronyms and Abbreviations APE Area of Potential Effect CEQ Council on Environmental Quality FLP Farm Loan Program FSA Farm Service Agency HUD (Department of) Housing and Urban Development IPaC Information for Planning and Consultation NEPA National Environmental Policy Act TDAT Tribal Directory Assessment Tool SHPO State Historic Preservation Officer USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service WV DEP West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) proposes to approve both direct and guaranteed loan requests from Holly and Ronald Watson to finance the construction of three (3) 63’X704’ poultry broiler houses, including site preparation, equipment and other associated costs of construction and start-up for the operation. The facility will be located on approximately 70 acres