[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64270-64273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24546]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Poinsett Watershed, Craighead and Poinsett Counties, AR

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102 (2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
(40 CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
Regulations (7 CFR part 650), Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice than an environmental 
impact statement is not being prepared for Segment No. 7 of Main Ditch, 
Poinsett Watershed, Craighead and Poinsett Counties, Arkansas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kalven L. Trice, State 
Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Room 3416, 
Federal Building, 700 West

[[Page 64271]]

Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-3225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental assessment of this 
federally assisted action indicates that the project will not cause 
significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As 
a result of these findings, Kalven L. Trice, State Conservationist, has 
determined that the preparation and review of an environmental impact 
statement are not needed for this project.
    The purpose of this project is to provide flood control. The 
planned works of improvement include four miles of channel improvement 
for Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch south of Jonesboro, Arkansas in the 
Poinsett Watershed.
    A limited number of copies of the FONSI are available at the above 
address to fill single copy requests. Basic data developed during the 
environmental assessment are on file and may be reviewed by contacting 
David Weeks, Assistant State Conservationist Natural Resource Planning, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Room 3416, Federal Building, 
700 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-3225.
    No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be 
taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: October 15, 2004.
Kalven L. Trice,
State Conservationist.

Finding of No Significant Impact for Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch 
Poinsett Watershed; Craighead and Poinsett Counties, Arkansas

    Poinsett Watershed is a federally assisted action authorized 
under Pub. L. 83-566, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act 
of 1954, as amended. The original Poinsett Watershed Work Plan was 
prepared in February 1968. The primary purpose of the plan is to 
provide flood reduction to the agricultural lands subject to flood 
damages. The plan was prepared by the local sponsoring organizations 
with technical assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service (NRCS). The Supplemental Watershed Plan No. 4 was prepared 
to add Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch to the Plan. The 
Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared to update and review 
items that are of concern with channel improvement for Segment No. 7 
of the Main Ditch considering the present rules and regulations.
    This particular action involves only the channel improvement of 
Segment No. 7 of the Poinsett Watershed. Federal assistance will be 
provided under authority of the Pub. L. 83-566, Watershed Protection 
and Flood Prevention Act of 1954, as amended. The EA was conducted 
in consultation with local, State, and Federal agencies as well as 
with interested organizations and individuals.
    Data developed during the assessment are available for public 
review at the following location: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Room 3416, Federal Building, 
700 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-3225.
    The drainage area at the downstream end of the Segment No. 7 is 
20.6 square miles. The project area is located in northeastern 
Arkansas in Craighead and Poinsett Counties. The southern limit of 
the city of Jonesboro is located in the northern most part of the 
watershed. The watershed land use of Segment No. 7 is about 30 
percent (%) urban, 40% cropland, and 30% pasture, range, and woods.
    Local Sponsoring organizations are Poinsett Watershed 
Improvement District, Craighead County Conservation District, and 
Poinsett County Conservation District.

Alternatives

    Alternative 1 is the No Action or Future Without Project. This 
alternative consists of maintaining the existing channel capacity of 
Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch. No Federal funds would be spent on 
Segment No. 7. Flood damages to agricultural areas, infrastructure, 
and residential area in the floodplain would continue at the present 
level.
    Alternative 2 is the Channel Improvement of Segment No. 7. This 
alternative consists of improving the existing channel from station 
1328+00 to 1542+60, two rock chutes to stabilize grade, and 33 grade 
stabilization structures to drop water from the field or drains into 
the ditch improvement. This alternative will meet the need and 
purpose of the project to provide flood protection benefits to the 
agricultural land along Segment No. 7, infrastructure in the project 
area, and residences in the southern part of Jonesboro.

Recommended Action

    Alternative 2 is the recommended alternative and consists of 
channel improvement of Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch to provide 
for flood prevention benefits. This alternative provides the most 
net benefits and is the National Economic Development (NED) Plan.

Effects of Recommended Action

Benefits of Recommended Action

    The estimated total average annual monetary benefits will be 
$94,220. The average annual cost is $78,000, resulting in a benefit 
to cost ratio of 1.2 to 1.0.

Impacts of Recommended Action

Floodwater Impact

    The existing channel has inadequate capacity to protect cropland 
and other agricultural lands from flooding by moving floodwaters 
from Jonesboro through the agricultural areas. The average annual 
area flooded within Segment No. 7 evaluation reach is approximately 
1770 acres. Channel improvement of Segment No. 7 would reduce flood 
damages to agricultural lands, infrastructure, and other private 
lands. The average annual area flooded would be reduced by 1,470 
acres.

Archeological and Historical Impact

    Requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act of 1966 as amended were fully implemented. Planning 
activities for the protection and preservation of historic 
properties have been conducted in compliance with Section 106 and 
Section 110 (f) and (k) of the National Historic Preservation Act. 
Processes consistent with the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation regulations (36 CFR 800) have been followed by NRCS. No 
known cultural resources were identified. NRCS will take action to 
protect and/or recover any historic properties discovered during 
construction.

Fish and Wildlife Resources Impact

    The land use on both sides of the ditch is open cropland with 
the exception of two small wooded areas. The open cropland affords 
food for seed-eating birds and provides some ground cover. Water 
within the ditch is very shallow and unshaded. Some species of fish 
such as sunfish, carp, buffalo, and catfish may use the ditch at 
various times. However, fishery habitats are very low quality and 
are of very little value as a fishery resource.
    The channel improvement will have minor short-term impact on the 
existing fishery habitats. Reduction in flooding depth and duration 
in the floodplain will improve the upland wildlife habitats on 
agricultural land.

Threatened and Endangered Species Impact

    The endangered fat pocketbook Potamilus copax (mussel) occurs 
within Craighead County, Arkansas. However, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service has determined that this endangered species is not 
located within the project area (USFWS, 2004). The project will have 
no adverse impacts to any threatened and endangered species.

Prime Farmland

    Presently, there are 4,005 acres of prime farmland in the 
project area. Prime farmland will be impacted by reduced frequency 
and depth of flooding on 1,209 acres. Enlargement of the planned 
channel will result in a loss of 78 acres of prime farmland adjacent 
to the existing ditch. Overall there will be a positive impact on 
prime farmland due to a reduction in flooding.

Wetlands Impact

    The land use on both sides of the ditch is open cropland with 
the exception of two small wooded areas. The wooded area located at 
approximately from channel station 1369+00 to station 1381+00 has 
some minor wetlands. These are located greater than 90 feet from the 
centerline of the existing channel.
    Construction methods will be used to avoid any adverse impacts. 
The channel will be constructed from both sides with spoil placed 
approximately equally on both sides of the ditch except at the 
location from channel station 1369+00 to station 1381+00. At that 
location construction methods will be used to limit fill on the side 
where the wooded area is located. Constructed channel dimensions on 
the wooded area side will not

[[Page 64272]]

extend past 90 feet with limited fill on that side to maintain 
existing wetlands and spoil elevations. Using these construction 
methods, there will be no adverse impacts to the minor wetlands 
within the wooded area.

Environmental Values Changed or Lost

    Disturbed areas will be planted to permanent grasses.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Resource                              Impact
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land use changes.......................  No impact.
Floodplains............................  Positive impact by reducing
                                          flood damages.
Fish and Wildlife Habitats.............  Minor short-term adverse
                                          impacts on these habitats.
Threatened and Endangered Species......  No adverse impact on threatened
                                          and endangered species.
Wetlands...............................  No impact on wetlands.
Cultural Resources.....................  No impact.
Prime Farmland.........................  Positive impact by reducing
                                          flooding on prime farmland.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources

    Construction, operation, and maintenance of the channel 
improvement of Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch will require 
irretrievable commitments of energy, material, and financial 
resources, as typical for similar projects.

Consultation and Public Participation

Project Sponsors

    Original local sponsoring organizations (sponsors) are the 
Poinsett Watershed Improvement District, Craighead Conservation 
District, and Poinsett Conservation District. At the initiation of 
the planning process, meetings were held with representatives of the 
sponsors to ascertain their watershed concerns and project purposes. 
Meetings with the sponsors were held throughout the planning 
process.

Planning Team

    An Interdisciplinary Planning Team provided for the technical 
administration of this project. Examples of tasks completed by the 
Planning Team include, but are not limited to, preliminary 
investigations, hydrologic and engineering analysis, economic 
analysis, formulating and evaluating alternatives, and writing the 
Supplemental Watershed Plan and EA. Informal discussions among the 
planning team, sponsors, NRCS, and landowners were conducted 
throughout the planning period.

Input From Agencies and Groups

    Twenty-eight letters were sent to Federal, State, and local 
agencies requesting information available and concerns on Poinsett 
Watershed, Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch. A meeting and field tour 
with agencies were held on May 5, 2004, to assess proposed measures 
and their potential impact on resources of concern. Eleven Federal, 
State, and local agencies were invited to participate. The following 
agencies participated in this field review:
    <bullet> Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality;
    <bullet> USDA-NRCS State, Area, Project, and Field levels;
    <bullet> Poinsett Watershed Improvement District.
    Other agencies invited but not attending included the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Public Participation

    A public meeting was held on April 14, 2004, to explain the 
proposed channel improvement and to scope resource problems, issues, 
and concerns of local residents associated with the Poinsett 
Watershed, Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch. Notice of the public 
meeting was posted and published in the local newspaper over three 
consecutive weeks. In addition, a letter of notice of meeting and 
comment forms were mailed to potentially affected landowners around 
Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch. The meeting participants provided 
verbal and written comment on issues and concerns to be considered 
in the planning process.
    A coordination meeting with project sponsors and NRCS was held 
on June 10, 2004, to summarize planning accomplishments, convey 
results of the hydraulic analysis, and present various channel 
improvement alternatives. Consensus was reached on the layout and 
configuration of the Channel Improvement Alternative. A follow-up 
meeting was conducted with the sponsors, officials with the city of 
Jonesboro, and Craighead County on August 31, 2004.
    A Final Draft was distributed on July 21, 2004, for interagency 
and public review to appropriate local, state, and federal agencies 
and other interested groups. The availability of Final Draft was 
publicized in the local newspaper. The Final Draft was distributed 
to the following agencies and groups for review and comment.

Local Groups and Agencies

    Poinsett County Watershed Improvement District, Craighead County 
Conservation District, Poinsett County Conservation District, Mayor, 
City of Jonesboro, and Craighead County Judge.

Federal Agencies

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District, USDA Forest 
Service, Southern Region, USDA/Farm Service Agency, USDA/Rural 
Development, USDA/FSA, and Federal Highway Administration.

State Agencies

    Governor's Office, State Clearinghouse, Arkansas Soil and Water 
Conservation Commission, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, AR 
Department of Health, AR Department of Parks and Tourism, AR 
Waterways Commission, AR Forestry Commission, AR Natural Heritage 
Commission, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, AR 
Department of Economic Development, AR Highway & Transportation 
Dept., Natural Resources Leasing, Arkansas Geological Commission, 
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, and Arkansas Water 
Resources Research Center.

Environmental Organizations

    Wildlife Management Institute, Arkansas Wildlife Federation, 
National Audubon Society, and National Wildlife Federation.
    After a 45-day review period, comments were incorporated into 
the Final Supplemental Watershed Plan and EA.

Determination of Significance

    Table 1 displays a summary of comparison of the environmental 
impacts on important resource concerns.

 Table 1.--Summary Comparison of Impacts on Important Resource Concerns
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Alternative No. 2
           Effects              Alternative No. 1    Channel improvement
                                    No action               (NED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Structural..................  Maintain Segment No.  Improve channel of
                               7 channel at          Segment No. 7 to
                               existing flow         required flow
                               capacity.             capacity.
Project Investment..........  $0..................  $1,292,480.
-----------------------------
                      National Economic Development
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficial Annual...........  $0..................  $94,226.

[[Page 64273]]

 
Adverse Annual..............  $0..................  $78,000.
Net Beneficial..............  $0..................  $16,226.
-----------------------------
                      Environmental Quality Account
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Threatened and Endangered     No impact...........  No impact.
 Species.
Streams, Lakes, and Wetlands  No impact...........  No impact.
Prime Farmland..............  No impact...........  Reduce flooding on
                                                     1209 acres.
Fish and Wildlife Habitats..  Adversely impacted..  No impact.
Water Quality...............  Increase in stream    Short term decrease
                               turbidity.            in water quality
                                                     during construction
                                                     and improvement of
                                                     water quality long
                                                     term.
Sedimentation...............  No impact...........  No significant long
                                                     term impact.
-----------------------------
                          Other Social Effects
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Annual Flood damages  Increase in average   Flood protection to
                               annual acres          agricultural lands
                               flooded above         by reducing average
                               existing 1990 acres   annual area flooded
                               and in flood          by 1,385 acres,
                               damages to            reduce flood
                               infrastructure and    damages to
                               residences.           infrastructure and
                                                     residences.
Cultural and Historic         No impact...........  No impact.
 Resources.
Land Use and Floodplain       Land use might        No change to land
 Management.                   change as increased   use and improvement
                               flooding decreases    to land management
                               land productivity.    decisions.
Transportation and Access...  Increased flooding    Transportation
                               of five roads and     access would be
                               one bridge located    maintained and
                               downstream.           improved.
-----------------------------
Regional Economic Development Account (Positive Effects/Negative Effects
                               Annualized)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region......................  $0 / $0.............  $0 / $27,300.
Nation......................  $0 / $0.............  $94,226 / $50,700.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conclusion

    The purpose of the improvement to Segment No. 7 of the Main 
Ditch is to provide flood prevention benefits to the agricultural 
lands, infrastructure, and residential area along Segment No. 7. The 
Environmental Assessment summarized above indicates that this 
Federal action will not cause significant local, regional, or 
national impacts on the environment. I find that neither the 
proposed action nor any of the alternatives is a major Federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, based on above findings, I have determined that an 
Environmental Impact Statement for Segment No. 7 of the Main Ditch, 
Poinsett Watershed is not required.

    Dated: October 15, 2004.
Kalven L. Trice,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 04-24546 Filed 11-3-04; 8:45 am]
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