[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27047-27048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13031]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Colfax Watershed, Richland County, North Dakota; Notice of 
Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of finding of significant no 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 National Resources Conservation Service 
Regulations (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice than an 
environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Colfax 
Watershed, Richland County, North Dakota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott Hoag, Jr., State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, 220 East Rosser Avenue, P.O. 1458, Bismarck, North Dakota 
58502-1458, (701) 250-4421.

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, Scott Hoag, Jr., State Conservationist, has 
determined that the preparation and review of an environmental impact 
statement are not needed for this project.
    The project purposes are for flood control, agricultural water 
management, and watershed protection. The planned works of improvement 
include a 300 linear foot dike with overflow, 8,800 linear feet of 
floodway with pipe drop inlet and grade stabilization structure, 3,000 
linear feet of floodway and dike, 12,000 linear feet of floodwater 
diversion, and 22,500 linear feet of floodway renovation. Associated 
Land Treatment Measures will be planned and installed on a minimum of 
50 percent of the watershed above the structural measures. Seven 
thousand acres of cropland and 500 acres of grassland are expected to 
be benefited through the proposed project.
    The Notice of a Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 
forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency and to various 
Federal, State, and local agencies and interested parties. A limited 
number of copies of the FONSI are available to fill single copy 
requests at the above address. Basic data developed during the 
environmental assessment are on file and may be reviewed by contacting 
Scott Hoag, Jr., State Conservationist, 220 East Rosser Avenue, P.O. 
box 1458, Bismarck, North Dakota 58502-1458.
    No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be 
taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.
Scott Hoag, Jr.,
State Conservationist.

(This activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.904, Watershed Protection and Flood 
Prevention, and is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and 
local officials)

Introduction

    The Colfax Watershed is a federally assisted action authorized for 
planning under Public Law 83-566, the Watershed Protection and Flood 
Prevention Act. An environmental assessment was undertaken in 
conjunction with the development of the watershed plan. This assessment 
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, 220 East Rosser Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501.

Recommended Action

    Proposed is the implementation of both structural and associated 
land treatment measures (ALTM) to reduce flood damages and protect the 
watershed. The structural components include a 300 linear foot dike 
with overflow, 8,800 linear feet of floodway with pipe drop inlet and 
grade stabilization structure, 3,000 linear feet of floodway and dike, 
12,000 linear feet of floodwater diversion, and 22,500 linear feet of 
floodway renovation. The ALTM will be planned and installed on a 
minimum of 50 percent of the watershed above the structural measures. 
Seven thousands acres of cropland and 500 acres of grassland are 
expected to be benefited through the proposed project.

Effect of Recommended Action

    The recommended action will protect the watershed hydrologically by 
improving the soil cover condition, water quality, and reduce overland 
flow quantities and velocities. Existing floodways will be restored, or 
built to the extent the peak flood flow rates for a 10 year, 24 hour 
flood event can be handled.
    The proposed action will have little or not effect on wetlands. 
Only 2.2 acres are expected to be impacted to the point of requiring 
mitigation. The land treatment applied on 7,500 acres, will improve 
rainfall infiltration on both cropland and grassland. Sedimentation 
rates will be reduced from high value low residue crop fields. 
Integrated crop management will reduce the availability of nutrients 
and pesticides from entering the Wild Rice River.
    The proposed project still encourage and promote farm units in the 
watershed to manage their natural resources in a safe and productive 
manner. This action will tend to sustain agricultural diversity and 
productivity for land users in the watershed. The reduced threat of 
flooding will provide social and economic benefits to watershed 
residents.
    An initial site leads inventory of cultural resources as they 
relate to the planned components has been completed. This inventory 
concludes that no significant adverse impacts will occur to cultural 
resources in the

[[Page 27048]]

watershed should the plan be implemented. The NRCS has consulted with 
the State Historic Preservation Office on the effects of the planned 
measures. There is no effect foreseen on significant cultural 
resources. However, construction of floodways, dikes, grade 
stabilization structures and diversions have the potential for 
seriously disrupting individual sites. Therefore, caution shall be 
exercised in planning and installing any such measures to avoid serious 
disruption of cultural resource sites.
    Signficant cultural resources identified during implementation will 
be avoided or otherwise preserved in place to the fullest extent 
practical. If significant cultural resources cannot be avoided or 
preserved, pertinent information will be recovered before construction. 
If there is a significant cultural resource discovery during 
construction, appropriate notice will be made by NRCS to the State 
Historic Preservation Officer and the National Park Service. 
Consultation and coordination have been made, and will continue to be 
used, to ensure the provisions of Section 106 of Public Law 89-665 have 
been met and to include provisions of Public Law 89-523, as amended by 
Public Law 93-291. NRCS will take action as prescribed in the NRCS GM 
420, Part 401, to protect or recover any significant cultural resources 
discovered during construction.
    No threatened or endangered species are known to exist in the 
watershed.
    One of the primary objectives of the project is to reduce 
agricultural flooding. Approximately 7,000 acres of prime farmland will 
be protected from frequent flood events. An estimated 20 miles of farm 
to market roads, and 40 bridges and culverts will be protected by 
reduced quantities and velocities of flood waters. Flood damages to 
farmstead buildings for machinery and crop storage will be reduced.
    Water quality will be improved in the Wild Rice River by reducing 
sediment delivery rates, implementing nutrient and pest management 
systems, and improved soil health and cover. Sediment control basins, 
along with buffer and filter strips adjacent to the proposed floodways 
and diversions will significantly reduce non-point source pollutants 
runoff. Associated land treatment measures (ALTM) will promote total 
resource management systems on 7,500 acres of land in the watershed. 
These systems, in addition to addressing management of the soil, water, 
air, plant, and animal resources will also address the social and 
economic resources of the watersheds land users.
    Fish and wildlife habitats may be temporarily disturbed in some 
areas of the watershed during the construction phase. These resources 
will be restored or enhanced when the project is completed. 
Improvements in soil health, water quality, and plant diversity should 
result from the implementation of this project. The value of woodland 
habitat will not decline. An estimated 2.2 acres of seasonal partially 
drained wetlands will be lost due to project impacts. These wetland 
values will be properly mitigated for using the Hydro Geologic Model 
(HGM).
    No wilderness areas are in the watershed.
    Scenic values will be complimented with the diversity added by 
associated land treatment measures. During installation of structural 
features the scenic values will be temporarily decreased at specific 
construction locations in the watershed.
    No significant adverse environmental impacts will result from 
installations except for minor inconveniences to local residents during 
construction.

Alternatives

    A total of 7 alternatives were evaluated to address the problems 
and opportunities the local sponsoring organizations and watershed 
residents identified in the planning stages. The first 6 alternatives 
were formulated using varied combinations of floodwater diversions, 
dikes, and floodways with grade stabilizations structures. Each of 
these alternatives provided similar flood protection and land treatment 
benefits with varying economic, social and environmental impacts. The 
seventh alternative was the ``no action'' alternative.
    It was determined by the sponsoring local organizations and 
watershed residents that alternative 6 is the recommended plan.

Consultation--Public Participation

    Formal agency consultation began with the initiation of the 
notification of the State Single Point of Contact for Federal 
Assistance (Office of Intergovernmental Assistance) in March 1992. The 
Governor and the State Soil Conservation Committee were also notified 
of the application for Federal Assistance. Agencies were again notified 
when planning was authorized in October 1993.
    Scoping meetings were held in September 1992 and June 1993, and 
interdisciplinary efforts were used in all cases. An Interagency 
Watershed Committee (IAWC) was utilized throughout the planning 
process. The process involved five Federal agencies (FSA, FS, F&WS, 
COE, and EPA), five State agencies (Department of Health, State Soil 
Conservation Committee, Game and Fish Department, State Water 
Commission, and State Historical Society), two county agencies 
(Richland County Soil Conservation District and Richland County Water 
Resource District), and the City of Colfax and the Red River & Western 
Railroad in part or all of the scoping and planning processes.
    Specific consultation was conducted with the State Historic 
Preservation Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and North Dakota Department of Health. 
All of these agencies comments were used in the development of this 
plan.
    The environmental assessment was transmitted to all participating 
and interested agencies, groups, and individuals for review and comment 
in March 1998. Three public meetings were held during the planning 
process to keep all interested parties informed of the study progress 
and to obtain public input into the plan and environmental evaluation. 
The last public meeting was held March 1998, in the City of Colfax, 
during the interagency review process
    Agency consultation and public participation to date have shown no 
unresolved conflicts with the implementation of the selected plan.

Conculsions

    The Environmental Assessment summarized above indicates that this 
Federal action will not cause significant local, regional, or national, 
impacts. Therefore, based on the above findings, I have determined that 
an environmental impact statement for the Colfax Watershed is not 
required.

    Dated: May 7, 1998.
Scott Hoag Jr.,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 98-13031 Filed 5-14-98; 8:45 am]
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