Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 134 / Wednesday, July 15, 2009 / Notices 34299 

wetlands, wildlife habitat, fisheries, 

prime farmland, or cultural resources 

will be destroyed or threatened by this 

project. Some 21 acres of wetland and 

wetland type wildlife habitat will be 

preserved. Fishery habitats will also be 

maintained. 

No endangered or threatened plant or 

animal species will be adversely 

affected by the project. 

There are no wilderness areas in the 

watershed. 

Alternatives 

Seven alternative plans of action were 

considered in project planning. No 

significant adverse environmental 

impacts are anticipated from installation 

of the selected alternative. Also, the 

planned action is the most practical, 

complete, and acceptable means of 

protecting life and property of 

downstream residents. 

Consultation—Public Participation 

Original sponsoring organizations 

include the Georgia Soil and Water 

Conservation Commission, Oconee 

River Soil and Water Conservation 

District and Jackson County. At the 

initiation of the planning process, 

meetings were held with representatives 

of the original sponsoring organizations 

to ascertain their interest and concerns 

regarding the Sandy Creek Watershed. 

The Georgia Soil and Water 

Conservation Commission agreed to 

serve as ‘‘lead sponsor’’ being 

responsible for leading the planning 

process with assistance from NRCS. As 

lead sponsor they also agreed to provide 

non-Federal cost-share, property rights, 

operation and maintenance, and public 

participation during, and beyond, the 

planning process. 

An Interdisciplinary Planning Team 

provided for the ‘‘technical’’ 

administration of this project. Technical 

administration includes tasks pursuant 

to the NRCS nine-step planning process, 

and planning procedures outlined in the 

NRCS—National Planning Procedures 

Handbook. Examples of tasks completed 

by the Planning Team include, but are 

not limited to, Preliminary 

Investigations, Hydrologic Analysis, 

Reservoir Sedimentation Surveys, 

Economic Analysis, Formulating and 

Evaluating Alternatives, and Writing the 

Watershed Plan—Environmental 

Assessment. Data collected from partner 

agencies, databases, landowners, and 

others throughout the entire planning 

process, were presented at the public 

meeting on May 28, 2009. Informal 

discussions amongst planning team 

members, partner agencies, and 

landowners were conducted throughout 

the entire planning period. 

Public Participation 

A public meeting was held on May 

28, 2009 to explain the Watershed 

Rehabilitation Program and to scope 

resource problems, issues, and concerns 

of local residents associated with the 

project area. Potential alternative 

solutions to bring Sandy Creek No. 23 

into compliance with current dam safety 

criteria were also presented. Through a 

voting process, eleven meeting 

participants heard summaries of 

planning accomplishments to date, 

provided input on issues and concerns 

to be considered in the planning 

process, were made aware of results 

from the reservoir sedimentation survey, 

and identified which planning 

alternative (i.e. No Action, 

Decommission, Structural, NonStructural) was most desirable. 

Conclusion 

The Environmental Assessment 

summarized above indicates that this 

Federal action will not cause significant 

adverse local, regional, or national 

impacts on the environment. Therefore, 

based on the above findings, I have 

determined that an environmental 

impact statement for the recommended 

plan of action on Sandy Creek 

Watershed Structure No. 23 is not 

required. 

[FR Doc. E9–16791 Filed 7–14–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

Sandy Creek Watershed Structure No. 

15: Jackson County, GA 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a 

Finding of No Significant Impact. 

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); the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives 

notice that an environmental impact 

statement is not being prepared for the 

Sandy Creek Watershed Structure No. 

15, Jackson County, Georgia. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cran 

Upshaw, Economist, Federal Building, 

355 East Hancock Avenue, Athens, 

Georgia 30601, Telephone (706) 546– 

2277, e-mail cran.upshaw@ga.usda.gov. 

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, James E. Tillman, Sr., State 

Conservationist, has determined that the 

preparation and review of an 

environmental impact statement is not 

needed for this project. 

The project purpose is continued 

flood prevention. The planned works of 

improvement include upgrading an 

existing floodwater retarding structure. 

The Notice of a Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 

forwarded to the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency and to various 

Federal, State, and local agencies and 

interest parties. A limited number 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 Cran Upshaw at 

the above number. 

No administrative action on 

implementation of the proposal will be 

taken until 30 days after the date of this 

publication in the Federal Register. 

Signed in Athens, Georgia, on July 2, 2009. 

James E. Tillman, Sr., 

State Conservationist. 

(This activity is listed in the Catalog of 

Federal Domestic Assistance under 10.916, 

Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention, 

and is subject to the provisions of Executive 

Order 12372, which requires intergovernment consultation with State and local 

officials.) 

Finding of No Significant Impact for 

Sandy Creek Watershed Structure No. 

15, Jackson County, Georgia, July 3, 

2009 

Introduction 

The Sandy Creek Watershed is a 

Federally assisted action authorized for 

planning under Public Law 106–472, 

the Watershed Rehabilitation Act, 

which amends Public Law 83–566, the 

Watershed Protection and Flood 

Prevention Act. An environmental 

assessment was undertaken in 

conjunction with 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, 355 

East Hancock Avenue, Athens, Georgia 

30601. 


sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
34300 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 134 / Wednesday, July 15, 2009 / Notices 

Recommended Action 

This document describes a plan for 

upgrading an existing floodwater 

retarding structure, Sandy Creek 

Watershed Structure No. 15 to meet 

current dam safety criteria in Georgia. 

The plan calls for the construction of a 

roller compacted concrete chute 

spillway on an existing dam. Works of 

improvement will be accomplished by 

providing financial and technical 

assistance through an eligible local 

sponsor. 

The principal project measures are to: 

1. Construction of a roller compacted 

concrete chute spillway. This 

construction is designed to bring the 

existing dam into compliance with 

current dam safety criteria in Georgia. 

2. The measures will be planned and 

installed by developing a contract with 

the current operator of the dam. 

Effects of Recommended Action 

Construction of a roller compacted 

concrete chute spillway will bring 

Sandy Creek Watershed Structure No. 

15 into compliance with current dam 

safety criteria. This will essentially 

eliminate the risk to loss of life for 

individuals in 2 homes and 4 roads 

downstream. Additional effects will 

include continued protection against 

flooding, continued water quality 

benefits, continued fishing activities, 

continued recreational opportunities, 

protected land values, protected road 

and utility networks, and reduced 

maintenance costs for public 

infrastructure. 

Wildlife habitat will not be disturbed 

during installation activities. No 

wetlands, wildlife habitat, fisheries, 

prime farmland, or cultural resources 

will be destroyed or threatened by this 

project. Some 30 acres of wetland and 

wetland type wildlife habitat will be 

preserved. Fishery habitats will also be 

maintained. 

No endangered or threatened plant or 

animal species will be adversely 

affected by the project. 

There are no wilderness areas in the 

watershed. 

Alternatives 

Six alternative plans of action were 

considered in project planning. No 

significant adverse environmental 

impacts are anticipated from installation 

of the selected alternative. Also, the 

planned action is the most practical, 

complete, and acceptable means of 

protecting life and property of 

downstream residents. 

Consultation—Public Participation 

Original sponsoring organizations 

include the, Georgia Soil and Water 

Conservation District, Oconee River Soil 

and Water Conservation District and 

Jackson County. At the initiation of the 

planning process, meetings were held 

with representatives of the original 

sponsoring organizations to ascertain 

their interest and concerns regarding the 

Sandy Creek Watershed. The Georgia 

Soil and Water Conservation 

Commission agreed to serve as ‘‘lead 

sponsor’’ being responsible for leading 

the planning process with assistance 

from NRCS. As lead sponsor they also 

agreed to provide non-federal costshare, property rights, operation and 

maintenance, and public participation 

during, and beyond, the planning 

process. 

An Interdisciplinary Planning Team 

provided for the ‘‘technical’’ 

administration of this project. Technical 

administration includes tasks pursuant 

to the NRCS nine-step planning process, 

and planning procedures outlined in the 

NRCS-National Planning Procedures 

Handbook. Examples of tasks completed 

by the Planning Team include, but are 

not limited to, Preliminary 

Investigations, Hydrologic Analysis, 

Reservoir Sedimentation Surveys, 

Economic Analysis, Formulating and 

Evaluating Alternatives, and Writing the 

Watershed Plan—Environmental 

Assessment. Data collected from partner 

agencies, databases, landowners, and 

others throughout the entire planning 

process, were presented at the public 

meeting on May 28, 2009. Informal 

discussions amongst planning team 

members, partner agencies, and 

landowners were conducted throughout 

the entire planning period. 

Public Participation 

A public meeting was held on May 

28, 2009 to explain the Watershed 

Rehabilitation Program and to scope 

resource problems, issues, and concerns 

of local residents associated with the 

project area. Potential alternative 

solutions to bring Sandy Creek No. 15 

into compliance with current dam safety 

criteria were also presented. Through a 

voting process, eleven meeting 

participants heard summaries of 

planning accomplishments to date, 

provided input on issues and concerns 

to be considered in the planning 

process, were made aware of results 

from the reservoir sedimentation survey, 

and identified which planning 

alternative (i.e., No Action, 

Decommission, Structural, NonStructural) was most desirable. 

Conclusion 

The Environmental Assessment 

summarized above indicates that this 

Federal action will not cause significant 

adverse local, regional, or national 

impacts on the environment. Therefore, 

based on the above findings, I have 

determined that an environmental 

impact statement for the recommended 

plan of action on Sandy Creek 

Watershed Structure No. 15 is not 

required. 

Dated: July 2, 2009. 

James E. Tillman, Sr., 

State Conservationist. 

[FR Doc. E9–16794 Filed 7–14–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

South River Watershed Structure No. 

4: Madison County, GA 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, Agriculture. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a 

Finding of No Significant Impact. 

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); the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives 

notice that an environmental impact 

statement is not being prepared for the 

South River Watershed Structure No. 4, 

Madison County, Georgia. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cran 

Upshaw, Economist, Federal Building, 

355 East Hancock Avenue, Athens, 

Georgia 30601, Telephone (706) 546– 

2277, e-mail cran.upshaw@ga.usda.gov. 

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, James E. Tillman, Sr., State 

Conservationist, has determined that the 

preparation and review of an 

environmental impact statement is not 

needed for this project. 

The project purpose is continued 

flood prevention. The planned works of 

improvement include upgrading an 

existing floodwater retarding structure. 

The Notice of a Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 

forwarded to the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency and to various 

Federal, State, and local agencies and 

interested parties. A limited number of 

the FONSI are available to fill single 


sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES