Notice2021-11646
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Gould Wash Flood Protection Project, Washington County, Utah
Primary source
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Published
June 3, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentNatural Resources Conservation Service
Abstract
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Utah State Office announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Gould Wash Flood Protection Project within the Warner Draw Watershed in Washington County, Utah. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS from all interested all interested individuals. The EIS process will examine existing flood control measures and evaluate additional (new) alternatives identified during scoping.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 105 (Thursday, June 3, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 105 (Thursday, June 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29738-29739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11646]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Gould Wash Flood Protection Project, Washington County, Utah
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Utah State
Office announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Gould Wash Flood
Protection Project within the Warner Draw Watershed in Washington
County, Utah. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant
issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS from all interested
all interested individuals. The EIS process will examine existing flood
control measures
[[Page 29739]]
and evaluate additional (new) alternatives identified during scoping.
DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by July 6, 2021.
Comments received after this date will be considered to the extent
possible.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit formal scoping comments. Comments
may be submitted by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#274048524b435046544f674a444a4d46440944484a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e0878f958c8497819388a08d838d8a8183ce838f8d">[email protected]</span></a>;
<bullet> Mail or hand delivery to: Ms. Bobbi Preite, McMillen
Jacobs Associates, 1471 Shoreline Dr., Suite 100, Boise, ID 83702; or
<bullet> Telephone: (208) 985-1542.
To be included on the EIS mailing list, please provide your contact
information through any of the comment options above. Please note that
any respondent's entire scoping comment, including their personal
contact information, may be made publicly available at any time during
the EIS process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Norm Evenstad; telephone: (801)
524-4569; or email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ef0f1ecf3b0fbe8fbf0edeafffadeebedfaffb0f9f1e8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="335d5c415e1d5645565d4047525773464057521d545c45">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Purpose and Need
The primary purpose for watershed planning and preparation of an
EIS is flood prevention and flood damage reduction in Hurricane City,
Utah. NRCS will provide technical assistance and financial support for
the EIS process and the implementation of the selected alternative.
Watershed planning was authorized under Public Law 83-566, the
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954, as amended, and
Public Law 78-534, the Flood Control Act of 1944.
This action is needed because 50 percent of all the properties or
portions of properties that adjoin Gould Wash through the town of
Hurricane, Utah are flooded in any given year. Gould Wash has an
uncontrolled drainage area of approximately 64.5 square miles. A total
of 650 residences, 99 commercial businesses or offices, and 82 roads
currently would be inundated during a 100-year flood. Flood control of
Gould Wash is critical to prevent future flood damage and loss of
property and life.
Initial agency scoping of this federally assisted action indicates
that proposed alternatives may have significant local and regional
impacts to the environment. Norm Evenstad, State Conservationist, has
determined that the preparation of an EIS is needed. This EIS will be
prepared as required by section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and NRCS regulations that
implement NEPA in 7 CFR part 650.
Consultation with Tribal Nations and interested parties will be
conducted as required by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
(as amended through 1992) (16 U.S.C. 470f).
Description
In efforts to control Gould Wash as it traverses through Hurricane
City, various steps have been taken including hardening the stream
banks to prevent erosion and straightening the channel to avoid private
property and buildings. During small events these measures suffice in
protecting property, however, during a 100-year flood event the channel
is overtopped and flooding is widespread throughout Hurricane City.
Watershed planning under the EIS will evaluate the effectiveness,
environmental effects, and the socio-economic impacts of the original
channelization efforts. The results of these analyses will provide the
context for determining the environmental, economic, and social effects
of considered alternatives for additional (new) flood prevention or
flood damage reduction measures for the Gould Wash Flood Protection
Project within the Warner Draw Watershed in Washington County, Utah.
The focused planning area is 64.5 square miles.
Scoping Process
NRCS invited all interested individuals and organizations, public
agencies, and Tribes to comment on the scope of the EIS, including the
project's purpose and need, alternatives proposed to date, new
alternatives that should be considered, specific areas of study that
might be needed, and evaluation methods to be used. One scoping meeting
to present the project and develop the scope of the EIS was held on
Tuesday, February 4, 2020, in the Bryce Canyon Room at the Hurricane
Community Center in Hurricane, Utah. A presentation was conducted
followed by a group question-and-answer period. Project team members
were available for individual questions and discussions.
Alternatives
The objective of the EIS is to formulate and evaluate alternatives
for flood prevention or flood damage reduction in the Gould Wash
channel through the Town of Hurricane City. Alternatives to be
evaluated include the development of dam(s) in the Gould Wash
headwaters and modifications of the channel through Hurricane City. The
actions will require upland watershed treatments to reduce runoff,
major rehabilitation of the channel through town and land use changes
in the floodplain.
Potential impacts include wetland and flood plain alteration.
Permitting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding potential
wetland impacts will be pursued prior to final design and construction.
A draft EIS will be prepared and circulated for review and comment by
agencies and the public per 40 CFR 1503.1, 1502.20, 1506.11, and
1502.17, and 7 CFR 650.13. NRCS invites agencies and individuals who
have special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or interest in the Gould
Wash Watershed to participate and identify potential alternatives.
Federal Assistance Programs
The title and number of the Federal assistance program in the
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance to which this NOFA applies:
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.
Emily Fife,
State Conservationist, Utah, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-11646 Filed 6-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P
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