Environmental assessment and "nationwide" section 4(f) evaluation 14.9 km south of Havre-South : STPS 234-1(7)9; Control No. 2837, Hill County, Montana

170 Pages·2002·11.6 MB·English

by  Robert Peccia & Associates

Environmental Assessment
^^Nationwide" Section 4(f) Evaluation
km
14.9 South of Havre-South
STPS 234-1(7) Control No. 2837
9;
County, Montana
Hill
STATE DOCUMENTS
COLLECTION
'PPO^
2002
tWONTANA STATE LISRARY
HELENA, MONTANA 59620
Prepared For:
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration and the
Montana Department of Transportation
Prepared By: Robert Peccia & Associates, Helena, Montana
MAR 2 7 2083
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
and
"NATIONWIDE" SECTION EVALUATION
4(f)
km
14.9 South of Havre-South
STPS 234-1(7) 9; Control No. 2837
HILL COUNTY, MONTANA
This document is prepared in conformance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act
{MEPA) requirements and contains the information required for an Environmental
Assessment under the provisions of ARM 18.2.237(2) and 18.2.239. It is also prepared
in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act {NEPA) requirements for an
Environmental Assessment under 23 CFR 771.119 and Section 4(f) of the U.S.
DEPARTMENTOF TRANSPORTATIONAct under 23 CFR771.135.
Submitted pursuant to:
42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c), 49 U.S.C. 303 and
Sections 2-3-104, 75-1-201, M.C.A.
by the
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
U.S.
Federal Highway Administration
and the
MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Submitted by:
Date:
\RTMENT OFTRANSPORTATION
rvices
Reviewed & Approved for
Distribution:
Federal HighwayAdministration
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2015
in
https://archive.org/details/environmentalass2002robe
14.9 km South ofHavre South: STPS234-1(7) 9 EnvironmentalAssessment
Table of Contents
Page No.
Cover Page
Table of Contents ^
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION
I.
A. Project Location, Length and Termini 1
B. Scope ofthe Proposed Project 1
C. Project Funding 2
D. Jurisdiction 5
PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION
II.
A. Purpose 8
B Transportation and Other Needs 8
.
L Project History and Status 8
2. Current and Projected Road Use 10
3. Roadway and Bridge Deficiencies 11
C. Safety 15
1. Motor Vehicle Accident History ofthe Project Area 15
D. Legislation Mandating Action 18
1. Changes in Maintenance Responsibility on Highway 234 18
2. Montana's "Open Range" Fencing Law 18
E. Overall Conclusions on Need 21
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
III.
A. Introduction 22
B. No Action Alternative 22
C. Preferred Action and Associated Features 23
1. Overview 23
2. Design Speed/Posted Speed Limit 23
3. Typical Road Cross-Section 24
4. Design Exceptions 24
5. Stream Crossings/Bridges 25
6. Cattle Guards 25
7. Information and Warning Signs 27
8. Water Developments forLivestock Away from the Road 27
9. Recreation/Fisheries Enhancement Activities 28
D. Build Alternatives Considered But Rejected 30
1. Mill/Fill and Overlay Highway 234 30
2. Overlay the Existing Highway 30
3. Reconstruct the Highway But Eliminate Grazing 30
4. Reconstruct the Highway and Fence the Highway Corridor 31
5. Build the Highway on a New Location 31
E. Other Alternatives Considered But Rejected 32
1. Drop Highway 234 from the Secondary System 32
2. Do Nothing and Allow Highway 234 to Return to Gravel 33
14.9 km South ofHavre South; STPS234-1(7) 9 EnvironmentalAssessment
Page No.
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT and ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
IV.
A. Introduction 34
B. Impacts to the Natural Environment 34
1. Impacts to Landforms, Geology and Soils 34
2. Impacts to Important Farmland 36
3. Impacts to Water Resources and Quality 37
4. Floodplain Impacts 43
5. Air Quality Impacts 44
6. Impacts to Vegetation 45
7. Impacts to Wetlands 49
8. Impacts to Threatened and Endangered Wildlife 50
9. Impacts to Other Wildlife Resources and Fisheries 54
C. Impact to the Human and Cultural Environment 58
1. Land Ownership and Use Impacts 58
2. Right-of-Way and Utility Impacts 59
3. Transportation /Circulation Impacts 61
4. Social Impacts/Environmental Justice 62
5. Economic Impacts 63
6. Noise Impacts 64
7. Hazardous Materials/Substances 65
8. Impacts to Archaeological and Historical Resources 66
9. Impacts to Section 4(f) Properties 68
10. Impacts to Section 6(f) Lands 72
11. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities 76
12. Impacts to Visual Resources 76
13. Other Secondary and Cumulative Impacts 77
14. Construction Impacts 78
15. Permits Required 80
COORDINATION WITH OTHERS
V.
A. Agency Coordination 81
B. Public Involvement Activities 81
1. Project Notices/Early Meetings 81
2. June 8, 1999 Public Meeting 82
3. Establishment ofHighway 234 Advisory Committee 83
4. Highway 234 Advisory Committee Meetings and Actions 84
5. May 24, 2000 Open House Meeting on Fencing Options 85
6. Legislative Action Waiving Fencing Requirement 85
7. Planned Public Involvement Activities 85
C. Chronological Summary ofProject Actions 86
D. Distribution List for Document 88
E. List ofAgencies With Jurisdiction and/or Permits Required 90
F. List ofOther Agencies, Persons, or Groups Contacted
or Have Contributed Information 90
14.9 km South ofHavre South: STPS234-1(7) 9 EnvironmentalAssessment
APPENDICES
Appendix A: List ofPreparers
Appendix B: Correspondence Pertinent to Project
Appendix C: Open Range Fencing Law and Senate Bill 259
Appendix D: Draft Safety Mitigation Plan/Adopted Grazing Policies and Procedures
Appendix E: "Nationwide" Section 4(f) Evaluation and Related Materials
List of Figures and Photo Plates
Page No.
Figure 1: General Area Location Map 3
Figure 2: Project Location Map 4
Figure 3: Reported Motor Vehicle Accident Locations on Highway 234 17
Figure 4: Typical Road Cross-Section for Highway 234 26
Figure 5: Proposed Water Developments in Beaver Creek County Park 29
Figure 6: Beaver Creek County Park and Developed Facilities 70
Figure 7: Location ofReplacement Land to Mitigate Section 6(f) Conversion 75
Photo Plate 1: Photographs ofHighway 234 Project Area 6
Photo Plate 2: Photographs ofHighway 234 Project Area 7
Photo Plate 3: Existing Road Conditions and Geometric Deficiencies 14
Photo Plate 4: Open Range Grazing Along Highway 20
Table 1: Estimated Current and Future Traffic on Highway 234 10
Table 2: Specific Water Quality Criteria for "B-1" Class Waters 38
Table 3: Summary ofExisting Range Site/Habitat Type Conditions 46
Table 4: Species, Habitat, and Potential Occurrence ofThreatened or Endangered
Wildlife in Beaver Creek County Park ...51
Table 5: Archeological and Historic Sites in the Project Area 67
- iii -

14.9 km South ofHavre-South; STPS 234-1(7) 9
Environmental Assessment
Description of the
I.
Proposed Action