6 s 388.105 T6de 2002 Bodsoit - East Environmental Assessment and Nationwide Section 4(f) Evaluations For: Project F1 -8(1 5) 454; Control No. 1 51 Phillips County, Montana MJCUMENTS COLLECTION I MONTANA STATE LlbSKARY 1515 E. 6th AVE. HELENA, MONTANA 59520 Prepared By: Robert Peccia & Associates, Helena, MT JM , MONTANASTATELIBRARY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT and "NATIONWIDE" SECTION EVALUATIONS 4(f) DODSON EAST - PROJECT F 1-8 (15) 454; CN 1516 PHILLIPS 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 PolicyAct (NEPA) requirements for an Environmental Assessment under 23 CFR 771.119 and Section 4(f) of the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Act 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 Subrprtfec q^CtyZ/ l/-/9-o Date: ~^?~ MOWTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Environmental Services Reviewed & Approved for Distribution: ^^Jvbit ,gvUn Date: (f/zg/l ^- Federal HighwayAdministration Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Montana State Library http://archive.org/details/environmental1432mont Dodson-East; F 1-8 (15) 454; CN 1516 EnvironmentalAssessment TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. TABLE OF CONTENTS i DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION I. A. Introduction 1 B. Project Location, Length and Termini 1 C. Scope ofthe Proposed Project 2 D. Project Funding 5 E. Jurisdiction 5 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROJECT II. A. Purpose 8 B. Transportation and OtherNeeds 8 1. Project History and Status 8 2. Functional Classification 9 3. Current and Projected Road Use 9 4. Roadway and Bridge Deficiencies 10 C. Safety 15 1. Accident History ofthe Dodson-East Project Area 15 D. Overall Conclusions on Need 17 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED III. A. Introduction 18 B. No Action Alternative 18 C. Preferred Action and Associated Features 18 1. Overview 18 2. Design Speed/Posted Speed Limit 19 3. Typical Road Cross-Section 19 4. Horizontal and Vertical Alignments 19 5. Bridges/Culverts/Drainage 21 6. Irrigation Canal Crossings/Facilities 21 7. Intersections and Approaches 22 D. Build Alternatives Considered ButRejected 22 1. Rebuild US 2 Slightly North ofIts Existing Alignment 22 2. Shift US 2 North ofthe BNSFRailway 24 3. Reconstruct US 2 to Bypass Dodson 24 4. Shift US 2 South and Rebuild Dodson North Canal 25 IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATING MEASURES A. Introduction 26 B. Impacts to the Natural Environment 26 1. Impacts toLandforms, Geology and Soils 26 2. Impacts to ImportantFarmland 28 3. Impacts toWaterResources and Quality 29 4. Floodplain Impacts 34 Dodson-East; F 1-8(15) 454; CN 1516 EnvironmentalAssessment Page No. 5. Air Quality Impacts 36 6. Impacts to Vegetation 37 7. Wetlands Impacts 40 8. Impacts toThreatened and Endangered Wildlife 43 9. Impacts to OtherWildlife and Fisheries Resources 46 C. Impacts to the Human and Cultural Environments 49 1. Land Use Impacts 49 2. Right-of-Way and Utilities Impacts 51 3. Transportation/Circulation Impacts 53 4. Social Impacts/Environmental Justice 54 5. Economic Impacts 55 6. Noise Impacts 57 7. Hazardous Substances 58 8. Impacts to Cultural, Archaeological/Historical Resources 60 9. Section 4(f) Impacts 64 10. Section 6(f) Impacts 66 11. Pedestrians and Bicyclist Facilities 66 12. Visual Impacts 67 13. Other Secondary and Cumulative Impacts 68 14. Construction Impacts 73 15. Permits Required 75 COORDINATION WITH OTHERS V. A. Agency Coordination 76 1. Cooperating Agencies 76 2. Agencies Consulted 76 FHWA 3. Authorization for Project 77 B. Public Involvement Activities 77 1. Project News Release 77 2. Early Project Meeting With Dodson Town Council 77 3. November 18, 1998 Public Meeting 77 4. Planned Public Involvement Activities 78 C. Distribution List forDocument 79 D. List ofAgencies With Jurisdiction and/or Permits Required 81 E. List ofOtherAgencies, Persons, orGroups Contacted OrThat Have Contributed Information 81 APPENDICES Appendix A List ofPreparers Appendix B Correspondence Pertinent to Project Appendix C "Nationwide" Section 4(f) Evaluations and Related Materials Appendix D Public Involvement - ii Dodson-East; F 1-8(15) 454; CN 1516 EnvironmentalAssessment LIST OF FIGURFS AND PHOTO PLATES Page No. Figure 1: General AreaLocation Map 3 Figure 2: Project Location Map 4 Figure 3: Typical Road Cross-Section forUS 2 20 Figure4: Proposed Alignment ofUS 2 23 Figure 5: Surface Waters and Canals in the Dodson-East Project Area 32 Figure 6: Delineated Floodplains in the Dodson-East Project Area 35 PhotoPlate 1 Photographs ofDodson-East Project Area 6 Photo Plate 2 Photographs ofDodson-East Project Area 7 Photo Plate 3 Photographs ofthe Dodson North Canal 14 LIST OF TABLES Page No. Table 1 Estimated Current and Future Traffic on US Highway 2 NearDodson 10 Table 2 Bridge Locations, Types, and Sufficiency Ratings US Highway 2 NearDodson 15 Table 3 Accident Summary US Highway 2 NearDodson 16 Table 4 Impact Summary andJurisdictional Status ofWetlands in the Dodson-East Project Area 42 Table 5: Leaking Underground Storage Tank (UST) Sites in the Dodson-East Project Area 58 Table 6: Archeological and Historic Sites in the Dodson-East Project Area 61 in Dodson-East; F 1-8 (15) 454; CN 1516 EnvironmentalAssessment Description of the Proposed Action I.