Environmental assessment and "nationwide" section 4(f) evaluations Dodson - East project F 1-8(15)454; CN 1516 Phillips County, Montana

172 Pages·2002·9.4 MB·English

by  Montana. Dept. of Transportation

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
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Date: ~^?~
MOWTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Environmental Services
Reviewed & Approved for
Distribution:
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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.