[Federal Register: July 2, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 127)]
[Notices]
[Page 44419-44421]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jy02-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Finding of No Significant Impact for Tobosofkee Creek Watershed;
Lamar and Monroe Counties, GA, June 2002
Introduction
The Tobosofkee Creek Watershed is a federally assisted action
authorized for planning under Public Law 83-566, the Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention Act. An environmental assessment was
undertaken in conjunction with the 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.
Recommended Action
This document describes a plan for watershed protection, and
improvement
[[Page 44420]]
of water quality, and includes measures for the control of agricultural
animal waste related pollution, and reduction of sediment from pasture
and cropland. The plan reduces excessive animal waste, and associated
nutrients and bacteria entering waterways from about 20 beef, 13 dairy,
4 poultry, and 1 swine operation. The plan also provides measures to
reduce nutrient runoff and erosion on 3,450 acres of cropland,
sedimentation from stream banks and animal walkways will be
substantially reduces and forage quality will be improves on 10,347
acres of pasture. These measures will be accomplished by providing
financial and technical assistance through a local sponsor.
The principal project measures are to:
1. Develop and install approximately 38 animal waste management
systems and provide enhanced cover to 13,797 acres of cropland,
pasture, and adjoining stream banks to reduce sedimentation, improve
water quality improve fish and wildlife habitats, enhance crop
productivity, and enhance forage production. These practices will
include all or parts of the following: fencing, cross fencing with
gates, alternative livestock water supply with piping and troughs,
stream crossings, riparian buffers, animal waste, flush down and hose
down systems, solid waste separators, heavy use protection areas, solid
waste stack facilities and dead bird composters on 20 beef, 13 dairy, 4
poultry and 1 swine operation. Conservation management, with nutrient
and grazing land management practices, will be used when applying
animal waste.
2. The measures will be planned and installed by developing long-
term contracts will landowners.
Effects of Recommended Action
Installation of animal waste management measures and grazing land
practices will reduce offsite nutrient, bacteria, sediment and chemical
damages, and increase utilization of nutrients onsite. The results will
be a significant reduction in current impairments to the area's water
quality, biological habitats, recreational opportunities, land values
and improvement of long-term productivity and quality of pastureland in
the watershed. Installation of the selected plan will also provide
local and regional employment, promote rural economic development in
the drainage area, and provide long term natural resource protection in
the watershed.
The project measures will reduce agricultural related nutrients,
bacteria and sediment entering watershed streams, the Tobosofkee Creek
and Lake Tobosofkee. The project will also minimize the impact on
surface and ground water quality by:
Reducing the 61,115 tons of sediment from agricultural
lands and stream banks by 45%.
Providing a significant reduction in the amount of
nitrates, ammonia, and bacteria delivered annually to area waterways,
thus improving biological habitats, recreational opportunities, and
real estate values.
Improving cropland and paster productivity in the
watershed by an average of 28%.
Grazing land practices will increase forage productivity through
improved management and utilizing waste more efficiently. This will
reduced stream enrichment and conserve the nutrients for plant
production. The proposed plan will also encourage and promote the
agricultural enterprises in the watershed through improved efficiency.
Wildlife habitat will not be disturbed during installation of
animal waste systems and grazing land practices. No wetlands, wildlife
habitat, fisheries, prime farmland, or cultural resources will be
destroyed or threatened by this project. Some 2,316 acres of wetland
and wetland type wildlife habitat will be improved. Conversions to
permanent vegetation will provide a more diverse upland game habitat.
The value of woodland habitat will not decline. 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.
Scenic values will be completed with improved riparian quality and
cover conditions resulting from the installation of conservation animal
waste management system and grazing land practices.
Alternatives
Four alternative plans, that included 27 combinations of systems
and practices, was 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 the watershed by managing
animal waste and stabilizing pasture and cropland.
Consultation--Public Participation
Since the 1980's citizens within the Tobesofkee Watershed have
recognized increasing water quality issues and potential problems
related to agriculture. Land-owners utilized assistance through EQIP to
address their concerns but were limited by program policy and budget
constraints. Meetings were held to evaluate the problem and determine
if the issues warranted application for additional federal assistance
through the PL-566, Small Watershed Program. Based on data obtained and
interest within the watershed the Districts (Sponsors) and NRCS agreed
that this watershed should be targeted for special water quality
improvement efforts. The Sponsor(s) submitted an application on
September 27, 2001 to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation
Commission for NRCS planning assistance under the PL-566 authority. The
Commission approved the application and gave it high priority.
To facilitate consultation and public involvement in the Tobesofkee
Creek Watershed Project, a project organizational structure was
developed. It considered of the Project Sponsors, who were supported by
an Interdisciplinary Planning Team, a Technical Advisory Group, and
Stakeholder Involvement.
NRCS developed an interdisciplinary, interagency planning team to
work with the Sponsor, landowners, and other interested groups. The
Technical Advisory Group was compiled of specialists from the Lamar
County Soil and Water Conservation District; Towaliga Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD); Georgia Cooperative Extension Service
(CES), Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental
Protection Division (EPD), Water Protection Branch Georgia Department
of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), Game and
Fisheries Section; Georgia Forestry Commission; USDA, Farm Services
Agency (FSA); USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS);
USDA, US Forest Service (FS); USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service (F&WS) to
again insight to the magnitude of the problems and possible solutions.
At the initiation of the planning process, meetings were held with
key farmers and District representatives from the watershed area to
discuss problem identification, conservation systems and PL-566
requirements. A public meeting was held on January 24, 2002 to scope
the problems and concerns and to explain impacts of the PL-566 program
initiatives relative to a watershed project and discuss possible
solutions. Notice of the meeting appeared in the local newspaper and on
radio for several weeks prior to the date. Seventy-five landowners,
operators, and interested citizens attended the meeting.
Several meetings, group discussions, and interviews were held with
local planners, individuals, government
[[Page 44421]]
officials, and other technical experts to inventory resources, identify
cause-effect relationships, and develop--and evaluate--alternative
plans of action to address resource concerns.
Another public meetings was held in Redbone, Georgia on May 23,
2002. Local operators, landowners, and citizens attended the meeting.
The results of surveys, studies, field investigations, and alternative
plans of actions were presented. Those attending agreed upon a
Recommended Plan, developed by the Planning Team.
From January 2002 to May 2002, representatives of the SWCD, NRCS,
EPD, WRD, CES, and other officials evaluated data to determine the
quality and quantity of resources that would be impacted by selected
practices and to consider possible mitigation measures. It was the
consensus of the group that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was
not needed for this project. This agreement was based on the type of
practices and systems planned and that each would be installed on
previously disturbed land. With this consensus, and Environmental
Assessment (EA) was prepared accordingly.
Upon review of the EA, this Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) was prepared. These documents are being distributed to all
concerned agencies, groups, and interested individuals. A Notice of
Availability of the FONSI is being published in the Federal Register.
Agency consolations and public participation to date has shown no
conflicts with the implementation of the selected plan.
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 Tobosofkee Creek Watershed Plan is not required.
Dated: June 18, 2002.
Leonard Jordan,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 02-16413 Filed 7-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-M
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