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<br />National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (PC 91-190, as amended; hereafter abbreviated
<br />NEPA) , requires evaluation of environmental effects for all federally-funded projects. Other
<br />applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders include the Council on Environmental
<br />Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts
<br />1500-1508); the Clean Air Act of 1977 (PL 88-206); the Clean Water Act of 1977 (PL 92-500;
<br />Floodplain Management (Executive Order 11990); the Endangered Species Act (PL 93-205); the
<br />Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (PL 86-624); the Water Resources Council Economic and
<br />Enviromnental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation
<br />Studies, March 10, 1983, Corps of Engineers, Engineer Regulations 200-2-2 ("Environmental
<br />Quality: Procedures for Implementing NEPA ") and 1105-2-100 ("Guidance for Conducting Civil
<br />Works PlaIDling Studies"); Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority
<br />Populations and Low-Income Populations (Executive Order 12898); and state regulations
<br />conserving endangered and sensitive plants and animals.
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<br />For the Florence, Colorado, flood control feasibility study, environmental compliance shall
<br />consist of biological, cultural, and social inventories of existing resources of the proposed project
<br />area; assessment of the potential effects of proposed imdialternative structural measures for flood
<br />control; consultation and coordination with the appropriate federal, state, and local agencies,
<br />preparation of a summary of fmdings for the feasibility study; and preparation and processing of
<br />applicable environmental compliance documents'. . The NEP A requirements and CEO regulations
<br />for implementing the procedural provisions of NEP A will be met by preparing an Enviromnental
<br />Assessment (EA), which will be integrated into or appended to the feasibility report. It was
<br />determined that an EA would be appropriate because no significant environmental impacts nor
<br />controversial issues are anticipated as a result of this project. However, if significant impacts or
<br />controversial issues do arise, preparation of an Enviromnentallmpact Statement may be necessary.
<br />Quality control during the feasibility phase, including technical review of all enviromnental
<br />compliance instruments and documents, will bejJerformed according to the enviromnental
<br />technical review checklist attached to this'report. Further, geographical information systems (GIS)
<br />will be utilized during environmental compliance for alternative and impact analyses, as well as for
<br />general plaIDling purposes and mapping outputs,."",.".., ,,'
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<br />The EA shall discuss and evaluate the beneficial and adverse enviromnental effects of each
<br />project alternative (including the "no action" alternative), on socioeconorWcs, aesthetics, air
<br />quality, water quality, noise levels, recreation, land use, and biological resources, including
<br />endangered and threatened species. Information for the EA shall be obtained from field surveys,
<br />published and unpublished literature, and consultation with federal, state, and local agencies,
<br />universities, private organizations, and the public.
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<br />2.13 FISH AND WILDLIFE COORDINATION. Fish and Wildlife Coordination will be
<br />performed by the Government. Fish and Wildlife investigations in support of water resources
<br />feasibility studies are performed substantially under the purview of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
<br />Service (USFWS, consistent with Section 2(b) of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (PL 86-
<br />624) and Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (PL 93-205). The requirements of
<br />these Federal laws, and all applicable state laws, are related to, but distinct from, the requirements
<br />ofNEPA.
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<br />SECTION B, PAGE 17
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