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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />II <br />i <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />SECTIONTHREE Affected Environments and EnVironmental Consequences <br /> <br />the primary land use within the Pawnee Creek and Riverside Cemetery project areas. A limited <br />area containing urban development also exists within the Riverside Cemetery study area and <br />includes the cemetery, city maintenance yard. and a few small businesses. <br /> <br />3.2.1 Floodplain Encroachment <br /> <br />The intent of Executive Order 11988 is to require Federal agencies to take actions to minimize- <br />occupancy of and modifications to floodplains. Specifically, Executive Order 11988 prohibits <br />Federal agencies from funding construction in the 100-year floodplain (or 500-year floodplain <br />for a critical facility) unless there are no practicable alternatives. By its very nature, the NEPA <br />compliance process involves the same basic decision process to meet objectives found in the <br />Eight-Step Decision-Making Process. The Eight-Step Decision-Making Process has been <br />applied through implementation of the NEPA process followed as part of this EA. <br /> <br />Logan County and Sterling participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). By <br />participating in the NFIP, the County and City have implemented controls, zoning, and <br />development regulations, along with effective land use planning to reduce and control <br />development within the Pawnee Creek floodplain. <br /> <br />3.2.1.1 <br /> <br />Alternative 1 - No Action <br /> <br />The No Action Alternative would not directly affect land use within and adjacent to the project <br />area. This alternative would not contribute to additional structures being located within the 100- <br />year floodplain of Pawnee Creek. <br /> <br />3.2.1.2 <br /> <br />Alternative 2 -Improve Routing of Pawnee Creek Flood Flows (Proposed <br />Action) <br /> <br />As shown on Figure 10, a majority of the features of this alternative are located in the 100-year <br />floodplain of Pawnee Creek as the alternative was developed with the focus of conveying the <br />flood flows of Pawnee Creek to the South Platte River with the least possible flood damage. <br />None of the project features are located in the Pawnee Creek floodway. In a letter dated <br />January 22, 1998 (Appendix C), the local Floodplain Administer, Mr. Richard Snook, certified <br />that Logan County is in full compliance with the NFIP. He also certified that the proposed <br />project would be in full compliance with the regulations of the NFIP and that any and all <br />floodplain permits, variances, and requirements would be issued for the project in a timely <br />manner. As stated previously, the County and City have implemented controls, zoning, and <br />development regulations, along with effective land use planning, to reduce and control <br />development within the Pawnee Creek floodplain. <br /> <br />The proposed action would reduce the magnitude and duration of future Pawnee Creek flood <br />events (URS Greiner Woodward Clyde 1999). The exact effect would depend on the magnitude <br />of the flood event and the location within the floodplain. Based on the modeling of the flood <br />flows associated with the 1997 flood, this alternative would have prevented Pawnee Creek <br />floodwaters from entering Sterling and would have reduced cropland flooding. Although the <br /> <br />3-3 <br />