Categorical Exclusion Form - NJ

Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division
NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form

Project Number:

NJ ERFO FW WARI 2019-1(1)

Project Name:

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge Trail
Repairs

Location:

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge
Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey

CE Category

23 CFR 771.117(c)(23): Federally funded projects

(i) That receive less than $6,000,000; or (ii) with a
total estimated cost of not more than $35,000,000
and federal funding comprising less than 15% of
total estimated project cost.

Date: 11/6/2023

See 23 CFR 771.117 for full description of CE categories, including additional requirements when applying (c)26-28.

Project Description
The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is proposing to repair portions of the Liberty Loop and Dagmar Dale Nature trails within the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) located in Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. The Refuge was impacted by back-to-back heavy rain events in 2019 which led to widespread flooding throughout the region. Multiple trails within the Refuge were inundated with flood waters for several days and multiple culverts which cross under the Dagmar Dale Nature trail either failed or sustained structural damage from the flood event.
The proposed repairs on the Dagmar Dale Nature trail will involve replacing failed culverts which cross under the trail, resurfacing and regrading damaged portions of the trail surface, and installing cellular confinement system (CCS) along trail soft spots. The proposed repairs on the Liberty Loop Trail will involve deep patch repairs of the trail embankments, installation of a CCS, and turf re-establishment.
Additional trail work will include installation of temporary erosion and sediment control measures, vegetation clearing and grubbing, outfall stabilization, and other miscellaneous trail maintenance activities. All proposed work will occur within areas previously disturbed by the original construction and routine maintenance of each trail. Environmental Commitments and Mitigation Measures

EFLHD NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form

NJ ERFO FW WARI 2019-1(1)

EFL-TM-ENV-03(05)

Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division
NEPA Categorical Exclusion Form

Erosion Control Measures:
x The Contractor will be required to prepare and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan