1 environmental planning and historic preservation (ehp) compliance workshop ehp compliance

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Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance Workshop

EHP Compliance

Why is EHP Review Required?

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires that the Federal Government examine the proposed impacts of its actions before project implementation- This applies to grant-funded actions- NEPA does not mandate preservation, only informed decision-

making

NEPA serves as an “umbrella regulation” and provides a process which other EHP laws and regulations can be considered for the Grant Programs Directorate (GPD)

State processes cannot replace NEPA compliance. However, materials prepared for state compliance can be submitted with the EHP Review Packet

NEPA compliance have always been included in the special conditions of the grant award and the grant guidance

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What is an EHP Review? Analysis of pertinent project information to determine EHP

compliance

All projects funded with Federal grant dollars must comply with EHP laws, regulations, and Executive Orders and be certified by GPD

Projects must receive EHP approval before initiation by GPD

Grantees will provide all relevant EHP materials to GPD via the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk - [email protected]

Grant funds may be used for preparation of EHP documentation

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EHP Compliance

What are EHP Considerations? Endangered Species

Cultural Resources–Historic properties –Archaeological sites

Air and Water Quality

Noise

Fish and Wildlife (including habitat)

Floodplains

Wetlands

Coastal Zones

Agricultural Lands

Environmental Justice

Socioeconomic Resources

Land Use

Hazardous Materials

Traffic

Geology (Topography, Soils)

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EHP Compliance

Completing the GPD EHP Screening Form: Use and Instructions

Who needs to complete the form?

What information is needed in order to complete the form?

How much information is provided?

Where is the information included on the form?

When is the form submitted?

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Case Study – Proposed Tower SiteHughes County, SD

EHP Compliance

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EHP Review Packet

Detailed project description

Physical address of structure/facility or lat/long

Clear color photographs (ground-level and aerial)

Dimensions/acreage/square footage of structure and/or land affected

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EHP Compliance

EHP Review Packet (continued) Extent and depth of ground disturbance for:

- New construction and structure modification- Utility line placement- Fencing, light posts, installations, etc.

Height of communication towers- Explain the change in the overall height of the tower (if installation of antennas

or communication equipment results in an increase in tower height)

Special equipment being used, staging areas, etc.

Year building or structure was built (to include buildings or structures that are in the vicinity)

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GPD EHP Screening Form: What Information is Needed?

A. PROJECT INFORMATION

Grant Program Name: _______________________________

DHS Grant Award Number: __________________________

Project Name: ___________________________

Grant Fiscal Year: ___________ (Provide if no award number is available)

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GPD EHP Screening Form: What Information is Needed?

A. PROJECT INFORMATION

Grant Program Name: Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

DHS Grant Award Number: 2008-AB-C7-8910

Project Name: Hughes Tower

Grant Fiscal Year: _____ (Provide if no award number is available)

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A. PROJECT INFORMATION (Continued) Project Type (Check all that apply):

Physical security enhancements (i.e., installation of fencing, cameras, TWIC readers, bollards, motion detection systems, x-ray machines, lighting, etc.)

New installation/construction/renovation (i.e., emergency operations centers, docks, piers, security guard buildings, etc.)

Renovations/upgrades/modifications to structures 50 years old or older

X Communication towers, related equipment, and equipment shelters

Other ground disturbing activities (i.e., trenching, excavation, etc.)

Training and exercises (specify whether classroom-based or field-based; field-based only require further information below) _____

Purchase of equipment (specify type, and whether mobile/ portable, or installation will be required) _______

Other (specify) ______________________________________________

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A. PROJECT INFORMATION (Continued)

Grantee Name: __________ Sub grantee Name: _________

State: ____ County: ___________ City: ________________

Agency: ______________________

Dollar value of grant (optional): _______

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A. PROJECT INFORMATION (Continued)

Grantee Name: Hughes County Emergency Management Agency

Sub grantee Name: Hughes, LLC

State: SD County: Hughes City: _______

Agency: _____________

Dollar value of grant (optional):

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B: PROJECT DESCRIPTION/LOCATION

Enter Project Description: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The project description should contain a brief summary of what specific action is proposed, where it is proposed, and how it will be implemented.

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B: PROJECT DESCRIPTION/LOCATION

Enter Project Description: The Hughes County Emergency Management Agency, located in Hughes County, SD, proposes to construct a 480’ guyed communications tower on land owned by Hughes County. The proposed tower complex would include a 480’ guyed tower for which four micro-pile foundation holes must be dug at a depth of 30’ with a diameter of 1’, an emergency generator on a 4’ x 8’ concrete pad, and a 12’ x 9’ equipment shelter on a concrete pad. The entire compound would be enclosed with a chain link fence.

(NOTE: If one project qualifies as multiple project types, then note and refer back to original entry.)

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B: PROJECT DESCRIPTION/LOCATION (Cont’d)

Communication towers, related equipment and equipment shelters Project Location (physical project address or latitude/longitude of project location): _______________________________________________

Year existing building(s) or structure(s) involved in the proposed project was built (Required): __________

Color site photos attached (Required)

Ground-level site photos (showing where installations are proposed): ___ Yes ___ No

Aerial photograph with project limits outlined and with the location of any proposed installations identified (refer to Appendix A for guidance): ___Yes ___ No

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B: PROJECT DESCRIPTION/LOCATION (Cont’d)X Communication towers, related equipment and equipment shelters

Project Location (physical project address or latitude/longitude of project location): 44° 24' 59"N, 99° 59' 1"W

Year existing building(s) or structure(s) involved in the proposed project was built (Required): ____

Color site photos attached (Required)

Ground-level site photos (showing where installations are proposed): X Yes ___ No

Aerial photograph with project limits outlined and with the location of any proposed installations identified (refer to Appendix A for guidance): X Yes ___ No

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Communication towers, related equipment and equipment shelters (continued)

Project Location (physical project address or latitude/longitude of project location): _______________________________________________

For projects involving antenna (e) installations on existing towers, provide the height of the existing tower and the height of the tower following the installation of the new antenna (e) .

For new projects, state the total height (in feet) of the communication tower or structure, including any antennae to be mounted: ______

If the proposed tower height is greater than 199 feet above ground level, state why this is needed to meet the requirements of the project: _____

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X Communication towers, related equipment and equipment shelters (continued)

Project Location (physical project address or latitude/longitude of project location): _______________________________________________

For projects involving antenna (e) installations on existing towers, provide the height of the existing tower and the height of the tower following the installation of the new antenna (e) .

For new projects, state the total height (in feet) of the communication tower or structure, including any antennae to be mounted: 480 feet

If the proposed tower height is greater than 199 feet above ground level, state why this is needed to meet the requirements of the project: The tower height is required in order to provide adequate signal coverage throughout Hughes County.

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Will the tower be free-standing or require guy wires?

____ Free standing ____ Guy wires

If guy wires are required, state how many: _________

State why a guyed tower is needed to meet the requirements of this project: _____________________________

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Will the tower be free-standing or require guy wires?

____ Free standing _X_ Guy wires

If guy wires are required, state how many: 8 guy wires

State why a guyed tower is needed to meet the requirements of this project: The tower is located in an area that is subject to severe weather, the guyed structure is more likely to remain standing and functioning in a storm event.

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Has an FCC registration been obtained for this tower? ____Yes ____NoRegistration #: ___________

Has the FCC E106 process been completed? ____Yes ____ No

Has the FCC TCNS process been completed? ____ Yes ____ No

If yes, attach all relevant environmental documentation submitted as part of the registration process, including use of the Tower

Construction Notification System (TCNS), if applicable.

FRN# (Required)

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Has an FCC registration been obtained for this tower? _X_ Yes ____NoRegistration #: 1234567

Has the FCC E106 process been completed? _X_ Yes ____ No

Has the FCC TCNS process been completed? _X_ Yes ____ No

If yes, attach all relevant environmental documentation submitted as part of the registration process, including use of the Tower

Construction Notification System (TCNS), if applicable.

FRN# 09876 (Required)

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B: PROJECT DESCRIPTION/LOCATION (Cont’d) Communication towers, related equipment and equipment shelters

(continued)

Will ground disturbance be required?

__ Yes (provide total extent (depth, length, and width) ___ No

Has the ground been previously disturbed? (continued) ___ Yes ___ No

If yes, please describe the current disturbed condition of the area (i.e., parking lot, commercial development, etc.): _____

If no, include other visual documentation (see Appendix B for a list of online mapping resources): (See next slide)

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(continued)

Will ground disturbance be required?

X Yes (provide total extent (depth, length, and width) The fenced compound will measure 120’ x 80’, with two concrete pads measuring 4’x 8’ x 1’, and 12’ x 9’ x 1’. The micro-pile foundation holes will be 1’ in diameter at a depth of 30’, and the holes required to anchor the guy wires will be approximately 2’ x 2’ x 4’.

Has the ground been previously disturbed? (continued) ___ Yes X No

If yes, please describe the current disturbed condition of the area (i.e., parking lot, commercial development, etc.): ________________

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(continued)

If no, include other visual documentation (see Appendix B for a list of online mapping resources):

Technical drawings/site plans (if available) ___ Yes ___ No

FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), with project limits outlined ___ Yes ___ No

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Map, with project limits outlined ___ Yes ___ No

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Survey Map, with project limits outlined ___Yes ___ No

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(continued)

If no, include other visual documentation (see Appendix B for a list of online mapping resources):

Technical drawings/site plans (if available) X Yes ___ No

FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), with project limits outlined X Yes ___ No

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Map, with project limits outlined ___ Yes X No

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Survey Map, with project limits outlined ___Yes X No

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(continued)

Will any equipment or structures need to be installed? ___ Yes ___ No

If yes, please explain how and where this installation is proposed to be done (include site-specific photographs, and attach additional

pages, if needed): ___________________________________

Will the equipment use the existing infrastructure for electrical distribution systems? ___ Yes ___ No

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(continued)

Will any equipment or structures need to be installed? X Yes ___ No

If yes, please explain how and where this installation is proposed to be done (include site-specific photographs, and attach additional pages, if needed): The compound will require the installation of fencing, the 480’ communication tower, an emergency generator and concrete pad, and an equipment shed and concrete pad.

Will the equipment use the existing infrastructure for electrical distribution systems? X Yes ___ No

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(continued)

Are there any known structures or buildings that are 50 years old or older in the project area or immediate vicinity? (If yes, please provide the location of the structure(s), ground-level color photos of these structures, and identify their location(s) on the aerial map; see Appendix B for the web address of the National Register of Historic Places) ___ Yes ___ No

Is there any previously completed environmental documentation for this project (i.e., environmental assessment, wetland delineation, archaeological study)? ___ Yes (please attach documentation) ___ No

Is there any previously completed agency coordination for this project (i.e., correspondence with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Historic Preservation Office, Tribal Historic Preservation Office)?

___ Yes (please attach documentation) ___ No

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(continued)

Are there any known structures or buildings that are 50 years old or older in the project area or immediate vicinity? (If yes, please provide the location of the structure(s), ground-level color photos of these structures, and identify their location(s) on the aerial map; see Appendix B for the web address of the National Register of Historic Places) ___ Yes X No

Is there any previously completed environmental documentation for this project (i.e., environmental assessment, wetland delineation, archaeological study)? ___ Yes (please attach documentation) X No

Is there any previously completed agency coordination for this project (i.e., correspondence with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Historic Preservation Office, Tribal Historic Preservation Office)?

___ Yes (please attach documentation) X No

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C: CONSIDERATION OF RESOURCE IMPACTS

Section C is not required for the following:

- Purchase of mobile and portable equipment

- Classroom-based training, or field exercises to be conducted at an existing facility having established procedures for that particular proposed exercise

Table Overview

- Complete each of the rows and columns of the table as they pertain to the proposed project

- Provide responses based on the latest planning and background information

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Ground-Level Photographs Ground-level photographs should show the installation location and

context

Copy the image, and paste it into Microsoft Paint, Microsoft Power Point, or graphics software

Using the tools such as line drawing and fill colors, label exactly where project features will take place

Cut and paste completed drawing into Word document and include explanatory text

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Scenario: Hughes CountyGround Level Photograph #1 – Tower Site

(facing west)

Scenario: Hughes CountyGround Level Photograph #1 – Tower Site (facing west) – Proposed Tower Footprint

Aerial Photographs

Obtain an aerial photo- There are multiple online sources for aerial photos- Some are free sources, others request a nominal fee


Using the tools such as line drawing and fill colors, label exactly where project features will take place


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Scenario: Hughes County Arial PhotographFinal Submittal

Topographic Maps Topographic maps (“topo maps”) are created by the United States

Geological Survey (USGS) and provide in-depth detail of surface features of the United States

Obtain a topo map- There are multiple online sources for topo map- Some are free sources, others request a nominal fee


Using tools such as line drawing and fill colors, label exactly where project features are proposed

Cut and paste completed drawing into the Word document and include explanatory text

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Scenario: Hughes County Topographic Map – Identified and Labeled

Proposed Project Area

Floodplain Maps FEMA maintains an online database of floodplain maps, referred to

as FIRMs (Flood Insurance Rate Maps)

FEMA has smaller maps, FIRMettes, available to download for free

Go to www.msc.fema.gov, and enter your project location into “Product Search”, on the top left portion of the screen- Select the “View” icon for the resulting map- Select “Make a FIRMette”, and follow instructions to generate the

FIRMette for your project area

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Floodplain Maps (continued)



Cut and paste completed drawing into the Word document and include explanatory text

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Scenario: Hughes County Floodplain Map – Identified and Labeled

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Wetlands Maps The US Fish and Wildlife Service created the National Wetlands

Inventory (NWI) to assist with management, research, and planning- NWI maps are available online for free download at

www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.html- NWI wetlands data is not comprehensive, but is a good starting point

Select the region you wish to view on the reference map, then select the “Locate” tab on the resulting map to zoom in to your project area

Select “Print PDF” to create your map

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Wetlands Maps (continued)




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Scenario: Hughes County Tower Wetlands Map – Identified and Labeled


Projects Affecting Historic Properties

Buildings and structures 50 years old or older may be listed on, or eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) should be consulted on projects that may impact listed or eligible properties, including archaeological resources (FEDERAL agency responsibility)

An individual who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards must be used when determining the effects of a project on a historic property

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Programmatic Environmental Assessment

GPD has developed a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to examine the impacts of all its grant-funded projects

The PEA determined that certain types of projects would not have any impact on the environment- This includes, but is not limited to, PPE, medical supplies and limited

pharmaceuticals, mobile and portable decontamination equipment, mobile and portable detection equipment, mobile and portable power equipment, and mobile and portable interoperable communications equipment

The PEA also defined those projects that would require further, case-by-case study

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Tips for a Timely EHP Review

EHP Compliance

Include clear color photos of where the actual equipment will be located

Include any previous environmental documentation completed for the site with the EHP review packet

Be sure to answer the questions what work is being proposed, where will it take place, and how will it be carried out?

Look at AEL and PEA to assist in identifying projects that need EHP review

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do you mean by “date of construction”?

Why do you need to know what is in the vicinity of my project?

Where can I find my grant number?

What do you mean by “total extent of ground disturbance”?

What do you mean by “label photographs”?

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EHP Points of Contact

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EHP Compliance

Name Contact Information

Adria Martínez [email protected]

202-286-2566

Marquietta Davis [email protected]

Brian Krevor [email protected]

Amanda Pereira [email protected]

Marshall Popkin [email protected]

Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk

[email protected]

800-368-6498

GPD EHP Information [email protected]

Questions?

1 environmental planning and historic preservation (ehp) compliance workshop ehp compliance

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