Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Finding of No Practicable Alternative (FONPA) for Road Maintenance at New Boston Air Force Station (NBAFS), New Hampshire

The proposed action evaluated in this Environmental Assessment (EA) is to maintain existing installation roadways. The proposed action includes cleaning culverts with hand tools and heavy equipment, replacing failed or undersized culverts with culverts correctly sized to handle maximum flows. Grading of gravel installation roads would be performed on an as needed basis throughout the year. Installation of erosion control devices would include creation of water bars and broad based dips with heavy equipment. Culvert cleaning and replacement would be performed annually during periods of low-flow. All work described in this EA would adhere to guidance in with New Hampshire Best Management Practices (NHDFL, 2001) manual. This EA evaluated the potential impacts to air quality, noise levels, topography, geology, soils, water resources, ecological resources, cultural resources, land use, recreation, visual resources, socioeconomics, and health and safety. On the basis of this assessment, it was determined that the proposed action would result in only minor to negligible localized, short-term, or temporary impacts to the environment as compared to the no action alternative. Culvert maintenance would result in a negligible to minor incremental addition to impacts that have occurred from other activities.