Wallops Flight Facility Causeway Bridge Replacement Final Environmental Assessment (EA)
- Final Documents
- Background
- Participating and Cooperating Agencies
- Public Involvement
- Finding of No Significant Impact
Documents
- Causeway Bridge Replacement FONSI (212 KB)
- Causeway Bridge Replacement Final EA (document only, 10.7 MB)
- Causeway Bridge Replacement Final EA (document with appendices, 39.6 MB)
- Appendix A - Scoping Responses (13.8 MB)
- Appendix B - FHWA 30% Design Plan Sheets (Select Sheets for the EA) (1.7 MB)
- Appendix C - Figures from the Wetland Delineation Report (1.0 MB)
- Appendix D - Federal Consistency Determination (1.8 MB)
- Appendix E - VMRC Coordination (1.1 MB)
- Appendix F - Endangered Species Act Section 7 Information and Coordination (2.9 MB)
- Appendix G - Essential Fish Habitat Information and Coordination (8.5 MB)
- Appendix H - Cultural Resources Coordination (3.0 MB)
Background
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for its proposed Causeway Bridge Replacement Project in Accomack County, Virginia. The EA has been prepared to satisfy NASA's obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). This Final EA also serves as a means for ensuring compliance with a variety of other federal statutes including the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
The purpose of the Causeway Bridge Replacement EA is to analyze the potential effects of replacing the Wallops Island Causeway Bridge over Cat Creek. This EA is tiered from the May 2019 NASA WFF Site-Wide Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). In the Site-wide PEIS, NASA evaluated the potential environmental effects from various alternatives, including replacement of the Causeway Bridge. The Site-wide PEIS is available at https://code200-external.gsfc.nasa.gov/250-wff/site-wide_eis.
The existing Causeway Bridge was constructed in 1959 -1960 and is beyond the end of its anticipated service life. The Proposed Action being evaluated through this EA consists of site preparation, construction and removal of construction access, construction of a new bridge parallel to the north side of the existing bridge on a new alignment, relocation of the existing utilities currently attached to the existing bridge under Cat Creek via horizontal directional drilling or to the new bridge via suspension (note: utility relocation was added to the Proposed Action after publication of the Draft EA; however, through consultation with regulatory agencies, NASA determined that potential effects did not change from the analysis in the Draft EA), demolition of the existing bridge after the new bridge opens, and ongoing maintenance and operations of the new bridge.
The Final EA evaluates the environmental consequences of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative.
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Causeway Bridge from Wallops Mainland to Wallops Island |
Participating and Cooperating Agencies
The Federal Highways Administration is a Participating Agency for this EA because of its role in undertaking design and oversight of the construction of the new Causeway Bridge and approach road. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) are Cooperating Agencies for the EA since USACE would authorize permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, and Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (commonly referred to as Section 408); and USCG would issue a Bridge Permit for the bridge reconstruction. FHWA has assisted NASA in preparing the EA and has participated in all regulatory consultations during the NEPA process. USACE and USCG have also assisted in preparation of the EA.
Public Involvement
A public review and comment period of the Draft EA was held from September 12, 2023, through October 11, 2023. An electronic version of the Draft EA was available for viewing online and at the following locations:
- Chincoteague Island Library, Chincoteague, VA
- Eastern Shore Public Library, Parksley, VA
- WFF Visitor Center, Rt. 175, VA
Additionally, NASA hosted a public meeting from 4 to 6 pm on September 20, 2023, at the WFF Visitor Center.
The project Fact Sheet and the Posters that were presented during the September 20, 2023, public meeting are available for viewing and downloading.
For any questions regarding the Causeway Bridge Replacement Final EA, NASA WFF's NEPA program, please contact:
Shari Miller
Center NEPA Manager
NASA Wallops Flight Facility
34200 Fulton Street
Mailstop: 250.W
Wallops Island, VA 23337
Shari.A.Miller@nasa.gov
(757) 824-2327
Finding of No Significant Impact
NASA has signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in conjunction with the Final EA. NASA selected the Proposed Action as the Preferred Alternative and has documented that the environmental impacts associated with replacement of the Causeway Bridge will not individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, NASA has determined that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.
