NM 532 Curve Correction Project - New Mexico Department of ...

NM 532 Curve Correction Project Environmental Assessment
Resource or Issue
Wetlands
Fish and Wildlife
Endangered Species
Hazardous Materials
Public Information
Program
Materials Pits and
Staging Areas
Air Quality During
Construction
Construction Noise
Property Access
Solid Waste
Recycling
Commitment
Water Act. Construction activities will comply with all conditions of the Section 404 permit and
Section 401 water quality certification. A copy of the SWPPP and Section 401 water quality
certification will be kept at the project area during construction. The SWPPP will include best
management practices (BMPs) to minimize soil erosion and sediment transport including
mitigation measures to protect water quality. Temporary erosion and sediment control plans will
be included in the plan sets. The construction contractor will also ensure that equipment does not
leak oils or fuels into the wetlands or surface water. Fuels and hazardous materials will be stored
away from wetlands and surface water.
Construction activities will avoid wetlands at Last Curve. To prevent construction trucks and
equipment from accidentally impacting wetlands, temporary fencing will be placed around
wetlands that are located within 50 feet of the project area and are to be avoided.
BMPs would be implemented to ensure protection of fish habitat water quality during and after
construction. The U.S. Forest Service will be contacted prior to initiating any tree cutting. Any
tree cutting or shrub clearing would occur outside of the migratory bird nesting season (March 1
through August 30) or a biological survey for bird nests would be conducted prior to tree removal.
If an occupied nest is found during this preconstruction survey, the nest will be avoided until the
young birds have fledged.
Construction at Texas Turn will be restricted between March 1 and August 30 to mitigate potential
impacts to the Mexican spotted owl. However, if during Mexican spotted owl protocol surveys,
the U.S. Forest Service Smokey Bear Ranger District determines that 1) nesting is not occurring, or
2) the young have fully fledged, then construction could begin prior to August 30 if approved by
the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The U.S. Forest Service does not need to be consulted after
August 30 and prior to March 1 for construction activities at this curve.
Construction at Last Curve will not occur between July 15 and September 30 to mitigate potential
impacts to the Sacramento Mountain salamander. The NMDOT will coordinate with the U.S.
Forest Service two weeks prior to commencement of construction to schedule a site visit and
relocated individual Sacramento Mountain salamanders that could be impacted. Trees cut at Last
Curve will be placed in salamander habitat through coordination with the U.S. Forest Service.
The construction contractor will be responsible for managing hazardous substances in compliance
with federal and state laws to ensure that no contamination occurs.
NMDOT will develop a public information program for construction activities.
Per NMDOT procedures, the construction contractor will be responsible for obtaining appropriate
environmental clearances for materials pits and staging areas outside of the project area.
Compliance specifications will be strictly administered for all equipment operations and dustproducing
aspects of construction operations. Dust control mitigation measures are recommended
during construction as specified in NMDOT Standard Specifications for Highway and Bridge
Construction, 1017.14.5 Air Quality Requirements and Dust Abatement.
Every reasonable effort will be taken to minimize construction noise through abatement measures
such as work-hour controls and maintenance of muffler systems.
Access to the Eagle Lakes campground, Lincoln National Forest, and Ski Apache will be
maintained during construction except for brief intervals.
All construction debris and waste will be removed from the construction zone as soon as it is
practical and will be managed in accordance with federal and state regulations.
To the extent practical, the construction contractor will recycle roadway materials for reuse on
other roadway construction projects.
MAI Project No. 10001.01BB
March 2013 19 CN 2101140