Notice is hereby given that the USDA Rural Development as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) in connection with possible impacts related to a project proposed by Randolph County Development Authority, of Elkins, WV. The proposed project is located on parcel 5-11-43.4 in the City of Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia. The Randolph County Development Authority is proposing to construct a 28,130 square foot events center at the former Elkins Railyard site. The project will consist of a single-story building with areas dedicated to theater-style seating that is flexible for various performances, flexible open space for training workshops, trade shows and business conferences, and remote space for Ascend WV participants. A commercial kitchen, restrooms, exhibition space, and administrative/operational spaces have also been factored into the preliminary design. The project will also include the construction of surface parking for vehicles and buses, driveways, green space, and utility infrastructure necessary to operate the building. The total land disturbance for this project to construct the building, parking, and roads associated with the events center will be 4.6 acres. The project construction and staging will take place entirely on property owned by the Randolph County Development Authority and will not impact access to other businesses or services in the area. All proposed work will take place within previously disturbed areas. Randolph County Development Authority has submitted an application to Rural Utilities Service (RUS)USDA Rural Development for funding of the proposal. RUS has chosen to apply the Programmatic Agreement among the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Programs, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, Tribal Signatories, and The Advisory Council on historic Preservation for Sequencing Section 106 (NPA) for the Railyard Events Center Project. RUS is applying the NPA to avoid an impending pooling deadline. If RUS elects to fund the Railyard Events Center Project, it will become an undertaking subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 54 U.S.C. 306108, and its implementing regulations, 36 CFR Part 800.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USDA Rural Development, Logan Mongold, Area Specialist, 1200 Harrison Avenue, Suite 150, Elkins, WV 26241, 304-636-2158 or [email protected]. Or, The Thrasher Group, Samuel Rich, P.E., 600 White Oaks Blvd, P.O. Box 940, Bridgeport, WV 26330, 1-800-273-6541, or [email protected]. Or Randolph County Development Authority, Robbie Morris, Executive Director, 10 Eleventh Street, Suite A, Elkins, WV 26241, 304-637-0803 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Thrasher Group, an environmental consultant, prepared an environmental assessment for Randolph County Development Authority that describes the project, assesses the proposed project’s environmental impacts, and summarizes as applicable any mitigation measures used to minimize environmental effects. USDA Rural Development has conducted an independent evaluation of the environmental assessment and believes that it accurately assesses the impacts of the proposed project. No significant impacts are expected as a result of the construction of the project.
Questions and comments should be sent to USDA – RD or Randolph County Development Authority at the address provided. Questions and comments on the environmental assessment will be accepted for 15 days from the date of publication of this notice.
Any final action by USDA RD (RUS) related to the proposed project will be subject to, and contingent upon, compliance with all relevant Federal environmental laws and regulations and completion of environmental review procedures as prescribed by 7 CFR Part 1970, Environmental Policies and Procedures.]
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