Finding [30 Pa.B. 2309] Montgomery County Pursuant to the provisions of 71 P. S. Section 2002(b), the Secretary of Transportation makes the following written finding:
The Federal Highway Administration and the Department of Transportation plan to replace the one lane stone arch bridge that carries S. R. 4015 (Second Avenue) over Mingo Creek in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County. The bridge is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and is considered a Section 2002/Section 4(f) resource.
This project will impact the Section 2002/Section 4(f) resource as identified in the associated Categorical Exclusion Evaluation/Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation.
Mitigation measures will be taken to minimize harm as stipulated in the Categorical Exclusion Evaluation/Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation and in the executed Memorandum of Agreement. Mitigation measures will include the following:
* A Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER) recordation will be completed prior to the demolition of the bridge.
* Architectural elements such as the date plaque will be selected for curation, relocation, or reconstruction.
* A permanent plaque commemorating the history and significance of the bridge will be placed near the site.
* The Renninger archaeological site will be avoided.
* The new twin culvert will be placed six inches below the natural stream bottom to allow for natural re-establishment of the streambed and maintenance of fish passage.
The environmental, economic, social, and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in Section 2002 of the Administrative Code, have been considered. It has been concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize such effects.
No adverse environmental effect is likely to result from this bridge replacement project.
BRADLEY L. MALLORY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-756. Filed for public inspection May 5, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]
