The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with the City of Fulton, Ill., and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, invites the public to review and comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the construction of transient boating facilities on the Mississippi River in Fulton.
The draft EA evaluates several alternatives, including the proposed alternative, which would construct 25 transient boating slips and associated amenities and infrastructure as part of an overall marina renovation and expansion project. The project will utilize Boating Infrastructure Grant Program funds made available by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act. These funds come from federal excise taxes on fishing tackle and motorboat fuels.
The City of Fulton plans to construct new, and renovate existing, boating access facilities on the Mississippi River to provide adequate access for transient boats 26 feet or longer. City officials determined that improved access was necessary to help meet demand for recreational facilities generated by increasing boat ownership. Other benefits include enhanced safety for users and improved accessibility for disabled users.
The proposed alternative would address this need by constructing 25 transient boat slips that will include dredging, electric and water service, fuel dock, sewage pump-out, walkways, service building upgrades and other associated amenities. Officials believe the proposed alternative will ensure that public needs for safe recreational boating and fishing facilities will continue to be met. Two other alternatives evaluated are to develop a transient marina on city-owned wetland property near the newly constructed Dutch Windmill and an alternative that would involve no marina expansion or renovation activities.
The EA was prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that applies to the actions of all federal agencies. This project is proposed by the City of Fulton and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for funding through the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The draft EA is available on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website at Additionally, copies may be obtained from the City of Fulton, Illinois. Attn: Randy Balk, City Administrator, 415 11th Ave., Fulton, Illinois 61252 (telephone 815/589-2616) or copies may be viewed at the Fulton Library. Written comments should be sent to Balk via mail at the above address, via email: , or via fax to 815/589-4421. Comments should be received by Balk not later than September 5, 2003.
The proposed project is also being reviewed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The area of potential effect for this undertaking is on the existing marina property. No cultural resources are known to be located on any of these properties. The public is requested to inform the Service at the above address about archeological sites, buildings and structures, historic places, cemeteries, and traditional uses of the area that could influence decisions about the project.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
