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Archaeological Consulting Services – A Commonwealth Heritage Group, Inc. Company 424 West Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282-1339 (480) 894-5477 www.acstempe.com www.commonwealthheritagegroup.com December 27, 2021 Revised February 01, 2022 Commonwealth Project No. AZ-0248 Ms. Tessa Wessel, E.I.T Civil Engineer 10000 N. El Mirage Road El Mirage, Arizona 85335 Re: El Mirage Multi-Use Trail Project Dear Ms. Wessel: The City of El Mirage (City) is seeking assistance from Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd., now Commonwealth Heritage Group, Inc. (Commonwealth) with completion of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed El Mirage Multi-Use Trail Project, El Mirage in Arizona. The project will consist of a new 12’ wide concrete multi-use trail that will run along the north side of a City owned drainage channel. The channel is located between Cactus Road and Dysart Road and is approximately 1-mile long, with various trail connection entry points. Commonwealth understands that the City will utilize federal HUD funding to undertake the proposed project. Enclosed is our estimate for completion of an EA undertaken pursuant to 24 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 58.36 for the El Mirage Multi-Use Trail Project. The specific tasks to be performed are outlined below. SCOPE OF SERVICES 1. Record Reviews Commonwealth will perform the necessary environmental reviews under HUD review guidelines to fully assess, determine and document regulatory compliance, and identify mitigation measures, if required, on the 52 environmental criteria listed in the required HUD EA document. Reviews will involve accessing publically available, online databases, records, and maps, including, but not limited to, the online resources listed below. Copies of source documentation used to prepare the EA will be included in the environmental review record (ERR). Ms. Tessa Wissel December 27, 2021 Revision 1 February 01, 2022 Page 2 • City of El Mirage website • Maricopa County Assessor website • Maricopa County Air Quality Department website • Arizona Game and Fish Department Online Environmental Review Tool • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) GIS eMaps • Arizona State Museum (ASM) AZSITE online database • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website • EPA NEPAssist Tool • EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) website • EPA Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool • HUD Online Noise Assessment Tool • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory Map • National Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey Commonwealth will also conduct a site visit, including a windshield survey of the project vicinity and an on-site property inspection, to allow for an accurate written and photographic description of the project environs. Site photographs will be taken for inclusion in the EA document. Commonwealth will coordinate with the City of El Mirage staff to schedule the site visit. Commonwealth will undertake individual email solicitations with the City of El Mirage departments responsible for specific environmental criteria/criterion, such as the Planning & Development Services, Police Department, and Historic Preservation Office. The City of El Mirage will provide contact names, emails, and phone numbers for the City of El Mirage Commonwealth will submit a scoping letter to the AGFD, if needed, requesting their review of the proposed project and potential impacts to protected species and critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other applicable regulations (e.g., Migratory Bird Treaty Act). Commonwealth will submit a draft letter to the City for approval before submitting. The letter will be prepared on Commonwealth letterhead and submitted electronically in accordance with AGFD guidelines. Copies of correspondence will be included in the ERR. Commonwealth will maintain up-to-date and ongoing communication with the City of El Mirage Project Manager regarding inquiries to City of El Mirage staff to provide updates and will request assistance in the event that no responses are received. 2. Documentation The EA document will be completed using the recommended format set forth in 24 CFR 58.36. The EA document will include the required verifiable source documentation to support the findings and outcome of the assessment. All pertinent source documentation, such as document reference, Internet website reference, telephone summaries, and other studies, will be provided in the appendix of the EA. One electronic draft will be provided initially for review. The EA will be completed through HEROS. SCHEDULE Ms. Tessa Wissel December 27, 2021 Revision 1 February 01, 2022 Page 3 Commonwealth will complete the draft EA within 60 calendar days of the formal request, which will be given upon approval of this estimate. Commonwealth will address comments and provide the Final EA within seven calendar days of receiving comments to the draft EA assuming no substantial comments arise during review. We are committed to meeting the schedule and will immediately notify the City of El Mirage should any issues beyond our control arise that would potentially delay completion of the EA. FEE ESTIMATE Commonwealth’s estimate for completion of the EA is $5,510.61. As requested, a detailed fee estimated with an itemized list of all required activities, time allocated per activity in half hour increments, and total fee per activity is enclosed. Services will be invoiced on a time-and-materials basis. ASSUMPTIONS The scope of work and fee estimate outlined above are based on the following assumptions: • The City of El Mirage will provide relevant project information, such as detailed project scope, project purpose and need, and funding information, as needed to complete the EA; • Although Commonwealth has taken every step to identify the required specific environmental criteria reviews necessary to evaluate potential impacts and regulatory compliance, unforeseen additional studies/reports and/or agency consultations may add to the fee estimate and completion timeline; • Extraneous studies, such as asbestos and lead-based paint sampling, will be estimated on an additional, as-needed basis; • Commonwealth will prepare a draft EA document and address one round of review comments from the City of El Mirage to prepare the final EA. Additional revisions to the EA document may require a separate fee estimate; • Commonwealth will not be required to undertake or participate in HUD public advertising requirements, facilitate public outreach, or write HUD advertisements, as part of the environment review process. We will, however, be relied upon for our expertise regarding completion of the EA, as needed; • The Environmental Assessment will be completed through HEROS. Commonwealth greatly appreciates the opportunity to provide this estimate to complete the Environmental Assessment for the El Mirage Multi-Use Trail Project. We are prepared to begin work immediately upon receiving written authorization and look forward to working with the City of El Mirage on this project. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Amber Szalanski, Environmental Planner, or me at 480.894.5744. Sincerely, Robin Johl, ASP Ms. Tessa Wissel December 27, 2021 Revision 1 February 01, 2022 Page 4 Regional Director of Environmental Services c: Amber Szalanski Enclosure – Detailed Fee Estimate El Mirage Multi-Use Trail Project Environmental Assessment DETAILED FEE ESTIMATE Firm: ACS - A Commonwealth Company Project Name: 424 W. Broadway Road ACS No.: AZ-0408 Tempe, AZ 85282 COS Contract No.: Phone: (480) 894-5477 Contract Mod: DERIVATION OF COST PROPOSAL - SUMMARY Direct Labor Classification Person-Hours Average Hourly Rate Labor Costs Total Environmental Planner/Scientist 46.0 $89.15 4,100.90 $ Office Staff 1.0 $107.78 107.78 $ 1.0 115.70 $ 115.70 $ 6.0 176.10 $ 1,056.60 $ Senior GIS Coordinator 0.5 98.57 $ 49.29 $ 1.0 80.34 $ 80.34 $ Total Labor 55.5 5,510.61 $ TOTAL TIME & MATERIALS COST 5,510.61 $ 12/27/2021 Signature Date El Mirage Multi-use Trail Regional Director—Environmental Gis Analyst Principal Investigator (Cultural Resources)