PN-23-18 NAB-2021-00412-E04 (Ritz Craft - Unauthorized Wetland Impact)

USACE
Published April 3, 2023
Expiration date: 5/3/2023

                   Public Notice
U.S. Army Corps              In Reply to Application Number
of Engineers                    NAB-2021-00412-E04 (Ritz Craft - Unauthorized Wetland Impact)

Baltimore District
PN-23-18                          Comment Period: April 3, 2023 to May 3, 2023                                     
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS TO INFORM INTERESTED PARTIES OF THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY AND TO SOLICIT COMMENTS. NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT A PERMIT WILL BE ISSUED AT THIS TIME.

This District has received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1344),as described below:

APPLICANT:

                                        Mr. David Kazibwe
                                        Ritz-Craft Corporation
                                        15 Industrial Park Road
                                        Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania 17844

WATERWAY AND LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WORK:

The proposed project is located in Wetland 1 adjacent to an unnamed tributary to Buffalo Creek and north of the intersection of Industrial Park Road and Watercress Drive in Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania. Project coordinates are: 40.918805 -77.059466.

OVERALL PROJECT PURPOSE:

To expand the existing 60,000 square foot modular home construction plant to an up to date 200,000 square foot construction plant to accommodate present day means and methods of building practices and safety protocols, along with proper access for mobilization of units and trucks.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Ritz-Craft Inc. is proposing to expand and improve Building 1 at their existing facility in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. The present Building 1 facility was constructed in 1968 and does not support the present day means and methods of building practices and safety protocols. Key additions include additional workspace for current construction practices and home designs within the facility and additional parking and storage space outside of the facility. The proposed expansion will increase workflow, improve material deliveries, and improve workplace safety within the building. The proposed expansion will result in an impact to 1.42 acres of Palustrine Forested Wetland.

EFFECTS ON AQUATIC RESOURCES:

Activity (i.e. culvert)

Stream Impact (lf)

Wetland Impact (Sq. Ft.)

Authority (Section 10/404/408)

Placement of Fill

N/A

61,855

404


LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY:

The United States Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency and is responsible for coordination pursuant to applicable federal authorities.

APPLICANT’S PROPOSED AVOIDANCE, MINIMIZATION, AND COMPENSATORY MITIGATION:

Minimization efforts have been incorporated into the proposed design. The footprint of the building expansion and accompanying gravel drive have been reduced to the minimum needed for the building and turning movements of the trucks/units and for staff parking. Also, stormwater management is needed for the project and has been designed to be placed under the gravel pad to eliminate any additional impacts from stormwater BMPs. The slopes of the fill have been reduced to the minimum needed for stability of the project.

An alternative analysis was conducted by the applicant with potential alternatives along with a no action alternative where the project would not be built (Alternative 1).  Alternative 2 was to relocate the plant to a different location.  Due to an established already present and the impact the facility has on the local economy and community relocating the project was not a feasible option.  On site alternatives were explored to the east (Alternative 2), south (Alternative 3) and west (Alternative 4) of the existing facility.  Onsite constraints such to the east, west and south included encroaching on existing roads, existing structures that would need to be relocated elsewhere within the complex along with potentially resulting in additional aquatic impacts and these proposed alternatives did not provide the adequate turning radius for truck/unit mobilization. The northern expansion at the existing facility is the preferred alternative due to it allowing for the expansion of the existing facility to the 200,000 square foot building along with being the only alternative onsite that allows for the efficient removal of units from the assembly process when needed. It also allows for the necessary turning movements for trucks pulling units out of or placing units back into the facility.

The applicant is proposing to mitigate at an off-site location at a 4:1 ratio for the 1.42 acres of impacted Palustrine Forested Wetland.  The proposed mitigation site is located 2 miles north of the existing facility in West Buffalo Township, Union County, Pennsylvania.

CORPS EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS:

This project will be evaluated pursuant to Corps Regulatory Program Regulations (33 CFR Parts 320-332). The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonable may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors, which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economic, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, and consideration of property ownership and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. The evaluation of the impact of this project will also include application of the Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency.

ENDANGERED SPECIES:

A preliminary review of this application indicates that the proposed work will have no effect federally listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as amended. As the evaluation of this application continues, additional information may become available which could modify this preliminary determination.

ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT:

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA), as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 (Public Law 04-267), requires all federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service on all actions, or proposed actions, permitted, funded, or undertaken by the agency that may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), including species of concern, life cycle habitat, or Habitat Areas of Particular Concern. The project site lies in or adjacent to EFH as described under MSFCMA for managed species under the MSFCMA. The Baltimore District has made a preliminary determination that the project will have no adverse effecton EFH. The Baltimore District has made a preliminary determination that mitigative measures are required to minimize adverse effects on EFH at this time. This determination may be modified if additional information indicates otherwise.

HISTORIC RESOURCES:

Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and applicable guidance, the Corps has reviewed the latest published version of the National Register of Historic Places and initially determined that no registered properties listed as eligible for inclusion, therein, are located at the site of the proposed work. The Corps has made the preliminary determination that the proposed project would have no effect on historic properties. The Corps final eligibility and effect determination will be based on coordination with the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office as appropriate and required, and with full consideration given to the proposed undertaking’s potential direct and indirect effects on historic properties within the Corps’ identified permit area.

TRIBAL RESOURCES:

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act also requires federal agencies to consult with federally recognized American Indian tribes that attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties that may be affected by the agency’s undertaking. Corps Tribal Consultation Policy mandates an open, timely, meaningful, collaborative, and effective deliberative communication process that emphasizes trust, respect, and shared responsibility. The policy further emphasizes that, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, consultation works toward mutual consensus and begins at the earliest planning stages before decisions are made and actions taken. The Corps final eligibility and effect determination will be based on coordination with interested tribes, in accordance with the Corps current tribal standard operating procedures as appropriate and required, and with full consideration given to the proposed undertaking’s potential direct and indirect effects on tribal resources.

MODIFICATION OF CIVIL WORKS PROJECTS: 33 USC 408 (SECTION 408):

All Section 408 proposals will be coordinated internally at USACE. The Section 408 decision will be issued along with the Section 404 and/or Section 10 decision. Please see the following link for more information regarding Section 408: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Section-408-Requests/.

WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION:

The applicant is required to obtain a Water Quality Certification in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS:

Where applicable, the applicant has certified in this application that the proposed activity complies with and will be conducted in a manner consistent with the approved Coastal Zone Management Program.

By this public notice, we are requesting the state concurrence or objection to the applicant’s consistency statement. The applicant must obtain any state or local government permits which may be required.

SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS:

The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments provided will become part of the public record for this action and are subject to release to the public through the Freedom of Information Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.

Written comments concerning the work described above related to the factors listed above or other pertinent factors must be received by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District within the comment period specified above through postal mail at the address below or electronic submission to the project manager email address below. Written comments should reference the Application Number NAB-2021-00412-E04.

PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTS:

Any person who has an interest which may be adversely affected by the issuance of this permit may request a public hearing. The request, which must be in writing, must be received within the comment period as specified above to receive consideration. Also, it must clearly set forth the interest which may be adversely affected by this activity and the manner in which the interest may be adversely affected. The public hearing request may be submitted by electronic mail or mailed to the following address:

Mr. Matt Gall
matt.gall@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
State College Field Office
1631 South Atherton Street, Suite 101
State College, PA 16801

It is requested that you communicate this information concerning the proposed work to any persons known by you to be interested, who did not receive a copy of this notice.

General information regarding the Corps’ permitting process can be found on our website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.aspx. This public notice has been prepared in accordance with Corps implementing regulations at 33 CFR 325.3. If you have any questions concerning this specific project or would like to request a paper copy of this public notice, please contact Mr. Richard Kibby at (443) 254-6984 or by email at richard.kibby@usace.army.mil. This public notice is issued by the Chief, Regulatory Branch.