PN13-57 Idlewilde Community POA/Lot 8/Groins - Anne Arundel County

Published Sept. 30, 2013
Expiration date: 10/30/2013

Public Notice                                         

U.S. Army Corps               In Reply to Application Number

of Engineers                      CENAB-OP-RMN (Idlewilde Community POA/Lot 8/Groins)

Baltimore District              2013-61141-M36

PN-13-57                            Comment Period: September 30, 2013 to October 30, 2013

                                     

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS TO SOLICIT COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE WORK DESCRIBED BELOW.  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 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33.U.S.C.1344) as described below:

 

APPLICANT:          Idlewilde Community Property Owners Association

                                c/o Ralph E. Ray, Jr.

                                P.O. Box 155

                                Shady Side, Maryland 20764

 

WATERWAY AND LOCATION: Chesapeake Bay, at 4711 Idlewilde Road, Shady Side, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

 

PROPOSED WORK AND PURPOSE:  The proposed project includes the removal of two recurved stone groins, the construction of an 80 linear foot “L”-shaped stone beach containment groin, the addition of approximately 60 cubic yards of clean sand fill for a recreational beach, and the construction of a set of 3-foot by 21-foot access steps and kayak ramp (the kayak ramp and steps will be located above mean high water).  The proposed project will extend approximately 50-feet channelward of the existing mean high water shoreline.  The proposed project is a replacement of a previously existing recreational beach that has historically been located in this area for the community association.

 

All work is to be completed in accordance with the enclosed plans.  If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Mr. John Policarpo at (410) 962-4522 or at john.n.policarpo@usace.army.mil.

 

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 the work described above on the public interest will include application of the Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

 

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.  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 District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, ATTN: Mr. John Policarpo, CENAB-OP-RMN, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, within the comment period specified above.

 

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 (NMFS) on all actions, or proposed actions, permitted, funded, or undertaken by the agency that may adversely effect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH).

 

The project site lies in or adjacent to EFH as described under the MSFCMA for juvenile and adult Scopthalmus aquosos (windowpane flounder); larvae, juvenile, and adult Paralicthys dentatus (summer flounder); adult and juvenile Centropristus striata (black sea bass); juvenile and adult Pomatomus saltatrix (blue fish); and the eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults of Peprilus triacanthos (Atlantic butterfish), Sciaenops ocellatus (red drum), Rachycentron canadum (cobia), Scomberomorus maculates (Spanish mackerel), and Scomberomorus cavalla (king mackerel), managed species under the MSFCMA.

 

A preliminary assessment indicates that the proposed work would not have a substantial adverse effect on either managed species or prey species.  Therefore, no EFH conservation measures have been developed.  As the evaluation of this application continues, additional information may become available which could modify this preliminary determination.

 

SECTION 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION:  The applicant is required to obtain a water quality certification in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Maryland Department of the Environment.  Any written comments concerning the work described above which relate to water quality certification must be received by the Maryland Department of the Environment, Tidal Wetlands Division, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1708 within the comment period as specified above to receive consideration.  The Section 401 certifying agency has a statutory limit of one year from the date of this public notice to make its decision.

 

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 (CZM) Program.  By this public notice, we are requesting the State concurrence or objection to the applicant’s consistency statement.  Public comments relating to consistency must be received by the Maryland Department of the Environment, Wetlands and Waterways Program, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1708 within the comment period specified above to receive consideration.  It should be noted that the CZM Program has a statutory limit of 6 months to make its consistency determination.

 

The applicant must obtain any State or local government permits which may be required.

 

A preliminary review of this application indicates that the proposed work will not affect 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.

 

Review of the latest published version of the National Register of Historic Places indicates that no registered properties listed as eligible for inclusion, therein, are located at the site of the proposed work.  Currently unknown archeological, scientific, prehistoric, or historical data may be lost or destroyed by the work to be accomplished under the request permit.

 

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 by the District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, ATTN: Mr. John Policarpo CENAB-OP-RMN, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, 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.

 

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

 

FOR THE DISTRICT ENGINEER:

 

 

 

                                                                        Joseph P. DaVia

                                                                        Chief, Maryland Section Northern