Department of the Army
Baltimore District, Corps of Engineers
P. O. Box 1715
Baltimore, MD 21203-1715
Operations Division 11 August 2017
SUBJECT: Maintenance Dredging, Knapps Narrows, Tilghman Island, Talbot County, Maryland
REVISED PUBLIC NOTICE CENAB-OP-N-17-02
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Pursuant to Sections 313 and 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 USC 1323 and 1344) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pending availability of funds the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is planning to perform maintenance dredging for the Federal navigation channel at Knapps Narrows, Talbot County, Maryland.
The proposed work consists of dredging the Knapps Narrows channel at Tilghman Island to its authorized depth of 9 feet (MLLW), plus two feet of allowable overdepth, and a width of 75 feet. The Corps plans to hydraulically dredge approximately 100,000 cubic yards of material consisting of clay, mud, sand, silt, and shell and combinations thereof (Map 1). The dredged material will be placed at a previously used upland site, known as the Donnel-Jones farm, located off Donnel-Jones Road in Tilghman, MD (Map 2).
A review of data generated for preparation of the Environmental Assessment, including a preliminary 404(b)(1) evaluation, indicates that no significant environmental impacts are expected. A preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not warranted. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation addressing the environmental issues of the placement site construction is being prepared. The proposed placement site construction complies with and will be conducted in a manner consistent with the approved Maryland Coastal Zone Management Program. The project will comply with the Endangered Species Act, and provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management act, as amended, and will not have any adverse effect on endangered species or essential fish habitat for federally managed species.
The Corps will coordinate the project with the following Federal, State and local agencies: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service; Maryland Department of the Environment; Maryland Department of Natural Resources; and Maryland Historical Trust; and Talbot County, Maryland.
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The decision whether to accomplish the work proposed in this public notice will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed work on the public interest. The decision will reflect the national concern for the protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably 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; for example conservation, aesthetics, fish and wildlife values, general environmental concerns, economics, historic values, navigation, energy needs, recreation, safety, water quality, food production, and public welfare. The work will not be accomplished unless it is found to be in the public’s interest.
Any person who has an interest that may be affected by the placement of this dredged material may request a public hearing. The request must be submitted in writing to the District Engineer, US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, PO Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, within 30 days of the date of this notice and must clearly set forth the interest that may be affected and the manner in which the interest may be affected by this activity. The Corps has completed the environmental documentation for this project, which is available upon request.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, has applied for a Water Quality Certification from the State of Maryland, which is required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Any comments relating to water quality concerns should also be forwarded to the Maryland Department of the Environment, Standards and Certification, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 within 30 days of the date of this notice.
Since we are not aware of all persons interested in the project, we request that you provide this information to anyone whom has interest. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Danielle Szimanski at (410) 962-6064 or Danielle.m.Szimanski@usace. army.mil.
Dianne B. Edwardson
Chief, Operations Division