Public Notice
U.S. Army Corps In Reply to Application Number
of Engineers CENAB-OPR-M (SHM Brewer Oxford Boat Yard)
Baltimore District 2018-61522
PN 18-63 Comment Period: November 13, 2018 – December 13, 2018
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS TO SOLICIT COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE WORK DESCRIBED BELOW. AT THIS TIME, NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT A PERMIT WILL BE ISSUED.
The Baltimore 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: Safe Harbour Marinas
c/o Andrews Barksdale
14785 Preston Road, Suite 975
Dallas, Texas 75254-6878
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: In the Tred Avon River at SHM Brewer Oxford Boat Yard and Marina in Oxford, Talbot County, Maryland.
PROPOSED WORK AND PURPOSE: The applicant proposes, in accordance with the attached plans, to upgrade an existing marina facility by conducting the following work:
To remove the following: a 6-foot by 20-foot kayak launch extending 20 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead, six 3-foot by 20-foot finger piers extending 20 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; an existing 7-foot by 79-foot perpendicular dock with an attached 4-foot by 35-foot finger pier, and a 3-foot by 15-foot finger pier, all extending no more than 35 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; six existing 3-foot by 25-foot finger piers extending 20 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; an existing 7-foot by 211 foot pier with an 7-foot by 188-foot L-head with seven attached 3-foot by 15-foot finger piers, and an 7-foot by 143 L-head with four attached 3-foot by 15-foot finger piers and an attached 5-foot by 40-foot finger pier, all extending no more than 211 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; a 4-foot by 122-foot pier with five attached 3-foot by 12-foot finger piers, and four 3-foot by 15-foot finger piers, all extending no more than 122 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; five 3-foot by 15-foot finger piers extending 15 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; an existing 4-foot by 192-foot perpendicular dock with two attached 3-foot by 35 foot finger piers, and four 3-foot by 15-foot finger piers, all extending no more than 35 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead.
To construct the following work: replace 390 linear feet of timber bulkhead with vinyl sheet piling in kind and not to extend channelward of the existing timber bulkhead; install 534 linear feet of vinyl sheet pile on the outboard face of the existing timber bulkhead to extend no more than 1.5 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; a 1.5-foot by 30-foot vinyl sheet pile breakwater to extend no more than 30 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; a 6-foot by 20-foot kayak launch to extend no more than 20 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; a 6-foot by 160-foot parallel fixed dock with an attached an 3-foot by 25-foot finger pier, a 4-foot by 40-foot finger pier, and two 6-foot by 60-foot finger piers, and to install 8 mooring pilings, all to extend no more than 60 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; a 10-foot by 105 perpendicular floating dock with an attached 10-foot by 10-foot fuel dock, and to install 4 mooring pilings, all to extend no more than 10 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; a 10-foot by 10-foot triangular side platform, and to install 1 mooring piling, all to extend no more than 10 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; an 8-foot by 260-foot floating pier with a 4-foot by 35-foot floating finger pier, four 5-foot by 50-foot floating finger piers, a 4-foot by 30-foot floating finger pier, three 5-foot by 45-foot floating finger piers, a 6-foot by 45-foot floating finger pier, and an 8-foot by 95-foot T-head floating platform, and to install 16 mooring pilings, all to extend no more than 260 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; an 8-foot by 140-foot floating pier with a 3-foot by 25-foot floating finger pier, two 4-foot by 35-foot floating finger piers, four 4-foot by 40-foot floating piers, and a 7-foot by 75-foot T-head floating platform, and to install 13 mooring pilings, all to extend no more than 140 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead; ten 3-foot by 30-foot finger piers, and to install 17 mooring pilings, all to extend no more than 30 feet channelward of the existing bulkhead
To maintenance dredge by mechanical and/or hydraulic method an approximate 0.9 acre irregular shaped area to -7.0 feet mean low water (MLW) with over-dredge depth to -8.0 feet MLW resulting in approximately 2,500 cubic yards of silt and sand to be deposited at an existing upland (non-wetland) disposal site at SHM Bohemia Vista Marina, Cecil County, Maryland. A 10-year maintenance dredging clause is requested. The existing depths in the proposed dredge area range from -4.0 - 8.0 feet MLW.
The purpose of this project is improved navigable access and maintenance.
No compensatory mitigation is proposed. No wetland impacts are proposed. The project would impact approximately 121,000 square of the Tred Avon River. All work is to be completed in accordance with the attached plans. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Ms. Laura Coleman at (410) 853-2051 or Lamuelle.L.Coleman@usace.army.mil.
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact 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 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 including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, 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, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people.
The evaluation of the impacts of the work described above on the public interest will include application of the Clean Water Act 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 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 Laura Coleman, CENAB-OPR-M], 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland 21201 or Lamuelle.L.Coleman@usace.army.mil, 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 affect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The project site lies in or adjacent to the Tred Avon River complex for EFH as described under the MSFCMA for Scopthalmus aquosos (Windowpane Flounder) juvenile; Leucoraja erinacea (Little Skate) adult; Clupea harengus (Atlantic Herring) juvenile, adult; Urophycis chuss (Red Hake) adult, eggs, larvae, and juvenile; Leucoraja erinacea (Winter Skate) adult; Raja eglanteria (Clearnose Skate) adult and juvenile under the MSFCMA.
The project has the potential to adversely affect EFH or the species of concern by loss of spawning, nursery, forage and/or shelter habitat as described under the MSFCMA for the species and life stages identified above. The Baltimore District has made a preliminary determination that site-specific impacts would not be substantial and an abbreviated consultation was conducted with NMFS. No mitigative measures are recommended to minimize adverse effects on EFH at this time. This determination may be modified if additional information indicates otherwise and would change the preliminary determination. The project area is not a Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC).
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 Blvd., Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 within the comment period as specified above to receive consideration. The 401 certifying agency has a statutory limit of one year to make its decision.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: The applicant has certified in this application that the proposed activity complies with and will be conducted in a manner consistent with the Maryland Coastal Zone Program. This certification statement is available for inspection in the District Office; however, public comments relating to consistency must be received by the Tidal Wetlands Division, Maryland Department of the Environment, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd. Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, within the comment period as specified above. It should be noted that the MDE has a statutory limit of 6 months in which to make its consistency determination.
The applicant must obtain any State or local government permits which may be required.
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: A preliminary review of this application indicates that the proposed work is not likely to adversely affect Federal listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. As the evaluation of this application continues, additional information may become available which could modify this preliminary determination.
NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT: Review of the latest published version of the National Register of Historic Places indicates that the subject property is listed as eligible for inclusion of the Oxford Historic District. The project design is to be reviewed by the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). Currently unknown archeological, scientific, prehistoric, or historical data may be lost or destroyed by the work to be accomplished under the requested permit.
The evaluation of the impact of the work described above on the public interest will include application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Any person who has an interest, which may be adversely affected by the issuance of this permit, may request a public hearing. The District Engineer must receive the request, which must be in writing, to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, within the comment period as specified as above to receive consideration. Also, it must clearly state the interest that may be adversely affected by this activity and the manner in which the interest may be adversely affected.
It is requested that you communicate the foregoing information concerning the proposed work to any persons known 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:
Kathy B. Anderson
Chief, Maryland Section Southern