Public Notice
U.S. Army Corps In Reply to Application Number
of Engineers CENAB-OPR-M (HO DPW/Deep Run Sewer Interceptor)
Baltimore District 2018-61754
PN 19-06 Comment Period: January 28, 2019 to February 28, 2019
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 404 of the Clean Water Act (33. U.S.C. 1344) as described below:
APPLICANT: Howard County Department of Public Works, Utility Design Division
Attn: Mr. Wes Daub
9250 Bendix Drive
Columbia, Maryland 21045
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The proposed project improvements extend approximately 29,500 linear feet along the Deep Run stream corridor from Maryland Route 100 north of Coca Cola Drive in Hanover to north of Bellows Spring Elementary School in Howard County, Ellicott City, Maryland. The study corridor is approximately 150 feet wide, centered on the existing Deep Run Sanitary Sewer.
PROPOSED WORK: To replace and stabilize the existing Deep Run sewer interceptor, with new pipe ranging from 12 to 30 inches in diameter. The project will require the following temporary and permanent disturbances to aquatic resources:
- Stabilization and temporary construction access activities will result in approximately 2,392 linear feet of temporary stream impact and 4,298 linear feet of permanent stream impact due to open trench installation and stabilization through grade control and stream bank treatments.
- Approximately 36,381 square feet of forested and emergent wetlands are expected to be temporarily impacted due to construction access and sewer installation.
- Approximately 14,008 square feet of forested wetland will be temporarily cleared. Areas to remain as emergent wetlands will be restored to existing grade and seeded with native wetland seed. A 20-foot wide corridor will be maintained over the sewer line.
Avoidance and Minimization: The Applicant proposes to complete work within the existing Right of Way. The proposed maintained corridor has been reduced to 20 feet in width.
Mitigation: As mitigation the Applicant proposes to replant approximately 20,617 square feet of wetlands within the existing Right of Way.
All work will be completed in accordance with the enclosed plans dated October 10, 2018. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Ms. Jamie Larkin at 410-962-4522 or Jamie.H.Larkin@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 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 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: 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: Ms. Jamie Larkin, CENAB-OPR-M], U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201 or Jamie.H.Larkin@usace.army.mil, within the comment period specified above.
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, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1708 within the comment period as specified above to receive consideration. MDE has a statutory limit of one year from the date of this public notice to make its decision.
FEDERALLY LISTED SPECIES: A preliminary review of this application indicates that the proposed work will not affect Federal 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.
HISTORIC AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES: 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: Ms. Jamie Larkin, CENAB-OP-RMN], U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201, 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