SPN 19-56 NAB-2019-00124 (PA DOT Interstate 83 North York Widening) York, Pennsylvania

                                            Public Notice                                      

U.S. Army Corps             In Reply to Application Number
of Engineers                    NAB-2019-00124-P07 (PA DOT Interstate 83 North York Widening)
Baltimore District                     

SPN-  19-56                       September 4, 2019                                     
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS TO INFORM INTERESTED PARTIES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE INTERSTATE 83 NORTH YORK WIDENING TRANSPORTATION PROJECT

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 8-0 and the Federal Highway Administration in cooperation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, will conduct a Joint Public Hearing on October 1, 2019 for the I-83 North York Widening Project in York County.  The hearing will be conducted as part of the 45-day comment period on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA).  The public review and comment period began on August 28, 2019 and ends on October 11, 2019.

The proposed I-83 North York Widening Project involves the reconstruction and widening of approximately five miles of the I-83 corridor from Exit 19 to Exit 22 in York County, Pennsylvania.  Improvements include widening of I-83 from two to three travel lanes in each direction, construction of additional auxiliary lanes and other improvements at the interchanges, and replacement of I-83 mainline bridges throughout the corridor.

The Draft EA analyzes potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed highway widening and interchange improvements pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.  The Draft EA analyzes two alternatives, the Build Alternative and the No Build Alternative, and presents the potential impacts to various natural, cultural and community resources located within the project area and the proposed mitigation to offset those impacts.  The Build Alternative meets the project needs while minimizing environmental impacts and addressing public and agency feedback.

The Draft EA and supporting technical files are being made available for public review at the PennDOT Engineering District 8-0 and at the Federal Highway Administration Office during regular business hours.

The Draft EA will also be available for review during normal working hours at the following local government offices:

The Public Hearing will be held on October 1, 2019 at the Central York Middle School, located at 1950 North Hills Road, York, PA.  Doors will open at 5:00 PM where the public will be able to review project information prior to the start of the hearing at 6:00 PM.  Following introductory remarks, the Public Hearing will be open to testimony from all interested parties from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  Testimony can be given by any of the following means:

• Public oral testimony transcribed by a stenographer
• Private oral testimony transcribed by a stenographer
• Written testimony

Oral testimony will be limited to 5 minutes to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to speak, but can be supplemented by written testimony.  Written comments on the Draft EA can also be provided at any time during the 45-day comment period. Comments concerning the project must be submitted by October 11, 2019 to:

All comments received at either of these locations during the designated comment period and at the public hearing will be considered.  These comments will become part of the public record associated with this action.

Outside of the Public Hearing, written comments expressing concerns for aquatic resources, including wetlands, may be submitted in hard copy to:

                                    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
                                    Carlisle Field Office
                                    Attn: Mr. John Gibble
                                    401 East Louther Street, Suite 205
                                    Carlisle, PA 17013

In accordance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, a Department of the Army authorization is required for the discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States, including jurisdictional wetlands.  Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act also requires Department of the Army authorization for any work in, over, or under a navigable water of the United States.

The EA will also serve to support permit applications by PennDOT to receive any Department of the Army authorizations required to perform the proposed work.  Once final design plans are complete for the alignment, PennDOT will submit any necessary permit applications to the Corps.  If the proposed work requires a Department of the Army Standard Individual Permit, a second public notice will be issued by the Corps to gather additional comments related to final design plans and impacts to the aquatic environment.

The decisions whether to issue Section 404 and/or Section 10 authorizations will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the proposed project on the public interest.  The decision will reflect national concern for the protection and utilization of important resources.  The benefit that reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposed project must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments.  All factors which may be relevant to the proposed project will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof.  Among the factors to be considered are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain 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.

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.

The public hearing location is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Should you need special assistance or require additional information, please contact Ben Singer, PennDOT Project Manager at (717) 787-6690.

General information regarding the Corps’ permitting process can be found on our website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.aspx.  If you have any questions concerning this specific project, or would like to request a paper copy of this public notice, please contact Mr. John Gibble, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (717) 249-9457 or john.gibble@usace.army.mil.  This public notice is issued by the Chief, Regulatory Branch.