PN-23-25 NAB-2021-60455-M30 (Easton-Newman Field Airport/Culvert)

USACE
Published May 30, 2023
Expiration date: 6/14/2023

                       Public Notice
U.S. Army Corps              In Reply to Application Number
of Engineers                    NAB-2021-60455-M30 (Easton-Newman Field
                                            Airport/Culvert)

Baltimore District
PN-23-25                          Comment Period: May 30, 2023 to June 14, 2023                                  
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS TO INFORM INTERESTED PARTIES OF THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY AND TO SOLICIT COMMENTS. 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 USC 1344),as described below:

APPLICANT:          Mr. Micah Risher
                                Easton/Newman Field Airport
                                29051 Corkran Road
                               Easton, Maryland 21601

WATERWAY AND LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WORK:

The proposed project is located in nontidal wetlands and unnamed nontidal tributaries to Glebe Creek at 29051 Corkran Road, Easton, Talbot County, Maryland. (Project Latitude 38.809906; Longitude -76.056249)

OVERALL PROJECT PURPOSE:

To meet and maintain the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design standards for safety upgrades to Runway No. 4-22 at the Easton/Newman Field Airport. These design standards are associated with ensuring compliance for adequate runway length to serve existing and future facility demand, and to serve customers.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

To discontinue the use of approximately 1,000 linear feet (lf) of runway (Runway No. 4-22) at the northern end and to relocate this 1,000 lf of runway with an additional extension of approximately 900 lf to the south. The relocation and extension of the runway would result in the conversion of approximately 486 lf of perennial stream and approximately 310 lf of intermittent stream to a piped channel. The two existing un-piped stream channels currently flow downstream before connecting in a piped channel system beneath the existing airfield, south of Runway No. 4-22. Approximately 360 lf of intermittent stream channel would be relocated to the south, largely following the airport property boundary and to maintain downstream flows to an existing stormwater management facility located at the southwestern end of airport property, flowing into Glebe Creek.

The proposed updates to the airport infrastructure and expansion of the runway would result in approximately 119,817 square feet (sf) or 2.75 acre area of permanent impact to nontidal palustrine emergent (PEM) wetlands, 79,068 sf of temporary impact to nontidal PEM wetlands, 1,325 lf (3,709 square feet) of permanent impact to nontidal streams, and 511 lf (3,272 sf) of temporary impact to nontidal streams, at the Easton/Newman Field Airport, located at 29051 Corkran Road, in Easton, Talbot County, Maryland. All work is proposed in accordance with the attached plans dated January 2023. Please refer to the table below for a summary of aquatic resource impacts.

EFFECTS ON AQUATIC RESOURCES:

Activity

Stream Impact (lf)

Wetland Impact (sf)

Authority

Runway Fill (permanent)

-

119,845

Section 404

 

Construction Access Fill (temporary)

511

75,684

Stream Relocation

796

-

Totals:

1,307

198,885


LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY:

The United States Army Corps of Engineers, as the lead federal agency, is responsible for all coordination pursuant to applicable federal authorities.

APPLICANT’S PROPOSED AVOIDANCE, MINIMIZATION, AND COMPENSATORY MITIGATION:

As part of the planning process for the proposed project, steps were taken to ensure avoidance and minimization of impacts to aquatic resources to the maximum extent practicable based on the existing site conditions and FAA requirements for safety and obstruction removals. The proposed project purpose is upgrading Runway 4-22 to meet FAA design standards. The applicant designed the project to the minimal footprint necessary to achieve the project purpose successfully by reducing initially proposed impacts from approximately 576 lf of perennial stream channel impact to 486 lf and 133,726 sf of nontidal wetland impact to 119,845 sf.

The applicant proposes to provide compensatory mitigation for the approximately 69,849 sf of loss of nontidal wetland through the establishment of approximately
87,120 sf (2 acre) of PEM wetlands onsite. The applicant proposed in-kind replacement for the approximately 58,067 sf of loss of PEM wetlands (greater than 1:1 offset ratio) or 59,785 sf (1.37 acre) and in-kind replacement and relocation for the approximately
796 lf (2,122 sf) of stream loss (greater than 1:1 offset ratio) or 1,796 lf of in-kind stream replacement and relocation.

CORPS EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS:

This project will be evaluated pursuant to Corps Regulatory Program Regulations (33 CFR Parts 320-332). 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 this project will also include application of the Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency.

ENDANGERED SPECIES:

A preliminary review of this application indicates that the proposed work is not likely to adversely 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.

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 on all actions, or proposed actions, permitted, funded, or undertaken by the agency that may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), including species of concern, life cycle habitat, or Habitat Areas of Particular Concern. The project site lies in or adjacent to EFH as described under MSFCMA for managed species under the MSFCMA. The Baltimore District has made a preliminary determination that the project will have no adverse effect on EFH. The Baltimore District has made a preliminary determination that mitigative measures are not required to minimize adverse effects on EFH at this time. This determination may be modified if additional information indicates otherwise.

HISTORIC RESOURCES:

Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and applicable guidance, the Corps has reviewed the latest published version of the National Register of Historic Places and initially determined that no registered properties listed as eligible for inclusion, therein, are located at the site of the proposed work. The Corps has made the preliminary determination that the proposed project would have no effect on historic properties. The Corps final eligibility and effect determination will be based on coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office as appropriate and required, and with full consideration given to the proposed undertaking’s potential direct and indirect effects on historic properties within the Corps’ identified permit area.

TRIBAL RESOURCES:

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act also requires federal agencies to consult with federally recognized American Indian tribes that attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties that may be affected by the agency’s undertaking. Corps Tribal Consultation Policy mandates an open, timely, meaningful, collaborative, and effective deliberative communication process that emphasizes trust, respect, and shared responsibility. The policy further emphasizes that, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, consultation works toward mutual consensus and begins at the earliest planning stages before decisions are made and actions taken. The Corps final eligibility and effect determination will be based on coordination with interested tribes, in accordance with the Corps current tribal standard operating procedures as appropriate and required, and with full consideration given to the proposed undertaking’s potential direct and indirect effects on tribal resources.

MODIFICATION OF CIVIL WORKS PROJECTS: 33 USC 408 (SECTION 408):

All Section 408 proposals will be coordinated internally at USACE. The Section 408 decision will be issued along with the Section 404 and/or Section 10 decision. Please see the following link for more information regarding Section 408: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Section-408-Requests/.

WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION:

The applicant is required to obtain a water quality certification in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

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 Program. By this public notice, we are requesting the state concurrence or objection to the applicant’s consistency statement.

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

SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS:

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 and are subject to release to the public through the Freedom of Information 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 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District within the comment period specified above through postal mail at the address below or electronic submission to the project manager email address below. Written comments should reference the Application Number,
NAB-2021-60455-M30.

PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTS:

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 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. The public hearing request may be submitted by electronic mail or mailed to the following address:

Ms. Erica Schmidt
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
Regulatory Branch
2 Hopkins Plaza
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
erica.schmidt@usace.army.mil

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.

General information regarding the Corps’ permitting process can be found on our website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.aspx. This public notice has been prepared in accordance with Corps implementing regulations at 33 CFR 325.3. If you have any questions concerning this specific project or would like to request a paper copy of this public notice, please contact Ms. Erica Schmidt via email at erica.schmidt@usace.army.mil. This public notice is issued by the Chief, Regulatory Branch.