PUBLIC NOTICE
Application Number 408-NAB-2026-0003 Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Market Street Bridge Rehabilitation
Comment Period: 18 June 2026 – 2 July 2026
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 AUTHORIZATION WILL BE GRANTED AT THIS TIME.
The US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (USACE) has received a request to alter a USACE Civil Works Project, pursuant to 33 United States Code (USC) § 333 (Section 408 Program).
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public concerning issuance of a Department of the Army permit for the work described below.
APPLICANT: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
AGENT: Dominick Lovallo, PennDOT Project Manager, District 4-0
FEDERAL PROJECT: Wilkes-Barre-Hanover Township & Kingston to Exeter Levee Systems
LOCATION: City of Wilkes-Barre & Borough of Kingston, Pennsylvania
ACTIVITY: Rehabilitation of the existing five lane, 12-span bridge Market Street Bridge (SR 1009) spanning the Susquehanna River between the City of Wilkes-Barre and Borough of Kingston, Pennsylvania. Proposed rehabilitation work includes concrete repairs to the bridge’s abutments, superstructure, and piers; joint replacements; lighting replacement and upgrades; debris removal; installation of scour mitigation measures; and paving of the roadway surface. Roadway work on both approaches will be limited to milling and overlaying with some minor roadway improvements at the southern River Street intersection. Temporary causeways, scaffolding, and barges will be used to facilitate the rehabilitation project.
The decision whether to issue approval will be based on an evaluation of the proposed modification specifically to the authorized federal civil works project to ensure that it is not injurious to the public interest or affect the USACE project’s ability to meet its authorized purpose(s).
In addition, a decision on a Section 408 request is a federal action, and therefore subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental compliance requirements. The decision on whether to authorize proposed non-federal alterations at existing civil works projects includes an evaluation of the probable environmental impacts of that alteration on USACE-owned facilities.
USACE will prepare a document in compliance with NEPA (Title 42 USC § 4321 et seq.); US Department of War NEPA Implementing Procedures, Version 1.2 dated April 30, 2026; and applicable USACE NEPA guidance. This process involves evaluating the potential impacts of the proposed project to the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem, endangered and threatened species, hazardous and toxic materials, aesthetics and recreation, cultural resources, the general needs and welfare of the public, and other considerations. As the potential significant impacts of a project increase, so does the complexity of reaching a decision on an agency action.
USACE has jurisdiction under Section 408 only over the specific activities or portions of activities that have the potential to alter a USACE project. Therefore, if the proposed alteration is part of a larger project (and/or its associated features) that extends beyond the USACE project boundaries, the USACE District will determine what portions or features of the larger project USACE has sufficient control and responsibility over to warrant their inclusion in the USACE review. The scope of analysis for both the technical review and NEPA compliance evaluations for the Section 408 review will be limited to the area of the alteration and those adjacent areas that are directly or indirectly affected by the alteration found on USACE property or other easements.
The applicant must obtain any federal, state, or local government permits that may be required.
USACE 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 within the USACE project limits. Any comments received will be considered by USACE to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny authorization for this proposal.
Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest in the proposed activity.
Comments on the proposed work should be submitted within 15 days of this notice via email to the address below, or, in writing, to the District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
Any person may request, in writing to the District Engineer, within the comment period specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests for a public hearing shall state in writing, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing.
Please communicate the information in this notice to any persons you know to be interested and who may not have received a copy of this notice. Additional information concerning this application may be obtained by reaching Joseph Chandler via email at Joseph.W.Chandler@usace.army.mil or writing this office at the above address.