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 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), as described below:
APPLICANT: Howard County Department of Public Works
Howard County Department of Public Works
Stormwater Management Division
ATTN: Mr. Richard Powell, P.E.
6715 Columbia Gateway Drive
Columbia, Maryland 21046
LOCATION AND WATERWAY: An existing in-stream stormwater management (SWM) pond located in a tributary of the Middle Patuxent River, at Red Cravat Court, Howard County, Maryland.
An existing in-stream stormwater management (SWM) pond located in a tributary of the Middle Patuxent River, at Red Cravat Court, Howard County, Maryland.
WORK: To conduct maintenance activities within an existing in-stream stormwater management (SWM) pond, resulting in permanent impacts to approximately 38,906 square feet (0.8936 acre) of nontidal wetlands due to grading and dredging. Approximately 12,136 square feet (0.279 acre) of nontidal wetlands is proposed to be temporarily impacted for construction access. Also, approximately 0.481 acre (20,959 square feet) of nontidal wetlands is proposed to be converted from forested to emergent nontidal wetlands. Approximately 226 linear feet (3,514 square feet) of stream is to be permanently impacted and approximately 174 linear feet (1,880 square feet) of stream is proposed to be temporarily impacted. The approximately 6,790 cubic yards of accumulated sediment removed from the pond would be trucked to an upland disposal site at Cunningham Sand and Gravel, Crofton, Maryland. The SWM pond will remain in its present location upon completion of the project. No mitigation is proposed.
To conduct maintenance activities within an existing in-stream stormwater management (SWM) pond, resulting in permanent impacts to approximately 38,906 square feet (0.8936 acre) of nontidal wetlands due to grading and dredging. Approximately 12,136 square feet (0.279 acre) of nontidal wetlands is proposed to be temporarily impacted for construction access. Also, approximately 0.481 acre (20,959 square feet) of nontidal wetlands is proposed to be converted from forested to emergent nontidal wetlands. Approximately 226 linear feet (3,514 square feet) of stream is to be permanently impacted and approximately 174 linear feet (1,880 square feet) of stream is proposed to be temporarily impacted. The approximately 6,790 cubic yards of accumulated sediment removed from the pond would be trucked to an upland disposal site at Cunningham Sand and Gravel, Crofton, Maryland. The SWM pond will remain in its present location upon completion of the project. No mitigation is proposed.
The purpose of the project is to remove accumulated sediment within the SWM facility restoring its original wet storage depth of five feet and water quality capacities, thereby providing an improved SWM facility. The project would prevent water levels from rising above the designed water surface elevation, preventing embankment failure and breaching of the dam.
All work is to be completed in accordance with the enclosed plans. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Mr. Jon Romeo at (410) 962-6079, or at jon.romeo@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 impact of the work described above on the public interest will include application of the Clean Water Act Section 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 District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, [Attn: Mr. Jon Romeo, CENAB-OP-RMN] P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, within the comment period specified above.
SECTION 401 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, Nontidal Wetlands Division, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1708 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.
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, Nontidal Wetlands Division, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1708 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.
The applicant must obtain any State or local government permits, which may be required. A preliminary review of this application indicates that the proposed work will not affect listed 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.
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 requested permit.
Any person who has an interest that 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, US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, [Attn: Mr. Jon Romeo, CENAB-OP-RMN], PO Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, within the comment period specified as above to receive consideration. Also, the request must clearly state 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 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.