Public Notice
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
In Reply to Application Number
CENAB-OP-RMS(JAY ADDISON) 2013-60330
Baltimore District
PN 13-43 Comment Period: July 9, 2013 to July 30, 2013
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS TO SOLICIT COMMENTS FORM 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 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and/or Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33. U.S.C. 1344) as described below:
APPLICANT: Mr. Jay Addison
P.O. Box 309
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20773
LOCATION: In Fishing Creek at 1722 Brannocks Neck Road in Cambridge, Dorchester County, Maryland.
PROPOSED WORK AND PURPOSE: To construct a 12-foot wide by 30-foot long articulated concrete block boat ramp with a gravel base to extend a maximum of 30 feet channelward of the approximate mean high water (MHW) shoreline; to repair four existing 6-foot wide by 35-foot long stone groins by increasing the height of each groin by an additional1.5 feet to no more than 3.0 feet above MHW elevation extending a maximum of 35 feet channelward of the approximate MHW shoreline; to reconstruct two existing groins to create one 6-foot wide by 60 foot long by 3-foot high southern hook groin and one 6-foot wide by 75-foot long northern hook groin as containment structures to extend no more than 35 feet channelward of the approximate MHW shoreline; and to perform top of bank maintenance along approximately 75 linear feet of existing high profile riprap. The work also includes compensatory mitigation by creating approximately 907 square feet (0.02 acres) of tidal marsh by depositing approximately 33.6 cubic yards of sloped, clean select sand fill stabilized with Spartina alternaflora and Spartina Patens and to supplement existing denuded marsh areas by creating a 108 square foot area (0.00247 acres) of tidal marsh by depositing approximately 4 cubic yards of clean select sand fill and creating a 103 square foot area (0.00236 acres) of tidal marsh by depositing approximately 3.8 cubic yards of clean select sand fill both stabilized with Spartina alternaflora. All work will be completed in accordance with the enclosed plan(s). If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Mr. Eugene Morgenthaler at (410) 820-8629 or eugene.j.morgenthaler@usace.army.mil.
The purpose of the proposed project is to provide recreational water access and shoreline erosion control to protect existing living shoreline.
As part of the planning process for the proposed project, steps were taken to ensure avoidance and minimization of impacts to waters of the United States to the maximum extent practicable. The refurbishing of the four existing groins by adding stone to increase the height and reconstructing two existing groins would improve the stabilization of
approximately 550 linear feet of existing living shoreline. The applicant has proposed compensatory mitigation to offset unavoidable losses to vegetated tidal wetlands impacts for the boat ramp by creating approximately 1,118 square feet of living shoreline.
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 (NMFS) on all actions, or proposed actions, permitted, funded, or undertaken by the agency that may adversely affect essential fish habitat (EFH). The project site lies in or adjacent to EFH as described under the MSFCMA for the Scopthalmus aquosos (windowpane flounder) juvenile and adult; Pomatomus saltatrix (blue fish) juvenile and adult; Paralicthys dentatus (summer flounder) juvenile and adult; and eggs, larvae, juvenile and adult stages of Sciaenops ocellatus (red drum), Scomberomorus cavalla (king mackerel), Scomberomorus maculatus (spanish mackerel), and Rachycentron canadum (cobia), managed species under the MSFCMA.
The project may have an adverse effect on Essential Fish Habitat as described under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act for the species and life stages identified above. No mitigative measures are recommended at this time to minimize adverse effects on EFH. However, the District Engineer has made a preliminary determination that site-specific impacts would not be substantial and an abbreviated consultation will be conducted with NMFS. This determination may be modified if additional information indicates otherwise and would change the preliminary determination.
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 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 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, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, within the comment period specified above.
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 Wetlands and Waterways Program, 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. The Section 401 certifying agency has a statutory limit of one year from the date of this public notice to make its decision.
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 (CZM) Program. By this public notice, we are requesting the State concurrence or objection to the applicant’s consistency statement. It should be noted that the CZM Program has a statutory limit of 6 months to make its consistency determination.
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 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.
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.
The evaluation of the impact of this project on the public interest will include application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
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, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, 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:
Kathy B. Anderson
Chief, Maryland Section Southern