Public Notice
U.S. Army Corps In Reply to Application Number
of Engineers CENAB-OP-RMN (Watergate Harbor Imp. Assoc./Dredging)
Baltimore District 2014-61605-M36
PN 15-07 Comment Period: February 2, 2015 – March 3, 2015
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 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 Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33. U.S.C. 1344) as described below:
APPLICANT: Watergate Harbor Improvement Association
c/o Mr. Eric Thompson
3702 Thomas Point Road
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: Within tidal waters of the U.S., in the South River and Watergate Harbor, in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
WORK: To mechanically dredge an existing channel to a depth of -4.0-feet mean low water (MLW) in the South River and Watergate Harbor, dredge nine individual spurs to existing docks, and replace an existing wood jetty in-place. Additionally, three landowners are proposing to replace existing waterfront structures as noted below. Mechanical dredging of the main channel and harbor will permanently impact approximately 49,331 square feet of tidal waters of the U.S. The main channel dredging will occur within a 40-foot wide by 387-foot long area, while the interior channel dredging within Watergate Harbor will occur within a 30-foot wide by 1,054-foot long area. Dredging of the nine spurs to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW within Watergate Harbor will permanently impact a total of 9,103 square feet of tidal waters of the U.S. A total of 3,931 cubic yards (3,212 from the main channel and 719 from the nine spurs) of dredge material will be disposed of at Westport Reclamation Services, located at 4944 Sands Road, Lothian, Maryland. The wood jetty will be replaced in-place and measures 3-feet by 375-feet and will extend a maximum of 375-feet channelward of the approximate mean high water shoreline. The permit for these projects, if issued, would authorize periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six (6) years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District Engineer and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material. As there are no impacts to wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation beds, or other special aquatic sites, no compensatory mitigation for aquatic impacts is proposed by the applicant. The purpose of the proposed work is to improve navigable access to, from, and within Watergate Harbor for the residents of the Watergate Harbor Improvement Association. Unless otherwise noted below, all work is shown on the enclosed plans dated August 26, 2014, as revised November 1, 2014.
SPURS:
Spur 1: 2014–61757 David Friedlander: To mechanically dredge a 24-foot by 60-foot spur channel in Watergate Harbor to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW and deposit approximately 63.5 cubic yards of dredged material at Westport Reclamation Services, located at 4944 Sands Road, Lothian, Maryland. Periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material, has been requested.
Spur 2: 2014–61756 Lyle Moldin: To mechanically dredge a 24-foot by 60-foot spur channel in Watergate Harbor to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW and deposit approximately 63.5 cubic yards of dredged material at Westport Reclamation Services, located at 4944 Sands Road, Lothian, Maryland. Periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material, has been requested. Also requested is the construction of an 11-foot by 19-foot by 12-foot triangular shaped fixed pier with two pilings and a boatlift. The structure will extend a maximum distance of 21-feet channelward of the approximate mean high water shoreline. All proposed work is shown on plans dated September 14, 2014.
Spur 3: 2014–61722 William Turley: To mechanically dredge a 25-foot by 50-foot spur channel in Watergate Harbor to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW and deposit approximately 92 cubic yards of dredged material behind a proposed bulkhead replacement on-site. Periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material, has been requested. Also requested is the reconstruction of 140 linear feet of existing wood bulkhead within 18-inches. The new bulkhead will extend a maximum distance of 1.5-feet channelward of the approximate mean high water shoreline. All proposed work is shown on plans dated September 14, 2014.
Spur 4: 2014–61913 Marie Doyon: To mechanically dredge a 15-foot by 65-foot spur channel in Watergate Harbor to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW and deposit approximately 87 cubic yards of dredged material at Westport Reclamation Services, located at 4944 Sands Road, Lothian, Maryland. Periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material, has been requested.
Spur 5: 2014–61755 Mark Wiggins: To mechanically dredge a 25-foot by 52-foot spur channel in Watergate Harbor to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW and deposit approximately 98 cubic yards of dredged material at Westport Reclamation Services, located at 4944 Sands Road, Lothian, Maryland. Periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material, has been requested.
Spur 6: 2014–61861 Robert Adams, Sr.: To mechanically dredge a 37-foot by 41-foot spur channel in Watergate Harbor to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW and deposit approximately 97 cubic yards of dredged material at Westport Reclamation Services, located at 4944 Sands Road, Lothian, Maryland. Periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material, has been requested.
Spur 7: 2014–60483 Eric Thompson: To mechanically dredge a 15-foot by 59-foot spur channel in Watergate Harbor to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW and deposit approximately 74 cubic yards of dredged material behind a proposed bulkhead replacement on-site. Periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material, has been requested. Also requested is the removal of an existing pier, pilings, and boatlift, construct a new 6-foot by 45-foot pier with a 10-foot by 20-foot platform, a 6-foot by 5-foot walkway, 2 pilings, and a boatlift, and reconstruct 110 linear feet of existing rock revetment. The new revetment will extend a maximum distance of 8.5-feet channelward of the approximate mean high water shoreline, while the new pier will extend a maximum distance of 45-feet channelward of the approximate mean high water shoreline. All proposed work is shown on plans dated February 22, 2014, as revised October 27, 2014.
Spur 8: 2014–61758 Caroline Valente: To mechanically dredge an 18-foot by 62-foot spur channel in Watergate Harbor to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW and deposit approximately 72 cubic yards of dredged material at Westport Reclamation Services, located at 4944 Sands Road, Lothian, Maryland. Periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material, has been requested.
Spur 9: 2014–61862 George Benson, Jr.: To mechanically dredge a 17-foot by 62-foot spur channel in Watergate Harbor to a depth of -4.0-feet MLW and deposit approximately 72 cubic yards of dredged material at Westport Reclamation Services, located at 4944 Sands Road, Lothian, Maryland. Periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years from the date of the authorization, subject to prior notification of the District and availability of an adequate disposal site for the dredged material, has been requested.
All work is to be completed in accordance with the enclosed plans. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Mr. John Policarpo at (410) 962-4522 or at john.n.policarpo@usace.army.mil.
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 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 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, ATTN: Mr. John Policarpo, CENAB-OP-RMN, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, within the comment period specified above.
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 (NMFS) on all actions, or proposed actions, permitted, funded, or undertaken by the agency that may adversely effect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH).
The project site lies in or adjacent to EFH as described under the MSFCMA for juvenile and adult Scopthalmus aquosos (windowpane flounder); larvae, juvenile, and adult Paralicthys dentatus (summer flounder); adult and juvenile Centropristus striata (black sea bass); juvenile and adult Pomatomus saltatrix (blue fish); and the eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults of Peprilus triacanthos (Atlantic butterfish), Rachycentron canadum (cobia), Scomberomorus maculates (Spanish mackerel), and Scomberomorus cavalla (king mackerel), managed species under the MSFCMA.
A preliminary assessment indicates that the proposed work would not have a substantial adverse effect on either managed species or prey species. Therefore, no EFH conservation measures have been developed. As the evaluation of this application continues, additional information may become available which could modify this preliminary determination.
SECTION 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: The applicants are 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, Tidal 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 Section 401 certifying agency has a statutory limit of one year from the date of this public notice to make its decision.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS: Where applicable, the applicants have 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. Public comments relating to consistency must be received by the Maryland Department of the Environment, Wetlands and Waterways Program, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1708 within the comment period specified above to receive consideration. It should be noted that the CZM Program has a statutory limit of 6 months to make its consistency determination.
The applicants must obtain any State or local government permits which may be required.
A preliminary review of these applications indicates that the proposed work will not 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.
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 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, ATTN: Mr. John Policarpo CENAB-OP-RMN, 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:
Joseph P. DaVia
Chief, Maryland Section Northern