2018-00563; 18-V1127

Published Aug. 14, 2018
Expiration date: 9/13/2018

FEDERAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The District Commander has received a joint application for Federal and State permits as described below:

APPLICANT
HHHUnt
Attn: Jonathan Ridout
11237 Nuckols Road
Glen Allen, Virginia

WATERWAY AND LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WORK: The project site is approximately 62 acres and is located south of Tuckahoe Creek Parkway, west of Capital One Drive, east of Hockett Road, in Goochland County, Virginia. The project site drains into Broad Branch, a Tributary to Tuckahoe Creek, which drains into the James River.

PROPOSED WORK AND PURPOSE: The applicant proposes to discharge fill material in 0.35 acre of palustrine forested wetlands, 0.13 acre of emergent wetlands, and to temporarily impact 40 linear feet of stream channel to construct a single family residential development to be known as the “Mosaic” within the West Creel Business Park. The project consist of approximately 22 town homes and 67 single family homes. Impacts are associated with the construction of road crossings, fill for lots, and erosion and sediment control measures. This is the first phase of a larger development. The applicant indicated that impacts have been avoided and minimized by designing the roads cross wetland systems perpendicularly and with retaining walls. To mitigate for the proposed impacts the applicant has proposed to purchase 0.83 wetland mitigation credit from the James River Wetland Mitigation Bank. Previously authorized impacts within West Creek are approximately 12.5 acres.

In addition to the required Department of the Army permit, the applicant must obtain a Virginia Water Protection Permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) assuring that applicable laws and regulations pertaining to water quality are not violated and a permit from the local government. Project drawings are attached.

AUTHORITY: Permits are required pursuant to Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (Public Law 95-217) and Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia.

FEDERAL EVALUATION OF APPLICATION: 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. The decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits which reasonably may be expected from the proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All of the proposal's relevant factors will be considered, including conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use classification, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. The Environmental Protection Agency's "Guidelines for Specification of Disposal Sites for Dredged or Fill Material" will also be applied (Section 404(b)(1) 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 direct, indirect, and cumulative 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. Anyone may request a public hearing to consider this permit application by writing to the District Commander within 30 days of the date of this notice, stating specific reasons for holding the public hearing. The District Commander will then decide if a hearing should be held. Preliminary review indicates that: (l) no environmental impact statement will be required; (2) after conducting the NAO ESA Project Review Process there may be an effect to listed Northern Long Eared Bat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Official Species List and Species Conclusion Table is attached for review and comment by Fish and Wildlife Service; and (3) Historic Resources are documented within the project limits and the project is being coordinate with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

COMMENT PERIOD: Comments on this project should be in writing and can be sent by either email to Silvia.B.Gazzera@usace.army.mil or by regular mail, addressed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 9100 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 235, North Chesterfield, 23236, and should be received by the close of business on September 13 2018.

PRIVACY & CONFIDENTIALITY: Comments and information, including the identity of the submitter, submitted in response to this Public Notice may be disclosed, reproduced, and distributed at the discretion of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Information that is submitted in connection with this Public Notice cannot be maintained as confidential by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Submissions should not include any information that the submitter seeks to preserve as confidential.

If you have any questions about this project or the permit process, contact Silvia.B.Gazzera@usace.army.mil, (804) 212-6817.