NAO-1988-00021

Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Published July 31, 2020
Expiration date: 9/14/2020

July 31, 2020
CENAO-WR-R
NAO-1988-00021

FEDERAL PUBLIC NOTICE
ANNOUNCING PUBLIC SCOPING PERIOD AND A VIRTUAL PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING FOR A LANDFILL EXPANSION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) is proposing to expand landfill operations at the existing Regional Landfill in Suffolk, Virginia off merged U.S. Routes 58, 13, and 460. The proposed landfill expansion would impact wetlands, which are waters of the United States regulated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Due to the anticipated wetland impacts and the scope of the project, the Corps is reviewing the project through the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. The Corps is soliciting comments on the project itself, as well as, on the range of alternatives and issues to be addressed in the EIS.

APPLICANT
Southeastern Public Service Authority
Liesl R. DeVary, Executive Director
723 Woodlake Drive
Chesapeake, VA 23320

WATERWAY AND LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WORK: The project is located in wetlands that drain to Burnetts Mill Creek a tributary to the James River, at the SPSA Regional Landfill in Suffolk, Virginia.

PROPOSED WORK AND PURPOSE: SPSA proposes to expand landfill capacity by constructing Cells VIII and IX at the Regional Landfill in Suffolk, Virginia to meet the needs of its member communities for the next 40 years. As proposed, the landfill expansion would impact approximately 129 acres of nontidal, forested wetlands. SPSA will be seeking a permit from the Corps of Engineers for the expansion.

The purpose of the proposed action is for SPSA to be adequately prepared to meet the needs of its Member Localities for the next 40 years. As stated in the Code of Virginia §15.2-5102.1, SPSA is responsible for the management of the safe and environmentally sound disposal of regional waste for its Member Localities: the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach, and the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton. Based on current and anticipated municipal waste tonnages to be processed by SPSA, the existing landfill area, Cells V and VI, at the Regional Landfill in Suffolk, will run out of capacity in 2027. In 2002, the Corps and the State of Virginia authorized impacts to 12 acres of forested wetlands for Cell VII.  Once in operation, Cell VII will provide approximately 10 additional years of disposal capacity. A map showing the existing facility and proposed expansion area is attached.    

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.

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.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION: This announcement serves notice that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District will be conducting public scoping for the SPSA Landfill Expansion Project EIS from July 31, 2020 through September 14, 2020. The Corps has established a web-based Virtual Public Scoping Room that will walk you through background information and provide information about the project, including maps showing the project site and updates on the ongoing alternatives analysis. A link to access the Virtual Public Scoping Room is located on the Corps’ project website at:  www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/SPSAPermit/  

The Corps is soliciting comments from the public, Federal, state, local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties in order to identify issues of concern and assist with development of the range of alternatives to be analyzed in the EIS. Comments received will be considered in preparation of the Draft EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and implementing regulations. The decision on whether to conduct a public hearing on the Draft EIS will be made at a later date.   

COMMENT PERIOD: Comments should be emailed to spsa-eis@usace.army.mil or mailed to: Melissa Nash, Norfolk District, Corps of Engineers (Attn; CENAO-WR-R), 803 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1011, and should reach this office not later than the close of business on September 14, 2020. Should you have any questions about the contents of this notice, please call Melissa Nash at telephone 757-201-7489 or send an email to spsa-eis@usace.army.mil.

Additional information and announcements about the project may be found on the Corps project website at: www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/SPSAPermit/

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.

Attachment: Drawings