Interested parties are hereby notified that a request for permission to alter a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project pursuant to Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33U.S.C. Section 408) has been received and will be evaluated by the Norfolk District. Written comments, including any objections to the proposed alteration, stating reasons therefore, are being solicited from anyone having an interest in the requested alteration. The authority to grant permission for temporary or permanent use, occupation or alteration of any USACE Civil Works project is contained in Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, as amended, codified at 33 USC 408 (“Section 408”). Section 408 authorizes the Secretary of the Army to grant permission for the alteration or occupation or use of a USACE project if the Secretary determines that the activity will not be injurious to the public interest and will not impair the usefulness of the project. The proposed action is also subject to the requirements and objectives of Executive Order (EO)11988, Floodplain Management and has the potential to impact floodplains. This notice complies with Section 2(a)(4) of EO 11988 and requests advance public comment to determine if there are any public concerns regarding potential impacts on floodplains.
Actions that encroach upon a USACE federal project require a Section 408 review to determine no negative impacts will occur as a result of project implementation. Verizon Virginia LLC is requesting Section 408 permission to install approximately 1000 linear feet of new 16-inch HDPE conduit communications line by horizontal directional drill (HDD) to provide/maintain a communication line serving residents of Norfolk and Chesapeake, Virginia. Top of line at mid-channel is proposed for a minimum of -40 feet vertical clearance from the current river bottom. The proposed entry point will be adjacent to South Main Street, and the exit point will be in the Harbor Park parking lot, co-located within the same footprint as the City of Norfolk’s proposed water main relocation, as described in USACE’s “Section 408 PN for NCSRM water line relocation” posting, published November 1, 2023. There are no impacts to jurisdictional waters of the US, or other waters proposed. The purpose of the project is to provide uninterrupted communications service for the public.
Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River (EBER) portion of the Norfolk Harbor and Channels Federal Navigation Project (federal project), which is operated and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District (USACE/Corps), will be altered by the proposed activity/activities via the HDD of the 16” HDPE conduit communications line underneath the channel. The project will also pass underneath the Norfolk District’s Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management (NCSRM) Floodwall - Phase 1 Project. The proposed project plans are enclosed.
Written comments may be submitted via mail to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District
803 Front Street
Norfolk, VA 23510-1096
ATTN: Sara Bahnson
Or email to Sara.E.Bahnson@usace.army.mil
If you have any questions, please contact Sara Bahnson at 757-201-7693 or via email at Sara.E.Bahnson@usace.army.mil
Comments are due by: November 21, 2023