June 13, 2024
CENAO-WRR-N
NAO-2023-01759
FEDERAL PUBLIC NOTICE
The District Commander received a joint application for Federal and State permits as described below:
APPLICANT
Amazon Data Services, Inc.
PO Box 130
212 Mineral Avenue
Mineral, VA 23117
WATERWAY AND LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WORK:
The approximately 153-acre project site is located on the east line of Kentucky Road (Route 652), east of the intersection of Haley Drive and Kentucky Road, in Louisa County, Virginia. The project site drains into Sedges Creek. A vicinity map is attached.
LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE: 38.04825; -77.8099
PROPOSED PROJECT:
The applicant proposes to impact 0.81 acre of palustrine forested wetlands, 0.07 acre of palustrine scrub-shrub wetlands, 0.09 acre of palustrine emergent wetlands, and 3,059 linear feet of stream channel.
PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED:
The construction of a data center and associated infrastructure, including parking, internal roads, two substations, and one stormwater pond.
AUTHORITY:
Permits for the work in waters, including wetlands, are required pursuant to Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (Public Law 95-217). The Corps must comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. § 306108), 36 CFR Part 800, regulations implementing Section 106 of the NHPA and 33 CFR Part 325, Appendix C, Processing of Department of the Army Permits.
PURPOSE OF PUBLIC NOTICE:
In compliance with regulations implementing Section 106 of the NHPA, the Corps is soliciting comments on the proposed project from the public; federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Native American Tribes; and other interested parties. This public notice provides an opportunity for members of the public to express their views on the undertaking’s effects on historic properties and resolution of adverse effects. The Corps is requesting comments to assist in evaluation of the effects of the project on historic properties and evaluation of alternatives or modifications which could avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects on historic properties.
HISTORIC PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION:
The Corps identified historic properties within the Corps permit area. Cultural resources surveys were conducted on the project site and reports prepared: “Phase I Archeological Survey for the Proposed Louisa REB Site, Louisa County, Virginia”; Phase II Archaeological Evaluation of Site 44LS0298 for the Proposed Louisa REB Project, Louisa County, Virginia”; Phase I Architectural Survey for Lake Anna Technology Campus Louisa County, Virginia”; and Lake Anna Technology Campus Louisa County, Virginia, Assessment of Project Effects to Built Historic Properties”. The cultural resources surveys and reports are a reasonable and good faith effort to identify historic properties. The surveys identified the archeological site 44LS0298 and the Laurel Hill Baptist Church and Cemetery (054-5530) eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
ADVERSE EFFECT DETERMINATION:
In consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, and in consideration of views concerning effects provided by consulting parties, the Corps applied the criteria of adverse effect to historic properties within the permit area. The Corps determined that the proposed federal action will result in an adverse effect on site 44LS0298 and that with the implementation of minimization efforts outlined in the Assessment of Effects for Laurel Hill Baptist Church (dated April 23, 2024) will not adversely affect 054-5530. The Corps is consulting further to develop and evaluate alternatives or modifications to the undertaking that could avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects on historic properties. The Corps, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the permittee, and other consulting parties are proposing to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) under Section 106 of the NHPA.
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 Norfolk District, Corps of Engineers (ATTN: CENAO-WRR), 803 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1011, and should be received by the close of business on June 27, 2024.
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
Dr. Silvia B. Gazzera at 804-212-6817 or by email silvia.b.gazzera@usace.army.mil.
Attachments: