December 17, 2020
CENAO-WR-R
NAO-1988-00021
FEDERAL PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice of Additional Public Scoping - Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Expansion of the Southeastern Public Service Authority Landfill – Preliminary Alternatives
The U.S. Army Corps (Corps) of Engineers, Norfolk District is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 USC 4321, et seq.); Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1509); and USACE regulations (33 CFR 325) for the Southeastern Public Service Authority’s (SPSA) proposal to expand its regional landfill facility, located at 1 Bob Foeller Dr, Suffolk, VA 23434, in order to increase solid waste disposal capacity. The project is located in wetlands that drain to Burnetts Mill Creek, a tributary to the James River. SPSA is planning to apply to the Norfolk District for a permit to expand their landfill operations under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. As proposed, the landfill expansion would impact approximately 129 acres of forested wetlands and the Norfolk District has determined that permit authorization would be a major federal action. Therefore, the proposed expansion requires review under NEPA.
The Corps conducted initial public scoping for the EIS from July 21, 2020 through September 14, 2020. Subsequently, based on comments received and further analysis, the Corps refined the preliminary range of alternatives and identified two on-site alternatives as well as six possible off-site alternatives for potential evaluation in the EIS. Members of the public, as well as federal and state agencies are invited to visit the project’s web-based virtual public scoping meeting room to learn more about these preliminary alternatives and provide their comments and input. The location of the alternative sites is shown on the attached drawing. The comments received will help inform further alternative screening and the finalization of the range of alternatives to be considered in the EIS.
The public and agencies can access the virtual scoping meeting room by clicking the link provided at: https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/SPSAPermit/ or directly at https://vmr.vhb.com/v/Wgd1pQ7ZzXJ
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION: Public participation is an essential part of the NEPA process and comments are encouraged. Comments can be submitted using the comment form available in the virtual scoping meeting room; via email to: spsa-eis@usace.army.mil; or by mail to: Norfolk District, Regulatory Branch c/o Melissa Nash 803 Front Street Norfolk, VA 23510. All comments must be sent on or before January 18, 2021 at 11:59 PM. Persons wishing to participate in the public scoping process who need special accommodations should call 757-201-7489 or email spsa-eis@usace.army.mil.
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