August 1, 2022
NAO-2019-01614
FEDERAL PUBLIC NOTICE
The District Commander has received a joint permit application for Federal and State permits as described below:
APPLICANT
Commanding Officer
Naval Station Norfolk
Attn: CDR Gretchen Sosbee
1530 Gilbert Street, Suite 2000
Norfolk, Virginia 23511-2722
PROJECT LOCATION: The project is located in the Elizabeth River surrounding the Naval Station Norfolk Lambert’s Point Deperming Station in Norfolk, Virginia.
NEAREST WATERWAY: Elizabeth River.
LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE: 36.867411, -76.332365
ACTION: The Corps of Engineers is establishing a restricted area in the waters of the Elizabeth River surrounding the Naval Station Norfolk Lambert’s Point Deperming Station in Norfolk, Virginia. Naval Station Norfolk (NSN) is the homeport of numerous ships and provides operational readiness support to the US Atlantic Fleet with its facilities. The deperming station is located within the waters of the Elizabeth River provides magnetic silencing services for military vessels. This deperming station is the only location capable of servicing an aircraft carrier and the only deperming facility on the East Coast of the United States. The regulation is necessary to better protect underwater equipment, personnel, and vessels utilizing the facility by implementing a waterside security program. The regulation establishes the restricted area waters surrounding the existing facility immediately adjacent to the channel into Norfolk Harbor.
THE REGULATIION: The District Engineer has authorized the establishment of a restricted area as outlined in the Navigation Regulations, (33 C.F.R. §334.296), as follows: 334.296 Elizabeth River, Deperming Station, Norfolk, VA, Restricted Area.
(a) The areas. The datum for the coordinate for the restricted area described in this section is WGS84. (b) The waters within an area beginning at a point latitude 36 deg.51'52” N, longitude 76 deg.20'04" W; thence easterly to a point at latitude 36 deg.51’ 52” N, longitude 76 deg.19'49" W, thence northerly to latitude 36 deg.52’06” N, longitude 76 deg.19'48" W; thence northwesterly to latitude 36 deg.52'12" N, longitude 76 deg.19'57" W; thence northwesterly to a point at latitude 36 deg.52'15" N, longitude 76 deg.19'59" W; thence westerly to latitude 36 deg.52'15" N, longitude 76 deg.20'04” W, thence to the point of origin.
(c) The regulations. (1) No vessels other than vessels of the U.S. armed forces and other authorized vessels shall enter the restricted area. Other authorized vessels include vessels and personnel, including contactors and agents, acting on behalf of any Federal or state agency or department performing specific work authorized as part of that agency or department's statutory missions or to enforce their respective laws. Authorized vessels may enter anywhere in the restricted area at any time in the furtherance of their authorized operations. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels that are engaged in the following operations: (a) Law enforcement, (b) Servicing aids to navigation and/or (c) Surveying, maintenance, or improvement of the Federal navigational channel.
(2) There shall be no introduction of external magnetic field sources within the area.
(3) No person or vessel shall at any time, under any circumstances, anchor or fish or tow a drag of any kind in the restricted area due to the risk of damage to mission essential underwater equipment including an extensive cable system located therein.
(4) Orders and instructions issued by U.S. Navy patrol craft or other authorized representatives of the enforcing agency shall be carried out promptly by persons or vessels in or in the vicinity of the restricted area. (5) The regulations in this section shall be enforced by the Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia and such agencies as he/she may designate.
AUTHORITY: Section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1917 (40 Stat. 266; 33 U.S.C. 1) and Chapter XIX of the Army Appropriations Act of 1919 (40 Stat. 892; 33 U.S.C. 3).
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 31, 2022
DURATION: This order shall remain in effect until changes or formal regulations are developed.
CONTACT INFORMATION: For the latest information regarding the restricted area modification contact Nicole Woodard, Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch at (757) 201-7122 or check the website at https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/. For permission to enter the area or for information regarding technical issues associated with the restricted area contact by the Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Station, 1530 Gilbert Street, Suite 2000, Norfolk, Virginia 23511-2722.
PRIVACY AND 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 Mrs. Nicole Woodward at nicole.l.woodward@usace.army.mil or 757-201-7122.
Attachments: Map