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CENAO-WRO (Coastal Seaplane)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District
Published Oct. 4, 2024
Expiration date: 11/4/2024

CENAO-WRO                                

FEDERAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District (USACE) is coordinating a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), prepared by the requester, to obtain public comments regarding the potential impacts of a proposed commercial seaplane operation, Coastal Seaplanes, described below:

PROPOSED WORK AND PURPOSE: The Proposed Action is for Coastal Seaplanes to establish a commercial seaplane enterprise that will operate in the Elizabeth River and the York River in Virginia under current seaplane policy pursuant to 36 CFR § 328. This regulation requires the commercial operation of seaplanes from federal project waters to obtain written approval of the District Engineer following consultation with and the necessary clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other appropriate public authorities and affected interests.

LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WORK: Coastal Seaplanes is proposing to establish a private seaplane location on the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth utilizing the
Tidewater Yacht Marina as a docking area and passenger pickup and drop off point. The project location, including air approach and departure paths, extends from the mouth of the main branch of the Elizabeth River south of Lamberts Point to the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River just north of Naval Station Norfolk. The landing area is located between Hospital Point and Tidewater Yacht Marina. In addition, Coastal Seaplanes plans to establish a location on the York River to serve residents that live north of the James River Bridge, Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, and Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel. The project area is on the south side of the York River east of the Coleman Bridge between Riverwalk Landing and the U.S. Park Service property along the Colonial Battlefield.

SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: Since the Proposed Action is sited along the Elizabeth River and the York River, operations will take place either adjacent to, in or directly over federally authorized navigation channels and there is the potential to impact navigational safety and the established use of those channels. The USACE determined that this project constitutes a federal action under the requirements of Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and an Environmental Assessment (EA) is therefore required. This EA has been prepared pursuant to NEPA and its implementing regulations.

The purpose of this EA is to evaluate the direct and indirect impacts associated with the proposed seaplane operations. The Proposed Action does not require any additional infrastructure and seaplanes operate within the navigable channel as a vessel, which is consistent with the existing use of the waterway. Therefore, there are no additional impacts on biological or water resources, air quality, historic and cultural resources, threatened and endangered species or environmental justice. The Proposed Action does have the potential to impact navigation, noise, and health and safety.

The draft Environmental Assessment is being coordinated with the following: 
•    Catawba Indian Nation
•    City of Portsmouth
•    City of Norfolk
•    Delaware Nation, Oklahoma
•    Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
•    Nansemond Indian Nation
•    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
•    Pamunkey Indian Tribe
•    Upper Mattaponi Tribe
•    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 
•    U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia (USCG)
•    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 
•    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)  
•    U.S. Navy (USN)
•    Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (VDCR)
•    Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) 
•    Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) 
•    Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
•    Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) 
•    Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC)
•    Virginia Port Authority (VPA)
•    York County

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION: The environmental impacts of the Coastal Seaplane Commercial Operation have been evaluated in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and regulatory documents including the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) detailed in and attached to this public notice. These documents will be finalized once all public comments are addressed and at that point will conclude the environmental documentation for the written decision for the establishment of this commercial seaplane operation within or adjacent to federal navigation projects pursuant to 36 CFR § 328. 

COMMENT PERIOD:  Comments on this draft EA and FONSI should be provided in writing by either email to Katy.R.Damico@usace.army.mil or by regular mail addressed to the Norfolk District, Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAO-WRO (Damico), 803 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510, and should be received by the close of business on 4 November 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 request, please contact Katy Damico via email at Katy.R.Damico@usace.army.mil.

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