CENAO-WRR-N
NAO-2024-02682/ VMRC24-2444
FEDERAL PUBLIC NOTICE
The District Commander received a joint application for Federal and State permits as described below:
APPLICANT
Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, VA 23219
WATERWAY AND LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WORK: The Project stretches from approximately Powhatan Street (State Route 111) in the City of Fredericksburg, to Aquia Drive in Stafford County, Virginia. A vicinity map is attached.
LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE:
Start 38.303661, -77.482743
End: 38.453986, -77.387299
PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant proposes the following:
- Partially rebuild approximately 12.5 miles of 115 kV Line #29 on double-circuit monopole structures utilizing current 230 kV standards2, between Dominion’s existing Fredericksburg and Aquia Harbour Switching Station.
- Rebuild approximately 8.0 miles of 230 kV Line #2104 on double-circuit monopole structures shared with the rebuilt Line #29 between Dominion’s existing Cranes Corner and Aquia Harbour Switching Station.
- Rebuild approximately 3.8 miles of 230 kV Line #2157 on double circuit monopole structures shared with the rebuilt Line #29 between the existing Fredericksburg and Cranes Corner Substations.
- Build approximately 12.5 miles of double circuit 230 kV transmission line on double-circuit monopole structures between the Fredericksburg and Aquia Harbour Switching Station.
- Rebuild approximately 0.7 mile of 230 kV Line #2083 along with a new 230 kV circuit4 on double circuit monopole structures between the Fredericksburg Substation and Hospital Junction located within the City of Fredericksburg.
- Relocate two 500 kV structures and install two 500 kV structures near Aquia Harbour Switching Station on Line #568.
PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED: The rebuild is to improve and update the electric reliability through the service area.
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). Permits are required pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403). 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. Further identifications made by the Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of Approximately 12.5 Miles Associated with the Proposed Fredericksburg to Aquia Harbour Lines #29, #2104, #2157, and #2083 Partial Rebuild Project in Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia prepared by Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (Stantec) and dated, September 23, 2024. The cultural resources survey and report are a reasonable and good faith effort to identify historic properties. The survey identified two architectural sites within the Corps Area of Potential Effect (APE) to impacts Rappahannock River Crossing 1, Impact 6 and Impact 7. The two resources are DHR ID#089-0061 Cedar Hill Farm and DHR ID# 111-5297 Old Mill Historic District. The project site is also located within the Battle of Fredericksburg I (DHR ID#111-5295) and the Battle of Fredericksburg II (DHR ID#111-5296), both considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
ADVERSE EFFECT DETERMINATION: In consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, and in consideration of views concerning effects provided by the National Park Service, the Corps applied the criteria of adverse effect to historic properties within the permit area. The Corps determined that the proposed federal action would result in an adverse effect on Cedar Hill Farm (DHR ID#089-0061), Old Mill Historic District (DHR ID# 111-5297), Battle of Fredericksburg I (DHR ID#111-5295) and the Battle of Fredericksburg II (DHR ID#111-5296). 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 to https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs/public-notices. or by regular mail, addressed to the Norfolk District, Corps of Engineers (ATTN: Regena Bronson), 10300 Spotsylvania Parkway, Suite 230, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22408, and should be received by the close of business on April 7, 2025.
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 Regena Bronson at 540-682-9552 or by email regena.d.bronson@usace.army.mil