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, Virginia 23219
WATERWAY AND LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WORK: The project includes the replacement of existing aerial crossings of tidal waterways for TL 588 as well as new aerial crossings of tidal waterways for TL 5005. The project proposes to replace the existing TL588 aerial crossing and construct a new TL 5005 aerial crossing of the Dismal Swamp Canal in Chesapeake, Virginia. The project is in the Lower Chesapeake watershed. A vicinity map is attached.
LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE: 36.710350, -76.330527
PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant proposes to permanently impact 0.004-acre of Palustrine forested wetlands (PFO), 0.002 acre of Palustrine scrub shrub wetlands (PSS) and 0.17-acre Palustrine emergent wetlands (PEM) for the installation of utility towers. In addition, 0.29-acre of PFO will be converted and permanently maintained as PEM wetlands and also temporary impacts to 0.006-acre of PFO, 0.06-acre of PEM, and 987 linear feet of ditch are required for foundation construction and construction access. The existing tower heights will increase anywhere from 41(forty-one) feet to 61 (sixty-one) feet. Matting will be used across existing wetlands to allow access for the replacement of towers in wetlands.
PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED: Dominion Energy Virginia (Dominion) is proposing to replace the existing TL588 aerial crossing and construct a new TL 5005 aerial crossing of the Dismal Swamp Canal in Chesapeake, Virginia.
AUTHORITY: Permits for the work in waters, including wetlands, are required pursuant to Sections 401, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (Public Law 95-217) and 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 for the aerial transmission tower crossing the Great Dismal Swamp Canal (DHR Inventory No. 131-0035), a property listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the Lindsay Canal (131-5076), a property determined eligible for listing in the NRHP. While existing transmission structures exist in both these locations, the new proposed towers represent a significant increase in height and change in appearance from existing and will result in a diminishment of the setting of these properties. A cultural resources survey was conducted on the project site and a report prepared: “Phase I Cultural Resource Survey of the Fentress-Yadkin 500kV Line 588 Rebuild Project and New 500kV Fentress-Yadkin Line #5005, dated December 2024 by Dutton and Associates, LLC. The cultural resources survey and report are a reasonable and good faith effort to identify historic properties.
ADVERSE EFFECT DETERMINATION: In consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, and in consideration of views concerning effects 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 the Great Dismal Swamp Canal (DHR 131-0035) and the Lindsay Canal (DHR 131-5076). 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, and the permittee 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 by regular mail, addressed to the Corps of Engineers (ATTN: Regena Bronson), 10300 Spotsylvania Parkway, Suite 230, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 or email to Regena.D.Bronson@USACE.Army.mil and should be received by the close of business on July 26, 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.