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Public Notices

Under the Corps' Regulatory Program, a public notice is the primary method for advising all interested parties of a proposed activity for which a permit is sought. Soliciting comments and information necessary to evaluate the probable impacts on the public interest. Public notices are also published to inform the public about new or proposed regulations, policies, guidance or permit procedures.

Public Notices published by the Sacramento District under the Regulatory Program are posted on this page. Once a public notice is available on-line, an email notification is sent to individuals on the appropriate mailing list.

Comments are due by the expiration date of the public notice.  Only comments submitted by email or in hard copy format through a delivery service, such as the U.S. Postal Service, can be accepted.   Comments must be submitted to the address listed in the public notice.

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SPK-2018-00109, Main Street Widening Project, Lehi, Utah County, UT

Published Nov. 30, 2018
Expiration date: 12/31/2018

Comments Period: November 30, 2018 – December 31, 2018

SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application to construct the Main Street Widening project, which would result in impacts to approximately 1.15 acres and 2,289 linear feet of waters of the United States, including wetlands, adjacent to Main Street and the Jordan River. This notice is to inform interested parties of the proposed activity and to solicit comments.

AUTHORITY: This application is being evaluated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge of dredged or fill material in waters of the United States.

APPLICANT: Lehi City, Mr. Brad Kenison, 153 North 100 East, Lehi, Utah 84043

LOCATION: The approximately 30.64-acre project site is located on Saratoga Springs Crossroads Boulevard/ Lehi Main Street, between 2300 West and Commerce Drive, Latitude 40.3865°, Longitude -111.8996°, Lehi, Utah County, Utah, and can be seen on the Jordan Narrows USGS Topographic Quadrangle (Figure 1). The US Army Corps of Engineers scope within the project area is limited to the proposed wetland and channel impact areas located between River Way and the Jordan River, as shown in the attachments.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to widen a 1.57-mile section of Main Street/Crossroads Boulevard from 3 lanes to 5 lanes. The proposed 74-foot paved roadway width would include two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, a 12-foot center turn lane, 5-foot bike lanes in each direction, and 2-foot buffers between car and bike lanes. In addition to the paved width, the project would include a 2-foot curb and gutter, 7-foot planters, and 5-foot sidewalks on each side of the roadway, for a total proposed width of 102 feet. The proposed roadway improvements would also include reconstruction of the bridge over the Jordan River and the redesign of 3 intersections.

Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to improve regional mobility. The applicant believes there is a need to provide infrastructure to meet the growing population of Saratoga Springs and Lehi City. The attached drawings provide additional project details.

Based on the information provided in the application, the project would result in permanent impacts to approximately 0.88 acre of emergent marsh wetlands, 0.27 acre of scrub-shrub wetlands and 2,289 linear feet of drainage channel.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

    Environmental Setting. There are approximately 14.22 acres of emergent wetlands, 1.35 acres of scrub-shrub wetlands, 0.32 acre of wet meadow wetlands, 0.4 acre of open water, and 5,535 linear feet of drainage channel within the project area. The site is located in a developing rural area between Saratoga Springs and Lehi City and is bordered by new residential developments and some remaining open spaces. The site is generally flat and slightly sloped toward the Jordan River. Wetland areas are dominated by common reed, cattail, teasel, bulrush, reed canary grass, arctic rush, salt cedar, Russian olive, and willow, while upland areas are dominated by wheatgrass, meadow fescue, thistle, and cheatgrass. The Jordan River flows northward under an existing bridge and a portion of the project area adjacent to the crossing is within the 100-year floodplain of the Jordan River. Hydrology within the study area is influenced primarily by groundwater levels and surface runoff, though human disturbance has substantially altered regional hydrology since settlement.

    Alternatives. The applicant has not provided information concerning project alternatives. Additional information concerning project alternatives may be available from the applicant or their agent. Other alternatives may develop during the review process for this permit application. All reasonable project alternatives, in particular those which may be less damaging to the aquatic environment, will be considered.

    Mitigation. The Corps requires that applicants consider and use all reasonable and practical measures to avoid and minimize impacts to aquatic resources. If the applicant is unable to avoid or minimize all impacts, the Corps may require compensatory mitigation. The applicant has proposed to enhance and expand existing wetlands located south of Main Street.

OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS: Water quality certification or a waiver, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality is required for this project. The applicant has not indicated they have applied for certification. Projects are usually certified where the project may create diffuse sources (non-point sources) of wastes which will occur only during the actual construction activity and where best management practices would be employed to minimize pollution effects. A person who wishes to challenge such certification may only raise an issue or argument during an adjudicatory proceeding that is raised during the public comment period and is supported with sufficient information or documentation to enable the Director to fully consider the substance and significance of the issue. Utah Code Ann. 19-1-301.5 can be viewed at the following URL: http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE19/htm/19_01_030105.htm.

 Written comments specific to the Section 401 Water Quality Certification relative to this public notice should be submitted to Jodi Gardberg, Utah Division of Water Quality, P.O. Box 144870, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4870, or jgardberg@utah.gov on or before December 31, 2018.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES: Based on the available information (including applicant's report titled “Cultural Resource Reconnaissance Survey of the Crossroads Boulevard / Main Street Lehi Road Widening Project, Saratoga Springs / Lehi, Utah”), potentially eligible cultural resources may be affected by the proposed project. The Corps will initiate consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as appropriate.

ENDANGERED SPECIES: The proposed activity may affect Federally-listed endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat. The Corps will initiate consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: The proposed project would not adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) as defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The above determinations are based on information provided by the applicant and our preliminary review.

EVALUATION FACTORS: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the described activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the described activity, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the described activity will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. The activity's impact on the public interest will include application of the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 230).

The Corps is soliciting comments from the public, Federal, State, and local agencies and officials, Indian tribes, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.

SUBMITTING COMMENTS: Written comments, referencing Public Notice SPK-2018-00109 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before December 31, 2018.

Michael Pectol, Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
Bountiful Regulatory Office
533 West 2600 South, Suite 150
Bountiful, Utah 84010
Email: Michael.A.Pectol@usace.army.mil

The Corps is particularly interested in receiving comments related to the proposal's probable impacts on the affected aquatic environment and the secondary and cumulative effects. Anyone may request, in writing, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests shall specifically state, with particularity, the reason(s) for holding a public hearing. If the Corps determines that the information received in response to this notice is inadequate for thorough evaluation, a public hearing may be warranted. If a public hearing is warranted, interested parties will be notified of the time, date, and location. Please note that all comment letters received are subject to release to the public through the Freedom of Information Act. If you have questions or need additional information please contact the applicant or the Corps project manager Michael Pectol at (801) 295-8380, ext. 8315, or email Michael.A.Pectol@usace.army.mil.

Attachments: 10 drawings