Comment Period: October 18, 2022– November 18, 2022
SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application for the discharge dredged or fill material and/or work in approximately 1.2 acres of waters of the United States to extend Wolf Pack Way roadway. 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: Hyde Park City
Attn: Mr. Brett Knight
113 East Center
Hyde Park, UT 84318
LOCATION: The approximately ¾ of a mile long project site is located at Wolf Pack Way between 600 South and Hyde Park Lane, Latitude 41.79311°, Longitude -111.83022°, Hyde Park City, Cache County, Utah, and can be seen on the Smithfield USGS Topographic Quadrangle.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to extend Wolf Pack Way between 600 South and Hyde Park Lane. The proposed extension would consist of three lanes, one lane in each direction and a center turn lane, for a width of 40 feet. A 10-foot-wide multi-use trail would be installed on the east side of the road. The roundabout at 600 South would be completed and a roundabout would be constructed at 200 South and Hyde Park Lane. The project would also include excavated stormwater swales, installation of culverts to connect wetlands and drainages, and installation of water and sewer lines adjacent to the road. The project would result in the permanent loss of 1.1 acres of palustrine emergent wetland, 0.1 acre of palustrine forested wetland, and 160 linear feet of perennial channel. Based on the available information, the overall project purpose and need is to provide better regional transportation. The attached drawings provide additional project details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Environmental Setting. There are approximately 4.85 acres of palustrine emergent wetland, 0.71 acre of palustrine forested wetland, 688 linear feet of perennial stream, and 760 linear feet of irrigation ditch within the 52.34-acre project area. Creeping wild rye (Elymus repens), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), Nebraska sedge (Carex nebrascensis), and broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) were all common within the palustrine emergent wetlands, along with less-common species such as clustered field sedge (Carex praegracilis), Baltic rush (Juncus balticus), and Fuller’s teasel (Dipsacus fullonum). The palustrine forested wetlands are dominated by a dense crack willow (Salix fragilis) canopy with bare ground and willow litter covering the understory. The site is characterized by agricultural fields with residential developments to the east.
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 create wetlands through the Bear River Land Conservancy at their Bear River Bottoms project.
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 applied for certification on August 31, 2022.
HISTORIC PROPERTIES: 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 and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as appropriate.
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-2022-00220 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before November 18, 2022
Hollis Jencks, Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
533 West 2600 South, Suite 150
Bountiful, Utah 84010
Email: Hollis.G.Jencks@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 Hollis Jencks, (801) 295-8380, ext. 8318, Hollis.G.Jencks@usace.army.mil.
Attachments: 7 drawings