Comment Period: February 10, 2025 – March 12, 2025
SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application for the discharge of dredged or fill material in approximately 27.97 acres of waters of the United States to construct the WDC Phase II project. 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: Utah Department of Transportation, Attn: Mr. Rod Hess, 4501 South 2700 West, Taylorsville, Utah, 84129.
LOCATION: The approximately 195-acre project site is located at the existing northern terminus of SR-177 (WDC) at SR-193, and extends north to 1800 North in West Point, with a center point near Latitude 41.1231°, Longitude -112.1066°, Davis County, Utah, and can be seen on the Clearfield USGS Topographic Quadrangle.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to discharge dredged and/or fill material into wetlands, ponds, canals, and drainage channels to construct a new segment of 4-lane roadway that would extend the existing SR-117 (WDC) northward from SR-193 to 1800 North in West Point, a distance of approximately 2.7 miles. The new road would be constructed within a 250-foot right of way (to match the existing WDC width) and would include associated 51-foot center medians, traffic shoulders, 32-foot clear zones, 15-foot maintenance areas along right-of-way fences, bridges, drainages, detention ponds, utilities, paved pedestrian trials, and other impacts from staging and access areas. Once the roadway alignment has been graded, separation fabric, 12-inches of granular borrow, 6-inches of untreated base course, and 8-inches of hot asphalt mix (HMA) would be placed to complete the roadway. These activities would result in permanent impacts to approximately 24.15 acres of wetlands, 2.99 acres of open water ponds, and 3,660 linear feet (0.83 acre) of drainage channel/canal features, as well as temporary impacts to 0.1 acre of wetlands, 0.05 acre of open water pond, and 718 linear feet (0.33 acre) of channel.
The applicant has identified the project purpose is to improve regional mobility, enhance peak-period mobility, increase interconnection between transportation modes, support local growth objectives, and increase bicycle and pedestrian options. The applicant believes there is a need to achieve these purposes to address the transportation needs of a rapidly growing population in Weber and Davis Counties. The attached drawings provide additional project details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Environmental Setting: The entire project footprint is anticipated to encompass approximately 134 acres east of the Great Salt Lake. Based on the aquatic resource delineation report submitted by the applicant, there are approximately 31.70 acres of wetlands, 5.01 acres of ponds, 7,224 linear feet of drainages/canals, and 34 linear feet of streams identified within the project area. The site is characterized by gently sloped terraces and plains, small rolling knolls, and relatively subtle depressions. Land use within the project area is predominantly residential and agricultural, with smaller inclusions of natural and other developed areas. Uplands within the project area are dominated by upland grasses such as wall barley, intermediate wheatgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass, as well as Baltic rush, which is found throughout the site. Wetlands typically have a mix of reed canary grass, cattails, salt grass, rushes, and sedges.
Alternatives: The applicant has provided information concerning project alternatives in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project, which can be viewed at https://westdavis.udot.utah.gov/. 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, particularly 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 the use of excess mitigation credits remaining from construction of WDC Phase I.
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 indicated they are applying for Section 401 certification concurrently with the subject application.
HISTORIC PROPERTIES: Based on the available information, including the applicant's documentation of compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the project would result in no adverse effects to historic properties.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: Based on available information, including the applicant’s biological assessment, the project would not affect any Federally listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat that are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
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: Comments on the proposed action must be submitted by March 12, 2025. Comments should be submitted through the Corps’ Regulatory Request System at https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs/public-notices. Written comments, referencing Public Notice SPK-2007-01985, may also be submitted to the following point of contact:
Michael Pectol, Senior 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 by phone at (801) 295-8380 ext. 8315, or email at Michael.A.Pectol@usace.army.mil.
Attachments: 18 drawings