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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.

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SPK-2010-01058 SouthEast Connector, NV

Published Aug. 23, 2013
Expiration date: 10/15/2013

CESPK-RD-U 

SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application to construct the SouthEast Connector project, which would result in a total of 13.51 acres of temporary and 11.23 acres of permanent impacts of waters of the United States (WOUS), including wetlands, in or adjacent to Steamboat Creek. This notice is to inform interested parties of the proposed activity and to solicit comments.

AUTHORITY: This application is being evaluated by the Corps under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge of dredged or fill material in waters of the United States and by the State of Nevada for Section 401 Water Quality Certification.

APPLICANT: Lee Gibson, Executive Director, Regional Transportation Commission, 2050 Villanova Drive, Reno, Nevada 8950

LOCATION: The proposed project extends from approximately 800 feet south of Clean Water Way on the North to the intersection of South Meadows Parkway and Veterans Parkway on the South, and is approximately 4.5 miles in and near Steamboat Creek and adjacent wetlands. The project area is located in Washoe County, Nevada, within Townships 18 North, Range 20 East, Sections 3 and 4, and Township 19 North, Range 20 East, Sections 14, 15, 21, 22, 27, 28, 33, and 34 of the Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to place fill to construct a 4.5 mile 6 lane road extending from the intersection of Veterans Parkway and South Meadows Parkway in the South to Clean Water Way in the North. The drawings in Attachment 2 provide additional project details. The road would have an average roadway prism width of 140 feet and a pavement width of 84 feet except at intersections, where the pavement would be wider to accommodate turn lanes. In four locations, bridges would be constructed to span drainages and wetlands; allow for wildlife crossing; and to provide maintenance and golf cart access through the golf course. At Alexander Lake Road, a bridge would be constructed for the roadway to cross over an existing haul road; allow wildlife passage; accommodate flood flows; and accommodate pedestrian and bicycle access. The proposed project would result in a total of 13.51 acres of temporary and 11.23 acres of permanent impacts (temporary fill 6,679 cubic yards, permanent fill 5,759 cubic yards). The temporary impacts would result from construction activities and would be restored to pre-project condition. The remaining direct impacts (permanent loss of wetlands and waters of the U.S.) resulting from the construction of the new roadway would be mitigated on site. The project proposes to construct 19.13 acres of mitigation wetlands and 2.38 acres of open water to compensate for the permanent loss of 11.23 acres of jurisdictional wetlands and WOUS from the system. Please see attachment 1 for tables showing Permanent versus Temporary Impacts; Permanent and Temporary Impacts by Waters Type and location; and Proposed Mitigation. Based on the available information, the basic purpose is to construct a linear transportation project. The overall project purpose is to provide improved north-south regional linkages between the South Truckee Meadows and the City of Sparks for all modes of travel. The basic purpose is a linear transportation project. The applicant believes there is a need to provide a regional connectivity project. The existing regional road network linking South Truckee Meadows to the City of Sparks consists of the Interstate 580 corridor and routes using McCarran Boulevard. According to the applicant, the existing roadway network is insufficient for the amount of traffic in the road network resulting in traffic congestion which would result in increased travel delay and vehicle emissions, which would reduce air quality. The strong growth in housing and employment opportunities in the South Truckee Meadows has created an increased demand for another north-south roadway connector between the cities of Sparks and Reno. A complete copy of the application can be found at www.southeastconnector.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

    Environmental Setting. A total of 173.297 acres of potential waters of the U.S. exist within the project area. This total is comprised of 44.001 acres of open water ponds, 20.142 acres of perennial streams; 0.424 acre of intermittent streams; 0.376 acre of waste ponds; 0.621 acre of seasonal wetland swale; 23.671 acres of seasonal wetland meadow; 20.265 acres of seasonal wetlands dominated by whitetop; and 63.797 acres of emergent marsh. Please see attachment 1 for more detailed information on waters of the U.S. impacts and mitigation.
Alternatives. The applicant has provided information concerning project alternatives. Additional information concerning project alternatives can be found at www.southeastconnector.com. 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 construct 19.13 acres of mitigation wetlands and 2.38 acres of open water to compensate for the permanent loss of 11.23 acres of jurisdictional wetlands and WOUS from the system.

OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS: Water quality certification or a waiver, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Quality Planning (NDEP) is required for this project. The NDEP will review the project to determine if the proposed work will comply with applicable water quality standards. Projects are usually certified for construction activities that may discharge diffuse (nonpoint) sources of pollutants and where best management practices would be required to prevent erosion, control sediment and protect water quality. Written comments on water quality certification should be submitted to Ms. Jean Stone, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Quality Planning, 901 South Stewart Street, Suite 4001, Carson City, Nevada 89701-5249, or email jstone@ndep.nv.gov  on or before September 22, 2013.

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 pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: The proposed project will 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-2010-01058 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before September 23, 2013 October 15, 2013.

    Kristine Hansen, Project Manager
    US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
    Reno Regulatory Field Office
    300 Booth Street, Room 3050
    Reno, Nevada 89509
    Email: Kristine.S.Hansen@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

    Kristine Hansen, 775-784-5304, Kristine.S.Hansen@usace.army.mil

Attachments: 1 tables
    2 drawings