Public Notice Notifications

The Jacksonville District currently has five categories of public notice notification mailing lists. If you wish to receive email notifications when new public notices are added to this page, please send a request to Regulatory Webmaster.  Each category is described below. Be sure to specify which list(s) you want to be included on.

Florida - This includes all public notices for projects being reviewed for Standard Permits within the State of Florida.

Antilles - This includes all public notices for projects being reviewed for Standard Permits within the Antilles area (this includes Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands).

Tropical Storms & Other Emergencies - These public notices provide information on procedures for emergency permitting requirements due to specific tropical storm events or other emergency situations.

Special Issues - These are public notices that involve the Regulatory program but which are generally not limited to one particular geographic area. These would include public notices for the establishment or modification of Restricted Areas/Danger Zones, re-issuance of General Permits or Nationwide Permits, changes to guidance and policies, etc.

Administrative Penalty - These public notices provide information associated with Administrative Penalties. An Administrative Penalty can be assessed to address violations associated with issued Department of the Army permits.

SAJ-2014-01655(SP-JMS)

Published Aug. 1, 2017
Expiration date: 8/21/2017

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:  The Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1344) as described below:

                                                                                                                             

APPLICANT: Hon. Isabelo Molina

Mayor of Vega Alta

P.O. Box 1390

Vega Alta, Puerto Rico  00692

 

WATERWAY AND LOCATION:  The project would affect waters of the United States associated with Machuchal Creek which flows towards Rio Cibuco.  The project site is located at La Comunidad Machuchal Road PR-647, Km 0.33 Bo. Bajura, Vega Alta, Puerto Rico.

 

Directions to the site are as follows: From PR-22 take exit 32 towards Vega Alta-Vega Baja then turn left at PR-2 towards Vega Alta.  At PR-690 make a right turn following a quick left turn at PR-676. Continue on PR-676 about 1.3 miles and turn right at Candelaria Road (PR-647). Make a right hand turn at the second road, adjacent to the first one, and project site begins about 0.15 miles from entrance.

 

APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES:          Latitude:  18.4113°  

                                                                                  Longitude: -66.3376°

 

PROJECT PURPOSE:

Basic: Storm overflow improvements at Machuchal Creek

Overall:  Conduct channel and road improvements to the Machuchal Creek in order to provide a better water flow and improvements to mitigate the flooding’s to the community.

 

EXISTING CONDITIONS:  The conditions of the project are divided as the upstream and downstream sections from the existing bridge to be reconstructed with the new channel alignment. The upstream portion consists of a highly developed and impacted channel with minimal vegetation. This portion of the channel has been impacted by the placement of concrete pipes, continuous excavations to remove debris, constant erosion of the bed and banks due to rain events, and the construction of vehicle bridges for resident access. The downstream portion has been impacted by constant erosion of the bed and banks due to rain events and some removal of debris.  The site has a poor water quality due to the domestic debris, and disposal of residual waters from nearby residents which precludes the establishment of flora and fauna typically found in this type of natural systems.

 

PROPOSED WORK:  The applicant seeks authorization to improve a portion, 214 meters, of the Machuchal creek by reshaping, reconfiguring and straitening the existing channel, removing and building a bridge, removing and reconstructing pedestrian and residential vehicular entrances, and filling portions of the channel remaining isolated as part of the new configuration. In order to complete the above mentioned activities the applicant would have to remove all debris and structures from the channel, demolish 5 residential access bridges, excavate approximately 1,500 cubic yards of material from the channel to reach the proper depth and width for the trapezoidal channel, and excavate 200 cubic yards for the channel realignment portion. In addition, the applicant would “cast in place” 325 cubic yards for a new concrete trapezoidal channel (200 m long by 6 m wide by 1.4 m high), a vehicular bridge (12 m long by 2 m high by 8 m wide), 5 residential access bridges, two wing walls at beginning and end of the channel, and place 65 cubic yards of riprap at both ends of the new channel for structural protection. The entire channel would require 6 inch compacted material base for leveling purposes before construction activities. After the new channel alignment has been completed, previous channel areas that no longer have connectivity, would be filled with material from the excavation and outside material if needed.  Furthermore, the applicant would improve the road by removing the existing asphalt layer, the base and sub-base material.  The applicant would need to deposit approximately 3,600 cubic yards of material for road grading, drainage and asphalt repaving. All banks and exposed areas will be covered by plant or “Vetiver grass” known to help with stabilization and avoid erosion. Turbidity and sedimentation controls would be installed and remain during all construction activities have been completed. All excavation would be conducted from upland and no machinery will be allowed inside the channel.

 

AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION INFORMATION – The applicant has provided the following information in support of efforts to avoid and/or minimize impacts to the aquatic environment: The proposed project design would impact the minimal area needed to obtain the required channel improvements.  Also, the applicant will use silt fences during construction activities to minimize the potential of impact to the aquatic environment during construction.  In addition, the applicant will seed any exposed banks to prevent future erosion and sediment from entering the aquatic system and place erosion and sedimentation control measures at both staging and dewatering areas.

 

COMPENSATORY MITIGATION – The applicant has provided the following explanation why compensatory mitigation should not be required: The proposed project would not have significant adverse environmental impacts which would not require compensatory mitigation. This proposed project will improve the water flow and the water quality throughout the community and surrounding areas.

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES:  The Corps is not aware of any known historic properties within the permit area.  By copy of this public notice, the Corps is providing information for review.  Our final determination relative to historic resource impacts is subject to review by and coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer and those federally recognized tribes with concerns in Florida and the Permit Area.

 

ENDANGERED SPECIES: The Corps has determined the proposal would have no effect on any listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat.

 

NOTE:  This public notice is being issued based on information furnished by the applicant.  This information has not been verified or evaluated to ensure compliance with laws and regulation governing the regulatory program.  The jurisdictional line has not been verified by Corps personnel.

 

AUTHORIZATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES:  Water Quality Certification may be required from the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board.

 

COMMENTS regarding the potential authorization of the work proposed should be submitted in writing to the attention of the District Engineer through the Antilles Permits Section, Fundación Angel Ramos Annex Building 2nd Floor Suite 202, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Ave. #383, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918 within 20 days from the date of this notice.

 

The decision whether to issue or deny this permit application will be based on the information received from this public notice and the evaluation of the probable impact to the associated wetlands.  This is based on an analysis of the applicant's avoidance and minimization efforts for the project, as well as the compensatory mitigation proposed.

 

QUESTIONS concerning this application should be directed to the project manager, Johann M. Sasso, in writing at the Antilles Permits Section, Antilles Permits Section, Fundación Angel Ramos Annex Building 2nd Floor Suite 202, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Ave. #383, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918; by telephone at (787)729-6860; by electronic mail at johann.m.sasso@usace.army.mil; or by facsimile transmission at (787)729-6906.

 

IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES: Coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Marine Fisheries Services, and other Federal, State, and local agencies, environmental groups, and concerned citizens generally yields pertinent environmental information that is instrumental in determining the impact the proposed action will have on the natural resources of the area.

 

EVALUATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including cumulative impacts thereof; among these are conservation, economics, esthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historical 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, considerations of property ownership, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. Evaluation of the impact of the activity on the public interest will also include application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, EPA, under authority of Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act or the criteria established under authority of Section 102(a) of the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.  A permit will be granted unless its issuance is found to be contrary to the public interest.

 

The US Army Corps of Engineers (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 determination, comments are used to assess impacts to endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.

 

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT CONSISTENCY: In Puerto Rico, a Coastal Zone Management Consistency Concurrence is required from the Puerto Rico Planning Board.

 

REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING: Any person may request a public hearing. The request must be submitted in writing to the District Engineer within the designated comment period of the notice and must state the specific reasons for requesting the public hearing.