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 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. §403) as described below:
APPLICANT: R. Darren Plymale
GMI Holding Company dba Galati Yacht Sales
P.O. Box 862
Anna Maria, Florida 34216
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The project would affect waters of the United States associated with Tampa Bay. The project site is located at the Galati Marina at 12030 Gandy Boulevard North, in Section 16, Township 30 South, Range 17 East, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida.
Directions to the site are as follows: Traveling south on FL-618 / Selmon Expressway, take exit 1B to merge onto W Gandy Blvd toward St. Petersburg, the site is at the end of the Gandy Bridge on the left.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES:
Latitude 27.87035°
Longitude -82.61276°
PROJECT PURPOSE:
Basic: Recreation
Overall: Reconstruction of an existing marina to conform to current insurance carrier safety standards.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: The project site consists of an existing marina comprised of 3,223 square feet of over water structures (finger piers and marginal dock) accommodating 32 slips.
PROPOSED WORK: The applicant seeks authorization to remove and rebuild an existing 32 slip marina with modifications, expanding the current docking facility from 3,223-square-feet to 4,517-square-feet.
The dock on the northeast side of the property would be expanded from 4’ wide x 170’ long to 5’ wide x 170’ long. The wooden catwalks (2’ x 30.8’) alongside the existing concrete travel lift would be rebuilt in the same footprint.
The multi-slip dock in the middle of the property is proposed to be expanded by adding 4’ to the main walkout, for an overall length of 173.8’. The main walkout is also proposed to be widened from 5’ to 6’ wide. The five existing catwalks would increase from 3’ to 4’ in width. Small flares would also be added where the catwalk meets the main walkway. The “T”-head on the dock would be increased in width from 4’ to 5’.
An existing 4’ x 20’ dock against the seawall would be rebuilt in the same footprint. Two existing boatlifts will remain in place. An existing 8’ x 30’ floating dock will remain in place.
The applicant also proposed to modify the “L”-head dock on the southwest side of the property. The main walkway would be increased in length from 73’ to 74’ and the width would be increased from 5’ to 6’. The “L”-head would increase in length from 65’ to 66’ and the width would increase from 4’ to 5’. The three catwalks associated with this dock would all increase from 3’ wide to 4’ wide. Small flare would also be added where the catwalk meets the main walkway and/or seawall.
A new 8’ x 28’ floating dock would be installed within an existing slip in order to add a second handicapped boarding area. A 3’ x 20’ dock would increase in width to 4’. All existing tie poles would be replaced.
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:
No resources are present within the project boundary.
COMPENSATORY MITIGATION: The applicant has provided the following explanation why compensatory mitigation should not be required: No mitigation is proposed as no aquatic resources are present and no new slips are being proposed.
CULTURAL RESOURCES: The Corps has determined the permit area has been extensively modified by previous work and there is little likelihood a historic property may be affected.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: The Corps has determined the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus mantus). Since the proposal by the applicant is for in-water construction, potential impacts to the endangered manatee were evaluated using the Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, and the State of Florida Effect Determination Key for the Manatee in Florida (Key), dated April 2013. Use of the Key resulted in the following sequential determination: A > B > C > G > N > O > P3 > “May affect, not likely to adversely affect”. The project is located in an Important Manatee Area (IMA), therefore further consultation with the Service is required. The Corps will request U.S. Fish and Wildlife concurrence with this determination pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
The Corps has determined the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the smalltooth sawfish, the loggerhead sea turtle, the Green sea turtle, or the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. The Corps will request National Marine Fisheries Service concurrence with this determination pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT (EFH): This notice initiates consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service on EFH as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996. Our initial determination is that the proposed action would not have a substantial adverse impact on EFH or Federally managed fisheries in the Tampa Bay. Our final determination relative to project impacts and the need for mitigation measures is subject to review by and coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
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.
AUTHORIZATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES: Water Quality Certification may be required from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and/or one of the state Water Management Districts.
COMMENTS regarding the potential authorization of the work proposed should be submitted in writing to the attention of the District Engineer through the Tampa Permits Section within 21 days from the date of this notice. For electronic mail (preferred) submit comments to Caitlin.S.Hoch@usace.army.mil. For standard mail submit comments to 10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 120, Tampa, Florida 33610-8302. Please reference this permit number, SAJ- 2005-08079 (SP-CSH), on all submittals.
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, Caitlin Hoch, in writing at the Tampa Permits Section, 10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 120, Tampa, Florida 33610; by electronic mail at Caitlin.S.Hoch@usace.army.mil; by fax at (813)769-7061; or, by telephone at (813)769-7074.
IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES: Preliminary review of this application indicates that an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. 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. By means of this notice, we are soliciting comments on the potential effects of the project on threatened or endangered species or their habitat
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 of 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 decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the 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.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT CONSISTENCY: In Florida, the State approval constitutes compliance with the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan. In Puerto Rico, a Coastal Zone Management Consistency Concurrence is required from the Puerto Rico Planning Board, in the Virgin Islands, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources permit constitutes compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Plan.
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.