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. §1344as described below:
APPLICANT:
Collier County Facilities Management
C/o: Damon Grant
3335 Tamiami Trail East
Naples, Florida 34112
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The project would affect waters of the United States, including wetlands, associated with the Golden Gate Estates, Faka Union Canal Basin, and the Big Cypress Swamp Watershed. The project site is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Golden Gate Boulevard East and Desoto Boulevard South, in Section 33, Township 48 South, Range 28 East, Naples, Collier County, Florida.
Directions to the site are as follows: From I-75 take Exit 111 for Immokalee Road (C.R. 846) and head east on Immokalee Road for about 9 miles; at the curve make a right onto Randall Boulevard and head east for about 5 miles; make a right onto Desoto Boulevard North and head south for about 3 miles; the project site will be at the southwest corner of the Desoto Boulevard North and Golden Gate Boulevard East intersection.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES:
Latitude: 26.230432°
Longitude: -81.515630°
PROJECT PURPOSE:
Basic: Emergency services development.
Overall: Construct a new fire station in order to meet the growing community needs by reducing emergency response times within a residential large platted subdivision known as Golden Gate Estates, in north central Collier County.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: The project site is a 5.46-acre undeveloped parcel consisting entirely of jurisdictional wetlands abutting roadside ditches that directly connect to other waters of the United States (man-made canals). The 5.46-acre site is comprised of disturbed forested wetlands (FLUCCS 624) with approximately 40% exotic coverage, including Brazilian pepper. The surrounding area includes Golden Gate Boulevard East to the north, Desoto Boulevard South to the east, a single-family home to the west, and an undeveloped forested parcel to the south.
PROPOSED WORK: The applicant seeks authorization to place approximately 14,200 cubic yards of fill within 3.64 acres of jurisdictional wetlands for the construction of a new fire station, with associated infrastructure, including parking area and stormwater management facilities.
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 project as proposed represents the consideration of numerous alternatives that all considered the minimization or elimination of wetland impacts. As currently proposed, this project balances the numerous demands of many competing regulations into a workable cost effective project. Such regulatory factors as fire safety, parking, zoning, indigenous preservation, setbacks, buffering, landscape and aesthetics, as well, as such practical considerations as utility service, vehicle access, market conditions and building support spaces all played into the ultimate design that is presented.”
COMPENSATORY MITIGATION – The applicant has offered the following compensatory mitigation plan to offset unavoidable functional loss to the aquatic environment: All impacts to wetlands will be mitigated offsite by the purchasing of credits from an approved USACE mitigation bank.
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 proposed project may affect the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). The Corps will request U.S. Fish and Wildlife concurrence with this determination, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, under separate letter.
The Corps has determined the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, the Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus). The Corps will request U.S. Fish and Wildlife concurrence with this determination, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, under separate letter.
The Corps has determined the proposal would have no effect on the Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), Audubon’s crested caracara (Polyborus plancus audubonii), wood stork (Mycteria americana), Everglade snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus), red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), and/or their designated critical habitat. No further consultation with the Service is required for these species.
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. The project site does not contain EFH; therefore, the Corps has determined that the proposed project would have no effect to EFH.
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 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 Fort Myers Permits Section, 1520 Royal Palm Square Boulevard, Suite 310, Fort Myers, FL 33919 within 30 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, Michelle L. Bartley, in writing at the Fort Myers Permits Section, 1520 Royal Palm Square Blvd. Suite 310, Fort Myers, FL 33919; by electronic mail at Michelle.L.Bartley@usace.army.mil.
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, aesthetics, 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 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.