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) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. §403) as described below:
APPLICANT: Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island (MCSF-BI)
Attention: Michael Erhardt
5880 Channel View Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32226
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The project would affect waters of the United States associated with the St. Johns River and the Back River channel. The project site is located at 5880 Channel View Boulevard, Sections 20 and 29, Township 1 South, Range 28 East, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.
Directions to the site are as follows: From downtown Jacksonville, travel north on US 17/North Main Street. Exit east onto 105/Heckscher Drive/Zoo Parkway. Travel south onto either Dave Rawls Blvd or Blount Island Blvd. Travel left onto Channel View Blvd and take a right onto Sonar Way. Sonar Way terminates at the Back River channel site project location. The site requires coordination with U.S. Marine Corps in advance for entry.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES: Latitude 30.789404°
Longitude -81.497961°
PROJECT PURPOSE:
Basic: The basic project purpose is to facilitate navigation and shoreline stabilization.
Overall: The overall project purpose is to construct structures and install shoreline stabilization for national defense readiness at the U. S. Marine Corps Blount Island facility, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: The aquatic system consists of the estuarine, open tidal waters of the Back River channel and the St. Johns River. There is tidal salt marsh located along the shore, landward of the high tide line. There is no mangrove, or submerged aquatic vegetation within the project site. The existing area surrounding the project area consists of the U.S. Marine Corps Blount Island facility and JAXPORT.
PROJECT HISTORY: The following is a list of authorizations for the U.S. Marine Corps eastern side of Blount Island:
a. SAJ-1989-00089 – Work was originally authorized for a marina, as issued to Gate Maritime Properties.
b. SAJ-1991-02068 – On August 16, 1993, the Corps authorized Gate Maritime Properties fill, excavation of open water, a bulkhead, and new structures within the Back River spillway. Maintenance dredging was also authorized.
i. On January 8, 2004, the Corps authorized Gate Maritime Properties to expand a commercial port facility for a wharf and bulkhead under a Standard Permit
c. SAJ-1991-02068 – On January 26, 2009, the Corps authorized maintenance for repair and replacement of rock jetty under a Nationwide Permit 3.
d. SAJ-1991-02068 - On May 14, 2014, the Corps authorized the annual maintenance dredge of approximately 300,000-cubic-yards of dredged material to -38-feet MLLW plus -2 feet of over depth.
i. Mod #1: On January 18, 2018, the permit was modified to add other upland disposal areas.
ii. Mod #2: On January 31, 2019, the permit was modified to maintenance dredge to a depth of -50 feet MLLW (plus -2 feet of allowable overdredge) between stations 6+00 and 8+32.6 (the sill area).
iii. Mod #3: On March 4, 2019, the permit was modified to remove a concrete sill located at MCSF-BI by cutting it into sections using a diamond wire saw, and the sections removed using an excavator type and/or large clamshell dredge.
iv. Mod #4: On June 24, 2022, the permit was modified to remove approximately 1,000-cubicyards of sediment from a 0.42-acre area within Berth 3 (Slipway Station 12+30 to Station 15+30) and removal of approximately 1,000-cubic-yards of sediment from a 1.57-acre area within Berth 4 (Station 12+30 to Station 18+20) for a total of
approximately 2,000-cubic-yards to be removed. The berths would be dredged to -7-feet at mean lower low water (MLLW) plus -1-foot allowable overdredge.
e. SAJ-2014-02631 – Work for shoreline stabilization was authorized at Areas 1, 2 and 3 of the USMC Blount Island on January 7, 2015. The authorized work for Area 1 was completed. The permit would have originally expired on January 7, 2020; however, on February 10, 2022, a time extension was issued for 2 years with a new expiration date of February 10, 2022, and the proposed work was modified to allow for an additional 0.017-acre of fill for rip rap in Area 1 as Modification #1. On January 27, 2022, a time extension was authorized for 2 years with a new expiration date of January 24, 2024, as Modification #2. Whereas the permit expired on January 24, 2024, the Permittee submitted a request for a modification and time extension on November 15, 2023. Therefore, the Corps is currently reviewing the request as Modification #3.
PROPOSED WORK: The applicant seeks authorization for the following work to construct structures and install shoreline stabilization for national defense readiness on the east shore of the Back River channel at the U. S. Marine Corps Blount Island facility:
Floating Lighterage Wharf and Jet Boat Dock:
a. To remove the existing floating lighterage wharf and jet boat dock from waters of the United States (open, tidal water). More specifically, to remove the 266.93-feet-long by 22.25-feet wide existing floating lighterage dock and 48-feet-long by 40-feet-wide jet dock, and 22.3-feet-wide by 88.98-feet-long and 23/4-inch long old lighterage unit and the 90-feet-long by 4-feet long aluminum gangway access pier. The work would include removal of three 18-inch concrete guide piles with a choker or choker with vibrator and pull them out and they would be disposed of in an approved upland facility. (Reference SD100 on page 9 of the enclosed drawings.)
b. To move and reinstall the existing floating lighterage wharf and jet boat dock jet dock, existing lighterage dock, and existing gangway over to the west into waters of the United States (open, tidal water) for use during the period of construction. New work would include installation of eight 36-inch steel guide piles installed by vibratory hammer and impact hammer The total dock is 9,455-square-feet and would include eight 36-inch diameter steel pipe piles installed by vibratory methods and impact hammer. There would be 9 slips (three lighterage vessels moored to the wharf, and two tied/moored to each of the 3 vessel attached to the wharf). (Reference S100 on page 10 of enclosed drawings.)
c. To remove the temporary floating lighterage wharf, jet boat dock, and gangway (reference Section 2 above) trestle and removing the 8 piles by vibratory method. The materials would be used as needed for government property.
Proposed Floating Police Dock and Jet Dock: To construct a 2,266-square-foot floating police dock and jet dock in waters of the United States (open, tidal water) below the mean high water line. More specifically, the structure would include a 5-foot-wide by 40-foot-long aluminum fixed gangway, a 5-foot by 10-foot permanent support structure, a 40-foot long by 5-foot-wide floating gangway, an 80-foot-long by 8-foot wide floating dock and a 40-foot-long by 30-foot-wide floating police jet boat dock. The jet boat dock includes pumps to lower the deck, allow the vessel drive on the dock, and lift the vessel. The structure would extend 126.6-feet from the mean high water line to the waterward most end of the structure. The structure would host 3 slips (one would be in water and 2 would be listed out of water) and it would include eight 36-inch diameter steel pipe piles installed by vibratory and impact hammer. (Reference SS125 on page 27 of the enclosed drawings.)
Proposed Lift Launch Pier: To install an 8,751-square-foot lift-launch pier over waters of the United States (open, tidal water). More specifically, a 98.5-foot-long by 62.5-foot-long deck that would support a boat lift crane, and a 10.5-foot wide by 120-foot long finger pier and a 22-foot-wide by 120-foot long finger pier, with a 120-foot-long by 30-foot-wide boat slip lift launch pier with fender piles in waters of the United States (open, tidal water) below the mean high water line. There would be 5 monopile fender dolphins that would be made of steel pipe that would be 36-inches in diameter located at the end of the lift-launch pier installed by vibratory methods impact hammer; there would be donut fenders on each pile. The pier would include 139 composite plastic piles 13-inch in diameter with 3-foot diameter floating log camels hanging by chains to create a standoff to the vessels installed by vibratory and impact hammer. There would be 113 square concrete P/S piles 24-inches in diameter installed by vibratory and impact hammer. The lift launch pier would host 2 slips for vessel for staging. (Reference page 4 for piles, reference pages 18 – 19, S108 – S109.)
Proposed Aluminum Walkway: To install a fixed aluminum walkway to connect the lift-launch pier with the lighterage wharf. More specifically, the walkway would include two 54.95 inch long by 5-feet-wide gangways stabilized by a 5-foot-wide by 10-feet-long structure supported by two 24-inch square prestressed steel piles installed by vibratory hammer and impact hammer. (Reference page 36, SS307 drawing.)
Proposed Lighterage Wharf: To install a 27,598-square-foot lighterage wharf in waters of the United States (open, tidal water) below the mean high water line. More specifically, a 500-foot-long by 50-foot-wide lighterage wharf, two tapered vehicle access piers (SS121) 30.2-inches wide at the taper and 34.4-feet long from the mean high water line on the left side and the same for the south side, and a central gangway that is approximately 60-foot gangway from the mean high water line to the wharf. The structure would be host to 15 slips (5 bays with 3 vessels abreast) for approximately 80-feet by 26-feet lighterage structures and would include twenty one 24-inch square prestressed piles, two hundred six 24-inch concrete piles, and one hundred thirty nine 13-inch diameter composite plastic piles installed by vibratory methods and impact hammer (Reference SS107 for mean high water line and SS118 – S121 on pages 20 – 23 of the enclosed drawings.)
Proposed Landing Craft Ramp: To place 253-cubic-yards of gravel/rock and articulating block into 3,224-square-feet of waters of the United States (open, tidal water) to install the “sand boat ramp” (landing craft ramp to transport vessels from ships to the land). More specifically, the ramp would be 66-feet-long on the west side and 60.4-feet on the east side, from the mean high water line waterward, and would be 45-feet wide. The proposed fill would be made of concrete articulating blocks to create a matt over gravel. The construction would include dredging of 294-cubic-yards of sand from the proposed 3,224-square-feet area and the sand would be placed in uplands on the north side of the proposed ramp. Dredge would occur utilizing a long reach backhoe from the bank to a depth of -7-feet NAVD88. The sand would be placed in upland areas landward of the seawall. A temporary sheet pile wall would be installed around the boat ramp to dewater the boat ramp area and place the fill and the temporary sheet pile would be removed once the ramp is completed.
Proposed Seawall: To place 2,571-cubic-yards of fill into 0.06-acre of waters of the United States (salt marsh wetlands adjacent to tidal) to install a seawall and backfill landward of the seawall. The length of the seawall would be 1,173-linear feet; however, only 422-feet is within salt marsh wetlands (it is all landward of the high tide line). The 422-foot-long areas would be 2.5-feet-wide by 1.5-feet high. The 422-linear-feet is the accumulative total of 4 separate locations (from West to East 18.9 + 51.8 + 283.7 + 67.8 = 422.2). The widths of each area are irregular and vary from 0-feet to 15-feet wide.
Proposed Rip Rap: To place 148-cubic-yards of rip rap into 0.173-acre of waters of the United States (0.08-acre of salt marsh landward of the high tide line and 0.0193-acre of open, tidal water) for shoreline stabilization. The area of riprap is an irregular shape that is 72-feet at the longest point by 22-feet wide at the widest point.
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:
“Impacts to wetlands have been avoided to the greatest extent practicable. The proposed steel sheet pile seawall has been aligned in uplands wherever possible to minimize wetland impacts.”
COMPENSATORY MITIGATION – The applicant has provided the following explanation why compensatory mitigation should not be required:
“Proposed permanent wetland impacts include 0.06-acre of fill from the seawall and 0.02-acre of potential shade impacts from the proposed structures. As the individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects for the proposed wetland impacts are no more than minimal and de-minimis in nature, no compensatory mitigation is proposed.”
CULTURAL RESOURCES:
The Corps is evaluating the undertaking for effects to historic properties as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This public notice serves to inform the public of the proposed undertaking and invites comments including those from local, State, and Federal government Agencies with respect to historic resources. Our final determination relative to historic resource impacts may be subject to additional coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer, those federally recognized tribes with concerns in Florida and the Permit Area, and other interested parties.
ENDANGERED SPECIES:
The Corps has determined the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus). Installation of metal pilings or metal sheet piles by impact hammer would not occur within an Important Manatee Area, Warm Water Aggregation Area, or Federal manatee sanctuary or state-designated No Entry Area and would occur under the following conditions: a) Use of at least one
dedicated manatee observer, with all work being stopped if a manatee is observed within 1000 feet; b) no work shall occur outside of daylight hours (defined as one-half hour after sunrise to one-half hour before sunset); and, c) no more than 5 piles/day may be installed below the mean high water line. Additionally, the location is designated as a Preferred Boat Facility Citing Area in the Duval County Manatee Protection Plan. Development in a Preferred area can have an unrestricted number of slips from a manatee management perspective. Lastly, the applicant will follow the Standard Manatee Conditions for In Water Work. Therefore, no additional consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required.
The Corps has determined the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) pursuant to the Eastern Indigo Snake Programmatic Effect Determination Key. Therefore, no additional consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required.
The Corps has determined the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) pursuant to the Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jacksonville Ecological Services Field Office and State of Florida Effect Determination Key For The Wood Stork In Central And North Peninsular Florida, September 2008. Therefore, no additional consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required.
The U.S. Marine Corps is the lead federal agency for the Endangered Species Act Section 7 review of the National Marine Fisheries Service Species. The U.S. Marine Corps has determined the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), and loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). The USMC has previously conducted consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service for concurrence with this determination pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
The Corps has determined the proposal would have no effect on the Eastern Black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis ssp. jamaicensis), Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), rufa red knot (Calidris canutus rufa), Whooping crane (Grus americana). Therefore, no additional consultation is required.
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 proposal would impact approximately 14 acres of open, tidal water and 0.08-acre of salt marsh utilized by various life stages of bull shark, summer flounder, shrimp, snapper/grouper, bluefish, and spiny lobster that are within a Habitat Area of Particular Concern. Our initial determination is that the proposed action would not have a substantial adverse impact on EFH or Federally managed fisheries in the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species area and the Gulf Atlantic Fisheries Management Council area. 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.
Navigation: The proposed structures are located in the vicinity of a federal navigation channel.
SECTION 408: The Corps is evaluating whether the proposed work would require permission under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 USC 408).
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.
COMMENTS regarding the potential authorization of the work proposed should be submitted in writing to the attention of the District Engineer through the Jacksonville Permits Section, 701 San Marco Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32207 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, Terri M. Mashour, in writing at the Jacksonville Permits Section, 701 San Marco Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32207; by electronic mail at Terri.M.Mashour@usace.army.mil; or, by telephone at (904) 251-9179.
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.
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.
WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: Water Quality Certification may be required.
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.