Any applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct an activity that might result in a discharge into navigable waters, in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1977 (PL95-217), also must apply for and obtain certification from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that the discharge will comply with the CWA, the Alaska Water Quality Standards, and other applicable State laws.
Notice is hereby given that a request for a CWA §401 Water Quality Certification of a Department of the Army Permit application, Corps of Engineers’ Reference Number POA-2019-00459, Captains Bay, has been received for the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States (WOUS), including wetlands, as described below and shown on the enclosed project figures/drawings. The public notice and related project figures/drawings are also accessible from the DEC website at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.
Any person desiring to comment on the project with respect to water quality, may submit comments electronically via the DEC public notice site (preferred method) at https://water.alaskadec.commentinput.com/?id=CAkpK
Alternatively, you may direct written comments or requests for public hearing via email or mail to the address listed above by the Public Notice expiration date. All comments submitted via mail or email should include the PN reference number listed above in the subject heading. Mailed comments must be postmarked on or before the expiration date of the public notice.
Applicant: City of Unalaska, 1035 E Broadway Ave, Unalaska, Alaska 99685, Bob Cummings, City Engineer, (907) 581-1260, bcummings@ci.unalaska.us; Agent: HDL Engineering Consultants, LLC, 3335 Arctic Blvd, Anchorage, Alaska 99517, Owen Means, Environmental Scientist, (907) 441-7142; omeans@hdlalaska.com
Project Name: Captains Bay Road Paving and Utility Extension
Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 10-16, 21, T. 73 S., R. 118 W., Seward Meridian; Beginning: Latitude 53.872141° N., Longitude -166.5542793° W.; Ending: Latitude 53.846688° N., Longitude -166578729° W.; in Unalaska, Alaska.
Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to improve safety for vehicles, freight, and non-motorized roadways users along Captains Bay Road by addressing roadway safety deficiencies.
Project Description: The City of Unalaska proposes to upgrade Captains Bay Road from Airport Beach Road to the entrance of the Offshore Systems facility. The project would realign, widen, and pave Captains Bay Road, upgrade and extend utilities, improve drainage, and install lighting and pedestrian amenities. The applicant proposes to discharge 121,500 cubic yards (CY) of fill (Type A fill, porous backfill and Class I/V riprap) into 8.60 acres below the high tide line (HTL), (4.7’ above the 0.0 foot contour) of Captains Bay, a navigable water of the U.S., for the widening, paving and straightening of horizontal curves along 13,696 linear foot of Captains Bay Road. Of the 8.60 acres of fill below the HTL, 7.02 acres (108,000 CY of fill) would also be below the mean high water mark (MHWM), (3.4’ above the 0.0 foot contour).
The typical road section would include two 13-foot-wide paved travel lanes, 2-foot-wide paved shoulders, ocean side rolled curb and gutter and a 6-foot-wide asphalt walkway. The project would also include utility relocations/upgrades/extensions (electrical, communications, sanitary sewer and potable water) and the installation of street lighting. The total area of fill described above includes 0.02 acre below the ordinary high water mark/HTL of an unnamed perennial stream within the Westward Seafoods facility for replacement of an existing undersized culvert with a 96-inch corrugated aluminum pipe to allow adequate fish passage.
Additionally, 550 CY of 1.5’ to 4’ diameter rock would be discharged into 5,856 square foot (SF) below the MHWM of Captains Bay for the re-construction of 5,856 SF of rock groins which would be removed or encapsulated by the current proposal. The currently existing groins were constructed as mitigation required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to offset impacts to Steller’s eiders through construction of the Carl E. Moses boat harbor.
After reviewing the application, the Department may certify there is reasonable assurance the activity, and any discharge that might result, will comply with the CWA, the Alaska Water Quality Standards, and other applicable State laws. The Department also may deny or waive certification.
The permit application and associated documents are available for review. For inquires or to request copies of the documents, contact dec-401cert@alaska.gov, or call 907-269-6285.
Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice
The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact ADA Coordinator Brian Blessington at 907-269-6272 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 within 5 days of the expiration date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.