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-2020-00553 Latouche Passage, 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=pm8HC
Alternatively, you may direct written comments or requests for public hearing via email or mail to the address listed above by the Public Notice (PN) 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: Mr. David Burlingame, 3305 Arctic Blvd, Suite 201, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; 907-646-5103; dburlingame@epsinc.com; Agent: Travis/Peterson Environmental Consulting, Inc., Mr. Ryan Kingsbery, 3305 Arctic Blvd, Suite 102, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; 907-522-4337; rkingsbery@tpeci.com
Project Name: Powder Point Boat Harbor
Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 33, T. 2 S., R. 9 E., Seward Meridian; Latitude 60.051481° N., Longitude -147.908869° W.; 75 miles southeast of Whittier, on Latouche Island, Alaska.
Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to improve private landowner access to the Latouche Island Townsite Subdivision and shelter recreational watercraft from storms.
Project Description: The applicant proposes to construct a sheltered harbor comprising of the following components: 1) two seawalls located at the north and south end of the harbor; 2) a two-pronged float supported boat slip within the harbor; and 3) a 40-foot dock ramp connecting the floating boat slip with an anchored dock on land.
The project would be completed in three phases: 1) Drilling and blasting bedrock to -10 feet MSL depth for an estimated 3,000 cubic yards (CY) of bedrock; 2) Extraction of fractured cut rock to construct the north and south seawalls (constructed to plan specs and feature 1:1.3 slope); and 3) Drilling and anchoring of two 6-inch steel piers to a depth of -10 feet MSL followed by installation of the float-supported boat slip.
The north seawall would require approximately 3,000 CY of cut rock and would be constructed to an elevation of 20 feet mean sea level (MSL) and the south seawall would require 190 CY of cut rock and would be constructed to an elevation of 12 feet level (MSL). A qualified explosive-handler would drill and blast bedrock within an approximately 5,400 square foot area to an elevation of -10 feet below mean sea level (MSL) elevation. All blasting and excavation would occur during low tides (-3.00 to -3.49-feet MSL) between April 27-29, or May 23-June 3, 2021, (+0.35 to -3.96-feet MSL).
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.