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-2021-00150, Copper River, 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=jDcm9
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: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), 2301 Peger Road Fairbanks AK 99709, Melissa Riordan , Environmental Analyst III, 907-451-2243, melissa.riordan@alaska.gov
Project Name: Copper River Old Edgerton Highway Improvement Project
Location: The proposed activity is located within Section S16 T1S R2E. The project site is the Old Edgerton Highway, which extends from Willow Creek to Kenny Lake, Alaska and is located within USGS Quad Maps Valdez C-3, D-3, and D-4; the project mid-point is Latitude 61.7842º N., Longitude 145.0492º W.
Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to improve maintenance and public safety of the Old Edgerton Highway by widening the road, clearing vegetation for sight distance and improving drainage and the driving surface.
Project Description: The proposed upgrades would widen the road to 24-feet with two 12- foot lanes, improve and re-establish ditches, replace culverts where needed, and clear vegetation 30 feet from edge of new roadway width. Activities would occur in a phased manner for at least 5 years and would include:
- Clearing trees and brush up to 42 feet from the road centerline small trees and brush will be cut with a hydro-ax and/or slash-buster mulched. Tree stumps will be covered with fill or removed for disposal.
- Establishing a consistent ditch line and back slopes. Fill or cut in fore slopes at a 3:1 with a 5-foot flat bottom ditch and 4:1 back slope.
- Widening the road up to 4 feet (current road width is approximately 20 to 22-feet), and place gravel aggregate materials to improve road surface.
- Up to 12-inches of pit run and a base course of 4-inches of D-1 (types of gravel aggregate) with a 3% sloped crown and a maximum of 6% super elevation on curves.
- A grade raise of up to 3 feet may be needed in select locations.
- Culvert extensions, replacement, and installation of cross drainage culverts
- Hi-float the road once the road bed is at final grade. Hi-float is a road surfacing that deters road degradation, improves tracking, and reduces fugitive dust.
Gravel source for this project would come from material site (MS) 850-036-5 located at MP 5 of the Edgerton Highway. All development areas within this material site are in uplands.
All work would be performed in accordance with the enclosed plan (sheets 1-2), dated April 26, 2022.
The proposed project would place 3,150 cubic yards of aggregate fill material impacting 1.8 acres of waters wetlands located along the Old Edgerton Highway. Most of the road alignment is in uplands, with only a few small wetland areas located within the ADOT&PF right of-way.
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 Jason Burnett at 907-269-3056 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.