Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification

Public Notice (PN) Date: November 1, 2022                 PN Reference Number: POA-2010-00362 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: November 18, 2022                      Waterway: Tanana River

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’ PN Reference Number indicated above 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 project figures/drawings. The public notice and related project figures/drawings are accessible from the DEC website at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.

To comment on the project or request for a public hearing with respect to water quality, submit comments electronically via the DEC public notice site at https://water.alaskadec.commentinput.com/?id=Qdrtu on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.

Applicant: Fort Wainwright Directorate of Public Works, Tim Sponseller, 1046 Marks Road Fort Wainwright, AK 99703; (907) 361-7287; tim.a.sponseller.civ@army.mil.

Agent: Fort Wainwright Directorate of Public Works, Dan Rees, 1046 Marks Road Fort Wainwright, AK 99703; (907) 361-9318; daniel.c.rees.civ@army.mil.

Project Name: Fort Wainwright Small Arms Complex Range Expansions

Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 19, T. 1S, R. 1E; Fairbanks Meridian; in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 64.806345, -147.624736. With potential discharge location(s) as follows (Latitude, Longitude): Sediment 147.625881, 64.805637.

Purpose: The Small Arms Complex (SAC) is heavily used and currently training availability for troops is limited and difficult to schedule. The expansion of the Fort Wainwright SAC is necessary to expand training options available to troops and allow for use by more units. To support the expansion, belowground power and communications cables will be installed to provide electricity and communications to the ranges.

Grenade Launcher Range (GLR): Construction of a GLR will expand training options for army troops. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2024.

Hand Grenade Familiarization Range (HGR): The current HGR is in the footprint of the proposed expansion of the MPMG range, necessitating relocation. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2023.

Anti-Tank Range (AT4): The AT4 range needs to be expanded to meet TC 25-8 (Training Ranges) design standards. The current configuration and dimensions lack the overall space (200m X 600m) and targetry required by the most current specifications to enable soldiers to train to standard. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2025.

Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range (MPMG): The current MPMG is heavily used and training availability for troops is limited and difficult to schedule. Expansion of the range will allow for use by more than one unit and ease scheduling conflicts. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2025.

Gravel Pit: The SAC gravel pit will be expanded to the south to provide local gravel for the SAC expansion projects. Excavation is anticipated to begin in 2023.

Utility Trenching: Cables will be installed in trenches to provide power and communications to the range support buildings.

Range expansions are scheduled to begin May 1, 2023. Projects will be done in phases as funding becomes available. Anticipated completion is May 1, 2033.

Project Description: The U.S. Army Garrison Alaska proposes to expand the Small Arms Complex (SAC) over the next 10 years. 993,000 cubic yards of clean aggregate will be discharged into approximately 20.7 acres of wetlands. In addition, approximately 1.0 acre of temporary wetland fill will be discharged while installing conduit for underground electric and communications lines. Six specific range construction projects have been identified that will require placement of fill in Waters of the US: the Hand Grenade Familiarization Range Relocation (HGR), Grenade Launcher Range (GLR), Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range (MPMG), Anti-Tank Range (AT4), and Gravel Pit Expansion.

Grenade Launcher Range (GLR): Clean gravel fill will be discharged in approximately 1.8 acres of wetlands for the construction of the GLR (Map 2). The proposed GLR has two components: the grenade launcher range, and the ROCA. The gravel range will be approximately 1300’ x 100’ x 3’ thick. The gravel ROCA pad will not exceed 225’ x 80’ x 3’ thick. All components will have 2:1 side slopes.  Four stations will be located on the range with various bunkers and targets constructed of wood, steel, and sandbags. The ROCA will have a parking area and 3 enclosed structures on it: A ROC tower (12’ x 12’), mess area (20’ x40’), and an Ammunition Breakdown Building (12’ x 10’).

Hand Grenade Familiarization Range (HGR): Clean gravel fill will be discharged in approximately 5.0 acres of wetlands for the construction of the HGR (Map 3). The project will consist of a gravel access road and two gravel pads: the Hand Grenade Familiarization Range (HGR), and the Range Operations and Control Area (ROCA). The range will be approximately 725 ft. x 200 ft. on top of the pad and 737 ft. x 212 ft. at the base. The pad will consist of four lanes separated by five 164’ long x 7.5’ high, earthen, protective berms. The volume of fill for each berm will total approximately 4,000 cubic yards each.  The lanes between each berm will be covered with an 8” layer of sand. Geotextile will be installed on top of compacted aggregate under the earthen berms and all other structures on the HGR. Four 9 ft. wide x 9 ft. tall x 5 ft. tall precast concrete throwing pits will also be installed on the range.

The ROCA pad will be approximately 225 x 80 ft. at the top and 231 ft. x 86 ft. at the base. The pad will house the following enclosed structures: enclosed heated mess area, heated ammunition breakdown building (ABB), and precast vaulted latrine, as well as room for parking vehicles and equipment.

A gravel road wide enough for 2 vehicles approximately 100 ft. long will connect the existing Range Road and the proposed ROCA pad. Appropriately sized culverts will be installed along this section of road where deemed necessary. The road will be approximately 3 ft. high with 2:1 side slopes, 24 ft. wide at the top, and 36 ft. wide at the base.

A 500 ft. long gravel road wide enough for one vehicle will provide access between the ROCA pad and the HGR pad. The road will be approximately 3 ft. high with 2:1 side slopes, 12 ft. wide at the top, and 24 ft. wide at the base. Appropriately sized culverts will be installed along this section of road were deemed necessary.

Anti-Tank Range (AT4): The existing AT4 gravel pad will be expanded to the south and east (Map 4). The pad will be expanded by approximately 12 acres, with fill discharged in approximately 11.1 acres of wetlands. The gravel pad will be approximately 3’ thick with 2:1 side slopes.

Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range (MPMG): The existing MPMG will be expanded to the east and current target berms will be replaced with longer, updated berms (Map 5) resulting in the discharge of fill into approximately 2.2 acres of wetlands. Twelve new gravel target berms will be constructed ranging from approximately 1000’ to 3000’ long. Berms will be 12’ wide at the top and 36’ wide at the base. Up to three, 40’ x 50’ target mounds will be constructed adjacent to each berm. In addition, a gravel pad for a new ROCA, sited entirely in uplands, will be constructed, and contain seven enclosed buildings: range control tower, operations/storage building, classroom building, bleacher enclosure, ammunition breakdown building, aerated vault latrine, and covered mess building.

Gravel Pit: The Gravel Pit will be expanded to the south by approximately 650’ to source fill material for the range expansion projects (Map 6). The excavation will impact approximately 0.5 acres of wetland.

Utility Trenching: 2,700 linear feet of utility cable will be installed underground. The area disturbance will consist of trenching or ditch witching to create a 1-foot-wide trench to bury conduit containing electrical and/or communications cables. Trenching may result in sidecast and up to 1.0 acres of temporary wetland fill. Disturbed areas will be filled with native material generated during disturbance and restored to original grade where necessary and all sidecast will be removed from wetlands upon completion of the project.

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 Claire Fishwick at 907-465-5781or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 prior to the expiration date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.