PN Reference Number: POA-2023-00117 v1.0
Waterway: Turnagain Arm
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’ Public Notice 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 on or before the public notice expiration date listed above to
https://water.alaskadec.commentinput.com/?id=7K5EW
Applicant:
Titan, LLC, Todd Christianson
251 West 106th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99515;
907-223-5884
todd@titanalaska.net
Project Name:
Titan Fill
Location:
The proposed activity is located within Section 18, T. 12N, R. 3W; Seward Meridian; in Anchorage, Alaska.
Project Site:
(Latitude, Longitude): 61.12448, -149.88497. With potential discharge location(s) as follows: MAUI Blk 2 Lot 3, Wetlands -149.884970, 61.124488; Ditch culvert crossing -149.885005, 61.124713.
Purpose:
Titan, LLC intends to mine the peat and organics currently on site to be repurposed for landscaping business. The excavated material will be hauled to an upland processing facility. The excavated site will be backfilled with clean fill to create a construction pad for the property owner.
Project Description:
Excavate 0.95 acres of wetlands and backfill the site with clean fill from an adjacent upland source. The project will place approximately 15,000 cubic yards of clean fill into wetlands and waters. The fill material will come from an upland source; no additional material will be excavated from wetlands. The excavated peat and organics will be loaded by excavator into dump trucks and removed from site. The excavated material will be stockpiled in uplands and re-purposed by the property owner for use in his landscaping business. Fill will extend east to the property edge creating an upland connection to the adjacent lot. Existing drainage ditches on the north, south, and west edges of the property will be left in place. Two forty-eight-inch diameter by thirty foot long culverts (totaling 60 feet) will be installed in the north ditch for site access.
Additional Information:
The applicant is with the Municipality of Anchorage to obtain a Grading Permit.
Applicant Proposed Mitigation:
The applicant proposes the following mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, and compensate for impacts to waters of the United States from activities involving discharges of dredged or fill material.
a. Avoidance: According to the applicant, the drainage ditches surrounding the project footprint will be avoided except for the placement of two thirty foot long forty-eight-inch diameter culverts installed for access road site entry.
b. Minimization: The applicant is proposing to utilize existing roadways and storage areas in uplands to minimize impacts to Waters of the United States (WOTUS) during excavation and fill. Sediment retention and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) surface controls for material storage will be in uplands minimizing impacts to WOTUS. By utilizing 106 th Avenue as the main access route the amount of fill into WOTUS is minimized. No additional access roads are required for equipment. To minimize impacts to downstream receiving waters the drainages ditches will be left in place to provide erosion protection and a water pathway around the proposed fill pad. Existing vegetation in the drainage ditches and wetlands outside property boundary will be left undisturbed. Offsite downstream impacts will be minimized by maintaining hydrologic connectivity around the site. The applicant will adhere to all Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) permit conditions for the project.
Erosion Control Measures: As per the application, backfill into the excavated pit will be clean of debris, containing no contamination. Turbidity in the ditches will be avoided by leaving vegetated ditch banks and flow paths in place during construction. Ditch rock armoring will be avoided. Clean backfill will be used to bed the two access culverts. Straw waddles will be placed along ditch crossing roads to reduce sediment movement to the ditch. Postconstruction stabilization will include removal of all equipment and final contour re-grading. Any accidental disturbance of wetland ditch vegetation will be hand raked and reseeded with a native seed.
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 Meg Kohler at 907-269-4198 or 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.