Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification
Public Notice (PN) Date: December 21, 2023 PN Reference Number: POA-2023-00458 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: January 10, 2024 Waterway: Zimovia Strait
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 https://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=QrMKeYfmF on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.
Applicant: Mason Villarma, PO Box 92 Wrangell, AK 99929; (360) 981-1010; mfvillarma@wrangell.com.
Agent: Tydi Creek Environmental, Tyler Riberio, PO Box 2105 Wrangell, AK 99929; (907) 957-4438; tydicreekenvironmental@gmail.com.
Project Name: Villarma Erosion Protection
Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 24, T. 062S, R. 083E; Copper River Meridian; in Wrangell, Alaska. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 56.47322, -132.38991. With potential discharge location of Placement of material for erosion control structure at -132.389871, 56.473242.
Purpose: The applicant's home is situated on privately-owned tidelands along Zimovia Strait. The existing concrete seawall supporting the home is being undermined by wave action. The purpose of the project is to protect the applicant's home from wave action while also providing the applicant with additional usable area within their privately-owned tidelands.
Project Description: The proposed project will discharge riprap and clean shot rock fill to construct a rock wall and fill pad seaward of the applicant's home situated on privately-owned tidelands.
The applicant proposes to discharge no more than 450 cubic yards of riprap and shotrock into 0.04 acre below the high tide line (HTL, approximately 19.7 feet above the 0.0-foot contour) and mean high water mark (MHWM, approximately 15.1 feet above the 0.0-foot contour) of Zimovia Strait, a navigable water of the United States (WOTUS), for the purpose of constructing a rock wall and fill pad for erosion control. The proposed seawall would extend 29 feet seaward of the existing structure. Fill would be placed 8.19 feet below the HTL for 44 linear feet along the length of the treated bank.
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.
- Avoidance: The applicant states that avoidance is not possible because to achieve the project purpose, the proposed fill area must be located along the existing residential structure.
- Minimization: The applicant states that work would be completed in dewatered conditions, as practicable, to limit sedimentation of marine waters.
- Compensatory Mitigation: The applicant proposes no compensatory mitigation.
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 Megan 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.