PUBLIC NOTICE
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program/§401 Certification
555 Cordova Street, Anchorage AK 99501-2617
Phone: 907-269-6285 | Email: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov
Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification
Public Notice (PN) Date: August 15, 2024 PN Reference Number: POA-2017-00077 v2.0
PN Expiration Date: September 15, 2024 Waterway: Ward Cove
Any applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct an activity that might result in a discharge into waters of the United States, in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), must also apply for and obtain certification from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that the discharge will comply with the CWA and the Alaska Water Quality Standards (18 AAC 70). The scope of certification is limited to the water quality-related impacts from the activity subject to the Federal license or permit (40 CFR 121.3, 18 AAC 15.180).
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[1] for the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States (WOTUS), 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 via email to the DEC email address: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov with the subject line referencing Public Notice Reference Number: POA-2017-00077 v1.0 or via DEC website https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices/ on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.
Applicant: Boyer Towing, Mike Cloudy, PO Box 8000, Ketchikan, AK 99901, (907) 225-2090; engineering@boyertowing.com
Agent: Western Dock and Bridge, Sever Paulson, 777 Main Street Ketchikan, AK 99901; (907) 247-1777; sever@westerndockandbridge.com.
Project Name: Ward Cove, Boyer Towing - Reduction Point Mooring Improvements
Location: The proposed activity is located within Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 55.404188, -131.71944.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to continue improvements to the owner's property in support of a barge and tugboat business. Due to the new cruise ship traffic in Ward Cove and the loss of the outer barge mooring buoy during cruise ship season, additional moorage is needed to allow for the securing of barges on the property. The barge loading bulkhead will allow materials and equipment to be loaded onto barges to further serve their customers. Ramp improvements are needed to stop erosion and provide better traction for vehicles.
Description of Proposed Work: This project is a continuation of POA 2017-00177. This project would install an additional (5) dolphins to continue the pier line along the property, install up to (7) piles to secure a floating dock on the shoreside of the mooring piles and an approximately 35' wide x 25' deep barge loading bulkhead. This project will require removal of an existing rock outcropping and installation of stacked blocked wall, 34'-7" long x 6' deep x 22' tall. Improvements will also be made to the existing barge loading ramp. This includes installing (12) concrete and steel bridge deck panels to prevent further erosion of the ramp and provide better traction for vehicles using the ramp.
The proposed modification would replace the previous authorization to construct the barge loading bulkhead from precast panels, drilled H piles and tie backs. The construction of the bulkhead would consist of the excavation (125 cubic yards) of an existing rock outcropping, the placement of concrete blocks to build the wall (34’7” long x 6’ deep x 22’ tall/ 4,600 cubic yards) and backfill with the excavated rock. As previously authorized, the proposed bulkhead would extend approximately 24 feet from the existing shoreline and include rip rap that will be stacked at the toe of the concrete block to prevent erosion of fines from behind the blocks.
Additional Information: On April 3, 2023, the Corps issued authorization (POA-2017-00177) to construct a mooring/offloading facility. The project would have constructed additional structures at an existing mooring/loading facility and would have consisted of the installation of 1) an additional five (5) 24-inch or 36-inch steel dolphin piles to continue the pier line along the property, 2) up to seven (7) 16-inch steel piles to secure a 6-foot by 180-foot floating dock on the shoreside of the mooring piles, 3) approximately 35-foot wide by 25-foot deep barge loading bulkhead, which would have consisted of sixteen (16) 12-inch steel H piles installed in drilled rock sockets, a poured concrete backwall and approximately 400 cubic yards of backfill (350 cubic yards clean shot rock and 50 cubic yards stacked rip rap), and 4) twelve (12) concrete and steel bridge deck panels to prevent further erosion of the ramp. In addition, it reauthorized the construction of a 6-foot by 70-foot aluminum gangway and 20-foot by 20-foot floating dock and (2) 16-inch steel pilings that was not constructed under the previous authorization for the existing mooring/loading facility dated May 30, 2017 (POA-2017-00077).
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: To meet the proposed project's purpose, complete avoidance of waters of the U.S. would not be feasible.
- Minimization: Constructing the barge loading bulkhead of concrete blocks will eliminate the sixteen (16) 12-inch steel H piles previously authorized.
- Mitigation: The applicant does not propose compensatory mitigation due to the minimal impacts of the proposed project.
After reviewing the application, the Department will evaluate whether the activity will comply with applicable water quality requirements (any limitation, standard, or other requirement under sections 301, 302, 306, and 307 of the CWA, any Federal and state laws or regulations implementing those sections, and any other water quality-related requirement of state law). The Department may certify (or certify with conditions) with reasonable assurance the activity and any discharge that might result will comply with water quality requirements. 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 Julia Schweminski at 907-334-5994 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.
Reference submission number: HQ4-PR2B-0GEHG: Received: 07/26/2024