Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification
Public Notice (PN) Date: April 2, 2026 PN Reference Number: POA-1968-00033 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: May 4, 2026 Waterway: Aurora Harbor
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 of 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 a public hearing with respect to water quality, submit comments via (preferred method) DEC website https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices/ or email to the DEC email address: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov with the subject line referencing Public Notice Reference Number: POA-1968-00033 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.
Applicant: City & Borough of Juneau, Docks and Harbors, Carl Uchytil, 155 Heritage Way, Juneau, AK 99801, (907) 586-0294; Carl.Uchytil@juneau.gov
Agent: PND Engineers, Inc., Danielle Schultz, 3240 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102; (206) 315-6811; dschultz@pndengineers.com.
Project Name: Aurora Harbor Drive Down Float
Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 06/01/2027 to 12/31/2027
Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 22, T. 041 S, R. 067 E, Copper River Meridian, in City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 58.303964, -134.43224.
Purpose: The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) seeks to construct a 48-foot-wide by 120-foot-long, vehicle accessible drive-down float and vehicle bridge and to add two new 5-ton electric cranes at the Aurora Harbor Small Boat Basin with funding from the Maritime Administration (MARAD) through a Port Infrastructure & Development Program (PIDP) grant. This project will provide critically important improvements to serve the transportation and safety needs of the seafood and maritime industries of Juneau.
CBJ Docks & Harbor has been pursuing opportunities for the expansion of maritime transportation and commercial fisheries amenities for many years, including improvements to the downtown small boat harbors since 2011.
The current state of the marine facility at Aurora Harbor leads to issues of overcrowding, safety concerns, and inefficiencies in the transport of goods and maintenance of vessels. To reach the dock in its current state, vessel operators must climb a steep gangway to transport goods and supplies by hand. At low tide, this gangway can have an incline as steep as 29 degrees. This renders it inaccessible to users who would need ADA accommodations and poses severe safety concerns, especially during inclement weather and when carrying goods by hand. Crane operations are currently only available from the crane dock, which must be reached by vessel operators via a steep 27-foot-long ladder.
In 2024, CBJ Docks & Harbors applied for a MARAD PIDP grant to construct a vehicle-accessible drive down float. This float and associated infrastructure will serve the commercial fishing fleet and improve freight transportation, thus improving safety, reducing overcrowding, and increasing the efficiency of transporting goods between vessels and the road system. The proposed drive-down float will allow for vehicles to directly access the vessels utilizing Aurora Harbor, facilitating a more streamlined transfer of goods and supplies year-round. Adding two electric cranes to the drive-down float will also increase capacity and improve safety of cargo loading. This will address overcrowding and ensure timely loading operations for commercial fishing and other vessels.
Description of Proposed Work:
MOBILIZATION: Mobilization to the project site will depend on the contractor selected to perform the work. Major materials and equipment associated with construction will most likely be mobilized to the project site from Seattle or Southeast Alaska. Vessels will follow transit routes similar to those shown in Figure 1. Construction equipment is expected to consist of a crane barge and one or two materials barge(s), as well as a tug and a skiff.
EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE DEMOLITION: The existing 14’ by 100’ HDPE pipe pontoon float will be removed in its entirety. The 6’ x 70’ gangway will be removed, including all associated hardware and appurtenances. Three (3) 16” steel pipe mooring piles will be demolished and disposed of or recycled. All other miscellaneous associated pile-mounted appurtenances will also be demolished and disposed of. Lastly, the bullrail, scuppers, railing, kiosk, and bench from the approach dock will all be demolished and salvaged.
APPROACH DOCK EXTENSION AND WIDENING: Installation of new infrastructure will begin at the existing approach dock and extend offshore. A new approach dock extension will be installed, consisting of a steel substructure with timber glulam stringers and timber decking, supported by 16” diameter steel piles. The existing approach dock will be widened with similar construction to accommodate vehicular traffic, and a widened concrete abutment with armor rock embankment will be installed.
All piles will be driven with a vibratory hammer from a barge-based crane. It is anticipated that the largest size vibratory hammer used for the project will be an APE 200-6 or a comparable vibratory hammer from another manufacturer, such as ICE. Following vibratory installation, the permanent piles will be proofed with an impact hammer in order to achieve the design bearing capacity. It is anticipated that a Delmag D-62 diesel hammer or equivalent will be used for the impact pile driving.
The contractor will install temporary template piles (up to 16” diameter pipe piles or equivalent) to facilitate accurate installation of permanent piles as detailed within the piledriving quantity summary within Table 2. Temporary piles will be removed following permanent pile installation. Temporary piles will be installed and removed using vibratory methods only.
ARMOR ROCK EMBANKMENT AND CIP CONCRETE ABUTMENT: The existing CIP concrete abutment will be widened to accommodate construction of the new dock. Concrete forms will be constructed, and CIP concrete will be placed into the forms. After curing, forms will be removed, and armor rock will be placed around the toe of the abutment for scour protection.
NEW PILE, FLOAT, AND TRANSFER BRIDGE INSTALLATION: The new piles, floats, and transfer bridge will be mobilized to the site on a materials barge. Float units will be offloaded directly into the water. Individual float modules will be connected together for installation.
In order to ensure piles for the floats are installed accurately, the contractor will install temporary template piles as described above. Once floats are in position, permanent float piles will be driven with a vibratory hammer to the greatest extent possible to achieve the specified minimum embedment. In the event that insufficient overburden exists, permanent piles will be proofed with an impact hammer in order to achieve the design bearing capacity.
Following float installation, the pre-fabricated vehicular transfer bridge will be set in place to connect the approach dock extension to the float.
UTILITIES: Installation of water, fire suppression, and electrical utilities will commence following the construction of the new infrastructure.
The fire suppression piping (4” HDPE) will be installed above the water and mounted on and along the approach dock, transfer bridge, and floats. The potable water piping (2” HDPE) will be connected to an existing submarine line and extended along the seafloor, and then transitioned by a hose connection to where it will be mounted directly to the floats. Fire and water standpipes will be installed at 2 locations on the new float. Fire extinguisher and life ring cabinets will also be installed at regular intervals along the new float. A total of 1.5 cubic yards (CY) of pre-cast concrete sash weights will be installed to anchor the water line to the seafloor. No trenching or fill placement below the HTL will occur with the installation of new water or fire utilities.
An electrical system consisting of luminaires and power pedestals will be installed on the floats to provide for adequate lighting and power.
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: Impacts to WOTUS could not be entirely avoided for this project because this project is a dock and is dependent on marine access.
- Minimization: The dock was designed to have the smallest footprint needed to meet its purpose. The contractor will comply with local, state, and federal water quality standards. Incorporation of proposed mitigation measures will avoid and minimize impacts to WOTUS to the extent possible. All fill is to be placed above the MHW line.
- Mitigation: Construction will use the following best management practices (BMPs) to prevent impacts to waters of the U.S. (WOTUS):
• Fill and armor rock materials placed in WOTUS will be clean and free of contaminants with relatively few fines to reduce impacts from turbidity and/or sedimentation.
• Fuels, lubricants, and other hazardous substances used during construction will not be stored below the high tide line/ordinary high-water mark.
• All trash will be immediately placed in trash bins, and bins will be properly secured with locked or secured lids that cannot blow open and disperse trash into the environment.
• Contractors will comply with water quality standards as required by law and implement corrective measures if water quality standards are exceeded.
• The following BMPs will be utilized to prevent stormwater run-off during construction:
- Projects impacting more than one acre will have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) on file with the State.
- A Stabilized Construction Entrance (a temporary stone-stabilized pad located at points of vehicular ingress and egress on a construction site) will mitigate sedimentation and stormwater pollution.
- Installation of silt fences consisting of a geotextile fabric stretched across and attached to supporting posts, providing a temporary barrier to sediment and reducing the runoff velocities of sheet flow from non-vegetated surfaces.
- Use of weed-free straw wattles to intercept sheet flow and detain small amounts of sediment from disturbed areas.
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. To inquire about or 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 Kristin Mabry, kristin.mabry@alaska.gov, 1-907-334-0884; or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 at least 3 days prior to the expiration/closure date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
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