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Public Notice Information

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SWL 1994-12124-4E

Published Jan. 12, 2012
Expiration date: 1/27/2012

PUBLIC NOTICE TIME EXTENSION:

The time period for public comments on the proposed project has been extended until January 27, 2012. If comments were submitted on the previously issued public notice, you do not need to resubmit comments unless you want to address the time extension. Any previously submitted comments will be reviewed for the evaluation of any issued permit.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Comments are invited on the work described below. Please see the Public Involvement section for details on submitting comments.

Point of Contact. If additional information is desired, please contact the project manager, Sarah Chitwood, telephone number: (501) 324-5295, mailing address: Little Rock District Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Division, PO Box 867, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 0867, email address: sarah.l.chitwood@usace.army.mil.

Project Information. Pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S. Code 403) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S. Code 1344), notice is hereby given that

Lonoke White Public Water Authority
Mr. Woody Bryant
PO Box 1175
Cabot, Arkansas 72023

and

Community Water System
Mr. Tim Shaw
299 Lakeshore Drive
Greers Ferry, Arkansas 72067

have requested authorization for the placement of dredged and fill material in waters of the United States associated with the installation of an inclined pipe intake. The applicants are currently authorized to install a vertical concrete shaft intake structure and associated work; the permitted intake would initially handle 7 million gallons per day (mgd) peak flow and be expandable to 30 mgd.

The proposed modification to the existing permit includes the redesign of the authorized intake to an inclined pipe intake; the intake would involve four 42-inch steel encasement pipes, each with an enclosed submersible pump, three horizontal intake screens, and one blind flange. The horizontal intake screens would be installed at elevations of 433 feet, 445 feet, and 457 feet with one foot of submergence that allows water to be removed at elevations of 434 feet, 446 feet, and 458 feet. The intake would initially handle 10 mgd peak flow and be expandable to 30 mgd. The proposed intake building would be approximately 60 feet by 30 feet and would be constructed of concrete, split face block, and a metal roof. The intake building is not located on Corps of Engineers property; however, trees will be cut across Corps property for the installation of the inclined intake pipe.

The applicants propose to cover the intake encasement pipes with riprap to minimize erosion of the fill material. As an alternative to this riprap, the applicants propose H-shaped supports installed on 50-foot centers in the area of the proposed fill.

The fill material above elevation 461 feet is needed to install the inclined intake pipes on a constant grade, protect the pipes (riprap), and provide a visual cover over the pipes. The fill area will be accomplished by use of either a backhoe or trackhoe. Approximately 4,160 cubic yards of fill would be placed between the elevations of 461 feet and 487 feet; approximately 790 cubic yards of fill would be placed above elevation 487 feet. The fill area would be approximately 0.4 acres.

The cut of approximately 10,400 cubic yards of lake material below elevation 461 feet is needed to install the inclined intake pipes on a constant grade; the cut will be accomplished by a drag line. The existing permit identifies that the excavated material would be placed in the lake at or below elevation 430 feet in windrows of unequal heights and widths to simulate a natural terrain to improve the fishery habitat.

For Greers Ferry Lake, the top of the flood-control pool is an elevation of 487 feet; the top of conservation pool is an elevation of 461 feet.

The proposed project is located on the right descending bank of the Little Red River, at mile 97.0, in the Cove Creek area of Greers Ferry Lake, in section 26, T. 10 N., R. 11 W., in Cleburne County, Arkansas.

The overall project purpose is to install a water intake structure in the Cove Creek area; the inclined intake is the preferred alternative.

The basic project purpose is to supply water for both the Lonoke White Public Water Authority (LWPWA) and Community Water System (CWS). The intake will provide raw water to one or more water treatment plants to be constructed by LWPWA and CWS.

The water system intake is water dependent.

Avoidance of the project proposal was evaluated in a geotechnical investigation of the site to study the possibility of either a vertical shaft intake or inclined pipe intake. Based on results of the geotechnical study, the findings indicated the inclined intake is more favorable from a geotechnical perspective. LWPWA estimates that the inclined intake will reduce construction costs by $5 million dollars in comparison to the vertical shaft intake. The applicant minimized the impacts of their original plan of five intake screens to three screens with the provision to install a blind flange. Compensatory mitigation is not typically required in Little Rock District for intake structures; the applicant would be required to submit an erosion control plan, which is a requirement of the existing permit.

The location and general plan for the proposed work are shown on the enclosed sheets.

Water Quality Certification. By copy of this public notice, the applicant is requesting water quality certification from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) in accordance with Section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act. Upon completion of the comment period and a public hearing, if held, a determination relative to water quality certification will be made. Evidence of this water quality certification or waiver of the right to certify must be submitted prior to the issuance of a Corps of Engineers permit.

Cultural Resources. A Corps staff archeologist will review topographic maps, the National Register of Historic Places, and other data on reported sites in the area. The District Engineer invites responses to this public notice from Native American Nations or tribal governments; Federal, State, and local agencies; historical and archeological societies; and other parties likely to have knowledge of or concerns with historic properties in the area. This public notice initiates consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act with any Tribe that has information or concerns with historic properties in the proposed permit area.

Endangered Species. Our preliminary determination is that the proposed activity will not affect listed Endangered Species or their critical habitat. A copy of this notice is being furnished to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and appropriate state agencies and constitutes a request to those agencies for information on whether any listed or proposed to be listed endangered or threatened species may be present in the area which would be affected by the proposed activity.

Flood Plain. We are providing copies of this notice to appropriate flood plain officials in accordance with 44 CFR Part 60 (Flood Plain Management Regulations Criteria for Land Management and Use) and Executive Order 11988 on Flood Plain Management.

Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines. The evaluation of activities to be authorized under this permit which involves the discharge of dredged or fill material will include application of guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act. These guidelines are contained in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 230.

Public Involvement. Any interested party is invited to submit to the above-listed POC written comments or objections relative to the proposed work on or before January 27, 2012. Substantive comments, both favorable and unfavorable, will be accepted and made a part of the record and will receive full consideration in determining whether this work would be in the public interest. The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people.

The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.

Any person may request in writing within the comment period specified in this notice that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests for public hearings shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. The District Engineer will determine if the issues raised are substantial and whether a hearing is needed for making a decision.

NOTE: The mailing list for this Public Notice is arranged by state and county(s) where the project is located, and also includes any addressees who have asked to receive copies of all public notices. Please discard notices that are not of interest to you. If you have no need for any of these notices, please advise us so that your name can be removed from the mailing list.

Enclosures

 

Approximate Coordinates of Project Center

Latitude: 35.467783 Longitude: -92.131404

UTM Zone: 15 North: 3925267 East: 578808