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Public Notice Information

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SWL 2015-00072

Published May 11, 2015
Expiration date: 6/10/2015

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, Rocky Presley, telephone number:  (501) 340-1390, mailing address:  Little Rock District Corps of Engineers, Branson Regulatory Field Office, 4600 Hwy 165, Branson, Missouri  65616, email address:  Rocky.L.Presley@usace.army.mil.  An electronic copy of Mitigation Plan No. SSTF1003-Stone County can be viewed on the Little Rock District, Regulatory Division webpage at http://www.swl.usace. army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx or a hard copy can be obtained from the Corps of Engineers through the contact information listed above.

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

                                        Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF)
                                        
P.O. Box 366
                                        
Jefferson City, Missouri  65102-0366

proposes to establish Mitigation Plan No. SSTF1003-Stone County, entitled the Roundhouse Road Bridge Replacement.  The mitigation plan would be established under MCHF’s Stream Stewardship Trust Fund (SSTF) In-lieu Fee Instrument.  A draft copy of the mitigation plan has been reviewed by the Interagency Review Team (IRT), which is composed of pertinent state and Federal resource agencies.  The project site is on Roundhouse Road at an existing crossing of Crane Creek, in the NE ¼ of section 30, T. 26 N., R. 24 W., Stone County, Missouri.

The purpose of the project is to improve aquatic organism passage in the upper reaches of Crane Creek, which supports a high profile wild trout management area.  A self-sustaining population of Rainbow Trout thrives in the project area.  Maintaining and improving fish passage to the headwaters of Crane Creek is critical to the continued success of this fishery.

The mitigation project consists of removing an existing bridge and replacing it with a new concrete clear-span bridge.  The existing bridge is a span bridge, but has remnants of an old low water crossing beneath it which create a barrier to fish passage during low flows.  The new bridge would be constructed on the same road alignment as the existing crossing.  In addition to improving fish passage, the bridge replacement would improve sediment transport and increase stream stability within this stream reach.  If approved by the Corps, in consultation with the IRT, the project would provide a total of 3,861 stream mitigation credits.

The project site is located within the Wire Road Conservation Area managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).  Stone County and MDC will be partnering for the project completion; the County would install and maintain the bridge and MDC would provide financial and technical assistance.

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

Water Quality Certification.  If authorized, this project would meet the conditions of a nationwide permit, which presently has certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1341) in compliance with applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards.  Certification expresses the state's opinion that the discharge will not violate applicable water quality standards.

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.

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.

Floodplain.  We are providing copies of this notice to appropriate floodplain officials in accordance with 44 CFR Part 60 (Floodplain Management Regulations Criteria for Land Management and Use) and Executive Order 11988 on Floodplain 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 June 10, 2015.  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 to approve the mitigation plan and verify compliance with a nationwide permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including the 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, floodplain 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 mitigation plan.  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:  36.93441                   Longitude:  -93.60166

UTM Zone:  15        North:  4087766                 East:  446419