DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS MOBILE DISTRICT MONTGOMERY FIELD OFFICE 105 SOUTH TURNER BOULEVARD MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36114

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1 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS MOBILE DISTRICT MONTGOMERY FIELD OFFICE 105 SOUTH TURNER BOULEVARD MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA CESAM-RD-N May 21, 2018 PUBLIC NOTICE NO. SAM JAP JOINT PUBLIC NOTICE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND STATE OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DISCHARGE OF FILL MATERIAL ASSOCIATED WITH PROPOSED AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS IN BULLOCK COUNTY, ALABAMA TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: This District has received an application for a Department of the Army (DA) permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1344). This public notice is being distributed to all known interested persons to assist in developing facts on which a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) can be based. Please communicate this information to interested parties. APPLICANT: AGENT: Franklin Field Airport Authority Attention: Mr. Thomas Main, Chairman Post Office Box 522 Union Springs, Alabama Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Incorporated Attention: Ms. April Henley 2660 Eastchase Lane, Suite 200 Montgomery, Alabama LOCATION: The proposed project is located at the existing Franklin Field Airport in Sections 23, 25, 26 of Township 14 North, and Range 22 East near Union Springs, Bullock County, Alabama ( , ). The area is depicted on Thompson, Alabama Quadrangle, United States Geological Survey Topographic Map. The proposed project is situated within the Lower Tallapoosa River watershed (HUC ). PURPOSE: The applicant s stated project purpose for extending the existing runway and constructing a new apron is to allow for safer and more efficient airport operations, while also increasing airport capacity, and allowing patrons to operate a wider range of aircraft.

2 CESAM-RD-N Public Notice SAM JAP May 21, 2018 PROPOSED WORK: The applicant is requesting authorization for the discharge of fill material into waters of the U.S. (WOUS) associated with the construction of the proposed runway extension and new apron facilities. The proposed runway extension will also result in the relocation of a portion of Bullock County Road 177. The proposed alignment would require the discharge of fill material into approximately 8.17 acres of palustrine wetland. AVOIDANCE & MINIMIZATION: The applicant purports that impacts to WOUS were minimized to the greatest extent practicable through the site design and layout process of the selected alternative. Specifically, the applicant states that the proposed apron area was relocated to make the most use of upland areas and the relocated county road was aligned to avoid high quality wetlands. The proposed project would avoid impacting approximately 101 acres of onsite wetlands and a Construction Best Management Practices Plan would be designed to further minimize impacts to avoided and off-site aquatic resources. The USACE has not verified the adequacy of the applicant s avoidance and minimization statement at this time. COMPENSATORY MITIGATION: The applicant proposes to compensate for unavoidable impacts to wetlands through the purchase of wetland mitigation credits from a USACE approved mitigation bank. The USACE has not verified the adequacy of the applicant s proposed mitigation plan at this time. LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY ROLE: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considered the lead federal agency for the coordination and conduct of environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the runway extension portion of the project; however, the proposed apron improvements were not considered in the FAA review. Pursuant to NEPA, FAA prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) that addressed various alternatives for the proposed runway extension project, and signed a Finding of No Significant Impact in November 2016 for the proposed work. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering adopting FHWA s EA with regards to the runaway extension project; however, a separate decision document would be prepared prior to a final decision concerning issuance or denial of the requested DA permit. Comments received would be used by the USACE in the preparation of any supplemental EA and/or an Environmental Impact Statement, if required, pursuant to NEPA prior to a final decision concerning issuance or denial of the DA permit. The USACE would participate as a cooperating agency in the development of any additional NEPA documentation. WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: The applicant is preparing their application for certification from the State of Alabama in accordance with Section 401(a)(1) of the 2

3 CESAM-RD-N Public Notice SAM JAP May 21, 2018 Clean Water Act, and upon completion of the required advertising, a determination relative to certification will be made. PUBLIC INTEREST REVIEW/CUMULATIVE EFFECTS: 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, cultural values, 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 production, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. Evaluation of the probable impacts involving discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States will include the application of the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines established by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. SOLICITATION OF COMMENTS: The USACE 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 USACE to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. For accuracy and completeness of the record, all data in support of or in opposition to the proposed work should be submitted in writing setting forth sufficient detail to furnish a clear understanding of the reasons for support or opposition. 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 EA and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the NEPA. PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTS: 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. HISTORIC PROPERTIES: The FAA Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act reviewed the proposed runway extension project for the potential to affect properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and coordinated its findings with the State Historic Preservation Officer (AHC ). Concurrence with the FHWA findings was provided July 21, The current project, however, involves components not previously considered in the 3

4 CESAM-RD-N Public Notice SAM JAP May 21, 2018 FAA review; therefore, in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and Appendix C of 33 CFR 325, the undertaking defined in this notice is being considered for the potential to effect cultural and historic properties within the permit area. Although the extent of federal control and responsibility for these considerations are confined to the limits of the permit area for this particular project, the potential indirect effects that may occur to historic properties as a result of this undertaking are also being considered. We are seeking comment from the State Historic Preservation Officer, federallyrecognized American Indian tribes, local historical societies, museums, universities, the National Park Service, and concerned citizens regarding the existence or the potential for existence of significant cultural and historic properties within the permit area. Historic architectural or archaeological investigations may be necessary to ascertain the existence of such resources. Efforts will be made through the consultation process to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects to significant cultural and historic properties that may occur as a result of this undertaking. ENDANGERED SPECIES: Pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C et seq.), the FHWA has reviewed the proposed undertaking s potential to affect threatened or endangered species (USFWS 2010-TA-0563 and USFWS ). However, information referred to in the application is greater than two years old; therefore, the USACE is requesting project review and comment from the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Marine Fisheries Service; and, any other interested party, on whether any species listed or proposed for listing may be present in the area. COMMENT PERIOD: All comments should be received no later than 30 days from the date of issuance of this Public Notice. Enclosed to assist with your review are: vicinity map, and detailed impact maps. Vicinity maps are enclosed to provide a conceptual layout of the proposed project s alignment and location, and should not be used to assess impacts to resource areas (e.g. waters of the U.S.). Detailed figures depict the applicant s proposed impacts to WOUS. Any correspondence concerning this publication should refer to this Public Notice SAM JAP and should be directed to the following address: District Engineer: U. S. Army Engineer District, Mobile Regulatory Division, Montgomery Field Office Attention: James S. Cherry, II 105 South Turner Boulevard Montgomery, Alabama

5 CESAM-RD-N Public Notice SAM JAP May 21, 2018 with a copy to the: Director Alabama Department of Environmental Management Post Office Box Montgomery, Alabama If you have any questions concerning this publication, you may contact the Project Manager via at james.s.cherry@usace.army.mil or telephone number (334) Please refer to the above Public Notice number. For additional information about the Mobile District s Regulatory Program, please take a moment to visit our web site at Also, please take a moment to complete our customer satisfaction survey located near the bottom of the webpage. Your responses are appreciated and will allow us to improve our services. Encls MOBILE DISTRICT U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 5

6 -'"' r. ' Shorter.. c Pike Ro3d ' _,.,i,_, Hardaway For SITE LOCATIO * Pine Level REF. SHEET: ESRI WORLD STREETS DESCRIPTION: INDIVIDUAL PERMIT APPLICATION FRANKLIN FIELD AIRPORT UNION SPRINGS, BULLOCK COUNTY, ALABAMA ~-) t.1v 11wof1 T \ - - ' FIGURE 1 GENERAL LOCATION MAP GMC# DATE: 03129/18 DRAWNBY: AYH ~ o' miles3 miles 6 miles NORTH 2660 East Chase Lane, Suite 200 Montgomery, Al T GMCNETWORK.COM Scale = 1" = 3 miles

7 ~ SITE BOUNDARY WETLANDS REF. SHEET: ESRI WORLD IMAGERY DESCRIPTION: INDIVIDUAL PERMIT APPLICATION FRANKLIN FIELD AIRPORT UNION SPRINGS, BULLOCK COUNTY, ALABAMA FIGURE 2 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH GMC# DATE: 03129/18 DRAWNBY: AYH 2660 East Chase Lane, Suite 200 Montgomery, Al T GM C NETWORK.COM Scale = 1" = 800'

8 REF. SHEET: ESRI WORLD IMAGERY DESCRIPTION: INDIVIDUAL PERMIT APPLICATION FRANKLIN FIELD AIRPORT UNION SPRINGS, BULLOCK COUNTY, ALABAMA FIGURE 3 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH GMC# DATE: 03129/18 DRAWNBY: AYH 2660 East Chase Lane, Suite 200 Montgomery, Al T GM C NETWORK.COM Scale = 1" = 400'

9 Acres LEGEND: t : : : : 3 WETLAND IMPACTS f.,. :..i HIGH QUALITY WETLANDS ~ o aoo NORTH Scale = 1" = 400' REF. SHEET: THOMPSON. ALABAMA QUADRANGLE MAP DESCRIPTION: INDIVIDUAL PERMIT APPUCATION FRANKLIN FIELD AIRPORT UNION SPRINGS, BULLOCK COUNTY, ALABAMA FIGURE 4 USGS QUADRANGLE MAP GMC# 2660 East Chase Lane, Suite 200 Montgomery, Al T GMC: DATE: 04/06118 GMCNETWORK.COM DRAWNBY: AYH