PUBLIC NOTICE
Issue Date: March 14, 2013
Comment Deadline: April 15, 2013
Corps Action ID #: SAW-2013-00455
The Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received an application from
the U.S. Army Reserve Center (USARC) in Morehead City, attn: DPW. Frank D.
Eubanks, seeking Department of the Army authorization to improve the USARC docking
facility by constructing a new pier and extending an existing pier in the navigable waters
of the Newport River. The Reserve Center is located at 410 Fisher Street with site
coordinates at 34.7230°N, -76.7074°W, in Morehead City, Carteret County, North
Carolina.
Specific plans and location information are described below and shown on the attached
plans. This Public Notice and all attached plans are also available on the Wilmington
District Web Site at
http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPermitProgram.aspx.
Applicant: United States Army-81st Regional Command Center
United States Army-81st Regional Command Center
Attn: DPW Frank. D Eubanks
1525 Marion Avenue
Fort Jackson, South Carolina 29207
Agent (if applicable): OTAK Group, Inc.
OTAK Group, Inc.
Attn: John Kato
96126 MT Zion Loop
Yulee, Florida 32097
Authority
The Corps will evaluate this application and decide whether to issue, conditionally issue,
or deny the proposed work pursuant to applicable procedures of Section 10 of the Rivers
and Harbors Act.
Location
The U.S. Army Reserve Center is adjacent to the Newport River and is located at 410
Fisher Street with site coordinates at 34.7230°N, -76.7074°W, in Morehead City, Carteret
County, North Carolina. It is bordered to the east by the Yacht Basin, to the south by
multi-use commercial development, to the west by residential development and coastal
waters, and the Newport River to the north.
Existing Site Conditions
The USARC Morehead City with a training facility, shop facility, parking lot, boat ramp,
bulk land storage areas, and two docks currently exist onsite. All infrastructures, such as
the main road network and utility lines, within the 5.2-acre project site are in place and
were previously constructed. Site conditions consist of mainly non-wooded areas and
maintained lawn areas containing various types of vegetation and groundcover. Over 900
linear feet of existing coated sheet pile bulkheads are located on the north and east side of
the project site. The site is located on the Newport River, a Section 10 navigable water of
the U.S.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Survey of Carteret County
(April 1987), the site consists of the following soil: Leon-Urban land complex which
consists of nearly level to gently sloping poorly drained Leon soil and Urban land at
Morehead City, Beaufort, and Atlantic Air Station.
Applicant’s Stated Purpose
Basic: The basic purpose is to maintain the U.S. Army’s overall mission and training of
Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels.
Overall: Specifically, the U.S. Army’s purpose of the project is to repair and upgrade
existing bulkheads, piers and docks, along with the addition of a new dock at the U.S.
Army Reserve Center Facility to support the continued training and mission of Landing
Craft Utility (LCU) vessels.
Project Description
The existing East Dock (see comments in existing conditions) is a 6-ft wide by 35-ft long
(210 SF) timber dock connected to a 13-ft wide by 10-ft, 9-inch rectangular reinforced
concrete mooring pier. The dock consists of timber decking, bracing, and supports, and is
supported by reinforced concrete bents with timber piling. The mooring pier is a
reinforced concrete structure supported by pre-stressed concrete piling. The proposed
plan is to expand this structure by installing a second reinforced concrete mooring pier
approximately 35 ft northeast of the existing mooring pier, and connect the two mooring
piers with a 9-ft wide by 210-ft long concrete platform. The proposed concrete platform
will provide an additional 210 SF of dock, and will be supported by the mooring piers.
The finished elevation will remain the same and is +4.30 FT NAVD88. The proposed
mooring pier shall be 11-ft, 3-inch square, contain a sea bollard, and will be supported by
pre-stressed piling.
The proposed new LCU 2000 Pier is a 9-ft wide concrete dock with a deck area of 2,100
SF. The deck area will consist of concrete platforms (decking) that is supported by
reinforced concrete bents with pre-stressed concrete piling. The deck area shall connect
to six (6) reinforced concrete berthing piers and pile cap structures. These structures are
to be supported by pre-stressed concrete piling. The proposed berthing piers shall be 11-
ft, 9-inch square, and each contains a single Type II sea bollard. The proposed pile cap
piers shall be 16-ft wide by 10-ft, 6-inch long rectangular, with proposed concrete
decking lying on the top of the pile cap. The finished elevation shall be +6.50 FT
NAVD88. Also, new 7-pile timber dolphins shall be installed in the locations indicated to
better protect the new pier. Figure 10, in the attached plans, presents the proposed LCU
2000 Pier layout and an itemized construction schedule. It should be noted that wetlands
and waters, subject to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, will not be impacted by any of
the proposed activities.
Additionally, plans include repairing and/or upgrading existing Bulkheads No.1 and No.
2 within the same footprint, and repairing the LCU 1600 Pier also within the same
footprint.
Other Required Authorizations
This notice and all applicable application materials are being forwarded to the appropriate
State agencies for review. Water Quality Certification may be required from the North
Carolina Division of Water Quality.
This notice and all applicable application materials are being forwarded to the appropriate
State agencies for review. The Corps will generally not make a final permit decision until
the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) issues, denies, or waives State
certification required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (PL 92-500). The receipt of
the application and this public notice combined with appropriate application fee at the
North Carolina Division of Water Quality central office in Raleigh will constitute initial
receipt of an application for a 401 Water Quality Certification. A waiver will be deemed
to occur if the NCDWQ fails to act on this request for certification within sixty days of
the date of the receipt of this notice in the NCDWQ Central Office. Additional
information regarding the Clean Water Act certification may be reviewed at the NCDWQ
Central Office, 401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit: 2321 Crabtree Boulevard,
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-2260. All persons desiring to make comments regarding
the application for certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act should do so in
writing delivered to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ), 2321
Crabtree Boulevard, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-2260 Attention: Mr. John Hennessy
(NC Department of Transportation projects) or Ms Cyndi Karoly by April 15, 2013.
Coastal Area Management Act
The applicant has certified that the proposed work complies with and will be conducted
in a manner that is consistent with the approved North Carolina Coastal Zone
Management Program. Pursuant to 33 CFR 325.2 (b)(2) the Corps is, by this notice,
forwarding this certification to the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management
(NCDCM) and requesting its concurrence or objection. Generally, the Corps will not
issue a Department of the Army (DA) permit until the NCDCM notifies the Corps that it
concurs with the applicant’s consistency certification.
Essential Fish Habitat
This notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation requirements of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Corps’ initial
determination is that the proposed project will not adversely impact EFH or associated
fisheries managed by the South Atlantic or Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Councils
or the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Cultural Resources
The Corps has consulted the latest published version of the National Register of Historic
Places and is not aware that any registered properties, or properties listed as being
eligible for inclusion therein are located within the project area or will be affected by the
proposed work. Presently, unknown archeological, scientific, prehistoric, or historical
data may be located within the project area and/or could be affected by the proposed
work.
Endangered Species
The Corps has reviewed the project area, examined all information provided by the
applicant and consulted the latest North Carolina Natural Heritage Database. Based on
available information, the Corps has determined pursuant to the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, that the proposed project will have no adverse effect on federally listed
endangered or threatened species or their formally designated critical habitat.
Evaluation
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable
impacts, 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 (in accordance with Executive Order 11988), 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. For activities involving
the discharge of dredged or fill materials in waters of the United States, the evaluation of
the impact of the activity on the public interest will include application of the
Environmental Protection Agency’s 404(b)(1) guidelines.
Commenting Information
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State and local
agencies and officials, including any consolidate State Viewpoint or written position of
the Governor; 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 (EA) and/or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 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 the application. Requests for public hearings
shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. Requests for a
public hearing shall be granted, unless the District Engineer determines that the issues
raised are insubstantial or there is otherwise no valid interest to be served by a hearing.
Written comments pertinent to the proposed work, as outlined above, will be received by
the Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, until 5pm, April 15, 2013. Comments
should be submitted to Christy Wicker, 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, North
Carolina, 28403-1398, telephone (910) 251-4637.
See attached Public Notice for Navigable Channel Map and Project Site Maps and Plans