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PN 18-61 comment period is from November 9

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PN 18-61 comment period is from November 9, 2018 to November 29, 2018. Description: Six applicants propose to dredge by mechanical or hydraulic method at seven locations, totaling approximately 39.15 acres, which includes maintenance dredging over a period of ten years in Knapps Narrows, Dogwood Harbor, Back Creek, and Tongers Basin at Tilghman, Talbot County, Maryland. The hydraulic dredge pipeline, if utilized, would be anchored on the bottom of the above mentioned waterways. POC: Debby Nizer at Debby.Nizer@usace.army.mil or 410-962-6085.

Public Notice U.S. Army Corps In Reply to Application Numbers/Names of Engineers Baltimore DistrictNAB-2018-60660-P06 (Brookhouser, Lynn &Debra/Dredging& Bulkhead) NAB-2018-60659-P06 (Geary, Thomas/Dredging) NAB-2018-60658-P06 (Ebel, Robert/Dredging) NAB-2018-60662-P06 (Doak & Barbara Conn) NAB-2018-60661-P06 (Charles O. Holliday) NAB-2018-60657-P06 (Talbot County DPW Dogwood Harbor Dredging) NAB-2018-60663-P06 (Talbot County DPW/ Knapps Narrows) PN 18-61 Comment Period: November 9, 2018 to November 29, 2018 THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS TO SOLICIT COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE WORK DESCRIBED BELOW. IN ADDITION, IT SERVES AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE FOLLOWING PREVIOUSLY PUBLICHED PUBLIC NOTICIES (PN): PN-18-48; PN-18-36; and PN-18-43, which can be found at http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/. NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT PERMITS WILL BE ISSUED AT THIS TIME. This District has received applications for a Department of the Army permits pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and/or Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33. U.S.C. 1344) as described below: APPLICANTS: Lynn and Debra Brookhouser P.O. Box 154 Tilghman, Maryland 21671

Thomas Geary and Jill Khadduri 1752 Camper Circle Tilghman, Maryland 21671 Robert Ebel and Leslie Steen P.O. Box 399 Tilghman, Maryland 21671 Doak and Barbara Conn P.O. Box 211 Tilghman Island, Maryland 21671 Charles O. Holliday, Jr. P.O. Drawer 370 Tilghman Island, Maryland 21671 Ray Clarke Talbot County Department of Public Works 215 Bay Street, Suite #6 Easton, Maryland, 21601

WATERWAYS AND LOCATIONS OF THE PROPOSED WORK: In Knapps Narrows, Dogwood Harbor, Back Creek, and Tongers Basin at Tilghman, Talbot County, Maryland.

PROPOSED WORK AND PURPOSE: The applicants propose to dredge by mechanical or hydraulic method totaling approximately 39.15 acres as described below. The work includes a request for maintenance dredging over a period of ten years by either mechanical or hydraulic method. The hydraulic dredge pipeline, if utilized would be anchored on the waterway bottom and located in Knapps Narrows, Dogwood Harbor, Tongers Basin, Back Creek and within the Knapps Narrows and Dogwood Harbor Federal navigation channels. The dredged material is proposed to be deposited at an existing upland disposal site on Donnell Jones Road in Sherwood, Maryland. NAB-2018-60658-P06 (Ebel, Robert/Dredging): To dredge an approximate 60 to 75 feet wide by 45-feet long (3,383 square feet) entrance channel to -8 mean low water (MLW), resulting in approximately 425 cubic yards of dredged material in Knapps Narrows. Existing depths in the project area range from -3 feet to -5 feet MLW; NAB-2018-60659-P06 (Geary, Thomas/Dredging): To dredge an approximate 60 to 75 feet wide by 39-feet long (3,400 square feet) entrance channel -8 MLW, resulting in approximately 524 cubic yards of dredge material in Knapps Narrows. Existing depths in the project area range from -3 feet to -5 feet MLW; NAB-2018-60660-P06 (Brookhouser, Lynn and Debra/Dredging& Bulkhead): To dredge an approximate 75 to 90 feet wide by 53-feet long (3,979 square feet) entrance channel to -8 MLW, resulting in approximately 66 cubic yards of dredged material in Knapps Narrows. Existing depths in the project area range from -2 feet to -5 feet MLW. Additional work includes to construct 75 linear feet of replacement bulkhead with clean earth backfill to extend no more than 1.5 feet channelward of the existing deteriorated bulkhead; NAB-2018-60661-P06 (Charles O. Holliday): To dredge an approximate 30-feet wide by 336- feet long area (9,907 square feet) to -6 MLW, resulting in approximately 547 cubic yards of dredged material in Dogwood Harbor. Existing depths in the project area range from -3 feet to -5 feet MLW; NAB-2018-60662-P06 (Doak and Barbara Conn): To dredge an approximate 29-feet wide by 326-feet long (9063 square feet) entrance channel to -6 MLW, resulting in approximately 584 cubic yards of dredged material in Dogwood Harbor. Existing depths in the project area range from -2 feet to -5 feet MLW; NAB-2018-60663-P06 (Talbot County DPW/ Knapps Narrows): To dredge an approximate 138- feet wide by 329-feet long (45,512 square feet) entrance channel to -6 MLW, resulting in approximately 4364 cubic yards of dredged material in Tongers Basin. Existing depths in the project area range from -2 feet to -4 feet MLW;

NAB-2018-60657-P06 (Talbot County DPW Dogwood Harbor Dredging): To dredge within the federal navigation channel an approximate 93-feet wide by 450-feet long (42,054 square feet) entrance channel to -6 MLW, resulting in approximately 753 cubic yards of dredged material in Dogwood Harbor and Harris Creek. Existing depths in the project area range from -2 feet to -5 feet MLW. Additional work includes to dredge an approximate 23-feet wide by 97-feet long (2,330 square feet) entrance channel to -5 MLW, resulting in approximately 128 cubic yards dredge material in Dogwood Harbor. Existing depths in the project area range from -1 feet to -6 feet MLW. The purpose of the work is to improve and maintain navigational access. All work is proposed to be completed in accordance with the enclosed plans. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Deborah Nizer at (410) 962-6085 or debby.nizer@usace.army.mil. As part of the planning process for the proposed projects, steps were taken to ensure avoidance and minimization of impacts to waters of the United States to the maximum extent practicable. Compensatory mitigation is not being proposed by the applicants for impacts to open water (sub-tidal) habitat. No wetland impacts are proposed. The decision whether to issue permits will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts of the proposed activities on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits, which reasonable may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors, which may be relevant to the proposals will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economic, 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 and fiber production, mineral needs, and consideration of property ownership and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. The evaluation of the impacts of the work described above on the public interest will include application of the Clean Water Act 404(b)(1) Guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. 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 these proposed activities. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny permits for these proposals. 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 thepreparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments provided will become part of the public record for these actions. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activities. Written comments concerning the work described above related to the factors listed above or other pertinent factors must be received by the District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Deborah A. Nizer, 02-E-22-OP, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland within the comment period specified above. ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA), as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 (Public Law 04-267), requires all Federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on all actions, or proposed actions, permitted, funded, or undertaken by the agency that may adversely effect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The project sites lie in or adjacent to EFH as described under MSFCMA for: eggs, larvae juvenile and adult Red hake (Urophycis chuss); juvenile and adult Windowpane flounder (Scopthalmus aquosus); juvenile, and adult Summer flounder (Paralicthys dentatus); juvenile and adult Clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria); juvenile and adult Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix); juvenile and adult Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus); adult Winter skate (Leucoraja ocellata); adult Little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), all managed species under the MSFCMA. The projects have the potential to adversely affect approximately 39.15 acres area of EFH as described under the MSFCMA for the species and life stages identified above. EFH or the species of concern by loss of spawning, nursery, forage and/or shelter habitat as described under the MSFCMA for the species and life stages identified above. This habitat consists of a mostly sand and silt substrate which does not support SAV. According to the Maryland Aquatic Siting Tool survey maps, there are no SAV within the areas. The Baltimore District has made a preliminary determination that sites-specific impacts would not be substantial and an abbreviated consultation will be conducted with NMFS. No mitigative measures are recommended at this time to minimize adverse effects on EFH. This preliminary determination may be modified if additional information indicates otherwise and could change the Corps’ preliminary determination. WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: The applicants are required to obtain a water quality certification in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Maryland Department of the Environment. Any written comments concerning the work described above which relate to water quality certification must be received by the Wetlands and Waterways Program, Maryland Department of the Environment, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1708 within the comment period as specified above to receive consideration. The Section 401 certifying agency has a statutory limit of one year from the date of this public notice to make its decision. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS: Where applicable, the applicants have certified in these applications that the proposed activities complies with and will be conducted in a manner consistent with the approved Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program. By this public notice, we are requesting the State concurrence or objection to the applicants’ consistency statements. It should be noted that the CZM Program has a statutory limit of 6 months to make its consistency determination. The applicants must obtain any State or local government permits which may be required. ENDANGERED SPECIES: A preliminary review of these applications indicate that the proposed work will not affect Federal listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as amended, because the water depths located at the project sites, where the temporary impacts to these previously disturbed areas will result, are too shallow to support ESA listed species. As the evaluation of these applications continue, additional information may become available which could modify this preliminary determination. CULTURAL RESOURCES: Review of the latest published version of the National Register of Historic Places indicates that no registered properties listed as eligible for inclusion, therein, are located at the sites of the proposed work. Currently unknown archeological, scientific, prehistoric, or historical data may be lost or destroyed by the work to be accomplished under the requested permits. SECTION 408: The Corps is reviewing the proposed dredging of the Navigation channels, pursuant to 33 USC 408 (Section 408). A determination has not been made at this time. The evaluation of the impacts of these projects on the public interest will include application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Any person who has an interest which may be adversely affected by the issuance of these permits may request a public hearing. The request, which must be in writing, must be received by the District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Deborah A. Nizer, 02-E-22-OP, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201, within the comment period as specified above to receive consideration. Also it must clearly set forth the interest which may be adversely affected by these activities and the manner in which the interest may be adversely affected. It is requested that you communicate this information concerning the proposed work to any persons know by you to be interested and not being known to this office, who did not receive a copy of this notice. Point of contact for these projects is Deborah A. Nizer and can be reached at debby.nizer@usace.army.mil or (410) 962-6085. FOR THE DISTRICT ENGINEER:

Wade B. Chandler Chief, Pennsylvania Section Regulatory Branch

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