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County: Bryan
Nearest Named Waterbody: Jerico River
Overall Project Purpose: Construction of a single family and multi-family housing development, which includes the construction of roads, other infrastructure networks, parks, and community areas.
County: Bryan
Nearest Named Waterbody: Jerico River
Overall Project Purpose: Construction of a single family and multi-family housing development, which includes the construction of roads, other infrastructure networks, parks, and community areas.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, SAVANNAH DISTRICT
100 W. OGLETHORPE AVENUE
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31401-3604
February 20, 2019
Regulatory Branch
SAS-2013-00637
JOINT PUBLIC NOTICE
Savannah District/State of Georgia
The Savannah District has received an application for a Department of the Army
Permit, pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1344), as follows:
Application Number: SAS-2013-00637
Applicant: Mr. Bill Cunningham
Raydient, LLC & Rayonier Atlantic Timber Company
10393 Ford Avenue, Building C
Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324
Agent:
Mr. Troy Smith
Resource and Land Consultants
41 Park of Commerce Way, Suite 303
Savannah, Georgia 31405
Location of Proposed Work: The project site is located east of Belfast Keller Road in
Richmond Hill, Bryan County, Georgia (Latitude 31.854461, Longitude -81.311313).
Description of Work Subject to the Jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
The proposed activity consists of filling 3.27 acres of wetland and 0.29 acre of
jurisdictional ditch to facilitate the construction of a 740 single family and 80 unit multifamily housing development on approximately 473 acres. Aside from the housing
development, the project will involve the construction of roads and other infrastructure
networks, as well as parks and community areas.
To offset the loss in aquatic function associated with the project impacts, the applicant
has proposed the purchase of 21.84 wetland credits from an approved mitigation bank
that services the Lower Ogeechee watershed. These mitigation banks include Black
Creek, Margin Bay, Old Thorn Pond, Yam Grandy, Ogeechee River and Wilhelmina
Morgan.
BACKGROUND
This Joint Public Notice announces a request for authorizations from both the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Georgia. The applicant's proposed work may
also require local governmental approval.
STATE OF GEORGIA
Water Quality Certification: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources,
Environmental Protection Division, intends to certify this project at the end of 30 days in
accordance with the provisions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, which is required
for a Federal Permit to conduct activity in, on, or adjacent to the waters of the State of
Georgia. Copies of the application and supporting documents relative to a specific
application will be available for review and copying at the office of the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Watershed
Protection Branch, 2 MLK Jr. Drive, Suite 418, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, during regular
office hours. A copier machine is available for public use at a charge of 10 cents per
page. Any person who desires to comment, object, or request a public hearing relative
to State Water Quality Certification must do so within 30 days of the State's receipt of
application in writing and state the reasons or basis of objections or request for a
hearing. The application can be reviewed in the Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Regulatory Branch,100 West Oglethorpe Avenue, Savannah, Georgia
31401-3640.
State-owned Property and Resources: The applicant may also require assent from
the State of Georgia, which may be in the form of a license, easement, lease, permit or
other appropriate instrument.
Georgia Coastal Management Program: Prior to the Savannah District Corps of
Engineers making a final permit decision on this application, the project must be
certified by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division,
to be consistent with applicable provisions of the State of Georgia Coastal Management
Program (15 C.F.R. § 930). Anyone wishing to comment on Coastal Management
Program certification of this project should submit comments in writing within 30 days of
the date of this notice to the Federal Consistency Coordinator, Ecological Services
Section, Coastal Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, One
Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31523-8600 (Telephone 912-264-7218).
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U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
The Savannah District must consider the purpose and the impacts of the applicant's
proposed work, prior to a decision on issuance of a Department of the Army Permit.
Cultural Resources Assessment: Review of the latest published version of the
National Register of Historic Places indicates that no registered properties or properties
listed as eligible for inclusion are located at the site or in the area affected by the
proposed work. Presently unknown archaeological, scientific, pre-historical or historical
data may be located at the site and could be affected by the proposed work.
Endangered Species: Pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.), we request information from the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of
Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine
Fisheries Service; or, any other interested party, on whether any species listed or
proposed for listing may be present in the area. Based on the information provided, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that the proposed project would have no
effect to any threatened or endangered species or listed critical habitat.
Public Interest Review: 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.
Consideration of Public Comments: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is soliciting
comments from the public; federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Native
American 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
U.S. Army 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
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also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public
interest of the proposed activity.
Application of Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines: The proposed activity involves the
discharge of dredged or fill material into the waters of the United States. The Savannah
District's evaluation of the impact of the activity on the public interest will include
application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental
Protection Agency, under the authority of Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act.
Public Hearing: Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period
specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider this application for a
Department of the Army permit. Requests for public hearings shall state, with
particularity, the reasons for requesting a public hearing. The decision whether to hold
a public hearing is at the discretion of the District Engineer, or his designated appointee,
based on the need for additional substantial information necessary in evaluating the
proposed project.
Comment Period: Anyone wishing to comment on this application for a Department
of the Army Permit should submit comments in writing to the Commander, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, Attention: Candace Chambers, 100 West
Oglethorpe Avenue, Savannah, Georgia 31401-3640, no later than 30 days from the
date of this notice. Please refer to the applicant's name and the application number in
your comments.
If you have any further questions concerning this matter, please contact
Ms. Candace Chambers, Regulatory Specialist, Coastal Section at (912) 652-5651.
Enclosures
1. "Vicinity Map: Warren Hill Area Wetland Permits, Bryan County, Georgia", Prepared
for Raydient Places + Properties, page 1A.
2. "Vicinity Map (with aerial): Warren Hill Area Wetland Permits, Bryan County,
Georgia", Prepared for Raydient Places + Properties, page 1B.
3. "WL & Elevational Data: Warren Hill Area Wetland Permits, Bryan County, Georgia",
Prepared for Raydient Places + Properties, pages 4 through 16.
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