Here's the full application for the Bryan County site:
"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-2005-01381
SAS-2015-00235
Applicant: Mr. Hugh "Trip" Tollison
Savannah Harbor- Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority
131 Hutchinson Island Road, 4th Floor
Savannah, Georgia 31421
Agent: Mr. Alton Brown, Jr.
Resource and Land Consultants
41 Park of Commerce Drive, Suite 303
Savannah, Georgia 31405
Location of Proposed Work: The project site is located in waters and wetlands
draining to Black Creek or Miles Branch, in the southeast quadrant of the intersection of
Georgia Highway 280 and Interstate 16, bisected by Tar City Road, in Ellabelle, Bryan
County, Georgia (Latitude 32.1574, Longitude -81.4500).
Description of Work Subject to the Jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
The applicant proposes to fill 125.13 acres of jurisdictional wetland, 2,631 linear feet
of stream, 0.62 acre of jurisdictional ditch (3,016 linear feet), and 17.56 acres of
isolated, non-jurisdictional wetland on a 1,904.5 acre project site to construct a megasite
manufacturing facility. The proposed impacts are associated with general site
development (i.e., access roads, parking lots, building pads), and railroad access.
As compensatory mitigation for the project related impacts, the applicant is proposing
to purchase 1 ,069.2 wetland mitigation credits and 12,690.3 stream mitigation credits.
The applicant is proposing to purchase the available wetland and stream mitigation
credits from approved mitigation banks in the primary service area of the Ogeechee
Watershed. Also, regarding the proposed purchases, the applicant states: "the total
number of credits currently available within the watershed does not meet the total
required for this project. Therefore, depending on the number of wetland and stream
credits available at the time of purchase, the applicant is requesting approval to
purchase all or any remaining wetland and/or stream credits through the Georgia Land
Trust In-Lieu Fee Program.” However, there are currently no in-lieu fee credits available
in this watershed.
BACKGROUND
We are currently processing an approved jurisdictional determination (JD) for
isolated, non-jurisdictional wetlands on a 224.8 acre portion of the project site under
project number SAS-2005-01381. We are also currently processing an approved JD for
isolated, non-jurisdictional wetlands on a 276.8 acre portion of the project site under
project number SAS-2015-00235 and an expanded preliminary JD for the remaining
portion of the project site (i.e., 1,402.9 acres) under project number SAS-2015-00235.
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, Water Protection
Branch, 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101, Atlanta, Georgia 30354, during regular
office hours. A copier machine is available for public use at a charge of
25 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 Division, 100 W. 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.
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.
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Cultural Resources Assessment: Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, we request the Georgia Historical Preservation
Division (HPD) or any other interested party review the latest published version of the
National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) to determine if the property has or has not
any registered properties or properties listed as eligible for inclusion located at the site
or in the area affected by the proposed work. Presently unknown archaeological,
scientific, prehistorical, or historical data may be located at the site and could be
affected by the proposed work.
The applicant stated: “Brockington & Associates has completed a field survey for
cultural resources and archeology and a draft report is currently being prepared for
submittal to and review by the USACE and GADNR-HPD. In the interim, a
management summary documenting the status of the project is provided.” Upon receipt
of the aforementioned survey, the Corps will review and provide comments to Georgia
Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division, for their review and
comments.
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, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National
Marine Fisheries Service; or, any other interested party, on whether any species listed
or proposed for listing may be present in the area.
The applicant states: “RLC conducted a threatened and endangered species survey
for the project area in February and March 2015. At no time during the survey was a
species listed as threatened or endangered by current federal regulations observed. It
was determined that marginal habitat was present on the study area that could
potentially harbor Flatwoods salamanders, striped newts, indigo snakes, and gopher
tortoise. Site specific studies were conducted for these species and only gopher
tortoises are known to inhabit the study area. The applicant intends to undertake
voluntary relocation efforts for remaining gopher tortoises in conjunction with state and
federal agencies prior to development. Thus, the proposed development within this
study area will not likely to adversely affect any species listed as federally threatened,
endangered, or as a candidate for listing in Bryan County, Georgia.”
After review of the application and supporting information, the Savannah District has
determined that the proposed project would not affect any Federally listed threatened or
endangered species or their critical habitat that are under the purview of U.S.
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Pursuant to Section 7(c) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we request
concurrence with this effects determination.
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
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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
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, Mr. Shaun Blocker, 100 W. 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.
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If you have any further questions concerning this matter, please contact
Mr. Shaun Blocker, Project Manager, Coastal Branch at 912-652-5086.
7 Encls
1. USGS Topographic Survey
2. 2013 Ortho Aerial Imagery
3. Habitat Map
4. USDA NRCS Soils Survey
5. National Wetlands Inventory
6. Applicant’s Preferred Site / On-site Configuration #1
7. Permit Drawings (14 pages)"
http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/Portal...n-0523-SLB.pdf
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