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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 20-945

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Federal Consistency under the Coastal Zone Management Act; Construction of Civic Substation in City of Philadelphia

[50 Pa.B. 3669]
[Saturday, July 18, 2020]

 This notice is published under section 306(d)(14) of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) (16 U.S.C.A. § 1455(d)(14)), regarding public participation during consistency determinations. The Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) Coastal Resources Management Program has received notice that the PECO Energy Company (Applicant) is proposing the construction of a new civic substation (Project) along the Schuylkill River in the City of Philadelphia.

 The Applicant is seeking authorization from the United States Army Corps of Engineers under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.A. § 1344) for the Phase 1 work within regulated waters. The proposed Project is located along the freshwater tidal portion of the Schuylkill River within the Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone, on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/Department boundary map # 7. The Project site for building removal and substation construction is located within property parcels at 500 and 600 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA along the north bank of the Schuylkill River downstream of the University Avenue bridge (Philadelphia, PA-NJ USGS Quadrangle; Latitude: 39° 56` 36", Longitude: -75° 12` 03"). The existing and proposed transmission line corridors extend from these parcels, across the Schuylkill River, to a tower adjacent to the Grays Ferry Crescent Trail (also known as the DuPont Crescent Trail). Upon deconstruction of the abandoned building, the river bank along which the building was situated would be graded and stabilized with crushed stone or rip-rap. Currently, the natural tidal flow in an intertidal flat under the abandoned building overhang is disrupted by building pilings and concrete rubble. This existing flat would be improved with a stabilized bank which should restore more natural tidal flow conditions by removing the pooling and flow disruptions. Existing rubble would be removed and the flat would not be armored. The proposed goal is to restore the site to a more open intertidal flat similar to what likely existed at this location prior to development along the shoreline. Phase 2 would begin with the construction of a retaining wall structure (or bulkhead) to support the necessary surface grades for the substation and to maintain the long-term structural integrity of the site alongside the waterway. The limits of disturbance to construct such a structure is proposed to remain landward of the Federal Emergency Management Agency-mapped floodway line. The Applicant proposes that at no time during Phase 2 construction would there be any disturbance of the mapped floodway. The remaining substation construction would be landward of the retaining structure and no regulated waters would be impacted. Phase 3 of the Project would include the relocation and replacement of an existing tower; the replacement would be in uplands with no anticipated impacts to regulated waters. The reconductored transmission line would be a permanent aerial crossing of the Schuylkill River but would not result in any earth disturbance.

 The Project is subject to Department review for Federal consistency because it is a Federal license and permit activity and will have reasonably foreseeable effects on this Commonwealth's coastal resources or uses.

 In accordance with section 307 of the CZMA (16 U.S.C.A. § 1456) and the NOAA regulations at 15 CFR Part 930, Subpart D (relating to consistency for activities requiring a Federal license or permit), PECO Energy Company has certified that the proposed activity will be conducted in a manner consistent with the applicable enforceable policies of the Commonwealth's NOAA-approved Coastal Resources Management Program. Interested parties may request a copy of the Federal Consistency Certification from the Department contact listed as follows.

 Questions regarding this review should be directed to Matthew Walderon, Federal Consistency Coordinator, at RA-Fed_Consistency@pa.gov or (717) 772-2196.

 The Department will consider all comments received on or before Monday, August 3, 2020, before issuing a final Federal consistency concurrence or objection. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. All comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the commentator's name and address. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment tool at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments can be mailed to the Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, 400 Market Street, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.

PATRICK McDONNELL, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 20-945. Filed for public inspection July 17, 2020, 9:00 a.m.]


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