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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 19-265

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Federal Consistency under the Coastal Zone Management Act; Maintenance Dredging at Conneaut Harbor

[49 Pa.B. 894]
[Saturday, February 23, 2019]

 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 (Department), Coastal Resources Management Program has received notice that the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is proposing to conduct maintenance dredging at Conneaut Harbor, Ashtabula County, OH.

 The USACE is proposing to dredge approximately 200,000 cubic yards of sediment from the authorized Federal navigation channels (Outer Harbor Channel, Inner Harbor Channel and Municipal Access Channel) of Conneaut Harbor between July 1, 2019, and September 15, 2019. The sediments within the Outer and Inner Harbor Channels are primarily silts and clays, with some sand. The USACE proposes that dredged materials recovered from these areas will be placed at the existing designated open lake disposal area in Lake Erie. Sediments from the Municipal Access Channel have historically consisted of coarse-grained sands suitable for use as nearshore littoral nourishment. The USACE has proposed to conduct sampling within this reach prior to the planned dredging to determine suitability for nearshore placement. If the sediment is determined to be suitable for nearshore placement, the USACE proposes to place the recovered dredged materials within the designated nearshore disposal area, 1,500 feet to the east of the Conneaut Harbor East Breakwater Extension, between -11 and -8 feet mean low water. Non-suitable materials will be placed in the open lake disposal area in Lake Erie.

 This project is subject to Department review for Federal consistency because it is a Federal agency activity and will have reasonably foreseeable interstate effects on the Commonwealth's coastal resources or uses. Disruption of the Lake Erie littoral sediment transport system imposed by Conneaut Harbor and its location just updrift of the Pennsylvania/Ohio state line is recognized as an interstate coastal effect under the Coastal Resources Management Program's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-approved CZMA Interstate Consistency program.

 In accordance with NOAA regulations at 15 CFR Part 930, Subparts C and I (relating to consistency for Federal agency activities; relating to consistency of Federal activities having interstate coastal effects), the USACE has determined 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 Determination 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 March 11, 2019, before issuing a final Federal consistency concurrence or objection. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. Comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the originator's name and address. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment system at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment or by e-mail at ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments can be submitted by mail to the Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

PATRICK McDONNELL, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 19-265. Filed for public inspection February 22, 2019, 9:00 a.m.]


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