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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLog214 Message David W. Johnson .. L~I!~ # Page~-I-ot ltQ Page 1 of 10 From: Paul Anderson [panderson@parametrix.com] Sent: Thursday, April 13, 200611 :21 AM To: David W. Johnson; jparker@jeffpud.org SUbject: Re: FW: COE/JARPA Review - Marrowstone Jim and David: I will be available to attend the shoreline hearing on Tuesday. Please provide the time and location of the meeting to me by Monday morning. I am not exactly sure of the best course of action. I think it would be advisable to meet with Ms. Cronin, if possible to discuss the permitting issues. My main concern at this point is that the Corps will want to review/permit the entire project including the Nordland Mystery Bay wetlands and SR 116 causeway rather than permitting these sensitive areas as a separate project. If that is the case, then I believe the entire project is subject to SEPA review, not just the sensitive areas that we were hoping to permit separately. I can send Ms. Cronin a copy of the impact assessment memo and would be glad to meet with her and discuss the project, if she is willing, to clarify how the Corps will view the project. As for the HPA/JARPA, I would be glad to complete the application for the crossing of the unnamed stream. The stream would likely qualify as a jurisdictional water (Corps jurisdiction), but hopefully by constructing during the dry season and complying with the HPA terms, they will not require a Nationwide permit. I will be in the office today (except for 1130 to 1230) and tomorrow if you want to discuss these issues. Paul Paul S. Anderson Wildlife Biologist Parametrix, Inc. Email: panderson@parametrix.com Phone: (425) 458-6279 Fax: (425) 458-6363 >>> "David W. Johnson" <dwjohnson@co.jefferson.wa.us> 04/13 10:44 AM >>> Jim & Paul, Please read and respond. From: Cronin, Koko Z NWS [mailto:Koko.Z.Cronin@nws02.usace.army.mil] Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 10:32 AM To: David W. Johnson; Nancy Dorgan; Kennedy, Jack NWS Cc: Ochoa, Lori; Jeffree Stewart (E-mail) Subject: RE: COE/JARPA Review - Marrowstone To all: I'd like to put an end to this string of emails.Mr. Johnson, if you have a USACE Ref# for the project, please email it to me so that I may investigate. Otherwise, there is not nor has been an application in this office and since you say you sent it (the PO Box is correct), then it didn't get here. If there is a pipeline going into wetland or crossing them and the project is more than 500 feet long (among other things), then it is the project 4/17/2006 IVlessage Page 2 of 10 proponent's responsibility to procure all necessary permit, or jurisdictional determinations - neither of which are completed over the phone. USACE is never either a proponent or an opponent to any project for which a DA permit is required; our agency facilitates coordination and consultation with the public, other Federal agencies, fulfills our Tribal Trust responsibilities and make a final decision that is the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative. 4/17/2006 LOG ITeM # 2- {~ Pag'3 __~V('rO If we do not issue a permit for which may be later determined work that did require a permit, then the project proponent is potentially opening up their agency to a lawsuit (by other parties) in addition to our agency conducting investigations to determine the extent of unauthorized impacts (if any) to all waters of the United States. Our available resources generally prevents us from being able to comment on projects that do not have an active application on file with our office, hence the low to nil number of comments that are received due to SEPA documentation, public hearings, etc. That said, if I had a copy of the plans and the existing environmental conditions, I may be able to provide the project proponent with comments to apply to the hearing record. No one or agency can force the proponent to submit an application to our office. I have searched our database for all projects with "Jefferson County" as the proponent back through 1996 and there is nothing associated with a pipeline (water treatment or otherwise). I hope this settles all the comments. The proponent knows what they need to do to finalize any questions on jurisdiction and the citizens' groups can file a complaint through our Enforcement Section if they believe there are unauthorized impacts to jurisdictional waters of the United States. When or if we receive an application for the project, the Permit Processing Section will then proceed appropriately. Sincerely, Koko Koko Zadfe Cyomn BiologisVProject Manager South Application Review Section Seattle District Regulatory Branch U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 4735 East Marginal Way South Seattle, Washington 98134 P: 206.764.6878 F: 206.764.6602 From: David W. Johnson [mailto:dwjohnson@co.jefferson.wa.us] Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 9:17 AM To: Nancy Dorgan; Kennedy, Jack NWS Cc: Ochoa, Lori; Cronin, Koko Z NWS; Jeffree Stewart (E-mail) Subject: RE: COE/JARPA Review - Marrowstone The Causeway has been removed from the proposal as well as the jurisdictional ditch associated with the wetland at the south end of Mystery Bay. Most of the construction will not take place within shoreline jurisdiction. The shoreline hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday. From: Nancy Dorgan [mailto:ndorgan@waypoint.com] Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 9:02 AM To: Kennedy, Jack NWS Cc: Ochoa, Lori; Cronin, Koko Z NWS; Jeffree Stewart (E-mail); David W. Johnson lVlt::ssage Page 3 of 10 Subject: COEjJARPA Review - Marrowstone Jack, It sounds like a few phone calls quietly disposed of J ARPA without the necessity of applications and a paper trail. No agency is going negative on this one, so COE has company. As a follow-up to your email, if you're curious about the area, ESA, etc., I've attached a few docs that give a snapshot of environmental concerns regarding this project, which in its entirety is planned to run the length and width of Marrowstone and loop across the causeway to connect with the Navy's Indian Island system. A significant portion of the construction will happen within the shorelines jurisdiction, including boring in the causeway, because that's where the roads are. Adjacent wetlands both in and outside of the shorelines jurisdiction will be affected by construction, and all construction is to occur within existing roadside drainage ditches. Four feet of soil will be removed, stored, and then replaced during pipe installation. It didn't seem too much to require water quality certification for this. Attached: · Shorelines map of Marrowstone Island, which is wholly classified as "Conservancy" · NOAA map of the Hood Canal Summer Chum ESU, which includes Marrowstone Island · Jefferson County Shoreline Master Plan Update Inventory, Shoreline Inventory and Analysis, 2005. Pages 52-57 will give you a quick read of environmental issues in this area, e.g. eelgrass, juvenile salmonids, causeway, etc.: .. Between the two islands is Kilisut Harbor and Scow Bay with rich shellfish beds, herring spawning grounds and large concentrations of over wintering waterfowl'. We have some ducks here. Nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: Kennedv. Jack NWS To: Nancy Dorgan Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 9:25 AM Subject: WSDOT Funding It doesn't walk like a duck. It doesn't swim like a duck. It doesn't quack like a duck. My guess is that it is not a duck. 4/17/2006 # L0111~.. Pag'3. _ :~_})t L9 IVlessage Page 4 of 10 I, too, took a phone call on this a year and a half ago, and I forget its substance. Sure looks like no action, no ESA, and at the worst, coverable by the "non-reporting phase" of NWP 18. JK From: Nancy Dorgan [mailto:ndorgan@waypoint.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 20069:15 PM To: Cronin, Koko Z NWS Cc: Ochoa, Lori; David Johnson; Jeffree Stewart (E-mail); Kennedy, Jack NWS Subject: Re: MLA06-00044 Koko, I don't know of any DOT funding, but the PUD got a whopping Public Works Trust Fund allocation (attached) for the system that might be relevant to your search. Legislators thought they were voting for a public system intended to replace private wells and address (unquantified) issues of saltwater intrusion. The PUD, however, consistently states that the purpose of the proposal is not saltwater intrusion, but because residents asked for public water. No wells are required to be commissioned after public supply is available. Nancy ----- Original Message __on From: Cronin. Koko Z NWS To: Nancy Dorgan Cc: Ochoa, Lori; David Johnson; Jeffree Stewart (E-mail) ; Kennedy. Jack NWS Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 11 :05 PM Subject: RE: MLA06-00044 Are there WADOT funds for this proposal? We have a separate WADOT team for applications that have state funding. I've cc'ed Jack Kennedy, he would be a person to contact if there is state funding. That still would not explain why it isn't in our system; either the JARPA got lost getting to our office or it was never sent to us directly. Koko From: Nancy Dorgan [mailto:ndorgan@waypoint.com] Sent: Wed 4/12/2006 8:32 PM To: Cronin, Koko Z NWS Cc: Ochoa, Lori; David Johnson; Jeffree Stewart (E-mail) Subject: Re: MLA06-00044 Koko, Thanks for "setting the record straight". This proposal has been an extreme case of PUD bob and weave that has made it difficult to know what is in or out of the proposal at any particular time (e.g. causeway). We thought JARPA was "in" because of the signed and dated application in the file. JARPA and COE contacts were included in the attached pre-app summary, which is the reason you received all those comment letters. Nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: Cronin. Koko Z NWS To: Ochoa, Lori; David W. Johnson; Nancy Dorgan LOG ITEJVi # ?,lS ,~ Pag'3._~}Jt,Lo 4/17/2006 lVlessage Page 5 of 10 Cc: James parker; Paul Anderson; Stewart. Jeff R. (ECY) Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 20068:10 PM Subject: RE: MLA06-00044 To all: I did not receive a JARPA nor is there an active application pending in this office. I review all applications I receive within 10 days and make contact with the applicant regarding completeness. What I did receive are about 15 comment letters from citizens, which is why I called about the project. If there is a question of Corps jurisdiction, then the application must be sent to our office is Jefferson County PUD wishes to have in writing any documentation from our office. I hope this clears up some questions regarding what we have or don't have. Koko From: Ochoa, Lori [mailto:loch461@ECY.WA.GOV] Sent: Wed 4/12/2006 4: 12 PM To: David W. Johnson; Nancy Dorgan Cc: Cronin, Koko Z NWS; James parker; Paul Anderson; Stewart, Jeff R. (ECY) Subject: RE: MLA06-00044 Hi David, Just to clarify roles a bit, any review that Jeff Stewart provided was done in the context of shoreline permitting. I am the Federal Permit Coordinator for the Southwest Regional Office and am responsible for review of applications for 401 Certifications. I would be happy to talk with you or Parametrix about this further. Lori Ochoa Federal Permit Coordinator Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Program Southwest Regional Office (360) 407-6926 -----Original Message----- From: David W. Johnson [mailto:dwjohnson@co.jefferson.wa.us] Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 20063:39 PM To: Nancy Dorgan Cc: KOko.Z.Cronin@nws02.usace.army.mil; Ochoa, Lori; James parker; Paul Anderson Subject: RE: MLA06-00044 That's interesting since Koko actually called me in December and told me that the PUQ needed to check with the Coast Guard to see if they had jurisdiction over the Causway (since then, the Causeway has been removed from the project). So, she did receive the reviewer materials that included the JARPA (but never processed them) and this was also sent to Jeff Stewart. Parametrix's impact assessment reviewed these requirements and states, "Ecology is not requiring a water quality certification permit for this project." The only jurisdictional ditch that was identified is at the Southern end of Mystery Bay and the water line will not be installed at that location. From: Nancy Dorgan [mailto:ndorgan@waypoint.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 20062:50 PM To: David W. Johnson Subject: MLA06-00044 LOG ITEM # L.-{ 5 Pag'3._..E:uf.lO 4/17/2006 lV.lt::s:sagt: 4/17/2006 Page 6 of 10 David, The PUD has intentionally broken up its Marrowstone project into bits and pieces for stated and unstated reasons. MLA06-00044 is the first bit, but probably the most significant. In the context of the constellation of related PUD permits, I would like to note on the record that neither the Department of Ecology nor the Army Corps of Engineers has a record of ever receiving a JARPA application from the PUD for the Marrowstone system. Please include following messages in the record for MLA06-00044. Thanks. Nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: Cronin. Koko Z NWS To: Nancy Dorgan Cc: Ochoa. Lori Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 20064:23 PM Subject: RE: COE - Marrowstone Water System Construction Review Nancy, we do not have anything pending or final under "JCPUD" or anything with a project name including the word "Marrowstone." Koko From: Nancy Dorgan [mailto:ndorgan@waypoint.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 2:18 PM To: Cronin, Koko Z NWS Cc: Ochoa, Lori Subject: CDE - Marrowstone Water System Construction Review Importance: High Koko, Lori Ochoa gave me your name and email address so I could check with you whether COE ever received an application from Jefferson County Public Utility District no. 1 for review of their proposed Marrowstone Island water system construction. The pipeline route includes adjacent wetlands and construction will excavate existing roadside ditches that drain to saltwater. DOE does not have any record of any such application, and I need to know the status of an appligation at COE. This is a time sensitive question, as the comment period for one of the three permits closes today and another next Tuesday for the shorelines permit. Could you quickly check your database for me? As I noted to Lori in an email (below), the county's project file includes a signed PUD JARPA application dated 5-03-05, but there's nothing in the file from COE regarding a jurisdictional determination. Is that decisions still pending? Did you receive the application?? Thanks so much, LOG 'T~ .. /) It; ~ L-- Pag~'_<t~~yf [()' lV~v;:);:)abc; 4/17/2006 page 'f ot 10 Nancy Dorgan Port Townsend ----- Original Message ----- From: Ochoa. Lori To: Nancy Dorgan Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 1:19 PM Subject: RE: More Questions Re: DOE Water Quality Certification Process for Marrowstone Pipeline Permits Hi Nancy - In response to your questions: · JARPA entries are never deleted from our database. If the Corps makes a jurisdictional determination of no-jurisdiction, then that is the federal action and gets entered into the system with the rest of the project information. My question to you is: Was that the federal action in this case? If so, do you know what the basis for a no-jurisdiction call was? (Ecology still has regulatory authority over isolated wetlands even though they are not under Corps jurisdiction.) · It is the applicant's responsibility (or their agent) to submit an application for a401 Certification to Ecology. They are not forwarded to us by the Corps. · I found nothing in the database under the last name of Parker. Sometimes, the applicant waits for the Corps decision to see if they need to come to Ecology for a 401 Certification. For Nationwide Permits (NWPs), the Corps has the ability to determine if the project is in compliance with state water quality standards. When the Corps is unable to make that determination, they will send the applicant to Ecology to make that determination. Not all NWP's require a 401 Certification. It is not unusual for Ecology to not receive an application until after a Corps decision has been made. Lori Ochoa Federal Permit Coordinator Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Program Southwest Regional Office (360) 407-6926 -----Original Message----- From: Nancy Dorgan [mailto:ndorgan@waypoint.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 10:45 AM To: Ochoa, Lori Cc: Stewart, Jeff R. (ECY) Subject: More Questions Re: DOE Water Quality Certification Process for Marrowstone Pipeline Permits Lori, Thanks so much for researching this so quickly. It's puzzling to me that your database doesn't show a 401 application for Marrowstone, because our local project file includes a 12-page JARPA application signed by PUD Manager James G. Parker on 5-3-05. The file also contains a 11-14-05 memo from Parker to County about needed studies for the JARPA permit. More Questions: · If the Corps made a subsequent determination that the project was not jurisdictional, would the initial JARPA application still show up in your LOG lT~' .- 'L-Cj # -- Pag~._~..~yf,[u ..1.V.L......~~a.5v 4/17/2006 page ~ ot 10 database or would it have been deleted? . Do you know if it is the applicant's responsibility to send a JARPA request to DOE? · Would you do a search under James G.Parker as applicant just in case it didn't get entered for the PUD as applicant? Thanks for Koko's email. I'll ask her if she ever received anything. Nancy ----- Original Message ----- rom: Ochoa, Lori 0: Nancy Dorgan c: Stewart. Jeff R. (ECY) ent: Wednesday, April 12, 200610:49 AM ubject: RE: DOE Water Quality Certification Process for Marrowstone Pipeline Permits i Nancy, am still not seeing anything in our database for a 401 Certification Application for this roject or applicant. Our database covers submittals of JARPA's as a request for a 401 ertification, as well as any federal action on a project that would potentially trigger the eed for a 401 Certification. You may want to check with the Corps of Engineers to see if hey have a pending application for this project. The Corps Project Manager that covers the efferson County area is Koko Cronin at Koko.Z.Cronin@nws02.usace.army.mil. Please eel free to give me a call if you would like to talk about this further. ori Ochoa ederal Permit Coordinator horelands & Environmental Assistance Program outhwest Regional Office 360) 407-6926 -----Original Message----- From: Nancy Dorgan [mailto:ndorgan@waypoint.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 4:49 PM To: Ochoa, Lori Cc: Stewart, Jeff R. (ECY); Lux, Gretchen; Lund, Perry Subject: Re: DOE Water Quality Certification Process for Marrowstone Pipeline Permits Hi Lori, Thanks for your reply. The applicant is Jefferson County Public Utility District no. 1, which has three permits now pending review with Jefferson County Department of Community Development for the construction of a new water system. One is a Shorelines permit, and the other two are for construction in areas outside that jurisdiction. I hope that will help you narrow your search. Would your database include all certification applications or only those going forward in the process? I'm trying to find any kind of paper trail regarding possible DOE review in a CWA certification process. Thanks again. Nancy LOGIT~\ # CZ-l0 Pag'3.-fL"mco .J..Y..a..V~~LL6.".. t'age ~ or 10 ---- Original Message ----- rom: Ochoa, Lori 0: ndorgan @waypoint.com c: Stewart, Jeff R. (ECY) nt: Tuesday, April 11 , 2006 6:04 PM ubject: FW: DOE Water Quality Certification Process for Marrowstone Pipeline ermits ello Nancy, could not find anything in our database for this project. If you have an applicant ame that I could query, that may be helpful. ori Ochoa ederal Permit Coordinator horelands & Environmental Assistance Program outhwest Regional Office 360) 407-6926 ----Original Message----- rom: Stewart, Jeff R. (ECY) nt: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 11:58 AM 0: Ochoa, Lori c: Lund, Perry; Lux, Gretchen ubject: FW: DOE Water Quality Certification Process for Marrowstone Pipeline ermits YI Marrowstone effree Stewart horeline Specialist ashington Department of Ecology 60-407-6521 ----Original Message----- rom: Nancy Dorgan [mailto:ndorgan@waypoint.com] nt: Monday, April 10, 2006 10:01 AM 0: Stewart, Jeff R. (ECY) c: David Johnson ubject: DOE Water Quality Certification Process for Marrowstone Pipeline Permits 4/1712006 an you tell me whether DOE is doing a water quality certification rocess for any of the three pending Marrowstone permits or whether hey have been given a State/Federal pass? I found the following verall description of DOE's process from your website: Conditioning Proiects: The agency issues water quality certifications and Coastal Zone Management Act consistency eterminations for water-related construction projects. Staff provide early review on projects whenever possible (e.g. through State Environmental Policy Act review and LOG ITEM . ~~ :ag'3_ .utLQ .lV~\.o""aoc; Page 10 of 10 preapplication meetings) and provide project guidance and technical assistance through phone calls, e-mails, site visits, and workshops. Projects are approved, denied, or conditioned to protect water quality, sediment quality, and fish and shellfish habitat. This activity allows the state to actively participate in federal permitting activities to ensure state interests are adequately represented and considered. (Authorizing Laws - Federal Clean Water Act and 90.48 RCW) Result: Review and certify projects to protect water quality, habitat, and aquatic life. Review and certify projects in a timely, efficient, consistent, and thorough manner. 0 90% of applicants are notified within 14 calendar days (10 working days) when a Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application is received. 0 90% of routine 401 water quality certifications are issued within 90 days. I attended the Toxics in Puget Sound forum last week in Seattle, and the research on environmental consequences of contaminants in sediments was chilling The information and presentations made me even more concerned than before about accumulated pesticide, fertilizer, fecal, and automotive-related toxins now in Marrowstone ditches either in or near the shoreline jurisdictions. The proposed pipeline construction will excavate 4 feet of soil from the bottom of miles of existing stormwater drainage ditches, pile that material alonside the road while pipes are being installed in the ditches, and then redeposit contaminated soil in the ditches. At every step of the process, there is a significant possibility that pollutants either long buried or already at the surface will be be blown off the piles or transported through stormwater runoff to waters of the State and critical aquatic habitat despite the best of intentions and required BMP's. So, · Has DOE concluded that the Marrowstone permits are exempt from DOE water quality certification? . If so would you send me a copy of that determination? . Would you send me the criteria DOE uses for determining whether or not certification is required? · Without a proper water quality certification process of water quality conditions before construction, how will we ever know if impairment has happened as a result of the construction? Public comment on one of the permits ends April 14, and it would be very helpful if you could clarify this today or tomorrow. Thanks so much for any help with this. Nancy 4/1712006 LOG IT~N~ # ''2LC;: Pag '3, _lD.)JITlS'