Public Notices Manager

SPN: HONOLULU DISTRICT REGULATORY PROGRAM PREPAREDNESS FOR HURRICANES ISELLE AND JULIO - 2

Published Aug. 7, 2014
Expiration date: 9/4/2014

SPECIAL PUBLIC NOTICE: HONOLULU DISTRICT REGULATORY PROGRAM PREPAREDNESS FOR HURRICANES ISELLE AND JULIO - 2

Department of the Army Regional General Permit 2011-001 for Maintenance Clearing of Rivers, Streams, Storm Drains, and Beach Areas in the State of Hawaii

In anticipation of the imminent threat Hurricane Iselle and Hurricane Julio pose to the main Hawaiian Islands and coastal areas, the Honolulu District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Regulatory Office is providing the following information and guidance regarding Regional General Permit (RGP) 2011-001 for Stream Mouth Clearing in the State of Hawaii.   The purpose of this information and guidance is to assist the regulated public, including public agencies and other responsible parties, in preparing for and responding to these anticipated discrete storm events.

A Department of the Army (DA) permit for stream mouth clearing of sand and accumulated sediments and debris in estuarine and tidal areas is required prior to such work being performed.  The Honolulu District Regulatory Office understands the potential emergency nature of these efforts and is therefore poised to work with the regulated public and other responsible entities to obtain the necessary approvals in a timely manner. The following work is eligible under RGP 2011-001:

a.  Maintenance clearing of river and stream mouths and channels, storm drains and similar structures, and beach areas, including, but not limited to, the following activities:

(1) Removal, including mechanized removal, of siltation shoals, sand plugs, and excessive vegetation and debris from river and stream mouths and channels, storm drains, and similar structures;

(2) Removal, including mechanized removal, of seaweed, rubble, and other debris from beach areas.

b. Work performed under this general permit is subject to the following limitations:

(1) Maintenance clearing activities may not extend more than 50 feet seaward of the Mean High Water (MHW) mark;

(2) Except in emergency situations where there is imminent threat to life and/or property, maintenance clearing activities may be conducted only during periods of low flow and little or no rainfall.

c. This general permit does not authorize blasting, new dredging, or dredging that changes the character, scope, or elevation of the original contour or the previously-authorized maintenance dredging baseline.  If information on the original contour is not available, the prospective permittee must indicate the extent or depth of the proposed work in the preconstruction notification required as a condition of this general permit.

It is incumbent upon you to provide the following information per stream clearing project PRIOR to beginning the work:

a. Contact information: name, mailing address, telephone numbers, and email address;

b. Location of the proposed project;

(1) On 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, with notations legible for reproduction, plans that include exact location, latitude and longitude, vicinity and plan maps, and profile and cross-sectional views including existing conditions, pre-sedimentation and/or anticipated post-construction conditions;

(2) If maintenance clearing is proposed in a waterway designated as impaired under the current List of Impaired Waters in Hawaii prepared under Clean Water Act Section 303(d) or in any area where contamination is known or suspected, the designation “303(d) Impaired Waters” or “known or suspected contamination” must be indicated prominently in the upper right-hand corner of the PCN. The 303(d) List of Impaired Waters can be found at the following URL: http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/files/2013/05/Integrated_2006_Chapter4.pdf;

c. Any available historical data regarding original depths and extents of areas to be cleared;

d. Description of the source, type, composition, and quantity of material to be cleared, the method and equipment to be used in the clearing operation, the site plans for disposal of excess excavated material, and de-watering plans;

e. Date activity is expected to commence, expected duration of the proposed work, and date activity is expected to be completed;

f. Site-specific Best Management Practices Plan and appropriate monitoring plan to demonstrate that the proposed activity will be conducted in a manner that complies with all terms and conditions of this general permit;

g. Name of contractor/company or person(s) doing the work, if known;

h. Upon submittal to the Corps for approval at CEPOH-RO@usace.army.mil, you must copy  the State of Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program at JNakagaw@dbedt.hawaii.gov.

If you find you do not have sufficient time to submit all the above information required prior to beginning the work during the above discrete events, you must, at a minimum, notify the Corps by phone at (808) 835-4303 or CEPOH-RO@usace.army.mil of where and when you will be working and provide contact information for an on-site personnel in charge.  You will be required to provide the above information (items a-h) to the Corps within 7 days of completing the work to be eligible for authorization under RGP 2011-001.  Be advised you are required to take pre-construction (existing condition), during construction, and post-construction photos of the river, stream channel, storm drain, or beach area that captures the entire removal area and submit these photos with your request for after-the-fact authorization.

Note:  You may not place excavated sands, silts, sediments, rocks, etc. back in the river, stream, storm drain or on the beach and within the influence of the tide.  Excavated materials must be placed in uplands.  If you need to place the excavated material back in the river, stream, storm drain, or on the beach below the high tide line (mean higher high water mark) or below the ordinary high water mark your work will not meet the requirements of this RGP 2011-001 and you will be required to obtain a separate DA authorization from this office.

For further information, please contact our office at (808) 835-4303 or via email at CEPOH-RO@usace.army.mil.  Should an emergency arise and you need to contact the Regulatory Office outside of business hours, please call (808) 341-5731 or email ryan.h.winn@usace.army.mil

This special public notice is issued by the Acting Chief, Regulatory Office