Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification - POA-2022-00495 v1.0 Liberty Falls - ADOT&PF, Edgerton Hwy MP 24-29

Public Notice (PN) Date: January 18, 2023 PN Reference Number: POA-2022-00495 v1.0 PN Expiration Date: February 3, 2023 Waterway: Liberty Falls Any applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct an activity that might result in a discharge into navigable waters, in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1977 (PL95-217), also must apply for and obtain certification from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that the discharge will comply with the CWA, the Alaska Water Quality Standards, and other applicable State laws. Notice is hereby given that a request for a CWA §401 Water Quality Certification of a Department of the Army Permit application, Corps of Engineers’ PN Reference Number indicated above has been received for the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States (WOUS), including wetlands, as described below, and shown on the project figures/drawings. The public notice and related project figures/drawings

are accessible from the DEC website at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.To comment on the project or request for a public hearing with respect to water quality, submit comments electronically via the DEC public notice site at https://water.alaskadec.commentinput.com/?id=KC49k on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.Applicant: DOT&PF, Brett Nelson, 2301 Peger Rd Fairbanks, AK 99701; (907) 451-2238; brett.nelson@alaska.gov. Project Name: Edgerton Hwy MP 24-29Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 8-9, 14-16, 23, 25-26, T. 003S, R. 005E; Copper River Meridian; in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska. Project Site: Latitude 61.62200, Longitude -144.54300. Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to resurface the Edgerton Highway from Mile Post (MP) 24 to MP 29 to preserve and extend the service life of the highway and to enhance safety.Project Description: The Edgerton Highway MP 24-29 Resurfacing project is a preventative maintenance project with the goal of resurfacing the roadway. The existing pavement surface (high float) has reached the end of its useful life. The roadway will be reclaimed using Hot Mix Asphalt. To achieve this, the current roadway is proposed to be reclaimed using a milling machine or reclaimer. Then the surface is proposed to be graded and paved to as-built conditions. In addition to resurfacing, the following activities are proposed: Vegetation clearing via hydro axe along the proposed alignment (MP 24-29), in MS 850-031-5 (MP 26 Pit) and in MS 850-033-5 (North Liberty Falls Pit). Replace signs in the same location and at the same depth Replace guardrails and update end terminals. Embankment widening is required to install new guardrails. Reapplication of pavement highway markings. Reconstruction. MP 24.9 to MP 25.2 will require blasting. Drainage improvements include reconditioning ditches along the project corridor and culvert replacements. Utility relocation Resurface approachesMaterials for this project will be from existing Ahtna Inc. material sites: MS 850-036-5 (Kenny Lake School Pit), MS 850-033-5 (North Liberty Falls Pit), MS 850-032-5 (South Liberty Falls Pit), and MS 850-031-5 (MP 26 Pit). All material sites will be available to the contractor for staging. The project would utilize approximately 2,000 cubic yards of D-1 and 3,800 cubic yards of paving aggregates. Approximately 3 acres of PSS wetlands would be permanently impacted from removal of material at the North Liberty Falls Pit.Two 24 inch culverts would be replaced with 36 inch culverts along the project corridor for cross-drainage along the highway between MP 27 and MP 28. Replacement culverts at these locations would be installed in the same place and at the same depth as existing culverts using half width construction. Following culvert replacement work, discarded culverts and any temporary fill material in wetlands would be removed, then disturbed areas graded and seeded. Approximately 0.1-acre of palustrine scrub-shrub (PSS) wetlands would be temporarily impacted to support the replacement of two cross-drainage culverts. Temporary impacts would result from a 50 foot wide work area that would be driven on by construction equipment. If there is standing water, then perimeter control using best management practices (BMP’s) would be installed. Temporary wetland impact areas would be rehabilitated following construction activities.Materials for this project would be from these existing material sites: MS 850-032-5 (South Liberty Falls Pit), and MS 850-033-5 (North Liberty Falls Pit). Applicant Proposed Mitigation: The applicant proposes the following mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, and compensate for impacts to waters of the United States, from activities involving discharges of dredged or fill material. During the preliminary and final design process, DOT&PF evaluated major and minor route and material site changes to identify the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative (LEDPA). During this process, the DOT&PF made substantial efforts to reduce and avoid impacts to wetland functions in the project area. These avoidance and minimization considerations are the following: The highway will be maintained on its current alignment with no major realignments, thereby reducing the wetland impacts. Existing foreslopes will remain however ditches will be reconditioned. Existing drainage patterns will be maintained or enhanced wherever possible, including replacement of damaged or failing cross-drainage culverts with pipes of equal size. Culvert replacement will help improve water quality by reducing scour and erosion, reduce flooding, and provide improved hydrological connectivity, resulting in some amount of ecological uplift for existing streams and wetlands adjacent to the roadway. Appropriate erosion and sediment control measures (BMP’s) will be implemented on or at all perimeters of disturbed soil surfaces to minimize transport of sediment to waters of the U.S. Disturbed upland areas, vegetated prior to the project and left unprotected by improvements, will be stabilized and re-vegetated. Ground disturbances in these areas will be addressed by measures such as raking slopes, seeding, fertilizing and mulching as well as the BMP’s mentioned above. This would reduce erosion and sediment transport and help establish vegetative cover, thereby, minimizing short-term and long-term impacts to adjacent downstream waters. Temporary stockpiles and staging area will be located in uplands or previously disturbed areas. The North Liberty Falls Pit (MS 850-033-5) is a material site containing wetlands. This site has the most abundant and suitable materials required for resurfacing the Edgerton Highway, and is the only material site in the area with quality material and relatively level enough to allow room for contractor equipment, operations, and stockpiles. The South Liberty Falls Pit (MS 850-032-5) is a previously developed site within the project area that provides a source for borrow materials. This site has steep slopes that does not lend enough space to develop all the necessary materials for this project. Given the steps described above to avoid and minimize unavoidable wetland impacts, DOT&PF is not proposing any compensatory mitigation for this project. After reviewing the application, the Department may certify there is reasonable assurance the activity, and any discharge that might result, will comply with the CWA, the Alaska Water Quality Standards, and other applicable State laws. The Department also may deny or waive certification.The permit application and associated documents are available for review. For inquires or to request copies of the documents, contact dec-401cert@alaska.gov, or call 907-269-6285. Disability Reasonable Accommodation NoticeThe State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact ADA Coordinator Claire Fishwick at 907-465-5871 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 prior to the expiration date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.