2231 Federal consistency under the Coastal Zone Management Act; maintenance dredging at the Trainer Refinery
Federal Consistency under the Coastal Zone Management Act; Maintenance Dredging at the Trainer Refinery [45 Pa.B. 7234]
[Saturday, December 19, 2015]This notice is published under section 306(d)(14) of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (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 Monroe Energy, LLC (Monroe Energy) is applying for a United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit for maintenance dredging at the Trainer Refinery facility.
Monroe Energy is proposing to conduct maintenance dredging at the ship and outer barge docks and in front of the cooling water intake structure at the Trainer Refinery. The berthing areas are dredged periodically to allow for ships to safely berth at the refinery. The intake structure is dredged to allow continued flow of water into the facility. Dredging is proposed by mechanical or bucket method. Maintenance dredging has historically occurred approximately every 10-18 months at the Trainer Refinery and is currently authorized by the USACE under Permit No. CENAP-OP-R-200401529, and by the Department under Permit No. E23-035. The currently authorized maximum dredge depth in the berthing areas is -40` Mean Low Water (MLW) plus 2` allowable overdredge. This is the maximum depth proposed for the next authorized dredging event, currently scheduled for December 2015 or January 2016. Beyond the next authorized dredging event, Monroe Energy is seeking new authorization to dredge to a depth of -45` MLW, plus 2` overdredge within the ship dock berth. The deeper draft is proposed to allow larger vessels to berth at the facility and to be consistent with the new increased depth of the adjacent Federal navigation channel. The outer barge dock will remain at a maximum of -40` MLW plus overdredge and the water intake would be a maximum depth of -20` MLW plus overdredge. All material will be transported by scows to the White's Basin disposal facility in Logan Township, Gloucester County, NJ. The material would be bottom-dumped into the White's Basin and eventually dredged to one of the upland cells on the property.
This 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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regulations in 15 CFR Part 930, Subpart D (relating to consistency for activities requiring a Federal license or permit), Monroe Energy 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 following Department contact.
Questions regarding this review should be directed to Matthew Walderon, Federal Consistency Coordinator, (717) 772-2196.
The Department will consider all comments received on or before January 5, 2016, 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 urged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment system at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment. Written comments should be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection, Interstate Waters Office, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8465, Harrisburg, PA 17101-8465, eComment@pa.gov.
JOHN QUIGLEY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 15-2231. Filed for public inspection December 18, 2015, 9:00 a.m.]
