PUBLIC NOTICE Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program/401 Certification
555 Cordova Street, Anchorage AK 99501-2617
Phone: 907-269-6285|Email: [email protected]
Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification
Public Notice (PN) Date: May 19, 2021 PN Reference Number: POA-2020-00530 PN Expiration Date: June 18, 2021 Waterway: Chena River
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’ Reference Number POA-2020-00530, Chena River, 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 enclosed project figures/drawings. The public
notice and related project figures/drawings are also accessible from the DEC website at
http://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.
Any person desiring to comment on the project with respect to water quality, may submit comments
electronically via the DEC public notice site (preferred method) at https://water.alaskadec.commentinput.com/?id=TG5Ni
Alternatively, you may direct written comments or requests for a public hearing via email or mail to the
address or email listed above by the Public Notice expiration date. All comments submitted via mail or
email should include the PN reference number listed above in the subject heading. Mailed comments
must be postmarked on or before the expiration date of the public notice.
Applicant: Fort Wainwright Directorate of Public Works, Robert Larimore, Environmental Chief, 1046
Marks Road, Fort Wainwright, Alaska 99703, (907) 361-4213, [email protected]; Agent: Dan
Rees, Fort Wainwright Directorate of Public Works Natural Resource Manager, (907) 361-9318,
Project Name: South Fork Chena River Trail Upgrades
Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 11-12, T. 2 S., R. 6 E.; Latitude 64.755719° N.,
Longitude -146.473071° W.; in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to provide access to the northeastern portion of the Yukon
Training Area for military training exercises and wildlife suppression and control activities.
Project Description: The applicant proposes placement of approximately 118,654 cubic yards (CY) of
material into 11.0 acres of WOUS, including wetlands, to upgrade an existing 3 mile long trail north of
Stuart Creek Impact Area in the Yukon Training Area. The trail will be 18 feet wide at the top and 76.9
feet average width at the base with a 2:1 side slope. In areas with steep grade, the height of the trail will
be built up to maintain a minimum slope of 11%.
A maximum of 77,000 CY of gravel will be extracted from the valley bottom, just north of the trail
corridor and 300 feet west of the river. The extracted gravel will be used for trail construction. Gravel
will be extracted with an excavator to a maximum depth of 12 feet. Maximum wetland impacts from the
gravel extraction site will be 3.1 acres. Additional active upland extraction sites will also be used as a
material source for the trail.
A full span bridge will be constructed across the South Fork Chena River with concrete abutments placed
in uplands outside of the 2 year floodplain. A hundred foot forested riparian buffer will be maintained to
the maximum extent practicable. Two small staging areas will be constructed in uplands on either side of
the river outside of the riparian buffer and left in place after completion of the trail upgrades for use as
parking areas.
Trail construction and gravel extraction is scheduled to begin October 1, 2021 and will be executed in
phases as funding becomes available. Anticipated project completion is September 30, 2026.
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 [email protected], or call 907-269-6285.
Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice
The 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 Brian
Blessington at 907-269-6272 or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 within 5 days of the
expiration date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
475000 500000 525000
7150
000
7150
000
7175
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7200
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Yukon Training Area
YTA South ForkChena Trail Upgrade
Map Features
YUKO N T RAI N ING AREA Installation
Boundary
Data Source: USGS EROS
Open Woodland
Waterbody
Forest
UTM Zone 6N WGS84 - Meters
Grid Scale:25,000 Meters
DPW EnvironmentalUSAG AlaskaDPW Bldg 3023
0 4 82Miles
Eielson AirForce Base
¯Scale 1:400,000Lat: 64.755719Long: -146.473071Last Updated: 12/15/2020
Trail Upgrade
Richardson Highway
Chena River
Scrub
Fairbanks
Project: South Fork Chena Trail Upgrade Applicant: US Army Fort WainwrightFile No.: POA-2020-00530 Proposed Activity: Trail upgradesVicinity ViewMap Sheet 1 of 2
North Beaver Creek Road
Transm
itter
Road
Tanana River
South Fork Chena River
475000 500000 525000
Beaver CreekRoad
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_
524000
524000
525000
525000
526000
526000
527000
527000
7180
000
7180
000
7181
000
7181
000
7182
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7182
000
Plan ViewS. Fork Chena Trail -Yukon Training Area
Map FeaturesData Source:Yukon_Command_Traning_Area.sid
DPW EnvironmentalUSAG AlaskaDPW Bldg 3023
_
_
_
Yukon Training Area
UTM Zone 6NWGS84 - MetersGrid Scale:1,000 Meters
Scale 1:18,500
0 0.2 0.40.1Miles
¯
Stuart Creek Impact Area
_24" CulvertLocationsClear SpanBridgeClass 3 Non-ErodibleAggregateMaterial Site
Staging Area
ProposedCorridorMapped AreaImpactArea
Clear span bridge
Flow Direction
Staging areasMaterial Site
0 0.1 0.20.05
Miles Scale 1:6,000
Trail Upgrade ImpactsWetland Fill: 7.9 acres Top width: 18 ftAverage width at base: 76.9 ftSide slopes: 2:1Volume of fill in wetlands: 118,654 cubic yards
Material Site Impacts Extraction area: 3.1 acres Extraction depth: 12 ft maximum
Total Wetland Impacts: 11 acresProject: South Fork Chena Trail Upgrade Applicant: US Army Fort WainwrightFile No.: POA-2020-00530 Proposed Activity: Trail UpgradesPlan ViewMap Sheet 2 of 2
Palustrine BroadleafDeciduous Forest
Water
Palustrine BroadleafDeciduous/EvergreenScrub-ShrubPalustrine EmergentPersistentUpland
Palustrine NeedleleafEvergreen Scrub-
OWNER:
SHEET INDEX
COVER SHEET
PLAN AND PROFILES
SECTIONS
VOLUMES
1' AND 5' COUTOUR LINES
1
2-17
18-25
25
S. FORK CHENA
LAND REHABILITATION & MAINTENANCE:
SOUTH FORK CHENA RIVER
PRELIMINARY SCOPING FOR
CORPS PERMITTING
PLAN SET BORROW PIT
BRIDGE
FILL TO WETLAND
118,658.1CUBIC YARDS
AVERAGE
WIDTH
REVISIONS: 18' TOP SURFACE
CORRIDOR
76. 9 FEET
PROJECT:
SALCHA-DEL TA SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATIN DISTRICT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY PROGRAMS, METHODS OR PROCEDURES OF OPERATION, USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DESIGN SHOWN ON THESE DRAWINGS. WHERE SPECIFICATIONS ARE GENERAL OR NOT CALLED OUT, THE SPECIFICATIONS SHALL CONFORM TO STANDARDS OF INDUSTRY. DRAWINGS ARE FOR USE ON THIS PROJECT ONLY AND ARE NOT INTENDED FOR REUSE.
! PRELIMINARY NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION ! TITLE:
SOU'l'II l�Olll{ CIIENA llIVEll
CO\rEll SIIEE'I'
DESIGNED BY: EKM PROJECT NO: SHEET NO:
DRAWN BY: EKM DATE: December 11, 2020
REV DATE DESCRIPTION CHECKED BY: XX SCALE: AS NOTED OF 25
Project: South Fork Chena Trail UpgradeApplicant: US Army Fort Wainwright File No.: POA-2020-00530
Proposed Activity: Trail UpgradesPlan & Cross Section Views
Map Sheet 3 of 3
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