NEW PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR 2nd EXPLOSIVES HANDLING WHARF - Ends Feb. 26th

Editor's Note:  Glen Milner, who has worked long and hard to stop the U.S. Navy's plans to build a Second Explosives Handling Wharf at the Bangor Trident nuclear submarine base, believes we may have one last chance to slow the progress of this wasteful plan.  Read further to learn what you can do and how to make your comments on the plan.  Please pay attention to the details to ensure that your comments are taken into account!

A new public comment period is open for the second Explosives Handling Wharf at Bangor.  I believe this will be our last opportunity to enter comments before the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and an important time to address new issues with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

This involves three different types of environmental reviews and two different agencies. The Joint Public Notice, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Washington State Department of Ecology, is at http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/PublicMenu/documents/REG/NWS-2009-572-PN.pdf

The existing Bangor Explosives Handling Wharf

The deadline for comments is February 26, 2012.  I think we should ask for a public hearing and a time extension because the Navy again failed to adequately notify citizens. So far I only know of one person who was notified.

The environmental reviews are for the entire second Explosives Handling Wharf and related buildings. We can discuss any aspect of the Draft EIS or Supplemental EIS in our comments. Environmental concerns are the most likely to be considered. The Navy’s website, with the Draft EIS and Supplemental EIS, is at https://www.nbkeis.com/ehw.

The Navy's proposal for a Second Explosives Handling Wharf

To ensure proper consideration of all comments, responders must include the following name and reference number in the text of their comments:

U.S. Navy (Bangor) NWS-2009-572

In order to be accepted, e-mail comments must originate from the author’s e-mail account and must include on the subject line of the e-mail message the permit applicant’s name and reference number as shown above.

First of the two groups of review: US Army Corps of Engineers

Environmental issues in accordance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act are reviewed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I believe the Section 10 review gives us the opportunity to raise new issues such as navigation concerns in Hood Canal, economic impact for the region and recreational concerns. These comments go to:

US Army Corps of Engineers
Regulatory Branch
Post Office Box 3755
Seattle, WA 98124-3755
Telephone (206) 764-3273
Attn: Ms. Catherine Blackwell, Project Manager

or by e-mail to catherine.m.blackwell@usace.army.mil

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, see http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/sec404.cfm

Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, see
http://www.fema.gov/plan/ehp/ehplaws/cwa.shtm
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/sect10.cfm

Also see http://apps.ecy.wa.gov/permithandbook/permitdetail.asp?id=36


Second of the two groups of review: Washington State Department of Ecology

Environmental issues in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, with applicable provisions of State water pollution control laws and the Coastal Zone Management Act, are reviewed by the Washington State Department of Ecology. These comments go to:

WA Department of Ecology
SEA Program
Post Office Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
Telephone (360) 407-6068
Attn: SEA Program, Federal Permit Coordinator

or by e-mail to ecyrefedpermits@ecy.wa.gov

Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, see
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/facts/fact24.html

Also see http://apps.ecy.wa.gov/permithandbook/permitdetail.asp?id=43