Public Notice No. 20-51 Nashville District Corps Application LRN-2019-01068 Date: September 3, 2020; Expires: October 3, 2020 Please address all comments to: Nashville District Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Division (Attn: Amy Robinson), 3701 Bell Road, Nashville, TN 37214
SUBJECT: Proposed Barge Fleeting Area at Cumberland River Mile 162.7 to 163.5, Right Descending Bank, in Ashland City, Cheatham County, Tennessee
TO ALL CONCERNED: The application described below has been submitted for a Department of the Army (DA) Permit pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbor Act of 1899 and for approval of a General Purpose License on Government fee property.
APPLICANT: Hines Furlong Line 4017 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 402 Nashville, Tennessee 37215
LOCATION: Cumberland River Mile 162.7 to 163.5, Right Descending Bank, Cheatham Lake, in Ashland City, Cheatham County, Tennessee; Cumberland River Navigation Chart #23, Lillamay, TN USGS Quad Map, Corps Tract CHE_F-614-2; (latitude 36.22213; longitude-87.01683)
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL: The proposed work consists of establishing a permanent barge fleeting area extending from Cumberland River Mile (CRM) 162.7 to 163.5 on Cheatham Lake, Ashland City Area, in Davidson County, TN. The fleeting area would accommodate a total of 63 barges arranged in one group, configured three wide (105’) by 21 long (4,095’). The moored barges would extend 150-linear feet from the river bank. No other fleeting areas exist on the left bank.
The barges would be secured by 22 land-based pipe anchors positioned 200 linear feet apart on private property within an existing agricultural field. Two pipe anchors have been installed in the past at the site and the applicant proposes to install 20 additional pipe anchors. The new pipe anchors would allow an extension to a previously permitted fleeting area that is no longer utilized. Each anchor would consist of a “T” shape, 12- inch diameter schedule 80 pipe driven into the ground, approximately 12 linear feet, and filled with concrete. A 1-1/8 inch diameter galvanized steel wire cable would extend from the anchors approximately 70 linear feet down the riverbank to secure the fleeted barge. The work does not involve excavation, a discharge of fill material into the river, dredging of the river bottom nor other upland work. The proposed anchors would be located on private property but chains from the pipe anchor to the fleeted barges would cross USACE fee owned land.
The proposed project requires a General Purpose license from USACE Real Estate Office.
BACKGROUND: Since 2006, Hines Furlong Line (formerly Hunter Marine) utilized a single private fleeting area situated between CRM 176.0 and 177.0, left descending bank, anchored by dead men. The land where the dead men are located is owned by the state of Tennessee, Department of Corrections.
The applicant recently approached the State and requested permission to expand their existing fleet, but due to future plans for development of additional state facilities on the property, expansion of the fleeting was denied. The applicant states that Nashville development of river front property is rapidly depleting the available fleeting capacities near Metro Nashville and the building "boom" in Nashville is requiring large quantities of product and commodities to be delivered into the area.
Plans of the proposed project are provided in this notice. If you received this notice by mail and wish to view all of the diagrams, visit our web site at: http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Media/PublicNotices.aspx.
PURPOSE AND NEED: To establish safe and secure anchorage for barges waiting to unload sand and rock products, steel, and other bulk commodities utilized in the Nashville area. The applicant stated the proposal provides a more efficient and economical feasible transportation method compared to trucking the products in a congested, downtown area. The applicant stated this would allow adequate fleeting for timely deliveries to meet the ever increasing market demand for their products and preserve jobs. The proposed project is water dependent.
AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION OF IMPACTS TO WATERS OF THE U.S.: The applicant stated the aggregate materials and products could be delivered exclusively via truck transportation; however, this type of delivery has proven to be costly and inefficient. They stated adequate fleeting in the area allows timely deliveries of material. The applicant estimates that one barge load of aggregate equates to approximately 60 tractor-trailer loads of material. In turn, a 10-barge tow equates to approximately 600 tractor-trailer loads which would reduce a tremendous amount of heavy truck traffic. The applicant stated the fleeting location lies in strategic proximity to marine terminal facilities they serve while avoiding other land owned/operated by
Metro Nashville, other existing marine terminal facilities and/or fleeting areas, and positioned on the inside of a river bend to minimize navigation issues. According to the applicant, the location has sufficient water depth (>10' depth) and is positioned on a straight section of the river. No discharge of fill material into the river would occur, dredging would not be required, and no other upland disturbances would occur as a result of the project.
PUBLIC INTEREST REVIEW/CUMULATIVE EFFECTS: The decision whether to issue a DA permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts including cumulative impacts of the activity on the public interest.
SOLICITATION OF COMMENTS: The Corps is soliciting comments on the proposed revised plans from the public; federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. USACE is soliciting comments from the public; federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by USACE to determine whether to issue, condition, or deny a permit modification for this proposal. Comments are used in the preparation of a supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES: The proposed fleeting is to be placed immediately adjacent to a smaller area historically utilized for barge fleeting. No river bottom disturbance is required for the moored barges. Upland disturbance would involve the installation of 20 pipe anchors within an existing agricultural field. Each pipe anchor would impact a 12-inch diameter area and driven into the ground approximately 12 linear feet deep. This notice serves to initiate the public involvement requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The Corps invites responses to this public notice from American Indian Tribes or tribal governments; Federal, State, and local agencies; historical and archeological societies; and other parties likely to have knowledge of or concerns regarding historic properties and areas of cultural significance at or near the project area. Any substantive comments would be considered to determine the potential of impacts of the project to historic properties and would initiate any required consultation with the SHPO and American Indian Tribes in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Based on the preliminary record check performed by the Corps, a Phase I cultural resource assessment has been requested.
THREATENED and ENDANGERED (T&E) SPECIES REVIEW: The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) pursuant to Section 7 of ESA on all actions that may affect a species listed under the ESA as threatened or endangered (T&E) or any designated critical habitat. A review of USFWS’s Information for Planning and Conservation (IpaC) website (http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/) identified the following four federally-listed Threatened (T) and/or Endangered (E) species that may occur or could potentially be affected by the activities in this location:
Upland disturbance would involve the installation of 20 pipe anchors within an area previously disturbed and currently utilized as an agricultural field. The applicant stated the proposed work does not require removal of trees. Also, no discharge of fill material within a waterway nor dredging of the river bottom would occur as a result of the proposed project. This public notice serves as coordination with the USFWS pursuant to Section 7 of the ESA of 1972 (as amended). Per this notification, we request comments from the USFWS concerning potential impacts to T&E species. After receipt of comments, USACE will evaluate potential effects on proposed and/or listed species and their designated critical habitat and initiate consultation with USFWS, if required.
PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTS: Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests for public hearings shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a hearing.
COMMENT PERIOD: Written statements received by October 3, 2020, will become a part of the record and considered in the determination. Any response to this notice should reference Corps Application No. LRN-2019-01068, and be directed to the Regulatory Division, Attn: Amy Robinson at email: amy.m.robinson@usace.army.mil.
