LRH 2020-632-MUS

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:  The intent of this Public Notice is to provide an opportunity for the public to express their views on proposed adverse effects to historic properties associated with the proposed McConnelsville Dam Project.

APPLICANT:           Mr. Jeremy Wenner

      Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)

      Division of Engineering

                                    2045 Morse Road

                                    Columbus, Ohio 43229

LOCATION:  As depicted on the attached Sheets 1-2 of 3, the proposed project is located at the Muskingum River Lock and Dam No. 7 in McConnelsville, Morgan County, Ohio (Latitude 39.644005, Longitude -81.850183).

DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED WORK:  The applicant has requested a Department of the Army (DA) authorization for the proposed discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States in conjunction with the proposed McConnelsville Dam Project (See Table 1).  The existing McConnelsville Dam is beyond its serviceable lifespan and requires complete rehabilitation or replacement (See Sheet 3 of 3). 

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) was determined to be the lead federal agency for this undertaking.  The proposed activities are under consideration for a DA authorization under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States and work in, on, over, or under a navigable water of the United States.  The proposal is under review for a possible DA authorization pursuant to the Corps’ standard permit procedures (33 CFR 325.2).

The Corps is mandated by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to ensure no federal undertaking, including a Corps permit action, which may affect historic resources, is commenced before the impacts of such action are considered and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) are provided an opportunity to comment as required by the NHPA, 36 CFR 800, and 33 CFR 325, Appendix C.

Based on coordination with the Ohio SHPO, it has been determined that the proposed undertaking would directly affect the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible Dam No. 7 (Ohio Historic Inventory MRG0032507).  We have determined the proposed undertaking would have an adverse effect on the aforementioned NRHP eligible dam. 

The applicant understands that mitigation would be required for the adverse effect and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) would be required and made part of any DA authorization for the proposed project.  This Public Notice serves to solicit public input on potential mitigation activities to resolve the adverse effects on historic properties.

PUBLIC INTEREST:  The Corps 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 proposed adverse effect on historic properties.  Should you wish to express your views on the undertaking’s effects on historic properties, provide comments, objections or mitigation proposals associated with the proposed undertaking, or participate as a consulting party, please forward this information to our office prior to the close of the comment period for this Public Notice. 

CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD:  All comments pertaining to this Public Notice must reach this office on or before the close of the comment period listed on page one of this Public Notice.  If no comments are received by that date, it will be considered that there are no objections.  Comments should be submitted electronically to Ms. Kayla Osborne by email at kayla.n.osborne@usace.army.mil.  If you do not have internet access, comments may be submitted through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to the following address:

                        United States Army Corps of Engineers

                        ATTN: CELRH-RD-N

                        Public Notice No. LRH-2020-632-MUS

                        502 8^th Street

                        Huntington, West Virginia 25701-2070

Copies should only be provided through the USPS when electronic transmission is not possible.  Precautionary internal mail handling procedures may be instituted to protect our workforce, which may result in longer than normal times to process and receive hard copy submissions.  To be considered in our evaluation, comments submitted through the USPS should have a postmark dated on, or prior to, the close of the comment period listed on page one (1) of this Public Notice.

Please note names, addresses, and comments submitted in response to this Public Notice become part of our administrative record and, as such, may be available to the public under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.  Thank you for your interest in our nation’s water resources.  If you have any questions concerning this Public Notice, please contact Ms. Kayla Osborne of the North Branch, at 304-399-5850, by mail at the above address, or by email at kayla.n.osborne@usace.army.mil.