Public comment open, meeting planned on Buxton beach restoration

The National Park Service announced today that the United States Army Corps of Engineers has released for public review an environmental assessment (EA) for the purpose of beach nourishment activities in the north Buxton area of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. 

Dare County has requested a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the associated dredge and fill activities needed to accomplish the proposed beach nourishment activities. 

Dare County has also requested a special use permit from the NPS for fill activities on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. 

The USACE and NPS are working as cooperating agencies to review the proposed project under the National Environmental Policy Act and will use the EA to assist the agencies in determining whether, where and under what conditions the NPS and USACE would issue permits to Dare County.

The USACE Public Notice and all attached plans are available on the Wilmington District Web Site at http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPermitProgram.aspx    

A public meeting is planned for this project on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 until 7 p.m. at the Fessenden Center in Buxton.

The EA comment period will extend 30 days — from Sept. 18 through Oct. 19.  Please submit comments regarding the project: Beach Restoration to Protect NC Highway 12, Clean Water Act 404 and NPS Special Use Permits to the USACE at:

US Army Corps of Engineers
Washington Regulatory Field Office
2407 W. 5th Street
Washington, North Carolina 27889
ATTN: Raleigh W. Bland, PWS
 
For more information, contact Dennis Brookie, Project Manager for the National Park Service at 303-969-2493 or Raleigh Bland, Project Manager with the USACE at 910-251-4564.  Information may also be found on the park’s PEPC website at:  http://parkplanning.nps.gov/BeachRestorationPermits