C8404_Site_Survey_Report.pdf

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

CIVIL ENGINEERING UNIT, RM 2179

1240 EAST NINTH STREET

CLEVELAND, OH 44199-2060

Coast Guard Contract No. HSCG83-16-J-PCR194

SITE SURVEY REPORT

ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SERVICES

FOR

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND DESIGN FOR DREDGING

AT

U.S. COAST GUARD STATION

ANNAPOLIS

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

P/N 7835808

SEPTEMBER 2016

PREPARED BY:

10201 FAIRFAX BLVD. SUITE 530

FAIRFAX, VA 22030

TEL: 703.691.4841

ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SERVICES

FOR

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND DESIGN FOR DREDGING

AT

U.S. COAST GUARD STATION

ANNAPOLIS

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

SITE SURVEY REPORT

SEPTEMBER 2016

PREPARED FOR:

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

CIVIL ENGINEERING UNIT CLEVELAND

PREPARED BY:

COLLINS ENGINEERS, INC.

10201 FAIRFAX BLVD., SUITE 530

FAIRFAX, VA 22030

(703) 691-4841

COLLINS PROJECT 35-09957

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194 i Environmental Services & Design for Dredging at USCG Station Annapolis, MD

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

2 Introduction

3 Existing Conditions

3.1 Pier and Steel Marine Bulkhead

3.2 Entrance Channel

4 Existing Utilities

5 Operational Criteria / Requirements

6 Comments & Suggestions Collected

7 Drawings of Existing Site and Facilities

8 Permits and Coordination Required

8.1 USACE

8.2 MDE

8.3 Federal Consistency Determination

8.4 Maryland State Historic Preservation Officer

8.5 Other Findings

9 Problem Areas & Questions

Appendix A – Site Inspection Report from Waterway Appendix B - Memorandum of Regulatory Review from C2

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194 1

1 Executive Summary

A site survey of U.S. Coast Guard Station Annapolis in Annapolis, MD was provided as a part of the scope of services for this project. Site visits were performed on September 13 and 14, 2016.

Coordination with permitting and environmental agencies with jurisdiction on the project requirements was also performed in September 2016.

Based on the results of the site survey and coordination, it appears that the maintenance dredging of the station and approach channel to -10 ft MLW is appropriate as described in the scope of work dated May 2016. While additional coordination is required with several agencies prior to dredging, permits for the work are active, with the earliest expiring at the end of 2017. It is recommended that the MDE permit be administratively amended to allow for more than the current 500 cubic yard volume restriction.

2 Introduction

Michael Baker International, Inc. was selected to perform the A/E Services for Environmental Services and Design for Dredging of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Annapolis in Annapolis, MD.

The Michael Baker team also includes Collins Engineers, Inc. (Collins), Waterway Surveys & Engineering, Ltd. (Waterway) and C2 Environmental, Inc. (C2).

As a part of the requirements of the project, Waterway performed a site investigation while mobilized for the hydrographic survey on September 13 and 14, 2016, which is documented in Appendix A. C2 provided a regulatory review of the requirements for this project, which is documented in Appendix B. In accordance with the scope of work dated May 2016, the purpose of the site investigation and this site investigation report is to “identify and document existing construction, conditions, deficiencies, and usage. Investigation shall cover all site features that may be affected by project design. Reference drawings/reports provided to the A-E shall also be verified during the site investigation and note any potential problems that will impact the project.” The following information is summarized as follows. Appendices are included to provide additional information.

Section 3: Existing conditions Section 4: Existing utilities Section 5: Operational criteria/requirements Section 6: Comments/suggestions collected Section 7: Drawings of existing site and facilities Section 8: Permits and coordination required Section 9: Problem areas & questions Appendix A: Site Inspection Report from Waterway Appendix B: Memorandum of Regulatory Review from C2

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3 Existing Conditions

The footprint of the dredging is consistent with the previous dredging project (USCG Project 630049) that was executed in 2013 from drawings dated November 14, 2012.

3.1 Pier and Steel Marine Bulkhead

The pier and bulkhead at the site, identified as RPUID 10520 and RPUID 10519, respectively, are adjacent to both the 2013 and current projects. Neither the pier nor the bulkhead appeared to have dredging-related deterioration or displacement at the time of the site visit. This is consistent with the results of a routine above water and underwater inspection performed in January 2014 for CEU Cleveland, according to the inspection report for Task Order HSCG83-13-J-PCR113.

No information is available regarding the toe depth of the sheet pile bulkhead. The 2013 project identified pile tip elevations of the pier at -25 ft MLW.

The plans for the 2013 dredge project required that an offset of 6 feet (ft) be maintained from the face of the steel pile bulkhead to the top of the cut, which will be maintained in this design. In addition, the 2013 plans requirement of a minimum 5 ft offset from the support piles to the top of the cut (based on a 1V:3H slope) will also be maintained. No dredging will be performed beneath the pier.

3.2 Entrance Channel

The entrance channel is 8,000 ft long with a 40 ft width. A fixed pier near Station 25+50 was identified within the survey area but outside the channel and will be indicated on the plans as a potential hazard during dredging. Several transient vessels were point moored on the northeast side of the channel between Stations 5+00 and 20+00. They should not directly impact the channel or the dredging project.

A “No Float Zone” was demarked by four buoys between Stations 57+00 and 80+00, which will be identified on the plans. In addition, numerous crab pots were dispersed throughout the channel, which could cause interference during dredging, if they remain in place. A notice to mariners could motivate crab pot owners to remove their pots prior to dredging.

4 Existing Utilities

No utilities were identified in the within the dredging footprint, including on the bulkhead or pier which would affect the project; all utilities run through PVC conduits under the fixed pier.

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194 3

5 Operational Criteria / Requirements

Response Boats – Small and Medium (RB-S and RB-M, respectively) are stationed at USCG Station Annapolis. According to the “Response Boat Facilities Requirements” dated 10 DEC 2004 and provided by CEU Cleveland, the following mooring depths are required:

RB-S: 3 ft - 3 in (min, lowest predictable tide)

RB-M: 4 ft – 6 in (lowest predictable tide); 6 ft desired

The scope of work requires dredging to a depth of -10 ft MLW. At NOAA Station 8575512, Annapolis, MD (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2011), MLLW is identified at 0.22 ft below MLW. Using MLLW as a basis as the lowest predictable tide, dredging to -10 ft MLW will initially provide sufficient mooring depths.

6 Comments & Suggestions Collected

No additional comments or suggestions were collected from personnel on site.

7 Drawings of Existing Site and Facilities

The following relevant drawings were provided by CEU Cleveland:

8206-D “Dredge Fishing Creek Channel, Station Annapolis” Bid Set Plan dated November 14, 2012, Sheets 1 - 6

8206-D “Dredge Fishing Creek Channel, Station Annapolis” After Dredge Survey dated November 15, 2013, Sheets 1 – 14

Task Order No. HSCG83-13-J-PCR113 “Draft Waterfront Inspection at United States Coast Guard USCG Station Annapolis, Annapolis, MD” dated January 2014

8 Permits and Coordination Required

8.1 USACE

A new permit for the work to be performed under this project is not necessary. The active USACE permit for dredging is CENAB-OP-RMN (US Coast Guard Station, Annapolis/Fishing Creek/Dredging) 2012-60960-M04 and allows maintenance dredging of the site until December 31, 2017. The authorized disposal location under this permit is at Maryland Port Administration’s Cox Creek Dredge Disposal Management Containment Facility in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Several notifications are required under the permit, including:

Written notification must be provided to the Corps 30 days prior to conducting the maintenance dredge activity;

4 HSCG83-16-J-PCR194

A plan showing the location of the Dredge Material Placement (DMP) site and a written letter signed by the owner of the site confirming the acceptance of the dredge material must be included in the written notification;

If the disposal site has changed, written notification must be provided to the Corps two

(2) weeks prior to commencing the dredging. Notification must include a plan showing the location of the alternate DMP and a letter from the owner indicating acceptance of the material. The Corps must approve the alternate DMP prior to commencement of dredging; and

Notification must be provided to the Fifth Coast Guard District (dpw) three weeks prior to commencement of dredging to relocate aids to navigation.

Preliminary coordination with Cox Creek indicates that the facility is able to accept the dredge materials and that no additional sediment testing will be required. However, a permit application will be required to be submitted to Cox Creek to authorize the disposal of the dredged material.

8.2 MDE

The MDE issued Wetlands License No. 12-1029 for the dredging of Fishing Creek on October 3, 2012. The license authorized the maintenance dredging the entrance channel to the USCG STA Annapolis and is valid for periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years (October 3, 2018). The license also identified Cox Creek as the approved dredge disposal management containment facility. The license does not authorize any impacts to vegetated tidal wetlands, non-tidal wetlands or the 100-foot Critical Area Buffer.

Prior to initiating the proposed maintenance dredging activity, the following is required:

Detailed dredge material disposal plans shall be submitted to and approved by the Water Management Administration (WMA), Tidal Wetlands Division, prior to the start of dredging;

The WMA, Inspections and Compliance Program, shall be notified of and approve each maintenance dredging operation a minimum of 10 days prior to the start of dredging; and

Written notice shall be submitted to the Inspections and Compliance Program of the WMA within thirty (30) days of completion of the work.

The MDE license, however, imposes a condition on maintenance dredging operations limiting each maintenance dredge activity to no more than 500 CY. While this limit may be interpreted on a daily basis (i.e., no more than 500 CY per day during maintenance dredging), it leaves ambiguity in the permit conditions. Correspondence with MDE indicates that a modification to this condition could likely be approved administratively. It is therefore recommended that a request be submitted to MDE to modify this condition to be consistent with the dredge volumes provided in other portions of the permit. All other notifications should be provided to MDE in accordance with the permit conditions.

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194 5

8.3 Federal Consistency Determination

A Federal Consistency Determination (FCD) would have been required in conjunction with the approval of the original dredging activity. Condition (E) of the MDE wetlands license states that the MDE has determined that the proposed activity complies with, and will be conducted in a manner consistent with, the State’s Coastal Zone Management Program, as required by Section 307 of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. As the proposed maintenance project remains compliant with the terms and conditions of the originally authorized activity, the FCD remains valid, and no additional authorizations are required.

8.4 Maryland State Historic Preservation Officer

The USCG would have been required to coordinate with the Maryland State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) during the approval of the original project. While a specific concurrence letter from the SHPO has not been provided by CEU Cleveland as part of the background documents for this project, the maintenance dredge project should continue to be subject to any terms, conditions or approvals as determined during the original coordination. The Corps permit provides conditions for notification should any archaeological resources be discovered during dredging operations.

8.5 Other Findings

It was noted during the site evaluation that several osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nests are located on channel markers within the vicinity of the project area. Osprey and their nests are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Under the MBTA, it is unlawful to take or attempt to take any migratory bird, nest and eggs or parts thereof, unless permitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). All osprey nests are considered inactive from September through February and do not need a permit for removal during this period. The removal of nests should not be required for the project.

Neither the Corps or MDE authorizations include conditions limiting the time of year in which dredging may occur. Provided that the project continues to comply with the active permits, no time of year restrictions on the maintenance activity should be required.

9 Problem Areas & Questions

No specific problem areas or questions other than those identified in previous sections were identified as part of the site investigation.

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194: Environmental Services & Design for Dredging at USCG Station Annapolis, MD

APPENDIX A

Waterway

Surveys & Engineering, Ltd. 321 Cleveland Place, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Phone (757) 490-1691 Fax (757) 490-1348

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Site Inspection Report for

Environmental Services and Design for Dredging

U.S. Coast Guard Station

Annapolis, Maryland

The U.S. Coast Guard Station Annapolis is located on Fishing Creek at 3425 Thomas Point

Road in Annapolis, Maryland. The mooring facilities associated with the station include a 130-foot fixed pier and a floating pier. Typical vessels that moor at the facility include 48-foot response boats (medium) and 29-foot response boats (small). The larger response boats draught approximately 3 feet to 4 feet of water, but require about 6 to 7 feet of water while under full power. Due to siltation, the mooring berth and 8,000 feet of entrance channel often require dredging to maintain safe navigation. The purpose of this report is document the site conditions associated with dredging the mooring berth and 8,000-foot entrance channel to a width of 40 feet and a maximum depth of -10 feet MLW.

The site visit at the U.S. Coast Guard Station facility was conducted during the afternoon of

September 13, 2016 and the site visit along the berth and entrance channel was conducted during the morning of September 14, 2016. During the site visit, Coast Guard representatives were briefly interviewed to discuss general facility operations and to determine the typical vessels that moor at the facility. The mooring facility was then inspected for structural concerns, utilities, and environmental conditions. The following narrative provides details of the site inspection and Appendix A provides photo-documentation of the site.

Mooring Facility and Berths

The mooring facility includes approximately 165 feet of bulkhead with a deep concrete cap, a

130 feet x 6 feet timber fixed pier and a 6 feet wide floating pier that extends approximately 40 feet from the bulkhead. Sheets 1 and 2 in Appendix A provide pictures of the mooring area, Coast Guard vessels, pier condition, bulkhead and shoreline features. Utilities provided to the fixed pier include electrical power, water, sewerage pump out, and fuel. The fuel tank is located behind the Engineer’s Shed. Sheet 2 provides the location of utility boxes and electrical panels, locations of the above ground storage tank, and adjacent shoreline features. Pier decking and support piles were in good condition. Utility conduits were in good condition. Berthing areas were clean and free of debris. There were no visible hazards in the vicinity of the piers or berthing areas.

Recommendations:

Notes shown on the 2012 plans, “Dredge Fishing Creek Channel, CG Station Annapolis,” state

“maintain minimum 6 feet offset from face of sheet pile to top of cut ….” This is a valid recommendation and should be included on future dredging plans and in the specifications.

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194

Attachment A - Page 1 of 15

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The 2012 plans for dredging do not show an offset from the dredged cut to the pier support piles. The plans show that the pile tips extend to -25 feet MLW and that dredging is not required under the fixed pier. The plans and specifications should include a statement: “maintain minimum 5 feet offset from the support piles to the top of dredged cut based on a 1V:3H side slope.”

Entrance Channel

The channel from the mooring facility to the open water is 8,000 feet long. The channel width is

40 feet at the toe. Sheet 3 in Appendix A provides photos of notable observations along the channel, while Sheets 4 through 11 document the adjacent and surrounding conditions from the channel centerline at Stations 5+00, 15+00, 25+00, 35+00, 45+00, 55+00, 65+00 and 75+00.

Sheet 3 of Appendix A shows a boat lift attached to a fixed pier in the vicinity of Station 25+50 that is approximately 65 feet from the channel centerline. A comparison of Google Earth imagery shows that the piles for the lift were installed between March 2004 and April 2005.

Since the channel has been dredged since that time, the structure may not present a problem, however it is located within the survey limits and should be noted on the plans.

Four buoys marked “No Float Zone” were located in the field and should be included in the plans. The buoys mark an area between Stations 57+00 and 80+00 prohibiting “floats” with the assumption that it refers to crab pots. There were numerous crab pots along the channel outside of the “No Float Zone.” The crab pots will not directly impact the dredging, however, support vessels associated with the dredge plant tender vessels and push barges could impact the floats/pots during the dredging process. Additionally, the float lines could easily impact maneuverability of the support vessels if caught in a propeller. Sheet 3 shows an example of one of the buoys.

Fishing Creek provides safe haven for transient vessels. Numerous single-point moored vessels were sited along the northeast side of the channel between Stations 5+00 and 20+00.

The moored vessels do not appear to directly impact the channel or proposed channel maintenance. Sheet 3 provides visual documentation of vessel density during the site visit.

Channel markers were not observed at night, but the visual inspection indicated that they were in good condition. Sheet 3 shows a typical channel marker. All channel markers supported what appeared to be well constructed and maintained osprey nests.

Recommendations

The dredging contractor should be made aware of the potential for a high density of crab pots outside the immediate channel and “no float zone”, the potential for transient vessels and the location of the boat lift that is close to the channel. These items, however, should not directly impact maintenance dredging of the channel.

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194

Attachment A - Page 2 of 15

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Environmental Considerations:

There were no obvious environmental concerns documented during the site visit. Sheet 2 of

Appendix A shows that vegetated wetlands are located beyond the bulkhead and will not be impacted by the dredging.

All permits are current, however, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) permit has a 500 cubic yard limit on maintenance dredging. A representative from MDE suggested that it could be interpreted as a daily limit, meaning that each day was a new dredging cycle.

That interpretation is ambiguous and a request should be made to modify the permit to include reasonable maintenance volumes throughout the duration of the permit.

Attachment A - Page 3 of 15

APPENDIX A

SITE INSPECTION

PHOTODOCUMENTATION

SEPTEMBER 13 & 14, 2016

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HSCG83-16-J-PCR194

Environmental Services & Design for Dredging at USCG Station Annapolis, MD

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HSCG83-16-J-PCR194

Environmental Services & Design for Dredging at USCG Station Annapolis, MD

Attachment A - Page 7 of 15

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HSCG83-16-J-PCR194: Environmental Services & Design for Dredging at USCG Station Annapolis, MD

APPENDIX B

Memorandum

To: Elizabeth C. Burkhart, P.E., Collins Engineers, Inc.

From: Christine F. Conrad, Ph.D., C2 Environmental, Inc.

Date: September 21, 2016

Re:

Environmental Services and Design for Dredging at USCG STA Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland – Site Evaluation Report Regulatory Review

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is proposing to maintenance dredge the entrance channel to the USCG Station Annapolis, located on Fishing Creek in Annapolis, Maryland. The dredging of the channel was previously authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Tidal Wetlands Division.

A summary of the authorized activity is provided below, as well as notifications and submittals required for the upcoming maintenance dredge activity.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The Corps issued a permit authorizing the mechanical dredging of a total of 21,000 cubic yards (CY) of material from the 7,450 foot (FT) long by 40 FT wide entrance channel to the USCG STA Annapolis. The maximum permitted dredge depth is 10 FT below mean low water (MLW). The permit was issued on November 20, 2012 and provides that the work shall be completed by December 31, 2017. Based on discussions with USCG personnel, the channel has been previously dredged in 2013. The permit also authorizes periodic maintenance dredging for a period of ten (10) years from December 31, 2017, the original expiration date of the permit. As such, the proposed maintenance dredging activity is currently authorized under the active permit number CENAB-OP-RMN (US Coast Guard Station, Annapolis/Fishing Creek/Dredging) 2012-60960-M04. The approved dredge disposal facility is Maryland Port Administration’s Cox Creek Dredge Disposal Management Containment Facility in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Prior to initiating the proposed maintenance dredging activity, the following is required:

• Written notification must be provided to the Corps 30 days prior to conducting the maintenance dredge activity;

• A plan showing the location of the Dredge Material Placement (DMP) site and a written letter signed by the owner of the site confirming the acceptance of the dredge material must be included in the written notification;

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194

Attachment B - Page 1 of 3

Elizabeth C. Burkhart, P.E.

September 21, 2016

• If the disposal site has changed, written notification must be provided to the Corps two (2) weeks prior to commencing the dredging. Notification must include a plan showing the location of the alternate DMP and a letter from the owner indicating acceptance of the material. The Corps must approve the alternate DMP prior to commencement of dredging; and

• Notification must be provided to the Fifth Coast Guard District (dpw) three weeks prior to commencement of dredging to relocate aids to navigation.

Preliminary coordination with Cox Creek indicates that the facility is able to accept the dredge materials and that no additional sediment testing will be required. However, a permit application will be required to be submitted to Cox Creek to authorize the disposal of the dredged material. No additional authorization from the Corps should be required as this facility is the originally authorized DMP. All notifications required by the existing permit should be submitted in accordance with permit conditions.

Maryland Department of the Environment – Tidal Wetlands Division

The MDE issued Wetlands License No. 12-1029 for the dredging of Fishing Creek on October 3, 2012. The license authorized the maintenance dredging the entrance channel to the USCG STA Annapolis as described above and is valid for periodic maintenance dredging for a period of six years (October 3, 2018). The license also identified Cox Creek as the approved dredge disposal management containment facility. The license does not authorize any impacts to vegetated tidal wetlands, non-tidal wetlands or the 100-foot Critical Area Buffer. The MDE license imposes a condition on maintenance dredging operations limiting each maintenance dredge activity to no more than 500 CY.

Prior to initiating the proposed maintenance dredging activity, the following is required:

• Detailed dredge material disposal plans shall be submitted to and approved by the Water Management Administration (WMA), Tidal Wetlands Division, prior to the start of dredging;

• The WMA, Inspections and Compliance Program, shall be notified of and approve each maintenance dredging operation a minimum of 10 days prior to the start of dredging; and

• Written notice shall be submitted to the Inspections and Compliance Program of the WMA within thirty (30) days of completion of the work.

As stated above, the MDE permit limits subsequent maintenance dredge activity to no more than 500 CY. While this limit may be interpreted on a daily basis (i.e., no more than 500 CY per day during maintenance dredging), it leaves ambiguity in the permit

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194

Attachment B - Page 2 of 3

Elizabeth C. Burkhart, P.E.

September 21, 2016 conditions. Correspondence with MDE indicates that a modification to this condition could likely be approved administratively. As such, it is recommended that a request be submitted to MDE to modify this condition to be consistent with the dredge volumes provided in other portions of the permit. All other notifications should be provided to MDE in accordance with the permit conditions.

Coastal Zone Consistency Determination

A Federal Consistency Determination (FCD) would have been required in conjunction with the approval of the original dredging activity. Condition (E) of the MDE wetlands license states that the MDE has determined that the proposed activity complies with, and will be conducted in a manner consistent with, the State’s Coastal Zone Management Program, as required by Section 307 of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. As the proposed maintenance project remains compliant with the terms and conditions of the originally authorized activity, the FCD remains valid, and no additional authorizations are required.

State Historic Preservation Officer

The USCG would have been required to coordinate with the Maryland State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) during the approval of the original project. While a specific concurrence letter from the SHPO has not been provided, the maintenance dredge project should continue to be subject to any terms, conditions or approvals as determined during the original coordination. The Corps permit provides conditions for notification should any archaeological resources be discovered during dredging operations.

Additional Environmental Considerations

It was noted during the site evaluation that several osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nests are located on channel markers within the vicinity of the project area. Osprey and their nests are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Under the MBTA, it is unlawful to take or attempt to take any migratory bird, nest and eggs or parts thereof, unless permitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). All osprey nests are considered inactive from September through February and do not need a permit for removal during this period. The removal of nests should not be required for the project.

Neither the Corps or MDE authorizations include conditions limiting the time of year in which dredging may occur. Provided that the project continues to comply with the active permits, no time of year restrictions on the maintenance activity should be required.

HSCG83-16-J-PCR194

Attachment B - Page 3 of 3