Attachment_2_Permit.PDF

Regulatory Division North Permits Branch Jacksonville Permits Section

SAJ-2018-00468 (NPR-SCW)

U.S. Navy Ms. Heather Hahn Naval Station Mayport, Environmental Mayport, Florida 32228

Dear Ms. Hahn:

Reference is made to the application received on February 6, 2018, for a Department of the Army permit to clear trees within waters of the United States (wetlands) in the vicinity of Runway 0523. The proposed project site is located at the Naval Station Mayport, in Section 28, Township 1 South, Range 29 East, Mayport, Duval County, Florida. The application has been assigned the file number SAJ-2018-00468.

The proposed activity, as described on the attached Runway 0523 Tree Clearing Project 1 Scope of Work, will not require a Department of the Army permit, as the activity is not regulated.

This NPR does not address nor include any consideration for geographic jurisdiction on aquatic resources and shall not be interpreted as such.

Additionally, your project site may contain species protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1972, as amended. You should contact your local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) office to determine if federally listed species or their habitat are present on your project site. If it is determined that federally listed species may be affected by the proposed project, authorization for "incidental take" may be required.

FWS offices can be contacted by the following telephone numbers: Jacksonville at 904- 232-2580, Panama City at 850-769-0552, St. Petersburg at 727-570-5398, or Vero Beach at 772-562-3909.

This letter does not obviate the requirement to obtain any other Federal, State, or local permits that may be necessary for your project. Should you have any questions, please contact Shannon White at the letterhead address or by telephone at 904-232-1681.

Thank you for your cooperation with our permit program. The Corps Jacksonville District Regulatory Division is committed to improving service to our customers. We

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT CORPS OF ENGINEERS

P.O. BOX 4970

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32232-0019

February 16, 2018

REPLY TO

ATTENTION

OF

-2-strive to perform our duty in a friendly and timely manner while working to preserve our environment. We invite you to take a few minutes to visit http://per2.nwp.usace.army.mil/survey.html and complete our automated Customer Service Survey. Your input is appreciated – favorable or otherwise. Please be aware this web address is case sensitive and should be entered as it appears above.

Sincerely, Shannon White Project Manager

Enclosures Runway 0523 Tree Clearing Project 1 Scope of Work, 6 pages

Runway 0523 Tree Clearing Project 1

SCOPE OF WORK

Objective: Remove trees that encroach upon the imaginary transitional surface and clear zone of RUNWAY 0523 as required by UFC 3-260-01 Section 3-15.3 (attached) to eliminate air operational hazards.

Background: Tree growth has intruded into the airfield operations clearance spaces adjacent to

Runway 0523. Without removal of trees military flight operations will be restricted which is unacceptable.

Work Includes: Clearing, but not grubbing, all trees within the project boundary to ground level. Project boundary includes upland and wetland vegetation. Florida Best Management

Practices in accordance with Florida Forest Service's Silviculture Best Management Practices

Manual (available at http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-

Service/Our-Forests/Best-Management-Practices-BMPs) will be employed to prevent disturbance of soils and root structures. Wetlands will be protected by silt fencing from upgrade sedimentation until soil stabilization has occurred. All clearing within designated wetlands will be hand clearing with no tracked or wheeled vehicles within the wetland area. All cleared wood, stems and brush shall be chipped and retained aboard the installation in designated upland areas.

Note: This is a deferred maintenance activity that is required to maintain airfield safety. It is not an annual mowing activity, but is an activity that should occur at the point woody vegetation grows to within 10 feet of the transitional surface, expected every ten years. While annual mowing or herbicide applications are both alternative maintenance strategies, limitations of dredge spoils berm slope and wetland proximity preclude these alternatives as practical. Clearing areas are identified in order of priority.

Area 1 - 0.89 Acres

Area 1 contains palms and other volunteer woody plants from the perimeter security fence line to the edge of the wetland at the SW end of Runway 0523. An adjacent security clear zone is mowed ten feet from the fence line and the area to be cleared will be mulched and managed as part of the security clear zone to the edge of the wetland.

Area 2 - 9.69 Acres

Area 2 has two separate units. The smaller area 3500 SF inside the airfield fence line contains a mix of palms, pines and other woody plants, all on uplands. This area is flat and the trees removed will be mulched on site. Long term maintenance of this area is to establish grass which can be mowed twice annually.

The larger area (9.6 acres) will be cleared, mulched and mulch will be placed only in upland areas. Long term maintenance of the wetland areas may require subsequent clearing of woody vegetation that would encroach upon controlled airspace. Long term maintenance of the upland area will be for paved operational storage under a separate project.

Area 3 - 12.52 Acres

Area 3 lies off the southeast end of the runway and is comprised of a slope from the ditch to the top of the dredge spoils berm (6.36 acres) and the area 140 FT wide from the dredge spoils road inward. Vegetation from the ditch to the top of the slope contains a mix of palms, pines and other woody vegetation at the north end of the berm transitioning to a mix of cedar, palms and other woody plants toward the south. This area will be cut and the waste mulch placed on the east side of the dredge spoils road on uplands. The upland area inside the dredge spoils berm contains a mix of vegetation which will be cut and mulched in place. Long term maintenance of the area will require clearing every ten years to maintain airfield safety compliance.

Area 4 - 4.42 Acres

Area 4 lies between Magazine Road and the dredge spoils area. The first unit is 2.34 acres between the ditch and the road leading to the dredge spoils berm. It contains palms and mix of other woody vegetation. It will be cleared and waste mulch will be placed east of the road on uplands. The second unit is 2.08 acres in area 70 FT wide to the east of the road and contains a mix of woody vegetation. This upland area will be cleared and mulched in place. Long term maintenance of this area will be twice annual mowing.

UFC 3-260-01

3-15.3 Trees. Trees that project into the imaginary surfaces must be removed or lowered to a distance below the imaginary surface, as specified in Table 3-8. Trees are permitted near an airfield provided that they do not penetrate the imaginary surfaces, the taxiway clearance distance, the apron clearance distance, or instrument procedure obstacle identification surfaces (OIS) as described in TERPS regulations.