This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from the CHC Properties, LLC for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) Permit under O.C.G.A. 12-5-280 et. seq. to maintain and improve an existing commercial site for industrial marine salvage construction and staging facility at 911 Bay Street, East River, Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia. The proposed project is under 1/10 of an acre, and therefore may be considered a minor alteration of coastal marshlands under O.C.G.A. 12-5-280 et. seq.

The project site was previously used as a commercial crab processing facility that was demolished in 2006. In 2011, CMPA Permit #645 was approved to construct a marina facility and bank stabilization at the site. The activities approved were never initiated.

Currently, the site consists of concrete and asphalt (16,740sq.ft.), an aggregate base layer overgrown with vegetation (46,224sq.ft.), grassy parking areas (50,499sq.ft.), a serviceable rock revetment and a boat ramp (24,938sq.ft.).

The applicant is proposing to maintain and modify the site to facilitate a marine construction and salvage business. The proposed facility would require the construction of a marine terminal and marine construction staging area.

The marshlands component of the proposed project consists of maintenance of the existing boat ramp and rock revetment, installation of a sheet pile wall, construction of a barge trestle, and installation of five (5) timber breasting dolphins.

Maintenance to the existing 50ft. wide boat ramp will include placement of a coarse aggregate base and fiberglass grade beams which will be overlain with push-in-place concrete panels. The boat ramp will span from -4.0ft. NAVD88 to 5.0ft. NAVD88 and will impact approximately 5,148sq.ft. (190cy.) of coastal marshlands.

The applicant will maintain the existing 446 linear foot armored shoreline by adding 18in. of Type 3 rock over 6in. of #4 gravel bedding and geotextile filter fabric. The  rock revetment will be approximately 24ft. wide ranging from just below the MLW line to 4.5ft. NAVD88. Impacts from the rock revetment will be approximately 12,321sq.ft. (913cy.) of coastal marshlands.

The applicant proposes to install a 196 linear foot sheet pile wall on the north and south sides of the boat ramp in order to more easily work their barges. The sheet pile wall will impact approximately 196sq.ft. of coastal marshlands.  

The proposed 30ft. x 78ft. (2,340sq.ft.) barge trestle will facilitate the loading and unloading of commercial barges and will consist of a steel grate deck with a curb supported by steel stringers spanning steel beam caps. The terminal end of the trestle will extend to the Mean Low Water (MLW) line where a 30ft. x 20ft. detachable barge ramp will be installed to facilitate connection to the upland, and will be placed on the barge deck when not in use.

The applicant proposes to install five (5) timber breasting dolphins parallel to the shoreline immediately seaward of MLW. Each breasting dolphin will consist of seven (7) pilings secured together and together will impact 420sq.ft of coastal marshlands.

Total new impacts to coastal marshlands associated with the proposed marine terminal construction are 2,956sq.ft. (0.068 acre). Upon construction the total impact to coastal marshlands will be 20,425sq.ft..

The upland component of the proposed project consists of the remainder of the parcel, upland of the CMPA line. This area has been previously used as an industrial site and will provide access to the marshlands component of the project as well as a staging area for marine construction materials and equipment. The applicant is not  proposing modification to the upland component.
 
It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the project is not contrary to the public interest and that no feasible alternative sites exist.  Impacts to coastal marshlands must be minimal in size.  In passing upon the application for permit, the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee shall consider the public interest: (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful obstruction to or alteration of the natural flow of navigational water within the affected area will arise as a result of the proposal; (2) Whether or not unreasonably harmful or increased erosion, shoaling of channels, or stagnant areas of water will be created; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicant’s proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, clams, or other marine life, wildlife, or other resources, including but not limited to water and oxygen supply.

A detailed public notice with drawings has been distributed and is available by visiting the Division’s website: CoastalGaDNR.org under “Marsh & Shore Permits”.

Please provide this office with substantive, project-specific comments as to why the proposed work should or should not proceed.  Comments and questions concerning this proposed project should be submitted in writing by the close of business July 5, 2020 to Paul Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.

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