Special Public Notice - USACE Alaska District

US Army Corps
                             Special Public Notice
of Engineers
Alaska District

Regulatory Division (1145)                  PUBLIC NOTICE DATE:                     March 17, 2021
CEPOA-RD
Post Office Box 6898                        REFERENCE:            RGP-05, North Slope of Alaska
JBER, Alaska 99506-0898

                  Corps will host a virtual public outreach workshop
                  for the newly released North Slope of Alaska Regional
                                 General Permit (RGP-05)

 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) – Alaska District, Regulatory Division will host a
 virtual public outreach workshop on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, from 2:00-3:30 pm for
 anyone interested in learning about the newly released North Slope of Alaska Regional
 General Permit (RGP-05). The public will have an opportunity to ask questions or submit
 comments through the chat feature’ during the workshop.

 Under the Corps’ authorities, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the
 Rivers and Harbors Act, the Regulatory Division has developed the North Slope of Alaska
 RGP (RGP-05) for projects that would impact 10 acres of wetlands, if they meet the
 conditions of that RGP, the projects could be for Oil & Gas infrastructure or Village
 projects. Additionally, Coastal Erosion projects would be allowed to impact up to 20 acres
 of waters of the United States, including wetlands.

 A copy of RGP-05 is available for public viewing along with a PDF of the Virtual
 Presentation on our website:
 https://www.poa.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Special-Public-Notices/

 For more information and instructions on how to join the virtual public outreach workshop, please
 see the attached second page of this document.

 If you would like to submit questions to be answered as part of the presentation please send
 them to Mary Romero at: mary.r.romero@usace.army.mil.

Public Outreach – Virtual Workshop
        North Slope of Alaska Regional General Permit (RGP-05)
                       March 24, 2021 at 2:00pm

                   Instructions to participate virtually
If you are new to WebEx video web conference, please allow a little extra time to download a
temporary meeting application.
It is not necessary to enable a web camera for this meeting. Required Devices:
         • Computer, tablet or other mobile device (with WiFi access)
         • Phone

Join WebEx for both audio and visual connection
1. In your internet browser, search: https://usace1.webex.com/join/mary.r.romero. Or paste
this link into your internet browser. WebEx may appear differently depending on the browser
in use. If you are unable to connect through one browser, you might try a different one.

2. When you are on the meeting page, fill in your name and your email address as
instructed. This information is required to access WebEx, however, USACE will not
collect or store this information following the WebEx meeting.

3. Select the ‘Join Meeting’ button.

4. Underneath the ‘Select Audio Connection’ section, select the ‘Call Me’ option.

5. Type in your phone number, including the area code, in the dialogue box (a green arrow
in the image above points directly to this box) and then click ‘Connect Audio’. The program
will then call your phone, so please be sure to answer it.

6. Using your phone keyboard, type “1” when directed.
You should now be connected audibly and visually to the meeting.
        •      All phone lines will be placed on mute by the meeting host
        •      It is not necessary to enable a web camera for this meeting

Troubleshooting
In the case that you encounter a lost or interrupted audio/telephone connection, you may
either dial in directly using the information provided below.

                 Audio Conference

Call In #: (877) 336-1839
Access Code: 7097158
Security Code: 1111

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
ALASKA DISTRICT, REGULATORY PROGRAM
North Slope Regional General Permit
issued February 2021 expires in 2026
Presented by Kerri Hancock and Mary Romero
North Branch
Regulatory Division
Alaska District, USACE

March 24, 2021

                                             BUILDING STRONG®

What is a Regional General Permit?
RGPs are created for activities which are substantially similar in nature, cause only
minimal adverse environmental impacts when performed separately, would have
only minor cumulative effects on water quality, and would provide more effective
administration of Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and Section 404
of the Clean Water Act without creating an undue burden on the public.

           Why was this North Slope of Alaska RGP created?
The intent of developing this RGP was to provide agencies with an opportunity for
interjecting sound science and principles through best management practices so that
the impacts to the North Slope minimize degradation of wetlands and habitat as
much as possible. By streamlining the process for permitting actions this occurs
upfront, applicants provide an application that more clearly avoids and minimizes
impacts to those wetlands that are considered high value for their importance for
habitat and functions, shortens the timeline for permitting projects for both the
applicant and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

                                                                       BUILDING STRONG®

How is it able to protect the environment?
The RGP has within it specific parameters that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Environmental
Protection Agency, Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) Division of Mining
Land and Water, ADNR Fish and Game, provided sound science and best management
practices through best professional practices based on decades of research and work
across the North Slope.

               What are some of the specific protections of the RGP?
 • The proposal excludes the use of specific high value wetlands identified for habitat
   and functions.
 • Restricts certain types of activities from being permitted.
 • Provides for bird windows to prevent impacts during the nesting season.
 • Requires a specific thickness for pads and roads to provide thermal stability and
   prevent permafrost degradation.
 • Requires a minimum clearance under any pipeline for safe caribou passage.
 • Requires coordination with the North Slope Borough to complete the Traditional
   Land Use Inventory and apply for clearance prior to application for a Corps permit.
 • Requires consolidation of activities to the maximum extent possible.

                                                                       BUILDING STRONG®

Authorities for the RGP

1) Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1877
•   Allows for work in, on, or under waters of the U.S. Would be used for coastal erosion
    projects.

2) Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
•   Allows for the placement of fill into waters of the U.S., including wetlands. This would be the
    authority most commonly used for projects under this RPG.

                                                                                  BUILDING STRONG®

The GP would cover the entire North Slope of Alaska
        as defined by the North Slope Borough boundaries
For work in the
following villages:

Anaktuvuk Pass
Atqasuk
Kaktovik
Nuiqsut
Point Hope
Point Lay
Utqiagvik
Wainwright

And throughout the
Oil & Gas Fields
across the slope.

                                                  BUILDING STRONG®

What would be allowed under this RGP?
                                  New activities with wetland impacts
                                  up to ten (10) acres;

Activities that would enlarge an existing project.
Allows up to a 10 acre expansion, for a total of
twenty (20) acres of cumulative impacts for the
same project; or

                                                            ROADS

                                       Or, for coastal erosion projects.

                                                             BUILDING STRONG®

20 acres would be the limit for impacts on coastal erosion projects

                                                         BUILDING STRONG®

General Conditions of the GP
   Fill material to                                  Must follow the USFWS
    come from                                          Programmatic Biological
    existing gravel                                    Opinion (PBO), does not
    sources or                                         include the Barrow
    stockpiles.                                        Triangle.

     When pipelines are part of the
      proposed work they shall be 500’
      from the roads and pads as
      practicable.

                                                         Lighting to be down
                                                          shielded and east
                                                          facing near coast.

         Power, utility, communication  Pipelines maintain a 7’ minimum
          and fiber optic lines hung in   clearance, including vibration
          trays with pipelines.           dampeners.

                                                               BUILDING STRONG®

General Conditions (cont.)
   Power lines on pad shall have diverters.
   Gravel placement to occur between August 1st and May 31st of the following year.
   No fill within 500’ of Estuarine, Marine or major Riverine waters.
   No fill within 200’ of other Riverine waters, Lacustrine, and wetlands identified as: PUB,
    PEM with the subclass 2, or PEM with a water regime modifiers F, G, H, L, or N (including
    beaded streams). Exceptions include coastal erosion projects and culverts.

                                                                            BUILDING STRONG®

General Conditions (cont.)

 Construction/operation of work authorized must minimize adverse impacts
  on wildlife and natural environment

 Infrastructure needs to be collated to maximum extent possible.

 Fill area shall be minimized by consolidating activities onto one pad.

 Five feet of fill to be standard.

 Natural drainage patterns shall be maintained.

                                                                 BUILDING STRONG®

General Conditions (cont.)

   Minimize impacts to migratory birds.

   Must be in compliance with the Alaska
    Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit.

   Measures must be implemented to prevent the introduction or spread of
    invasive plant and animal species.

                                                              BUILDING STRONG®

Questions?

             BUILDING STRONG®