Legal Notice

Georgia Department of Transportation

Office of Environmental Services

30-Day Public Advisory

Subject: Application for Encroachment Upon 25-Foot Vegetative Stream Buffers

Project: BRST0-0158-01(017), PI No. 333156 (BV-072-12-01)

County: Harris

City: N/A

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Project BRST0-0158-07(017) [PI#333156] consists of replacing the existing, structurally-deficient bridge on SR 103 over Flat Shoals Creek in Harris County near West Point, Georgia. The new bridge would be constructed on the existing alignment with an off-site detour. The bridge would be a two lane structure approximately 360 feet in length and 40 feet wide. The proposed roadway approaches would consist of two 12-foot travel lanes with ten-foot shoulders, two feet of which would be paved, and side slopes. The proposed ROW width for the project would vary from approximately 160 to 215 feet. The project length is 0.54 miles and the proposed disturbed area is 5.61 acres. The project area is located in the Chattahoochee River watershed. A state 25-foot vegetative buffer variance is required for proposed vegetative buffer impacts associated with the proposed project. The proposed project would encroach upon the buffers associated with two unnamed tributaries (Stream #2 and Stream #5) to Flat Shoals Creek. Buffer disturbances within the project site will result from the placement of ROW monuments within the buffers of Stream #2 and Stream #5, as well as from clearing and placement of orange barrier fencing within the buffer of Stream #5. The proposed bridge replacement project would impact a total 527 square feet (76 linear feet) of state mandated buffers under Criteria 2(a). All feasible avoidance and minimization efforts have been employed to reduce the proposed impacts to vegetative buffers throughout the project corridor. The buffer disturbance would last approximately 24 months. Impacts to the stream buffer would be mitigated by replanting the buffer with native vegetation.

Site plans for the proposed construction can be viewed at the Georgia Department of Transportation District 3, Columbus Area Office, 3600 Schatulga Road, Columbus, GA, 31907. Phone: (706) 568-2165.

Written comments should be submitted to: Program Manager, Non-Point Source Program, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101, Atlanta, Georgia 30354.

The public is invited to comment during the 30-day period on the proposed activity.

For Additional Information Contact:

Catherine Samay

Environmental Specialist

EPD, Water Protection Branch

Non-Point Source Program

4220 International Parkway, Suite 101

Atlanta, Georgia 30354

Telephone: 404-675-1625

FAX: 404-675-6245

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