PUBLIC NOTICE OF APPLICATION
FOR COASTAL WETLANDS PERMIT
AND WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION
The Jackson County Board of Supervisors has filed an application requesting permission to conduct regulated activities under the provision of the Coastal Wetlands Protection Law Act, Title 49, Chapter 27, Mississippi Code of 1972.
The applicant is proposing to reconstruct a boat launch and parking area located south of the Beach Bayou Avenue and Race Track Road intersection on the Back Bay of Biloxi. The proposed project will include:
1.) Fill of 0.017 acres of Coastal Wetlands (tidal marsh vegetation)
2.) Construction of a boat launch 65 feet in length and 20 feet in width
3.) Maintenance dredging of the existing canal 336 feet in length and 30 feet in width from to a depth of 4.5 feet below Mean Low Water
4.) Construction of two piers, each 70 feet in length and 5 feet in width on each side of the boat ramp
5.) A breakwater 70 feet in length along the east pier
6.) Filling of 0.05 acres of non-tidal wetlands to create a parking area
The applicant will be required to mitigate for unavoidable impacts if approved.
The applicant is requesting a variance from Mississippi Admin. Code Title 22, Part 23, Chapter 8, Section 114.01 which states, “Permanent filling of coastal wetlands below the mean high tide line because of potential adverse and cumulative environmental impacts is not authorized,” Miss. Admin Code Title 22, Part 23, Chapter 8, Section 117.3, which states “A minimum ten-foot (10-foot) buffer must be maintained between dredging/excavation and any wetlands”, and Miss. Admin Code Title 22, Part 23, Chapter 8, Section 101.01 which states “(Boat Ramps) Must be located in areas which do not require the destruction of sensitive coastal wetlands…”. This public notice, project diagrams, and a copy of the full project application may be accessed on MDMR’s website at https://dmr.ms.gov/permitting/ . A copy can also be mailed upon request.
In compliance with Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251, 1341), as amended by PL 95-217, the applicant will request certification from the Office of Pollution Control that the above mentioned activity will be in compliance with applicable provisions of Section 301 (33 U.S.C. 1311), Section 302 (33 U.S.C. 1312), Section 303 (U.S.C. 1313), Section 306 (U.S.C. 1316), and Section 307 (U.S.C. 1317) of the Act and appropriate requirements of the State Law.
Any person wishing to make comments or objections to the proposed regulated activity must submit those comments in writing to the Department of Marine Resources, attention Brett James at 1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39530 or through the form below before 1:00 p.m. on the day February 6, 2023.
A public hearing will be held on February 23, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Bolton State Building at 1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530.
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Comment Submission Form
You should receive an acknowledgement of your comment from Brett James by email. If you do not receive this acknowledgement, please contact brett.james@dmr.ms.gov.
