On January 10, 1997, the State of Texas received federal approval of the Coastal Management Program (CMP) (62 Federal Register pp. 1439 - 1440). Under federal law, federal agency activities and actions affecting the Texas coastal zone must be consistent with the CMP goals and policies identified in 31 TAC Chapter 501. Requests for federal consistency review were deemed administratively complete for the following project(s) during the period of August 26, 2019 to September 13, 2019.  As required by federal law, the public is given an opportunity to comment on the consistency of proposed activities in the coastal zone undertaken or authorized by federal agencies.  Pursuant to 31 TAC §§506.25, 506.32, and 506.41, the public comment period extends 30 days from the date published on the Texas General Land Office web site. The notice was published on the web site on Friday, September 20, 2019.  The public comment period for this project will close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2019.

FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIONS:

Applicant: Galveston County

Location: The project site is located along the beach-front of Bolivar Peninsula, in Galveston County, Texas.

Latitude & Longitude (NAD 83): Little Beach: Begin 29.367065, -94.754760; End 29.369902, -94.750989. Rest of Project Area: Begin 29.382358, -94.722974; End 29.555957, -94.370668.

Project Description:  The applicant proposes to perform mechanized beach maintenance associated with the removal of Sargassum and other vegetation-based debris along approximately 25 miles of beach frontage. Removal will be conducted with tractor-towed three-point agricultural rakes, tractor-towed beach cleaning/sand sifting machines, front end loaders, and/or other bladed machinery. These activities will involve the discharge of fill material due to more than minimal incidental fallback into the Gulf of Mexico. The Sargassum and other debris will be relocated on the upper beach in non-jurisdictional areas near the base or south toe of dunes to naturally decompose.

Type of Application: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit application # SWG-2018-00388. This application will be reviewed pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Note: The consistency review for this project may be conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as part of its certification under §401 of the Clean Water Act.

CMP Project No: 19-1427-F1

Further information on the applications listed above, including a copy of the consistency certifications or consistency determinations for inspection, may be obtained from Ms. Allison Buchtien P.O. Box 12873, Austin, Texas 78711-2873, or via email at federal.consistency@glo.texas.gov. Comments should be sent to Ms. Buchtien at the above address or by email.