Corps makes selection
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The proposed bypass is one step closer to a reality, following the recent announcement by officials with the Army Corps of Engineers that a route has been selected and plans are moving ahead on the project which has been decades in the making.
City Manager Jim Bennett told councilors of the news during a July meeting.
“It was with some sense of shock and disbelief I received in the mail recently the Army Corps of Engineers’ recommendation for Alternative 7 as the least environmentally damaging. This means the bypass is now moving forward to where the federal government has to go through the process of having their reviews, etc.,” said Bennett.
Bennett indicated within the next four to eight months, “MDOT will have the go-ahead to construct the bypass.”
“This is a major step along the way to make this a reality,” said Bennett.
A letter to Russell Charette, MDOT, from Jennifer L. McCarthy, chief of the Regulatory Division, New England Division of the Corps of Engineers, explained how the route was determined. The decision was based on environmental impact and which alternative was least invasive to waterways and wetlands.
“We have been evaluating your project in accordance with the Clean Water Act and other applicable laws and regulations. The guidelines require avoiding and minimizing adverse impacts to waters and wetlands, and the selection of a ‘least environmentally damaging practicable alternative or LEDPA,’” wrote McCarthy.
According to McCarthy, the Corps has completed its review of the general and specific information Charette provided or which was otherwise available on alternatives to the project.
“This includes Maine DOT’s Phase II analysis of alternatives and its numerous supplements, comments received in response to our Sept. 23, 2008 public notice, the draft environmental impact statement of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Section 4f determination (23 CFR 774.17) by the FHWA and our interagency discussion of that determination,” she said.
A lengthy review of all the data led officials to choosing Alternative 7 as the preferred route for a bypass.
“It is the Corps’ determination that Alignment Option 7 is the LEDPA. This alternative includes approximately 9.2 miles of new alignment highway, .07 miles of upgrade to Route 1, and .35 miles of upgrade to the northern connection to Route 1. Up to 22 acres of wetland impact and 10 stream crossings will be required by this alternative,” said McCarthy.
McCarthy said the LEDPA determination was “based on the preliminary application submitted by MDOT.”
“This determination is not a permit decision. The LEDPA determination will assist MDOT as they continue project planning and pursue future funding. Any further Corps permit decisions will require the submission of a final complete permit application, evaluation of additional measures to further avoid and minimize impacts to aquatic resources, and the development of a detailed mitigation plan intended to compensate for any unavoidable impacts to wetlands and other aquatic resources,” McCarthy said.
MDOT will also be required to obtain a permit and water quality certification from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, noted McCarthy.
She said the selection of the LEDPA does not preclude additional minor reroutes or other minor changes in project design that may arise.
“Similarly, the Corps retains the discretion to revisit the LEDPA determination, should substantial new information on impacts to the environment or affected public interest factors arise,” she said.
McCarthy encouraged Charette and his consultants to “continue working with state and federal regulatory/resource agencies as well as the general public to avoid and minimize impacts to waterways and wetlands and other important public resources.”
As with any highway project that involves unavoidable direct and indirect impacts to aquatic resources, McCarthy said adequate compensatory mitigation will be a major factor in any future permit decision.
“We encourage MDOT to continue early planning and coordination in this area. Ideally, preliminary information on mitigation opportunities should be included in the final permit application,” she said.
“Although you and your consultants are aware of it, let me remind you that mitigation must be planned in accordance with the most current mitigation guidance from the Corps. This is available at our New England District website, www.nae.usace.army.mil/regulatory,” said McCarthy.
McCarthy said identifying potential mitigation sites and assembling site analysis data, such as monitoring hydrology levels, “should continue to be closely coordinated with the Corps, our federal resource agency partners, and the Maine DEP.”
Alternative 7, once fully approved, will route traffic around Presque Isle, beginning from U.S. Route 1 just south of the Perkins Road, cutting across the Henderson and Cross roads, then traveling across farm land and crossing Route 10. From there, it will cross more farm land, cut across the Conant Road, then intersect with State Street Extension before connecting with the Fort Road. A bridge is expected to be built over the Aroostook River, with the route crossing the Reach Road and cutting across land west of the Higgins Road, finally connecting with Route 1 (Caribou Road) south of the Brewer Road intersection.
City officials are hoping the bypass will help re-route truck traffic away from downtown.
“Once built, this route will help remove some of the heavier truck traffic from Main Street. This will improve safety and make the downtown a more attractive area for visitors to the city,” said Bennett.