Regulatory Branch

P-3145

Published Dec. 21, 2020
Expiration date: 1/20/2021

The Bank Sponsor seeks approval from the Mitigation Bank Review Team (MBRT) which is composed of representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the Swanwick Creek Stream and Wetland Mitigation Bank within the Big Muddy Watershed/Service Area.  The primary objective of the proposed mitigation bank is to establish, restore, enhance and permanently protect 8.7 acres of forested and emergent wetlands, as well as enhance and protect 16,273 linear feet of the existing 22,871 linear feet of perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams and drainage features identified on site. The mitigation bank would is proposed within a 157-acre property with varying topography. The work includes the preservation of Swanwick Creek and the restoration, enhancement, and preservation of unnamed tributaries of Swanwick Creek that have been disturbed by agricultural and silvicultural activities, primarily corn/soybean productions. The conceptual design provides 16,273 linear feet of stream morphology improvements, stabilization, habitat improvement and preservation activities, including riparian buffer enhancement. In addition to stream mitigation activities, the bank proposes to provide an additional 3.79 acres of wetland establishment/restoration and 4.91 acres of wetland preservation.  If approved, the establishment, restoration and enhancement activities will be performed generating credits from the environmental improvements and will be available for sale on an incremental basis if the mitigation bank meets its anticipated goals set forth in an approved mitigation banking instrument.  Credits from the project are not available for sale until documentation is provided by the bank sponsor that environmental restoration will proceed, and written approval is granted by the Corps in consultation with the MBRT. The mitigation bank sponsor is developing the mitigation bank with the intent to sell the mitigation credits to recipients of Section 404 Permits who are required to compensate for unavoidable and adverse environmental impacts to waters of the United States. Specifically, the waters of the United States that will be compensated at the proposed bank include streams and wetlands with emergent, scrub shrub and forested classifications. Upon request, a copy of the Mitigation Banking Prospectus is available for review in our office.

 

The Public Notice comment period opens December 22, 2020 and closes January 20, 2021.