STATE OF INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 2014-198-91-MBS-A DATE OF NOTICE: September 24, 2015 DATE COMMENTS DUE: October 15, 2015 The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Office of Water Quality, has received an application for modification of a Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) issued August 27, 2014 for the following project: APPLICANT: Northern Indiana Public Service Company, Ms. Christina Svoboda, Natural Resource Program Manager, 2755 Raystone Drive, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383. PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant proposes to modify a Section 401 WQC issued on August 27, 2014 for the Reynolds to Topeka Electric System Improvement project. The project crosses approximately 100 miles of Indiana for the purpose of improving a mostly existing 345 kV electric transmission line which connects the Reynolds Substation located in White County with the Burr Oak Substation in Marshall County, with the Forrest G. Hiple Substation in LaGrange County in order to convey more energy. The following Indiana counties are affected: White, Pulaski, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Elkhart, and LaGrange. The issued Section 401 WQC for this project authorized 13.29-acres of Forested/Scrub Shrub wetland conversion to emergent wetland within the proposed right-of-way, and temporary filling impacts to 0.092 acres of scrub shrub wetland and 480 linear feet (0.07-acres) of stream. Temporary impacts were to consist of stream crossings and timber mat placement. No permanent fill was proposed throughout the project corridor. To offset the impacts associated with the project, the applicant compensated The Nature Conservancy of Indiana for the purchase, enhancement, and protection in perpetuity of two tracts of land encompassing a combined area of 253.9-acres located adjacent to the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. Proposed enhancements included 7.6-acres of pin oak flatwoods creation, 95-acres of wet/mesic prairie creation, and 11.1-acres of emergent wetland creation, totaling 113-acres of wetland mitigation. Additional restoration consisted of oak Barrens/dry prairie creation and oak barrens structural restoration The proposed modifications to the issued Section 401 WQC include a total of 12.817-acres of Forested/ScrubShrub wetland conversion to emergent wetland within the proposed right-of-way, a permanent culvert to be placed within 0.003-acres of scrub-shrub wetland, the temporary filling of 0.03-acres of scrub shrub wetland, temporary culvert placement within two (2) streams, and permanent culvert placement within 23 streams totaling 500 linear feet of impact. The mitigation will remain unchanged from that which was approved within the original issuance. For additional information please visit the IDEM Website at http://www.in.gov/idem/6392.htm. IDEM CONTACT PERSON: Matthew Smedley, Project Manager, Office of Water Quality, Wetlands and Stormwater Section 317/234-5647, msmedley@idem.in.gov. A. Comment Period Further information may be obtained by contacting Matt Smedley, Project Manager at 317/234-5647. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to IDEM concerning the projects impacts to water quality. All comments must be postmarked no later than the Comments Due Date provided above to ensure they are considered by IDEM before a final decision is made on the permit application. Deliver or mail all requests or comments to: Matthew Smedley Indiana Department of Environmental Management 100 North Senate Avenue Room 1255 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 B. Public Hearing Any person may request a public hearing on this proposed project if they do so within the closing date of the Public Notice. The request must be submitted to Matthew Smedley, Project Manager at the above address and must state the nature of the issues to be raised and the reasons why a hearing is warranted. IDEM will hold a public hearing if there is significant public interest in relation to impacts to water quality. 9-25, 10-2 hspaxlp
