Comments Period For Upper Mobile Bay Wetland Project Extended

The Alabama State Port Authority has received permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to extend public comments concerning the Upper Mobile Bay Beneficial Use Wetland Creation Site (Planning) Project until February 3. The Upper Mobile Bay Beneficial Use Wetland Creation Site (Planning) Project, aiming to create 1,200 acres of wetlands in the Upper Mobile Bay, considers an area in the bay approximately 1.5-2.5 mi. south of the Causeway and Bayway for construction of wetlands through the beneficial use of dredged sediments. Individuals may submit comments to the USACE Mobile District Engineer, Regulatory Division, Attn: Mr. Dylan C. Hendrix at P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36628-0001 or by email or phone: 251-694-3772.  Public Notice Number SAM-2021-00246-DCH should be referenced. Copies of all comments should be furnished to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management at email or mailed to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Mobile Branch/Coastal Section, 3664 Dauphin Street, Suite B, Mobile, AL 36608.  All comments received by the deadline will be taken into consideration during the permitting process. Upon completion of the planning phase, and if successful in securing the federal permit, the port authority anticipates requesting construction funds in 2022 for the first 100 acres of wetlands.