Reifenrath Bank Stabilization Project

Legal Notice Below 

===================================================================== 

NOTICE OF INTENT TO CERTIFY – Section 401 

NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF WATER, ENERGY, AND ENVIRONMENT 

INTEGRATED WATER PLANNING DIVISION 

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA 

In accordance with Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Par. 1251 et seq.), certification that Title 117 – Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards (Nebraska Administrative Code) will not be violated has been applied for to the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) by the persons listed below for discharges requiring Federal permits or licenses. 

Donald Reifenrath has applied for a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to conduct activities in Waters of the United States. The proposed project requires state Water Quality Certification in accordance with Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401(a)(1), which states that: 

1. Any applicant for a Federal license or permit to conduct any activity including, but not limited to, the construction or operation of facilities, which may result in any discharge into the navigable waters, shall provide the licensing or permitting agency a certification from the State in which the discharge originates or will originate, or, if appropriate, from the interstate water pollution control agency having jurisdiction over the navigable waters at the point where the discharge originates or will originate, that any such discharge will comply with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 of this title.  

Donald Reifenrath is seeking to implement 500ft of bank stabilization along a portion of the Missouri River near Wynot, Nebraska. 

This project will start at the east boundary of parcel 0001425.00, Cedar County, of Section 9, Township 32, Range 3E and head west (upstream) 500 linear feet along the stream bank. Broken concrete (less than 36 inch) clear of rebar or other metal will be placed on the bank from the low water line (approx. 1,131 ft) and extending 6 feet beyond the high-water line (approx. 1,134 ft) and will be placed 2 feet thick. The concrete riprap above the high-water line will be covered with 1 foot of soil, planted to a native grass mix, and sloped to a 2:1 or flatter slope. All concrete will be placed on the Missouri River stream bank according to the mentioned plans in Section 9, Township 32, Range 3E. All disturbed soil will be utilized to cover the concrete above the high-water line and immediately planted to the native mix approved by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Any timber removed will be removed away from the riverbank. 

Litter and construction debris will be contained daily. All construction debris and litter will be completely removed offsite and disposed out of site and beyond the 100-year floodplain upon project completion. No wastewater, fuels, or other harmful fluids will be discharged into the river. 1f archeological materials are discovered during activities, work will halt and coordination with the Nebraska State Historical Preservation Office (NESHPO) and the National Park Service (NPS) will occur before work resumes. 

The proposed activity would preferably take place in spring/summer/fall of 2026. A 30-day completion from the time of commencement should be feasible. Commencement date will be dependent on permit approval and river conditions. It is preferrable to complete this project during low flow of the Missouri River. 

The proposed certification and supporting materials are available for inspection at the office of DWEE, 245 Fallbrook Blvd, STE 100, Lincoln, Nebraska. Persons may comment upon or object to the application, by submitting written comments within 30 days after this publication date of this notice. Comments should be limited to the scope of state Water Quality Certification (WQC) under Section 401 of the CWA. During this period, persons may request a public hearing. A request for a hearing must state the nature of the issues to be raised and all arguments and actual grounds supporting such position. Such comments shall be considered prior to making a final decision regarding the request. Any comments or requests should be submitted to: 
 
CWA Section 401 Coordinator 
Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment 
245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 100 
Lincoln, NE 68521 
 
-or- 
 
dwee.401certification@nebraska.gov 
 
Please notify DWEE in advance if alternate formats of documents are needed. Our switchboard phone number is 402-471-2186. TDD users please call 711 and ask the relay operator to call us at 402-471-2186. 

=====================================================================