US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CORRESPONDENCE 
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 

CORPS OF ENGINEERS, MOBILE DISTRICT 

P.O. BOX 2288 

MOBILE, AL 36628-0001 

CESAM-RD-M January 20, 2021 

PUBLIC NOTICE NO. SAM-2021-00025-RCV 

JOINT PUBLIC NOTICE 

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS 

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 

OFFICE OF POLLUTION CONTROL (MDEQ) 

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES 

PROPOSED IMPACTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A RAIL LINE, 

ON ESTUARINE WETLANDS ADJACENT TO THE ESCATAWPA RIVER, 

MOSS POINT, JACKSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI 

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: 

This District has received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to 

Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 USC 403), Section 404 of the Clean 

Water Act (33 USC 1344), Please communicate this information to interested parties. 

APPLICANT: Jackson County Port Authority (JCPA) 

Attention: Ms. Sandy Feathers 

PO Box 70 

Pascagoula, MS 39568 

WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The new rail line is located in Section 19, Township 7 

South, and Range 5 West of Moss Point, Jackson County, MS. 

The approximate center point of the proposed modified rail is at 30.415546 degrees 

latitude and -88.514452 degrees longitude. The new rail begins at approximately 

30.251207 /-88.310005 on the north and extends to 30.413308/-88.508269 where it 

joins existing rail. This layout requires JCP A to purchase privately owned parcels of 

land. 

PROPOSED WORK: A new rail connection is proposed to connect the existing rail 

line just south of the Escatawpa River and the rail line that is located within the 

MPITC. 

The existing rail includes 22 crossings over roadways including US Highway 90. The 

proposed project includes discontinuing use of the section of rail that extends from 

near the Pascagoula River and crosses through downtown Pascagoula and Moss 

Point and instead utilizing existing rail that runs between Bayou Casotte and the 
CESAM-RD-M 

Public Notice No. SAM-2021-00025-RCV 

January 20, 2021 

Page 2 of 4 

Escatawpa River and crosses through the Moss Point Industrial and Technology 

Center (MPITC). 

The proposed construction length of the new rail line through estuarine wetlands 

crosses over 2,852 feet of estuarine wetlands and 807 feet of uplands. No forested 

wetlands are within the modified footprint. The proposed footprint will be constructed using 

rail constructed on elevated pilings, the impacts are associated with fill at the abutments 

and one section of marsh (21,820 square feet). The total impact for the proposed footprint 

is approximately39,261 square feet (0.90 acres) and will require approximately 2,649 net 

cubic yards of fill. 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is the lead Federal agency for this 

project. 

BACKGROUND: A USAGE permit to construct the North Rail Connector was received by 

JCPA on October 14, 2020 (SAM-2018-01204-RCV). The initial cost estimate for a railroad 

on fill versus an elevated rail line indicated that the fill construction method would be the 

most cost effective. Based on the recent geotechnical evaluation, the construction cost is 

estimated at approximately $30 million. In an effort to reduce construction costs, the JCPA 

has evaluated other construction methods and rail line footprints. The evaluation has 

resulted in this current proposal for the use of an elevated rail crossing over a shorter 

section of marsh, crossing over a longer section of forested uplands and joining to existing 

rail at a different location. 

The applicant has applied for coastal zone (CZ) consistency in accordance with the State 

Coastal Zone Management Program. A determination relative to CZ consistency will be 

made by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. 

The Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Certification Rule (Certification Rule, 40 CFR 

121), requires certification for any license or permit that authorizes an activity that may 

result in a discharge. The applicant is responsible for requesting certification and providing 

required information to the certifying agency. As of the date of this public notice, the 

applicant has not submitted a certification request to the Mississippi Department of 

Environmental Quality (certifying authority). 

This public notice is being distributed to all known interested persons in order to assist in 

developing facts on which a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can be based. 

For accuracy and completeness of the record, all data in support of or in opposition to the 

proposed work should be submitted in writing setting forth sufficient detail to furnish a clear 

understanding of the reasons for support or opposition. 

The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable 

impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That 

decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important 

resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal 

must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be 
CESAM-RD-M 

Public Notice No. SAM-2021-00025-RCV 

January 20, 2021 

Page 3 of 4 

relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof; among 

those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, 

historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, 

navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, 

water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration 

of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. 

The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State, and local 

agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and 

evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered 

by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a 

permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on 

endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and 

the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an 

Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the 

National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a 

public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. 

Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice, that 

a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests for public hearings shall 

state with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. 

Evaluation of the probable impacts involving deposits of dredged or fill material into waters 

of the United States will include the application of guidelines established by the 

Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

FRA is the lead Federal agency for this project responsible for ensuring compliance with 

the National Historic Preservation Act. For comments related to Section 106 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act. 

FRA is the lead Federal agency for this project responsible for ensuring compliance with 

the Endangered Species Act. 

FRA is the lead Federal agency for this project responsible for ensuring compliance with 

the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. 

Correspondence concerning this Public Notice should refer to Public Notice Number SAM2021-00025-RCV and should be directed to the District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer 

District, Mobile, Post Office Box 2288, Mobile, Alabama 36628-0001, Attention: South 

Mississippi Branch, with a copy to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, 

Office of Pollution Control, Post Office Box 2261, Jackson, Mississippi 39225, and the 

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, 1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 

39530, in time to be received within 30 days of the date of this public notice. 

If you have any questions concerning this publication, you may contact the project manager 

for this application, Mr. Rudolph C. Villarreal (Rudolph.c.villarreal@usace.army.mil), 
CESAM-RD-M 

Public Notice No. SAM-2021 -00025-RCV 

January 20, 2021 

Page 4 of 4 

phone (251) 690-3246. Please refer to the above Public Notice number. 

For additional information about our Regulatory Program, please visit our website at: 

www.sam.usace.army.mil and please take a moment to complete our customer satisfaction 

survey while you're there. Your responses are appreciated and will allow us to improve our 

services. 

MOBILE DISTRICT 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

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Detail 2 Wetland Impacts 

SAM-2021-00025-RCV 
t 

SAM-2021-00025-RCV 
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 

MOBILE DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS 

P.O. BOX 2288 

MOBILE, AL 36628-0001 

February 24, 2021 

Mississippi Branch 

Regulatory Division 

Jackson County Port Authority 

Clo Compton Engineering 

Attention: Ms. Lisa Morrison 

Via email@ lmorrison@comptonengineering.com 

Dear Ms. Morrison: 

This letter is regarding your application for a Department of the Army (DA) permit to 

construct your North Rail Project; File No. SAM-2021-00025-RCV. Enclosed is a copy 

of a letters from commenters received before the close of the comment period on March 

It is the policy of the DA to provide an applicant the opportunity to furnish a 

proposed resolution or rebuttal to all objections and other substantive comments before 

a final decision is made on a proposed project. In this regard, I would appreciate 

receiving any comments that you may have on this matter. 

You may voluntarily elect to contact any commenter in an attempt to resolve the 

matter but are not required to do so, since the DA alone is responsible for making the 

final decision on the application. However, you should be aware that all 

recommendations on projects proposed to be authorized by permit must be given full 

consideration in making our public interest review determination, as required by law. 

The concerns expressed by two of the commenters appear to this office to be 

substantive. In order to complete the public interest review these concerns must be 

addressed. Please give your immediate attention to this matter to expedite the 

evaluation process of your permit application. In particular, I request that you more 

specifically address the following issues: 

a. State when the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will initiate a consultation 

on Essential Fish Habitat with the National Marine Fisheries- Habitat Conservation 

Division. 

b. State when a Cultural Resources Survey will be conducted, if any. 
In addition, your previous application submittal of November 10, 2020 stated the 

project as a modification of the previous permit under SAM-2018-01204-RCV. 

1) Please provide this office with an alternative analysis which reflects the relocation of 

the project as a new permit under SAM-2021-00025. 

2) Please provide an absent "Appendix D" from your previous application which shows 

the location of all alternative site. 

3) Please provide any updates on the stormwater and drainage plan that you have 

provided the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality during your pre-filing 

meeting. 

4) Please provide a new Hydrogeomorphic data set for the new mitigation plan. 

5) Please provide a new conservation easement for review which reflects the new 

mitigation plan. 

It is recommended that you provide this office with your comments on the matter within 

30 days of the date of this letter. Failure to do so could result in the denial of your 

permit unless there are substantive mitigating factors to preclude such a response. 

Please contact me at (251) 690-3246, should you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

Rudolph C. Villarreal 

Project Manager 

Regulatory Division 

Enclosures 
M 

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF 

ARCHIVES & HISTORY 

P. 0. Box 571 

Jackson, MS 39205-0571 

601-576-6850 

mdah.ms.gov 

February 9, 2021 

Mr. Rudolph C. Villarreal 

Mobile District, Corps of Engineers 

Post Office Box 2288 

Mobile, Alabama 36628-0001 

RE: SAM-2021-00025-RCV; Proposed Rail Connection, S19, T7S, R5W, Moss Point, (USAGE) 

MDAH Project Log #01-084-21, Jackson County 

Dear Mr. Villarreal: 

We have reviewed your January 20, 2021, request for cultural resources assessment, for the 

above referenced project in accordance with our responsibilities under Section 106 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act and 36 CFR Part 800. After review, it is our determination that it appears 

that the majority of the proposed rail line has not been surveyed and there are archaeological sites 

near the APE (area of potential effect) and one site in the APE, therefore a cultural resources 

survey of the proposed rail line is needed prior to any construction. The resulting report should 

reference the project log number above on the title page. 

Should there be additional work in connection with the project, or any changes in the scope of 

work, please let us know in order that we may provide you with appropriate comments in 

compliance with the above referenced regulations. 

If you have any questions, please contact me at (601) 576-6940. 

Sincerely, 

Hal Bell 

Review and Compliance Officer 

FOR: Katie Blount 

State Historic Preservation Officer 

Board of Reuben V. Anderson, president Hilda Cope Povall, president Nancy Carpenter Spence Ftatgard I Betsey Hamilton I Web Heidelberg 

I Edmond E. Hughes Jr. I Mark E. Keenum Helen Smith 
Lisa D. Morrison 

From: Villarreal, Rudolph CCIV USARMY CESAM (USA) <Rudolph.C.Villarreal@usace.army.mil> 

Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2021 12:39 PM 

To: Murphy, Amanda (FRA) 

Cc: Lisa D. Morrison 

Subject: RE: USACE Comments 

Attachments: 2021-02-25.AGCY.21-025.Forwarding of PN Comments(signed).pdf; 

21-02-24.PN.21-025.Consolidated comments to applicant.pdf 

Amanda: 

Please see the attached comment letter with associated attachment. 

Please contact me if you have any questions. 

Thank you, 

Rudy 

Rudolph C. Villarreal 

Senior Project Manager 

US Army Corps of Engineers 

Mobile District 

Regulatory Division 

South Mississippi Branch 

Office. (251) 690-3246 

Cell: (251) 508-7049 

E-Mail. rudolph.c.vi llarreal@usace.army.mil 

From: Villarreal, Rudolph CCIV USARMY CESAM (USA) 

Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 5:44 PM 

To: 'Murphy, Amanda (FRA)' <amanda.murphy2@dot.gov> 

Cc: Lisa D. Morrison <lmorrison@comptonengineering.com> 

Subject: RE: USACE Comments 

Amanda: 

I will send out the comments to both Lisa and the FRA tomorrow via e-mail. Each comment letter is separate, 

and different in regard to the response request. They will be separate letters and sent via email. Your letter will 

be cc'd to NMFS-HCD. 

A third letter, in response to NMFS-HCD initial comments to the current Public notice, will be sent after 

signature by my Supervisor, This letter will be cc'd to you. 

As we discussed last Friday, please see attached NMFS initial response letter to the previous Public Notice 

under SAM-2018-01204-RCV, and the USACE response. 

1 
Please note the email address of Ms. Virginia Fay: 

virginia.fay@noaa.gov 

Thank you, 

Rudy 

Rudolph C. Villarreal 

Senior Project Manager 

US Army Corps of Engineers 

Mobile District 

Regulatory Division 

South Mississippi Branch 

Office. (251) 690-3246 

Cell: (251) 508-7049 

E-Mail. rudolph.c.villarreal@usace.army.mil 

From: Murphy, Amanda (FRA) <amanda.murphy2@dot.gov> 

Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 202111:45 AM 

To: Villarreal, Rudolph CCIV USARMY CESAM (USA) <Rudolph.C.Villarreal@usace.army.mil> 

Subject: [Non-DoD Source] USACE Comments 

Hello, 

I wanted to follow up regarding our conversation on Friday, to see when the USACE comments might be sent? 

Thanks, 

Amanda Murphy, MAHP 

Environmental Protection Specialist 

Federal Railroad Administration 

202-339-7231 (cell) 

Amanda.murphy2@dot.gov 

2 
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 

MOBILE DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS 

P.O. BOX 2288 

REPLY TO 

ATTENTION OF: 

MOBILE, ALABAMA 36628-0001 

February 25, 2021 

South Mississippi Branch 

Regulatory Division 

SUBJECT: Cooperating Agency forwarding of Public Notice Comments for the Federal 

Railroad Administration-led North Rail Connector Project (SAM-2021-00025-RCV) 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Federal Railroad Administration 

Attention: Ms. Amanda Murphy 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Sent via email: Amanda.murphy2@dot.gov 

Ms. Murphy: 

It is the policy of the Department of the Army (USACE) to provide the applicants of a 

project applicant the opportunity to furnish a proposed resolution or rebuttal to all 

objections and other substantive comments before a final decision is made on a 

proposed project. In this regard, I would appreciate receiving any comments that you 

may have on this matter. 

As a cooperating agency, the USACE is forwarding these comments to you during 

the environmental evaluation process for the development and preparation of an 

Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed North Rail Connector Project. The 

concerns expressed by two of the commenters appear to this office to be substantive. 

To complete my public interest review and separate permitting responsibilities, your EA, 

and your lead federal agency responsibilities under 36 CFR 800.2(a)(2), these concerns 

must be addressed. Any other comments from the USACE will be forthcoming following 

the completion and review of the revised mitigation plan. 

The attached comments were also sent to the applicant's agent, Ms. Lisa Morrison, 

on February 24, 2021 with the following request for additional information: 

a. State when the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will initiate a consultation 

on Essential Fish Habitat with the National Marine Fisheries- Habitat 

Conservation Division. 

b. State when a Cultural Resources Survey will be conducted, if any. 
-2-

c. Please provide this office with an alternative analysis which quantitatively 

reflects the relocation of the project as a new permit under SAM-2021-00025. 

d. Please provide an absent "Appendix D" from your previous application which 

shows the location of all alternative site. 

e. Please provide any updates on the stormwater and drainage plan that you have 

provided the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality during your prefiling meeting. 

f. Please provide a new Hydrogeomorphic data set for the new mitigation plan. 

g. Please provide a new conservation easement for review which reflects the new 

mitigation plan. 

Copies of this correspondence is being furnished via email to Ms. Lisa Morrison, 

Compton Engineering @ lmorrison@comptonengineering .com.You can contact him at 

(251) 690-3246 or at rudolph.c.villarreal@usace.army.mil should you have any 

information or questions related to this project. 

Sincerely, 

Senior Project Manager 

Mobile District 

Regulatory Division 

Enclosure 
From: Murphy. Amanda (FRA)

To: Munther.N.Sahawneh@usace.army.mH: Villarreal. Rudolph CCIV USARMY CESAM (USA) 

Cc: Johnsen. Michael (FRA); Dixon. Marc (FRA); Sandy Feathers: Lisa D. Morrison 

Subject: Cooperating Agency Invitation: North Rail Connector Project (FRA/JCPA) 

Date: Friday, January 15, 20211:50:55 PM 

Attachments: NRCP project FJgure 01152021.pdf 

NRCP EA Schedule 01142021.docx 

NRCP USACE Cooperating Agency Invite signed.pdf 

Dear Mr. Sahawneh, 

Attached is a letter from the Federal Railroad Administration inviting USACE to be a Cooperating 

Agency for the proposed North Rail Connector Environmental Assessment. The Jackson County Port 

Authority is the project proponent. As indicated in the letter, we would appreciate a response 

before February 1. 

Thank you, 

Amanda Murphy, MAHP 

Environmental Protection Specialist 

Federal Railroad Administration 

202-339-7231 (cell) 

Amanda.murphy2@dot.gov 
U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Railroad 

Administration 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

January 15, 2021 

US Army Corps of Engineers 

Mobile District 

P.O. BOX 2288 

Mobile, Alabama 

Attention: Mr. Munther N. Sahawneh 

Branch Chief 

Regulatory Division 

South Mississippi Branch 

Re: Invitation to accept NEPA Cooperating Agency status for the Federal Railroad Administration-led 

North Rail Connector Project 

Dear Mr. Sahawneh: 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded the Jackson County Po1t Authority (JCPA) a grant 

for the proposed North Rail Connector Project (Proposed Project). The Proposed Project would connect 

rail owned by Mississippi Export Railroad (MSE) that crosses over the Escatawpa River just east of 

Highway 63 in Moss Point, Mississippi to an existing JCPA-owned rail line that crosses tlu·ough the Moss 

Point Industrial and Technology Complex (MPITC). FRA anticipates that we will prepare an 

Environmental Assessment (EA) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the 

Proposed Project. The purpose of this letter is to invite the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to be 

a cooperating agency on the EA, as your agency may have an interest based on your jurisdiction by law, 

including Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and special expe1tise. FRA also requests that you designate 

us as the lead federal agency for National Historic Preservation Act Section I 06 consultation for the 

Proposed Project. 

The purpose of the Proposed Project is to provide additional railroad capacity and connectivity between 

existing infrastructure to support the growing needs of the Port of Pascagoula, Bayou Casotte Harbor. 

Currently, freight trains that travel from the north on the MSE line must pass through downtown Moss 

Point and Pascagoula to the Pascagoula Interchange to join CSX rail. This operation regularly blocks 

vehicular traffic and creates delays at four major roadway intersections. Also, the curve between the 

existing MSE line that joins with the rail line that enters into the MPITC is too tight to allow unit trains to 

travel. The Proposed Project is needed remove operational conflicts between railroads, reduce 

congestion, and accommodate the proposed restoration of passenger rail service. 

Enclosed is a figure of the Proposed Project. The proposed rail line is located within JCPA owned land 

and several parcels are currently being assessed for purchase/right of way. The proposed rail line begins 

at approximate latitude/longitude 30.251207/-88.310005 on the north and extends to approximate 

latitude/longitude 30.413308/-88.508269 where it joins existing rail. The approximate center point of the 

proposed rail line is located at 30.415001 degrees latitude and -88.513679 degrees longitude. 

The proposed rail line would cross over estuarine wetlands and forested uplands, and join on the east with 

an existing JCPA rail line that connects to an interchange located within the MPITC. The length of the 
proposed rail line through estuarine wetlands is approximately 3,659 total linear feet with approximately 

2,852 feet through marsh wetlands, and 807 through uplands. Most of the proposed rail would be elevated 

and fill will be used at the abutments to the pile structures. One area of marsh wetlands will be filled with 

a length of approximately 413 feet and 45.5 feet width. The total impact to wetlands from fill is 

approximately 39,261 square feet (0.90 acres). There would be approximately 2,649 cubic yards of fill. 

Construction would be conducted either from uplands or from existing rail. A construction staging area 

would be established within the MPITC in an area that was recently used for the same purpose. The 

staging area would be approximately I-acre in size, and it is not located within a wetland. 

Construction of the North Rail Connector Project would result in permanent filling of0.90 acres of 

regulated estuarine wetland. JCPA would identify exact mitigation measures and wetland compensation 

ratios in collaboration with your agency and other regulatory agencies during the subsequent preliminary 

design and permitting phase. At this time, JCPA anticipates that mitigation requirements would be 

satisfied through pennittee responsible mitigation in which an upland area is conve1ied into estuarine 

wetland. 

In accordance with 40 CFR § 150 l .8, FRA requests USACE's assistance in the participation of our 

anticipated EA for proposed North Rail Connector Project as a cooperating agency. Further, we request 

that USACE designate FRA as the lead federal agency for Section 106 NHPA to streamline and fulfill 

collective Federal responsibilities under 36 CFR 800.2(a)(2). Please provide your written concurrence 

with this invitation and our proposed EA schedule within 15 days from the date on this letter. Should you 

decline to accept our invitation to be a cooperating agency, we advise that you provide a copy of your 

response to CEQ as specified at 40 CFR § 1501.S(c). We look forward to working cooperatively with you 

on this important project. 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss our respective roles and responsibilities in more detail, 

please contact Ms. Amanda Murphy, FRA Environmental Protection Specialist at 202-339-723 l or

Amanda.murphy2@dot.gov. 

Sincerely, 

MICHAELM D!gitally signed by MICHAEL M 

JOHNSEN 

JOHNSEN Date: 2021.01.15 12:05:32 -05'00' 

Michael Johnsen 

Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist 

Cc: Rudolph C. Villarreal, Senior Project Manager, USA CE Mobile - South Mississippi Branch 

Sandy Feathers, JCPA Assistant Port Director 

Enclosures: 

Proposed Project Figure 

Proposed EA Schedule 
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 

MOBILE DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS 

P.O. BOX 2288 

MOBILE, ALABAMA 36628-0001 REPLY TO 

ATTENTION OF: 

January 27, 2021 

South Mississippi Branch 

Regulatory Division 

SUBJECT: Participating Agency invitation to accept NEPA Cooperating Agency status 

For the Federal Railroad Administration-led North Rail Connector Project (SAM-2021-

00025-RCV) 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Federal Railroad Administration 

Attention: Mr. Michael M. Johnsen 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

michael.johnsen@dot.gov 

Mr. Johnsen: 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE), Mobile District received your letter 

dated January 15, 2021, inviting the Mobile District to participate as a "Cooperating 

Agency" in the environmental evaluation process and development and preparation of 

an Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed North Rail Connector Project as a 

cooperating agency. 

In accordance with CEQ regulations 40 CFR §1501.8 for Lead and Cooperating 

Agencies, we accept your invitation to become a participating agency for the 

environmental evaluation process of this project. 

In order to maintain a high level of interagency cooperation, the Mobile District 

agrees to participate in agency coordination meetings, provided consultation on relevant 

technical studies when appropriate, and review project information and study results. 

Further, USAGE designates the Federal Railroad Administration as the lead federal 

agency for Section 106 NHPA to streamline and fulfill collective Federal responsibilities 

under 36 CFR 800.2(a)(2). In addition, please see the attached revision to the schedule 

for the EA. The USAGE respectfully requests additional time for review of both the 

interested agency comment period, and the FRA and USAGE review of version 2 of the 

EA. 

Copies of this correspondence is being furnished via email to Ms. Amanda Murphy, 

FRA Environmental Protection Specialist@Amanda.murphy2@dot.gov. 
-2-

The Mobile District's project manager and primary point of contact for this project will 

be Mr. Rudolph Villarreal. You can contact him at (251) 690-3246 or at 

rudolph.c.villarreal@usace.army.mil should you have any information or questions 

related to this project. 

Sincerely, 

SAHAWNEH Digitallyslgnedby 

• MUNT SAHAWNEH.MUNTHERN.1230711 

HER.N.1230711808 Date: 2021.01.2812"07"49-06'00'

Munther N. Sahawneh 

Chief, South Mississippi Branch 

Regulatory Division 

enclosure 
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 

MOBILE DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS 

P.O. BOX 2288 

REPLY TO 

ATTENTION OF: 

MOBILE, ALABAMA 36628-0001 

February 25, 2021 

South Mississippi Branch 

Regulatory Division 

SUBJECT: Cooperating Agency forwarding of Public Notice Comments for the Federal 

Railroad Administration-led North Rail Connector Project (SAM-2021-00025-RCV) 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Federal Railroad Administration 

Attention: Ms. Amanda Murphy 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Sent via email: Amanda.murphy2@dot.gov 

Ms. Murphy: 

It is the policy of the Department of the Army (USAGE) to provide the applicants of a 

project applicant the opportunity to furnish a proposed resolution or rebuttal to all 

objections and other substantive comments before a final decision is made on a 

proposed project. In this regard, I would appreciate receiving any comments that you 

may have on this matter. 

As a cooperating agency, the USAGE is forwarding these comments to you during 

the environmental evaluation process for the development and preparation of an 

Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed North Rail Connector Project. The 

concerns expressed by two of the comm enters appear to this office to be substantive. 

To complete my public interest review and separate permitting responsibilities, your EA, 

and your lead federal agency responsibilities under 36 CFR 800.2(a)(2), these concerns 

must be addressed. Any other comments from the USAGE will be forthcoming following 

the completion and review of the revised mitigation plan. 

The attached comments were also sent to the applicant's agent, Ms. Lisa Morrison, 

on February 24, 2021 with the following request for additional information: 

a. State when the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will initiate a consultation 

on Essential Fish Habitat with the National Marine Fisheries- Habitat 

Conservation Division. 

b. State when a Cultural Resources Survey will be conducted, if any. 
-2-

c. Please provide this office with an alternative analysis which quantitatively 

reflects the relocation of the project as a new permit under SAM-2021-00025. 

d. Please provide an absent "Appendix D" from your previous application which 

shows the location of all alternative site. 

e. Please provide any updates on the stormwater and drainage plan that you have 

provided the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality during your prefiling meeting. 

f. Please provide a new Hydrogeomorphic data set for the new mitigation plan. 

g. Please provide a new conservation easement for review which reflects the new 

mitigation plan. 

Copies of this correspondence is being furnished via email to Ms. Lisa Morrison, 

Compton Engineering @ lmorrison@comptonengineering.com.You can contact him at 

(251) 690-3246 or at rudolph.c.villarreal@usace.army.mil should you have any 

information or questions related to this project. 

Sincerely, 

Rudolph C. Villarreal

Senior Project Manager 

Mobile District 

Regulatory Division 

Enclosure 
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF 

ARCHIVES & HISTORY 

P. 0. Box 571 

Jackson, MS 39205-0571 

601-576-6850 

mdah.ms.gov 

February 9, 2021 

Mr. Rudolph C. Villarreal 

Mobile District, Corps of Engineers 

Post Office Box 2288 

Mobile, Alabama 36628-0001 

RE: SAM-2021-00025-RCV; Proposed Rail Connection, S19, T7S, R5W, Moss Point, (USACE) 

MDAH Project Log #01-084-21, Jackson County 

Dear Mr. Villarreal: 

We have reviewed your January 20, 2021, request for cultural resources assessment, for the 

above referenced project in accordance with our responsibilities under Section 106 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act and 36 CFR Part 800. After review, it is our determination that it appears 

that the majority of the proposed rail line has not been surveyed and there are archaeological sites 

near the APE (area of potential effect) and one site in the APE, therefore a cultural resources 

survey of the proposed rail line is needed prior to any construction. The resulting report should 

reference the project log number above on the title page. 

Should there be additional work in connection with the project, or any changes in the scope of 

work, please let us know in order that we may provide you with appropriate comments in 

compliance with the above referenced regulations. 

If you have any questions, please contact me at (601) 576-6940. 

Sincerely, 

Hal Bell 

Review and Compliance Officer 

FOR: Katie Blount 

State Historic Preservation Officer 

Board of Trustees: Reuben V. Anderson, president Hilda Cope president Nancy Carpenter Spence Flatgard I Betsey Hamilton Web Heidelberg 

I Edmond E. Hughes Jr. I Mark E. Keenum Helen Moss Smith 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE 

Southeast Regional Office 

263 13thAvenue South 

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/reqlon/southeast 

February 11 , 2021 F/SER46/JM:rs 

225-380-0089 

Colonel Sebastien P. Jolly, Commander 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District 

Post Office Box 2288 

Mobile, Alabama 36628-0001 

Dear Colonel Jolly: 

NOA.A's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has reviewed Joint Public Notice (JPN) 

SAM-2021-00025-RCV dated January 20, 2021. The JPN indicated the Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA) is the lead federal agency for this project and responsible for ensuring 

compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act). The NMFS previously reviewed JPN SAM-2018-01204-RCV dated May 29, 2019 

and provided two conservation recommendations on the project under provisions of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act in a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USA.CE) dated June 25, 

2019. The USA.CE permitted the applicant, Jackson County Port Authority (JCPA), to construct 

the North Rail Connector on October 14, 2020 (SAM-2018-01204-RCV). The initial cost 

estimated for a railroad on fill versus an elevated rail line indicated the fill construction method 

would be the most cost effective. 

In an effort to reduce construction costs, the JCP A evaluated other construction methods and rail 

line footprints. Upon JPCA 's review of a recent geotechnical evaluation, the cost estimated for 

elevated rail constrnction yielded rail crossings over a shorter section of marsh, crossing over 

longer sections of forested uplands, a connection to the existing rail at a different location, and 

reduced construction costs and impacts to essential fish habitat (EFH). Based on the information 

provided in the JPN (SAM-2021-00025-RCV), the JCPA proposes: (1) to discontinue use of a 

section ofrail line, (2) construct a new rail connection to the existing rail line using elevated 

pilings, and (3) fill 0.90 acre of estuarine wetlands east of Highway 63 in Jackson County, 

Mississippi. 

The wetlands in the vicinity of the project consist of tidally influenced brackish marsh. Water 

bottoms in the project area are composed of a mixture of sand and mud substrates. The proposed 

project is in an area potentially designated as EFH for various life stages of federally managed 

species, including red drum, brown shrimp, and white shrimp. The primary categories of EFH 

affected by project implementation, are estuarine emergent wetlands, estuarine water columns, 

and estuarine water bottoms. Detailed information on federally managed fisheries and their EFH 

is provided in the 2005 generic amendment of the Fishery Management Plans for the Gulf of 

Mexico prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. The generic amendment 

was prepared as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishe1y Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act; P.L. I 04-297). 
In addition to being designated as EFH for various federally managed fishery species, wetlands, 

and water bottoms in the project area provide nursery and foraging habitats for a variety of 

economically important marine fishery species such as blue crab, gulf menhaden, spotted sea 

trout, sand trout, southern flounder, and striped mullet. Some of these species serve as prey for 

other fish species managed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishe1y Management Conncil ( e.g., mackerels, 

snappers, and groupers) and highly migratory species managed by NMFS (e.g., billfishes and 

sharks). Wetlands in the project area also produce nutrients and detritus, important components 

of the aquatic food web, which contributes to the overall productivity of the Pascagoula Bay 

estuary. 

Under the EFH provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, federal action agencies, such as the 

USACE and the FRA, are required to conduct an EFH consultation with NMFS. However, the 

FRA has not initiated an EFH consultation or provided the required EFH assessment at this stage 

of the federal permitting and authorization process. A complete EFH assessment should inclnde 

all activities associated with this project and a description of measures taken to avoid, minimize, 

mitigate, or offset the adverse impacts of the proposed activities on EFH. Avoidance and 

minimization of direct wetland impacts should be pursed to the greatest extent practicable. The 

NMFS recommends an alternatives analysis including details on the selection of the footprint 

alignment, evaluation of other construction methods, and details on the utilization of existing rail 

lines, bridges, or other aligmnents be provided. Additionally, unavoidable EFH impacts will 

require in-kind mitigation. The NMFS is not aware of existing mitigation banks servicing the 

area providing this credit type. Therefore, a permittee responsible mitigation plan will be 

required. 

Section 305(b )( 4)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS to provide EFH conservation 

recommendations for any federal action or permit which may result in adverse impacts to EFH. 

Therefore, NMFS recommends the following to ensure the conservation of EFH and associated 

marine fishe1y resources: 

EFH Conservation Recommendations 

1. An alternatives analysis should be developed which accomplishes the project 

purpose and avoids or minimizes impacts to EFH. 

2. A complete EFH assessment should be provided to NMFS including all 

activities associated with this project and a description of measures taken to 

avoid, minimize, mitigate, or offset the adverse impacts of the proposed 

activities on EFH. 

3. A mitigation and monitoring plan should be developed which fully compensates 

for unavoidable impacts to EFH. The mitigation plan should be presented to 

NMFS for review. Should a permit be issued for this project, it should require 

the implementation of the mitigation plan concurrent with the construction of 

the development. 

2 
Consistent with Section 305(b )( 4)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and NMFS' implementing 

regulation at 50 CFR 600.920(k), your office is required to provide a written response to our 

EFH conservation reconunendations within 30 days ofreceipt. Your response must include a 

description of measures to be required to avoid, mitigate, or offset the adverse impacts of the 

proposed activity. If your response is inconsistent with our EFH conservation reconunendations, 

you must provide a substantive discussion justifying the reasons for not implementing the 

reconunendations. If it is not possible to provide a substantive response within 30 days, the 

Mobile District should provide an interim response to NMFS, to be followed by the detailed 

response. The detailed response should be provided in a manner to ensure that it is received by 

NMFS at least 10 days prior to the final approval of the action. 

Thank you for your consideration of these comments. If you wish to discuss this project, further 

or have questions concerning our recommendations, please contact January Murray at (225) 380-

0089, or by email at Januaiy.Murray@noaa.gov. 

Sincerely, 

Virginia 

Virginia M. Fay 

Assistant Regional Administrator 

Habitat Conservation Division 

c: 

USACE, Mobile, Villarreal 

FRA, Murphy 

FWS, Jackson, Necaise 

F/SER46, Swafford 

F/SER4, Dale 

Files 

M. 

3 
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI 

TATE REEVES

GOVERNOR 

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 

CHRIS WELLS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

January 27, 2021 

Sandy Feathers 

Jackson County Port Authority, MPITC Rail Line 

POBOX70 

Pascagoula, MS 39568 

Re:Jackson County Port Authority, MPITC Rail 

Line 

Jackson County 

COE No. SAM202100025RCV 

WQC No. WQC2021002 

Dear Mr. Feathers: 

This letter is to acknowledge receipt of the public notice relating to your 401 Water Quality 

Certification Request on 01/20/2021. Within thirty days after the date ofreceipt of the public 

notice, you will be notified of the major components required to complete the processing of your 

certification request. 

If any of these actions involve construction activities, please notify us of your projected schedule 

for commencement of construction and completion of construction. 

If you have any questions regarding the application or the permitting process, please contact 

Florance Bass at (601) 961-5171. 

Sincerely, 

Renee Smith 

Environmental Permits Division 

cc: Rudolph Villarreal 

75594 WQC202I000I 

OFFICE OF POLLUTION CONTROL 

Post Office13ox 2261 Jackson, Mississippi 39225-2261 ·Tcl: (601) 961 -5171 · Fax: (601) 354-66I2·www.mdcq.ms.gov 

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 
CE 

156 Nixon Street 

BIioxi, MS 39530 

Phone: 228.432.2133 

Fax: 228.432.8149 

Ill 

comptonengineering.com 

PASCAGOULA 

BILOXI 

BAY ST. LOUIS 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. 

March 10, 2021 

Mr. Rudolph Villareal 

Department of the Army 

Mobile District, Corps of Engineers 

P.O. Box 2288 

Mobile, AL 36628-000 I 

Re: Jackson County Po1t Authority - North Rail Connector Rail Line, Moss Point, MS 

Response to comments letter dated February 25, 2021 

SAM-2021-00025-RCV 

Dear Mr. Villareal: 

This letter is in response to the comment letter dated February 25, 2021, regarding additional 

information needed for further evaluation of the permit application for the North Rail 

Connector project. 

A) State when the FRA will initiate a consultation on Essential Fish Habitat with the 

National Marine Fisheries - Habitat Conservation Division. 

Response: FRA and JCPA submitted a letter to NMFS on March 8, 2021 requesting 

consultation on Essential Fish Habitat. The letter concluded that the project was not likely 

to adversely effect EFH and requested concurrence or a request for additional information 

within 30 days. 

B) State when a Cultural Resources Survey will be conducted, if any. 

Response: A Cultural Resources Survey was contracted for in December 2020 and field 

work was conducted in January 2021. We are currently waiting for the final report to be 

submitted. The Cobb Institute of Archaeology is completing the report. They have 

indicated that they will be recommending project concurrence.

C) Please provide this office with an alternative analysis which quantitatively reflects the 

relocation of the project as a new permit under SAM-2021-00025. 

Response: Please see the attached Alternative Analysis. (Attachment 1) 

D) Please provide an absent Appendix D which shows the location of all altemative sites. 

Please see the attached drawings. (Attachment 2) 

E) Please provide any updates on the stormwater and drainage plan that you have provided 

the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality duringyour pre-filing meeting. 

ENGINEERING, SURVEYING & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 
Response: During the prefiling meeting, MDEQ requested a copy of the SWPPP and 

SCNOI which were provided on December 14, 2020. A copy of the SWPPP and SCNOI 

are attached for your review. We have requested WQC in accordance with the 401 WQC 

regulations and MDEQ has indicated we will receive the approval shortly. (Attachment 

3) 

F) Please provide a new Hydrogeomorphic data set for the new mitigation plan. 

Response: Please see the attached Draft Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan that 

includes the updated Hydrogeomorphic Data Set. (Attachment 4) 

G) Please submit a new conservation easement for review which reflects the new mitigation 

plan. 

Response: We will submit a new draft conservation easement when the mitigation area is 

approved. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information. 

Sincerely, 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. 

Lisa D. Monison, RPG 

Senior Geologist 

LDM/cf 

Attachments 

cc: Amanda Murphy, Federal Railroad Administration 

I JCPA. to Corps 
ATTACHMENTS 

Attachment I -Alternative Analysis 

Attachment 2-Maps of Alternative Alignments and Construction Methods (Appendix D from 

application) 

Attachment 3 - SWPPP and SCNOI 

Attachment 4 -· Draft PRM and Hydrogeomorphic Data Set 
Attachment 1 - Alternative Analysis 
ALTERNATIVES EVALUATION 

Alternate Alignments and Construction Methods 

1) Existing rail line -JCPA considered using the existing MSE rail line that crosses under Highway 63 

and joins the main line at the MSE rail yard on the west side of Highway 63, however, this route includes 

a tight curve that would not be safe for unit trains (trains that are 50-60 cars long) to travel. This section 

of rail also is flooded on a frequent basis. Use of this section of rail has been discontinued due to safety 

considerations. Trains are not permitted to travel on a rail that is under water. The planned rail traffic 

will need to travel at approximately 20-25 miles per hour in order to make rail use economically 

advantageous. 

2) Alternative alignments that avoided marsh - Two alternate alignments (2a and 2b) were 

considered that established an acceptable radius that would allow the trains to maintain the optimal 

speed. These alignments required the rail to be added south of the existing MSE rail line and impacted 

several single family residential properties. In addition, these alignments would pass under a portion of 

the Highway 63 bridge which would not provide enough vertical clearance for the trains to pass 

underneath. An acceptable vertical clearance for a main line rail is 22 feet. The two alignments 

considered only provided 21'7" and 20'7" of clearance. 

3) Alternative alignment that crossed over marsh, freshwater forest and uplands - The previously 

permitted alignment includes approximately 3,576 linear feet through marsh and through 1,115 feet of 

forested wetlands. The rail would cross over 107 feet of uplands. This alignment was proposed to be 

constructed using an alternative construction method of filling the alignment from the south end 

working towards the north and using the previously filled area to access further along the alignment, so 

the areas outside of the fill area will not be impacted. Silt fence would be placed along the project 

footprint to prevent fill from moving outside of the project area. This alignment impacted 3.73 acres of 

marsh and 1.16 acres of freshwater forested wetlands for a total of approximately 4.89 acres. This 

alternative construction method and alignment was permitted, however, additional geotechnical work 

in the permitted project footprint indicated that subsurface conditions were not suitable for 

construction on fill. There would need to be two layers of fill on a footprint that was twice as wide as 

initially designed. This drove up the estimated costs to more than an alternative construction method 

and alignment. 

4) An alternative construction method -An alternative construction method utilizing sheet pile 

was considered. This would involve driving sheet pile along the layout, filling in between the sheet pile 

and constructing the rail line on top of the fill. This allows a narrower footprint; however, it is a more 

expensive than filling and involves additional heavy equipment to drive the sheet piles that would 

damage additional wetlands outside of the rail footprint. Based on the cost and damage from heavy 

equipment, this option was not selected. 
5) Construction of elevated rail in permitted footprint of approximately 4,800 linear feet -

Construction of a combination of elevated rail and construction on fill was considered in the permitted 

alignment. This alternative would reduce the amount of fill discharged into the alignment but 

construction costs for this length of rail were estimated at approximately $33 million. In addition, the 

method for building an elevated railroad at this location could require construction from barges or 

construction of a temporary access road adjacent to the railroad alignment resulting in additional 

destruction of the wetland habitat. The area was previously impacted by construction of power lines 

that cross the area and continues to be impacted by power line maintenance activities and it does not 

appear that the marsh vegetation has recovered. 

6) No Action Alternative - With the No Action alternative, the main rail line would not be relocated 

and rail traffic would continue through downtown Pascagoula and Moss Point. Traffic congestion would 

increase as the expected rail traffic increases and the train length increases to as much as 60 to 70 cars 

for some trains. Air quality would continue to be negatively impacted by idling cars. Freight rail would 

continue to be congested and lines would not be available for future passenger rail traffic. 

7) The Preferred Alternative - The preferred alternative moved the alignment to the west and 

south of the previously permitted footprint. This allowed for a shorter length over the estuary and 

included more upland areas. By using partial construction on pilings to elevate the portion of the rail 

over the marsh the impacts to the habitat were greatly reduced. The proposed alignment includes 

approximately 2,852 linear feet of elevated rail line over marsh (0.90 acres of impact from fill at the 

abutments and a small marsh area) and 807 feet of rail on uplands. The cost to construct a shorter 

length of elevated rail on pilings is also much less than the previously permitted construction on fill. 

Driving pilings to a stable depth is a more feasible option than filling and compacting on top of sediment. 

Construction will be from existing rail or from uplands. This combination of elevated rall llne, fill, and a 

modified footprint resulted in an estimated cost of approximately $15.5 million. 
Attaclunent 2 - Maps of Alternative Alignments and Constrnction Methods 

(Appendix D from application) 
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ION: 22235012.055 

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PION: 22235009.0DO 

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ATTACHMENT 2 

ALTERNATIVE 3 - PERMITTED 

ALIGHNMENT 

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Attachment 3 - SWPPP and SCNOI 
STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN 

for 

NORTH RAIL CONNECTOR PROJECT 

MOSS POINT, MISSISSIPPI 

On behalf of 

Jackson County Port Authority

Pascagoula, MS 39568 

by 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. 

Engineering, Surveying, and Environmental Services 

1969 Market Street 

Pascagoula, MS 39568 

(228) 762-3970 

NOVEMBER 2019 

Updated December 2020 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. Mississippi DEQ Small Construction Notice of Intent (SCNOI) 

2. Narrative

2.1. Project and Site Description 

2.1.1. Prior to Construction 

2.1.2. Following Construction

2.1.3. Soils 

2.1.4. Adjacent Properties 

3. Planned Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater Controls

3.1. Vegetative Controls 

3.2. Structural Controls 

3.2.1 General Construction Activities 

3.2.2 Sediment Basin 

3.2.3 Temporary Silt Fence 

3.3. Post Clearing Erosion Control 

3.4 Housekeeping Practices

3.4.1 Temporary Storage and Laydown Areas 

3 .4.2 Above Ground Storage Tanks/ Fuel Handling Areas 

3.4.3 Spill Kit 

3 .4.4 Non-Stormwater Discharge Management 

3.5 Post Construction Conh·ol Measures 

4. Implementation Sequence 

5. Maintenance Plan 

6. Sanitary Wastewater 

Attachments 

Figure J - Site Location 

Figure 2 -Topographic Map 

Appendix A NRCS Soil Report
1. MISSISSIPPI DEO SMALL CONSTRUCTION NOTICE OF lNTENT (SCNOI) 
M 

SMALL CONSTRUCTION NOTICE OF INTENT (SCNOI) 

GENERAL NPDES PERMIT MSR15 . (N11mbe1•(olirn1fg11cdbyMDEQlhulimlllctlJ ----

PROJECT INFORMATION 

OWNER CONTACT PERS0Ni OPERATOR (If dlffci-ent from owner) CONTACT PERSON: 

Mark McAndrews. Port Director 

OWNER COMPANY NAME: 

Jackson County Port Authority 

OWNER STREET (P,O, DOX): 

PODox70 

OWNERCl'l'Y1 

P,fscngouh, 

OPERATOR C0MPANY1 

OPERA TOR S'l'REtIT (P.O. DOX)1. 

OPERA TOR CITY1 

STATE: MS . ZIP: --=3=95=6=8 ___ _ STATE1 ______ .ZIP1 __ --=------...,;. 

OWNER PHONE II (INCi.UDE AUEA CODE): 

228-762-4041 

OPtiRATOR PHONE II (INCLUDE AREA CODE): 

PROJECT NAME: North_Rt)l_l Connector 

DESCRIPTION OJ~ CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY: Construction of elevated rail and rail on fill 

ACREAGE DISTURBED (lo be covel'ed by this pel'mlt, nrc11 must be less thnn five (5) nc1·cs): _.;.0':..:..9..;.0 ______ _ 

PHYSICAL SITE A(?l?lt_V,$·~ (If not nv11ll11blr1 tiuljcnie the nonl'est 1111mcd l'ond. Fol' llncnr projects, lndlcnlo tho beginning of tho project nml ld.clilll}I nil counties tho _11r.QJCC.I .h'1)Ye1·scs,)1 

STREET: north of Illder Street. 

CITY1 Moss Point COUNTY! ~-..... J ... a_ck_s_o_n ______ ZIP: 39567 

NEAREST NAMED RECEIVING STREAM: llscntmvpa River 

1

T11l1 n I ifirnllon 1110ll be $1gnctl 11C<ordf11 • lo lhc SmRlf Conslrutllon OentrAf l'~i'n\H, ACTIO, T,4, 'l'•S, 

If requested, plcaso submit :his fom1 to: Chief, l!nvlronmcnlal Ptrmlls Division 

MDliQ, omco of Pollution Conrrol 

r.o. nox2261 

Jackson, Mississippi 3922S 

l\cv, 3/1/13 
2. NARRATIVE 

2.1 Project and Site Description 

The Jackson County Port Authority (JCPA) is proposing to constrnct a new rail line that will 

extend on the northwest from the existing MSE main line just east ofI-Iighway 63 in Moss 

Point, Mississippi, will cross over estuarine and forested wetlands and will join on the east 

with existing MSE line that provides access to 1he Po1t of Pascagoula east bank facility at 

Bayou Casotte. The rail is needed to allow MSE to abandon numerous rail crossings in 

Moss Point and Pascagoula and to transport a product manufactured in Jackson and George 

Counties to 1he Port of Pascagoula for shipment. 

The length of the rail line through estuarine wetlands is approximately 3,6591o1al linear feet 

with approximately 2,952 feet through marsh wetlands, a11d 807 through uplands. The width 

of the proposed fill area is approximately 45.5 feet resulting in 39,261 square feet (0.90 

acres) of estuarine impacts. There will be approximately 2,649 cubic yards of fill. For 

construction a laydown yard will be established within the MPITC in an area that was 

recently used for the same purpose. The laydown yard will be approximately 1 acres in size 

and is not located within a wetland. 

The approximate center point of the proposed new rail line is located at 30.415001 degrees 

latitude and -88.513679 degrees longitude. The proposed new rail line is located within 

JCP A owned land and several parcels are currently being assessed for purchase. 

The subject property is located in Section 19, Township 7 South, and Range 5 West of 

Jackson County, MS. A Site Location Map is shown on Figure 1. A topographic map 

showing the project location is shown on Figure 2. 

The total project area is currently unimproved land and marsh. The intent of the control 

measures prepared herein are to prevent sediment-laden storm water nmoff from occuring,

to prevent sediment from leaving the site and erosion from taking place on the property. 

TMDLs have been established for the Escatawpa River near the proposed pmject area. 

These TMDLs are for pH, Toxicity, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), fecal coliform and 

Chlorine. The project involves construction of a railroad partially elevated on piles a11d 

partially on a rock fill foundation. No materials will be used that would cause a discharge 

that would have an impact on the established TMDLs. Best Management Practices (silt 

fence, turbidity curtains) will be in place to prevent any sediment or run-off from leaving 

the construction site. A TMDL for mercury is applicable to upstream segments of the 

Esoatawpa River which will not be impacted by the project.

2.1.1 Prior to Construction

The proposed projectsite includes estuarine wetland, forested wetland and forested 

uplands. The area is flat with little change in relief acrossthe proposed rail footprint. 
2.1.2 Following Construction

The project includes construction of approximately 3,659 linear feet of rail partially 

on an elevated rail and on approximately 45.5 feet wide rail bed construction on rip

rap, geotextile fabric and metal rails. 

2.1.3 Soils 

111e web soil survey identifies the area as Axis mucky sandy clay loam, frequently 

flooded, the Smithton loam, and the Daleville silt loam. The Axis series consists of 

deep, very poorly drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in thick loamy 

marine sediments. These soils are on narrow to broad, level coastal marshes. The 

water table fluctuates with the tide, Slope is less than 2 percent. The Smithton series 

consists of very deep, poorly drained, moderately slowly permeable soils that formed 

in loamy alluvial sediments. These level to nearly level soils are on Pleistocene and 

younger stream terraces of the Western and Southern Coastal Plains. Slopes are 

dominantly less than l percent, but range to 3 percent. The Daleville series consists 

of poorly drained soils that formed in loamy marine or flu vial sediment. Permeability 

is slow. These nearly level soils are on uplands and terraces of the Southern Coastal 

Plain. They are saturated late in winter and early in spring, Water runs off the surface 

very slowly. Slopes range from Oto 2 percent. A copy of the NRCS soil survey map 

is included in Appendix A. 

2.1.4 Acliacent Properties 

The surrounding area consists of undeveloped marsh and wetlands to the north and 

west, upland residential and existing railroad to the south and wooded areas and 

existing rail line within the Moss Point Industrialand Technology Center (MPITC) to 

the east. 

3,0 PLANNED EROSION, SEDIMENT, AND STORMW ATER CONTROLS 

3.1 Vegetative Controls 

The constrnctionmethod will include constructing a temporary road and driving piles from 

heavy equipment for the elevated portion of the project. The fill portion of the project will 

be constrncted by building rail bed from the upland (south) end of the project, filling the rail 

footprint from already constructed portions of the rail and proceeding along in a fill and 

construct manner or filling from adjacent uplands. Vegetation will be removed from the 

upland forested and fresh water forested portion of the rail footprint. Any disturbed areas 

outside of the rail footprint will be seeded with grass as soon as practicable after grading and 

construction. If exposed soils are to be left undisturbed for 14 days or more, those soils will 

be seeded immediately with grass (interpreted to mean one working day), A 50 foot 

undisturbed vegetated buffer will be maintained around waters of the United States where 

possible. Where not feasible, structural controls will be used to prevent discharge to 
undisturbed areas, 

3.2 Structural Controls 

Structural controls will be described for specific areas and for specific types of construction 

activities at 1he site. A drawing showing the location of sedimentation and erosion controls 

is included in Appendix B. 

3.2.1 General Construction Activities 

A gravel paved road adjacent to the existing rail line in MPTIC will be used as a 

construction access road to the new rail footprint construction area, A constmction entrance

and equipment turnaround will be created at the end of the existing gravel access road to 

prevent damage from the heavy trucks and equipment in the area, This will help to remove 

sediment from constrnction vehicles and prevent sediment from leaving the properly and 

onto public roadways. Details of the constrnction entrance are shown on the attached site 

plan and detail sheet in Appendix B. A laydown yard will be established in a prior cleared 

area within the MPITC, Soil compaction and preservation of top soil will be accomplished 

by keeping heavy equipment to construction areas and not travelling over non-construction 

areas, Top soil will be stockpiled to be used in areas to be revegetated after construction. 

Steep slopes and storm drains are not present 011 site, 

3.2.2 Sediment Basin 

Since this project is a linear project with a fill width of approximately 45.5 feet and length of 

3,600 feet, a sediment basin is not required. Most of the project is constrncted on pilings, 

3.2.3 Temporary Silt Fence 

Temporary silt fence will be placed around the perimeter of the disturbed area to prevent 

sediment from leaving the site, The fence will be installed and maintained in accordance 

with s1iecifications set forth in the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, 

"Handbook for Erosion Control, Sediment Control and Stonnwater Management on 

Construction Sites and Urban Areas, Volume 1, Erosion and Sediment Control Manual, 

Volume 2, Volume 2 Stol'mwater Runoff Management Manual, and Volume 3, Appendices: 

Developing Plans & Designing Best Management Practices published 2011. Silt fence details 

are shown in Appendix B. 

Accumulated sediment will be removed when it has reached 1/3 to 1⁄2 the height of the 

control. 

Floating turbidity curtains will be used where needed in the areas of the elevated railway 

construction.
3,3 Post Clearing Erosion Control 

If exposed soils are to be left undisturbed for 14 days or more, those soils will be seeded 

temporarily with grass innnediately, inte1preted to mean within one working day. 

3,4 Housekeeping Practices

Scheduled equipment maintenance or repair will not be conducted on site. Should 

unforeseen equipment maintenance or repair be required, and fluids are accidentally released, 

they will be soaked up and visibly stained soils will be removed and properly disposed. No 

lubricant or fuel containers will be stored on site. Paints, solvents, fertilizers, chemicals or 

any other potentially toxic materials will not be stored on site, Waste receptacles will be 

supplied and regularly maintained at convenient locations throughout the duration of 

constrnction. Temporary restroom facilities will be supplied and maintained throughout the 

construction process, Dust suppression activities will be conducted on a regular basis/as 

needed on the roads, work areas and construction entrance to prevent windblown dirt/dust 

from leaving the site. 

3.4.1 Temporary Storage and Laydown Yards 

Equipment will be temporarily stored in a temporary construction laydown yard within the 

MPITC during construction activities. Inspections will be made daily for leaks or spills from 

heavy equipment. Drip pans will be used when leaks occur a11d any impacted soil wiII be

cleaned up immediately. Oil stained soil will be placed in appropriate containers and 

disposed of properly.

3.4.2 Above Ground Storage Tanks/ Fuel Handling Arens 

Fuel storage tanks may be stored on site for heavy equipment use, The AS T's will be double 

walled or will be placed within a bermed area, on visqueen or on concrete to avoid release to 

the enviromnent. 

3.4,3 Spill Kit 

A spill kit will be available on site to address any leaks or spills from heavy equipment or 

from any fuel storage tanks. The spill kit will also be available to protect from spills that 

approach storm drains, ditches or inlets, 

3.4.4 Non- Stormwater Discha1·ge Management 

There will be no non-stormwaterdischarges allowed on site during constrnction activities 

other than dust control discharges. If necessary during constmction, the contractor will spray

clean water available from nearby fire hydrants or water trucks, as a dust control measure,

The amount sprayed will be managed to prevent any run-offfrom occurring.
3,5 Post Constl'uclion Control Measures 

Final stabilization will include seeding any non-paved areas within 7 days of constl'Uction 

completion, Silt fences will be left in place until vegetation is 90 percent established, 

4. IMPLEMENTATION SEQUENCE 

1. Obtain plan approval, and all applicable permits. 

2. Mark off areas of disturbance and sensitive areas (marsh and other wetlands will be flagged) 

3, Hold pre-construction meeting with contractor to review schedule and implementation of 

erosion control procedures, 

4. Build construction entrance.

5. Install silt fencing or sediment traps where necessary.

6. Clear upland and forested wetland footprint of vegetation 

7. If .constmction activities are not to begin within 14 days, cleared areas will be seeded 

immediately or within the next working day. 

8. Construction activities begin. 

9. Landscaping and final stabilization. 

5. MAlNTENANCE PLAN 

I. All erosion and sediment controls and outfall discharge points will be checked for stability 

and operation at least once per week (for a minimum of four times per month) and following 

every runoff-producing rainfall. Any needed repairs will be made "immediately", interpreted 

to mean within the next working day. 

2. Excessive sediment will be removed from in front of the structural BMPs when sediment has 

reached 1/3 to 1⁄2 the height of the control. The silt fencing will be replaced or re-seated as 

necessary. 

3. All seeded areas will be fertilized and reseeded as necessary to maintain vigorous, dense 

vegetation. Where a disturbed area will be left 1mdisturbed for 14 days or longer, vegetative 

controls will be implemented "immediately", interpreted to mean no later than the next work 

day. 

4. New or additional employees will be acquainted with the plan as necessary. 

5. All permanent measures will be monitored at least annually, and maintenance 01· 

modification made as needed. 

6. Any necessary repair, replacement or supplementation of conh·ols will be completed within 

24 hours of noticed failure or as soon as field conditions allow. 

7. The weekly inspection forms (Small Constrnction Forms Package) will be filled out and 

maintained in acco!'danee with the permit. 

6. SANITARYWASTEWATER 

The facility will not have any sanitary sewer discharges. A portable toilet with a holding tank 

will be used during construction activities. 
FIGURES 
Project Location Map 

Topographic Map 
-----------··-··-········· .................................. .. 
• 

Site: North Rall Project Area COMPTON BNGJNBBRING, INC1 Engfneerlno,·su,v6yfno, e_nd £niilronn1entei servfoes Moss Point, Jackson County, MS 156 Hixon sucol 

DlloMl1 Mississippi 39530 

Pltono1 (220) 432•il3J feM1 .(220) tl32•0l4!> 

l!•m•llr comploriocomptononglneeifn11,~m 

Figure Title: Topographic Map (Map Source: USGS, 2012) Appendix ID: 

A 
APPENDIX A 

NRCS Soil Survey Map 
3:l"2S'TN 

N 

A 

Milp52le: L"4)30lpri'41:d onA~ (l.l"x8S) sheet. 

0 S) 1a) 2X) 

Metes 3X) 

Soil Map----Jackson County. M"ISSissippi 

(IP Property ) 

--..... ===-------=======Feet 0 2X) 'IQ) 8l) 12X) 

Mapl)lt!jedx,n:WtJJ Men:2m" Corner-c::crd'rms:WGSS4 E:lget!cs: U'IMZaielSNWGSS4 

1..1SOA. Natural Resources 

'" - Conservation Service 

Web Soil SUrvey 

Nalional Cooperative Sotl SUrvey 

9/26/2019 

Page1 ofS 

3:l" 2S'7'N 
Soil Map-Jackson County, M"ississippi 

(IP Property) 

MAP LEGEND 

Area of Interest (AOI) 

D Area of Interest (AO!) 

Soils 

Soil Map Unit Polygons 

- Soil Map Unit Lines 

El Soil Map Unit Points 

Special Point Feat!:= 

Blowout 

121! BorrcwPit 

Clay Spot 

Closed Depression 

Gravel Pit 

:. Gravelly Spot 

@ l.andffl 

It. LavaRow 

a Marshor$Wllffll) 

= M"meorQu:any 

@ M"JSCeDaneous ""2ter 

© Perennial \/\titer 

"1:f Rock Outat,p 

..I.. I Saline Spot 

.. Sandy Spot 

Severely Eroded Spot 

Sinkhole 

Sfide or Slip 

J;J Sod"oc:Spot 

Natural Resources • Conservation Service 

r 

Spoil Area 

S=nySpot 

.~ Very Stony Spot 

'§' WetSpot 

t::. Other 

~--- Special Line Features 

Water Fe:lturc$ 

- Streams and Canals 

T~rt2tion 

.;+f, Rails 

- lntetstale H",ghways 

,r.s, USRoutes 

= Major Roads 

== Local Roads 

Baclcground 

Ii Aerial Photcgraphy 

Web Soil Survey 

National Cooperative Soil Survey 

MAP INFORMATlON 

The soil surveys that comprise your AOI were mapped at 

1:24,000. 

Warning: Soil Map may not be vafid at this scale. 

Enlargement of maps beyond the scale of mapping can cause 

misunderstancring of the detail of mapping and a=racy of soil ruie placement The maps do not show the smaD areas of 

contras1ing soils that could have been shown at a more detailed 

scale. 

Please rely on the bar scale on each map sheet for map 

measurements. 

Source of Map: Natural Resources Conservation Service 

Web Soil Survey URL: 

Coordinate System: Web Mercator (EPSG:3857) 

Maps from the Web Soil Survey are based on the Web Mercator 

projection. which preserves direction and shape but cristorts 

cristance and area. A projection that preserves area, such as the 

Alber.. equal-area conic projection, should be used if more 

accurate calct1Iations of aistance cir area are requined. 

This product is generated from the USDA-NRCS certified data as 

of the version date(s) fisted below. 

Soil Survey Area: Jackson County, Mississippi 

Survey Area Data: Version 15, Sep 17, 2018 

Soil map units are labeled (as space aDows) for map scales 

1:50,000 or larger. 

Date(s) aerial images were photographed: Dec 31, 2009-Mar 

21,2017 

The orthophoto or other base map on which the soil rmes were 

compiled and digitized probably differs from the background 

imagery displayed on these maps. k. a result, some minor 

shifting of map unit boundaries may be evident 

9/26/2019 

Page2ofS 
Soll Mup--Jackson county, Mississippi IP Properly 

Map Unit Legend 

:.:.,:: ·•:.: ·-· -,.,::·· ·,···· -.. , .. · .. ::, ,.:::, :·· . ··•.·-· 

>.'.;)~f!P Un1(sy1)1hoi ·::· .·•, .. :Map ·u;1-lt ~.~-m~- ·!.~\:':: ... ,.- :-_.;-:\:f..qrc$ In AOJ.. :: .. .... - '• 

13 

26 

63 

92 

95 

226 

rota.ls for Area of Interest 

Daleville slit loam, O lo 1 

percent slopes 

Smithton loam, O to 1 percent 

slopes, occaslona!fy flooded 

Stough loam, O to 2 percent 

slopes 

Walor(>40 acres) 

Axis mucky sandy clay loam, 

frequently flooded 

Bayou sandy loam. o lo 1 

percent slopes 

-- •,::;c: .. 

•.· ·::: ;:. ·.•. : : 

1.8 

7,3 

11.7 

13.1 

72.0 

0,2 

107.0 

·----- -- --:,.:-::.:-.:--. ·-···· .. .. ·-· :.~:-P.ercont of AQ!_ ·::::,:; 

1.7% 

6.9% 

11.0% 

12.2% 

68.1% 

0,?.% 

100.0% 

USOA Natural Resources 

;..a Consorvatlon Sorv/co 

Web Soll Survey 

Nallonal Cooperatfve Soll Survey 

0/26/2019 

Page 3 of3 
APPENDIXB 

Sediment and Erosion Controls 

Construction Entrance Details 

Silt Fence Details 
Appendix B Erosion and Sedimentation Controls, Construction Entrance Details, Silt Fence Details 
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CSX Standard Specification for Rail Design 
2% 2): ' COl!l"ACTEII st/SSAU.AST 1-SE.E J,,'OTE 2 SEE Ntn'E :3 

TYPICAL CUT SECTION 

TYPICAL WET CUT SECT!ON 

' ' "' ' "' i-~E NOTE Z 

co~cm Sl.aSA:.t.ASr SEE! Non::? 

TYPICAL FILL SECTION 

'!/!i!::RE RIGHT OF WAY PE!IMI1S 2601 

1- ROAOBED VIOTHS AT TOP OF SUBCRAOZ• 

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ON THE TI?E ZF TRACKS ?l.tJS nlSTANCE BE:TYEEN TnAIX cem!Rt.I};e:s. 

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LASORATOR'Y TES'l'S. 

S.. lNS"rnUCTXO!xS FOi'? USE At.IC 1hiS'!'AlLA'r.:ON OF CiEOi'EXTll.cS 

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Tl-!€ 'EXCAVA'T:Olol. 

REVIE\iEO 

O!REc:CTD;i. 

CSX =mro="" 

ROADBED SECTIONS 

STANDARDS ANO l~INCi ASSISTAITT V!CE f>RE:Si~T. 

ECUIPHE:NT ANO TRAC~ SYSTE:HS ENCINER!NG 

REY!SEO• lNITIAt.. 4SSUE 
Attachment 4 - Draft PRM and Hydrogeomorphic Data Set 
DRAFT 

PERMITTEE-RESPONSIBLE MITIGATION (PRM) 

MITIGATION PLAN 

Jackson County Port Authority 

North Rall Connector 

Moss Point, Mississippi 

Prepared For 

Jackson County Port Authority 

PO Box70 

Pascagoula, MS 39668 

Prepared By 

1969 Market Street 

Pascagoula, Mississippi 39568

(288) 762-3970 

MARCH 2021 

CE Project No. 218-051 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION ............ , ............................................................................... , .......... , ........................ 2 

1.0 PROJECT DESGRIPTIONIOBJEGTIVES ............................................................................. 2 

2.0 PROPOSED MITIGATION SITE/SITE SELECTION ............................................................. 3 

3.0 SITE PROTECTION INSTRUMENT ...................................................................................... 3 

4.0 BASELINE INFORMATION ,, ...... , ........................ , ....... , .................................................... , ... 3 

5.1 IMPACT SITE .................................................................................................... 6 

6.2 MITIGATION SITE ............................................................................................ 6 

5.0 DETERMINATION OF GREDITS ........................................................................................... 7 

6.0 MITIGATION WORK PLAN ................................................................................................... 7 

7 ,0 MAINTENANCE PLAN ............................... , ................................................................ , ......... 7 

8.0 PERFORMANCE STANDAROS ............................................................................................ 7 

9.0 MONITORING REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................... 8 

10.0 LONG TERM MANAGEMENTPLAN .................................................................................... 8 

11.0 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN ....................................................................................... 8 

12.0 FINANCIAL ASSURANCES ................................................................................................. 8 

FIGURES 

Figure 1 

Figure 2 

Figure 3 

Site Location Map 

Rail Layout and Wetland Impacts at Project Site 

Proposed Mitigation Area 

Appendices 

Appendix A - Wetland Delineation Report 

Appendix B - DetailedWork Plan 

Appendix C - HGM Worksheets 

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INTRODUCTION 

This Draft Permitlee Responsible Mitigation Plan is for the modified layout area for the 

North Rail Connector in Jackson County, Mississippi. The rail layout is in the same 

general location as the permitted rail (SAM-2018-00124-RCV) but has been modified to 

impact less square footage of marsh wetlands and the construction method has been 

modified from mostly fill (4.79 acres of Impact) to mostly elevated rail on pilings (0.90 

acres of impact), 

JCPA proposes to construct a rail line to connect an existing rail owned by Mississippi 

Export Railroad (MSE) that crosses over the Escatawpa River in Moss Point, 

Mississippi to an existing JCPA-owned rail line that crosses through the Moss Point 

Industrial and Technology Complex and provides access to the Port of Pascagoula, 

Bayou Casotte Harbor (the Proposed Project). The Proposed Project, referred to as the 

North Rail Connector, would be approximately 3,659 linear feet with 2,852 feet of 

elevated rail and 807 feet of rail constructed on fill or existing uplands. There would be 

approximately 2,649 cubic yards of fill at the pile abutments for the elevated rail and in 

an area of estuarine wetlands, Approximately 0.90 acres of wetlands will be filled 

associated with the project. An existing grade crossing on Orange Grove Road would 

be relocated approximately 50 feet to the west to allow for the curve needed to 

accommodate the train lengths and speed. The existing MSE rail at the west end would 

need lo be adjusted to allow insertion of a turn out to join with the new elevated rail line. 

For construction, a laydown yard would be established within the MPITC in an area that 

was recently used for the same purpose. The laydown yard would be approximately 1 

acre in size and not localed within a wetland, 

The purpose of the Proposed Project is lo provide additional railroad capacity and 

connectivity between existing infrastructure to support the growing needs of the Port of 

Pascagoula, Bayou Casotte Harbor. Currently, freight trains that travel from the north on 

the MSE line must pass through downtown Moss Point and Pascagoula to the 

Pascagoula Interchange to join CSX rail. This operation regularly blocks vehicular 

traffic and creates delays at four major roadway intersections. Also, the curve 

alignment from the existing MSE line entering into the Moss Point Industrial and 

Technology Complex (MPITC) is too tight for the expected length of train to travel 

through that area safely. The Proposed Project is needed to remove operational 

conflicts between railroads, reduce congestion, and accommodate the proposed 

restoration of passenger rail service. The proposed layout of the new rail was 

determined by the requirements for clearance, maintaining speed of the trains, reducing 

impact to privately owned residential properties, and reducing the length of rail through 

wetlands. 

The proposed project will fill approximately 39,261 square feet (0.9 acres) of 

jurisdictional wetlands, This mitigation plan is for creation of wetlands on parcels owned 

by Jackson County Port Authority that are adjacent or near to the proposed new rail line 

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impacts. This draft mitigation plan includes the twelve components outlined in 33 CFR 

332.4(c)/40 CFR 230.92.4(c). 

1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION/ OBJECTIVES 

The proposed rail line is located in Jackson County on parcels 754.20-003.0004.00, 

754.20-003.0008.00, 754.20-003.0010.00, 754.20-003.0011 and 754.20-03.0012.00. 

The approximate center point of the proposed new rail line is located at 30.415546 

degrees latitude and -88.514452 degrees longitude. The proposed new rail line is 

bordered on the north and east by Secretary of State owned property and crosses 

privately owned property that Mississippi Export Railroad is currently in negotiations 

with to obtain right of way easements. 

The subject property is localed in Section 19, Township 7 South, and Range 5 West of 

Jackson County, MS. A Site Location Map is shown on Figure 1. 

JCPA proposes to construct a total of approximately 3,659 linear feet of rail line 

combined in an elevated rail and rail constructed on fill. There will be approximately 

2,852 linear feet of rail over marsh and 807 feet constructed on uplands. Impacts to 

marsh will be limited to fill at the abutments to the elevated sections. One section of 

wetland approximately 413 feet long by 15 feel wide will be filled for continuity of 

construction methods between sections built on uplands. This will total approximately 

39,261 square feet (0.90 acres) of fill in wetlands. A wetland delineation was conducted 

along the proposed rail line layout lo determine the location of marsh and forested 

wetlands or uplands. A copy of the Wetland Delineation Report is included in Appendix 

A. A drawing showing the proposed rail layout and the areas of impact Is shown on 

Figure 2. 

2.0 PROPOSED MITIGATION SITE/SITE SELECTION 

The JCPA has already purchased mitigation credits for the proposed Impacts to the 

forested wetlands associated with the permitted layout. There will be no forested 

wetland impacts and these credits cannot be used. The impacts to the marsh wetlands 

will be mitigated for by creation of marsh wetlands nearby. This creation proposal was 

chosen based on the location of the proposed mitigation area adjacent to the proposed 

rail line, the likelihood of success and ability to maintain the improvements over lime. 

The adjacent and nearby marsh vegetation has already been Impacted by industrial 

activity (the marsh is crossed by power lines and several power line towers are located 

within the marsh. These structures have to be maintained on a regular basis and the 

marsh has been damaged by marsh buggies, boats, or other equipment lo provide 

access to the power line). II appears that any restoration or enhancement of the marsh 

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vegetation would be subject to future damage. Therefore, enhancement/restoration of 

the existing damaged marsh wetland was not chosen during site selection. The 

proposed mitigation area was evaluated to ensure that there was enough upland 

acreage that could be graded to the appropriate elevation that would allow marsh 

vegetation to grow. Based on field surveys of the area, approximately four acres were 

identified as available for mitigation activities. 

The proposed mitigation area is located on the same parcels of land that the rail line will 

be located. The proposed mitigation area is optimal based on the following factors: 

1. The existing marsh interfaces well defined uplands that belong to the project's 

owner. 

2. The upland is easily accessible from a lightly traveled paved road allowing for 

easy ingress of trucl<s and machinery. 

3. The upland is somewhat degraded due to the presence of invasive exotic plants 

such as Tallow, Privet, and Camphor. 

4. The site can be worked completely from the upland side eliminating disturbance 

to existing wetlands. 

5. Plenty of nearby commercial dirt pits to handle the fill once removed. 

JCPA proposes to forestry mulch the entire upland area that is going to be converted, 

The vegetation will be cut all the way down lo existing grade. Beginning at the wetland 

upland interface the upland will be graded using an excavator to remove approximately 

+/- 3ft of material. The vegetation and soil will be removed from the project area. The 

final elevation will be graded to match that of the existing tidal marsh and its tributaries. 

Slight variations will be maintained to accommodate different plant species. BMPs to 

protect water quality will be installed and maintained for the project's duration. Plants 

that will be installed after grading will be the same as those that already exist such as 

Smooth Cord Grass, Saw Grass, Black Needle Rush, Salt Grass, Marsh Hay, Cattails, 

and a few Bald Cypress along the shore. A detailed work plan for marsh creation is 

attached in Appendix B of this plan. 

A map showing the proposed acres to be converted from uplands to marsh is shown on 

Figure 3. 

3.0 SITE PROTECTION INSTRUMENT 

The mitigation area will be legally described and recorded as a conservation easement 

to remain as a natural area and prevent clearing or industrial development. 

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4.0 BASELINE INFORMATION 

The objective of the permittee responsible mitigation is to provide compensation for 

impacts to 39,261 square feet (0.90 acres) of fresh water emergent wetlands. The 

impact site and mitigation site are both located in the Gulf Coast Flatwoods region of the 

Southern Coastal Plain. The Southern Coastal Plain extends from South Carolina and 

Georgia through much of central Florida, and along the Gulf Coast lowlands of the 

Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and Mississippi. From a national perspective, it appears to 

be mostly flat plains, but it is a heterogeneous region containing barrier islands, coastal 

lagoons, tidal marsh, and swampy lowlands along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. The 

Coastal plain was once covered by a variety of forest communities that included trees of 

longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), slash pine (P. elliottii), pond pine (P. serotina), beech 

(Fagus grandifolia), sweetgum (Liquidamber styraciflua), southern magnolia (Magnolia 

grandiflora), white oak (Quercus alba), and laurel oak (Q. laurifolia). Land cover in the 

region is now mostly slash and loblolly pine with oak-gum-cypress forest in some lowlying areas, citrus groves in Florida, pasture for beef cattle, and urban. 

In Mississippi, the Gulf Coast Flatwoods is a narrow region of nearly level terraces and 

delta deposits composed of Quaternary-age sands and clays. Wet, sandy flats and 

broad depressions that are locally swampy are now usually forested or in pine 

plantations, while some of the better-drained land has been cleared for pasture or 

crops. Dominant land uses include woodland, wildlife habitat, and urban. Historically, 

pine savannas with slash and long leaf pine (Pi nus elliottii, P. palustris) and a variety of 

grasses, sedges, rushes, pitcher plants and orchids were common. A high natural fire 

frequency was typical, often sparked by lightning and fueled by wiregrass (Aristida spp.) 

that maintained the more open savannas. 

Ecoregions of the southeast also share other features, including: a high percentage of 

land area in wetlands, a dominant role of frequent fire over the majority of the 

landscape, a diversity of river and stream systems, limited but important karst areas, 

diverse estuarine and tidal systems, and significant large scale disturbance events, 

such as hurricanes. The area is characterized by a warm to hot, humid, maritime 

climate. 

In North America, the Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregion Is one of the true hotspots of 

biodiversity and endemism. Part of the reason for this is that the ecoregion has never 

been glaciated and has been continuously occupied by plants and animals since the 

Cretaceous, giving ample time for the evolution of narrow endemic species. Many 

species, particularly vascular plants, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes occur only in this 

ecoregion, and many of those are even more narrowly limited within the ecoregion. 

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The dominant ecological drivers of the terrestrial systems are soils (texture and 

chemistry), fire frequency, and hydrology. Habitats in the Gulf Coastal Plain include 

barrier island systems with annual-dominated beaches, maritime grasslands and scrub, 

maritime shrub hammocks, and evergreen forests (both broadleaf and needleleat). 

These grade through salt marshes to productive estuaries. Inland, longleaf pine 

woodlands are dominant over most of the landscape, on upland and wetland sites and a 

wide variety of soils. 

4.1 Baseline - Impact Site 

Approximately 0.90 acres of wetlands will be permanently filled for the rail line. The 

wetlands are mapped on the National Wetlands Inventory Map for the Pascagoula North 

quadrangle as E2EM1 Pd, which is described as estuarine, intertidal, emergent, 

persistent, irregularly flooded, partially drained (modified by ditches). This type of 

wetland comprises approximately 76 percent of the project area. Other types of 

wetlands near the project area include PFo4B (palustrine, forested, needle leaved 

evergreen, seasonally saturated), PSS3/1 Rd (Palustrine, scrub-shrub, broad leaved 

evergreen, broad leaved deciduous, seasonally flooded, partially drained/ditched) which 

mak up the nearby forested wetlands, 

According to the FEMA flood map the property is in zone AE with base flood elevation 

of 10-11 feet which is within the 100 year flood plain (subject to inundation by the 1% 

annual chance flood), Hydric soil determination was based on confirmation of field 

indicators of hydric soils, as defined in Field Indicators of Hydric Soils In the United 

States, Version 5.0 (NRCS 2002). 

4.2 Baseline Proposed Mitigation Site 

The proposed mitigation area includes forested uplands that are adjacent to the project 

area. The mitigation site provides habitat for small and medium sized mammals 

(raccoon, opossum, armadillo), reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic species (crayfish). The 

understory is densely overgrown with Chinese privet (Trladica ligustrum). 

The proposed mitigation site is owned by Jackson County. The soils in the mitigation 

area are mapped as the Daleville silt loam, 0-1 percent slopes. The Daleville series 

consists of poorly drained soils that formed in loamy marine or fluvial sediment. 

Permeability is slow. These nearly level soils are on uplands and terraces of the 

Southern Coastal Plain. They are saturated late in winter and early in spring. Water runs 

off the surface very slowly. Slopes range from O to 1 percent. The proposed mitigation 

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area has been modified in elevalion by placement of spoil material from excavation of 

the nearby drainage ditches. This has modified the hydrology and soil characteristics. 

The proposed mitigation site has not been previously developed and is not currently 

occupied. If the property is not placed in a conservation easement, the potential exists 

for it to eventually be developed as part of the Moss Point Industrial Technology Center. 

The mitigation area exists near the railroad line. Given the proximity of multiple modes 

of transportation surrounding the mitigation site, it would be a prime area for 

development. 

Although the proposed mitigation site is near the rail line, it is important to wildlife in the 

area as it provides a safe corridor for travel between other forested and wetland habitats 

within the MPITC. Converting the mitigation site into marsh wetland will replace habitat 

that is lost to filling for the rail line. The marsh will perform the functions of nursery for 

fish and crustaceans, shelter for birds and aquatic organisms and food for birds, 

mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Wildlife in the area will continue to nest, roost 

and breed in the area. 

The impact area for the permitted rail line and the proposed marsh creation area were 

evaluated using the Hydrogeomorphic method to determine if the proposed marsh 

creation would sufficiently account for the impacts to the marsh by the proposed rail 

line. Results of the HGM evaluation indicate that the filling of wetlands in the impact 

area would result in a loss of 0.32 Functional Capacity Units (FCU) and the marsh 

creation area will result in a lift of 0.32 FCUs. This indicates that a ratio of 1: 1 would be 

sufficient to mitigate for the loss as a result of the proposed project. A copy of the HGM 

worksheets is attached in Appendix C. 

5.0 DETERMINATION OF CREDITS 

The JCPA previously purchased mitigation credits for the impacts to the forested 

wetlands associated with the permitted layout and to create wetlands in the surrounding 

area as mitigation for impacts to the marsh wetlands (since no credits are available for 

marsh mitigation). Since the impacts to the forested wetlands have been eliminated, 

the credit purchase is no longer needed. (JCPA will be working with the Corps and 

Wetland Solutions for a credit or refund for this prior purchase.) Since there are no 

credits available for purchase for marsh vegetation impacts, JCPA will conduct 

permiltee responsible mitigation by creating marsh wetland from forested uplands at a 

ratio of 1 :1 resulting in no net loss of wetlands as a result of the project. 

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6.0 MJTIGATION WORK PLAN 

Improvement and management activities will be conducted by the Jackson County Port 

Authority, The mitigation area Is located on the same parcels of land that the rail line will 

be located. JCPA proposes to forestry mulch the entire upland area that is going to be 

converted, The vegetation will be cut all the way down to existing grade. Beginning at 

the wetland upland interface the upland will be graded using an excavator to remove 

approximately =/- 3ft of material. The vegetation and soil will be removed from the 

project area. The final elevation will be graded to match that of the existing tidal marsh 

and its tributaries. Slight variations will be maintained to accommodate different plant 

species. BMPs lo protect water quality will be installed and maintained for the project's 

duration. Plants that will be installed after grading will be the same as those that already 

exist such as Smooth Cord Grass, Saw Grass, Black Needle Rush, Salt Grass, Marsh 

Hay, Cattails and a few Bald Cypress along the shore. The detailed worl< plan is 

attached in Appendix A 

7.0 MAINTENANCE PLAN 

It will be the responsibility of the JCPA to conduct any required maintenance of the 

mitigation site. JCPA will contract with a qualified contractor to conduct annual 

maintenance activities for a period of five years. Invasive species will be removed 

during the annual maintenance activities. 

8.0 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 

Performance standards are observable or measurable attributes that can be used to 

determine if a compensatory mitigation project meets its objectives. Success of the 

management activities will be evaluated through the first five years with respect to 

hydrology and percent cover. Hydrology must meet the wetland definition of 1987 

Corps of Engineers Wetland Manual, with saturation to the surface of the soil for 12,5% 

(31 days) of the growing season; and with aerial cover of at least 50% consisting of the 

planted species in emergent wetland areas. 

9.0 MONITORING REQUIREMENTS 

It is anticipated that the JCPA will conduct annual monitoring of the mitigation area for 

five years. The first year will include two inspections and two reports. The goal of the 

annual monitoring will be to assess continued survival of the planted species and to 

remove any invasive species. Any regrowth of popcorn trees, Chinese privet or other 

invasive or noxious species will be removed. In addition to evaluation of the entire 0.9 

acres for plant survival, monitoring plots will be established. These monitoring plots will 

be approximately 0.010 acres randomized circular plots and cover a total of 

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approximately 3,900 square feet (10% of the mitigation area). Annual monitoring 

reports will be submitted to the Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. 

The annual report shall include, at a minimum, the following: 

A. A US Geological Survey topographic map with the track indicated. 

B. A detailed narrative that summarized the condition of the tract and all regular 

maintenance activities. 

C. Appropriate site maps that show the locations of sampling plots, permanent 

photographic stations, sampling transects, etc. 

D. Results of vegetation surveys. 

E. Monitoring Reports to be disseminated to: 

US Army Corps of Engineers 

Mobile District 

Regulatory Branch 

P.O. Box 2288 

Mobile, Alabama 36628 

10.0 LONG TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN 

Long term management of the property will be the responsibility of the JCPA. JCPA will 

continue to monitor the mitigation area after the performance standards have been 

achieved. Any growth of the invasive species will be managed as needed; however, 

reports will not be submitted. 

11.0 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN 

The JCPA will use adaptive management strategies to maintain the quality of wetlands 

at the mitigation site. Monitoring In an adaptive management context focuses on early 

identification of undesirable trends and provides the guidance, through an experimental 

construct, necessary to determine the appropriate remedial action to reverse an 

undesirable situation or trend. After the second annual monitoring repo1i, the planted 

species survival should be 50%. If planted species have not reached the two year 

survival rate the need for additional plants will be evaluated. By year three the area 

should match the percent cover that exists in the reference site (adjacent brackish 

estuarine marsh). If by year three the planted species do not match the reference site 

cover, JCPA will evaluate the need for additional planting. The need for adaptive 

management will be evaluated in conjunction with input from the Corps of Engineers. 

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12.0 FINANCIAL ASSURANCES 

,JCPA has purchased a $50,000 Performance Bond for the project to provide funds for 

remediation of the mitigation area if the success criteria are not met. JCPA has long 

been a good environmental steward of the properties that it owns and is responsible for 

and has conducted long term management of several properties with conservation 

easements, deed restrictions, memorandum of agreement or other protective 

documents. 

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References 

Environmental Laboratory. (1987). "Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual," Technical 

Report Y-87-1, U.S. Army Engineer WaterwaysExperiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss. 

Robert W. Lichvar and John T. Kartesz. 2009. North American Dlgllal Flora: National Wetland Plant 

List, version 2.4.0 (https://wetland_plants.usace.anny.mil). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer 

Research and Development Center, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, 

NH, and BONAP, Chapel Hill, NC. accessed [1/15/2019]. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2010. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland 

Del/nea/ion Manual: Al/antic and Gulf Coastal Plain Region (Version 2.0), ed. J. S. Wakeley, R. W. 

Lichvar, and C. V. Noble. ERDCIEL TR-10-20. Vicksburg, MS: U.S. Army Engineer Research and 

Development Center. 

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2010. Field Indicators ofHydrlc Soils In the United 

Slates, Version 7.0. L.M. Vasilas, G.W. Hurt, and C.V. Noble (eds.). USDA, NRCS, in cooperation with 

the National Technical Committee for Hydrlc Soils. 

Wunderlin, R. P., and B. F. Hansen. 2008. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants 

(http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu1). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), Florida 

Center for Community Design and Research.] lns!llute for Systematic .Botany, University of South 

Florida, Tampa. 

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FIGURES 
Figure 1 Site Location Map 

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• 

Site: North Rall Project Area COMPTON BNGJNBBRING1 INC. 

Eoginmlno, survayino, end tovlronm,ntal s,rvtces Moss Point, Jackson County, MS Utl Hixon 61,aat Dllo,11 ~llnlnlppl 39lU0 

rhonot (220) ~32•lU33 r,ox1 (220) l!•m•III ~omp onOcomp on1nglnnrlnsr,c:om 

Figure Title: Tot,ograph f c Map {Map source: USGS, 2012) Appendix ID: 

A 
Figure 2 Rail Layout and Wetland Impacts at Project Site 

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COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. 

ENGINEERING, SURVEYING & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 

PASCAGOULA • BILOXI • BAY ST. LOUIS 

228-762-3970 228-432-2133 228-467-2770 

w,w1.comptonenglneerlng.com 

218-051 

JACKSON COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY (]CPA), 

NORTH RAIL CONNECTOR, 

PROPOSED PERMITTED RESPONSIBLE, 

MITIGATION AREA, 

SHEET 2 

SCALE: NTS 

ORN. BY: JDL 

__ ______ __ ________ ____ _J 
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-------------- 218-051 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. JACKSON COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY (]CPA), NORTH RAIL CONNECTOR, 

ENGINEERING, SURVEYING & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROPOSED PERMITTED RESPONSIBLE, 

PASCAGOULA • BILOXI • BAY ST. LOUIS MITIGATION AREA, 

228-762-3970 228-432-2133 228-467-2770 SHEET 3 

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Appendices 

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Appendix A - Wetland Delineation Report 

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Phone: 251-591-2682 

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0 140 280 560 840 J,120 Phone: 251-591-2682 

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Appendix B - Detailed Work Plan 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

218-051 

Mlllgallon Plan 

Page 17
Wetland Mitigation Work Plan 

Jackson County Port Authority 

North Rail Connector

Moss Point, Mississippi 

Prepared For 

Jackson County PortAuthority 

PO Box 70 

Pascagoula, MS 39568 

October, 2019 

Revised March 2021 

Prepared By 

Wildlife Solutions, Inc. 

250 S. School Street, 

OFFICE: 25 l-591-2682, FAX: 251-990-9830 

Fairhope, ALA. 36532 
lntroductlon 

This Work Plan was prepared to support the Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan prepared by 

Compton Engineering for the North Rail Connector project proposed by the Jackson County Port 

Authority. This plan includes the steps needed to convert an upland forested area into a tidal 

marsh. 

Site 

JCPA has identified an area of uplands with sufficient acreage to mitigate for tidal marsh impacts 

at a ratio of approximately 1:1 (0.90 acres impacted:1.0 acres created). The upland site that is to 

be converted into a tidal marsh inte1faces with an existing tidal marsh. Its plant conummi(y is 

typical of that found in the surrounding Coastal Flat Woods. The canopy is dominated by Slash 

Pine pinus elliottii and scattered Water Oaks quercus nigra with a mid story of smaller oaks 

along with Southern Magnolia magnolia grandiflora, Red Maple Acer rubrum, Sweet Gum 

Liquidambar styraciflua, Gallbeny ilex glabra, Yaupon ilex vom/forla, and a heavy component 

of invasive species such as Camphor ci1111a111011111111 camphora,Tallow Tree Triadica sebiferaand 

Chinese Privet Ligustrum sinense, Site access is optimal as it is bordered by a low traffic paved 

road along the southem border allowing easy ingress and egress for construction and monitoring. 

111e hydrology of this system is groundwater driven and the water table fluctuates in elevation 

throughout the year depending on rainfall and tidal fluctuations. 

Constrnction 

Site Survey 

Prior to the commencement of construction the entire site will be surveyed and staked 

delineating the limits of construction, zones of activity and establish bench marks for elevation. 

Clearing a11d Erosion control

The entire site will be cleared to existing grade by mechanical mulcl1ing followed by grubbing to 

remove any large stumps or debris. Any woody vegetation that is not mulched will be burned on 

site or hauled from the site to a proper disposal facility. Prior to the start of any trucking from the 

site a rock mud mat will be constructed at the road eutrance to the site to decrease the tracking of 

soil onto the paved road. Prior to beginning excavation Class A silt fence will be installed along 

the construction limits of the project in areas at risk of sedimentation from storm water runoff.

The silt fence along with any other storm water BMP's put in place will be maintained 

tlu·oughout the construction process until a time in which the site is stabilized by vegetation. A 

Jackson County Port Authority Rail Over Marsh Mitigation Project 

Prepared by Wildlife Solutions, Inc. Fairhope, Alabama March 2021
Stonnwater Pollntion Prevention Plan and Small Construction Notice of Intent will be prepared 

and submitted to MDEQ ifrequired, 

Grading

Excavation will conunence at the northwest side of the project at the upland marsh interface 

using an excavator, The soil substrate will be removed to a level approximately the same grade 

as the existing marsh, Frequent checks will be made using an automatic level to ensure elevation 

is correct prior to the excavator moving to a point it cannot reach in order to minimize 

disturbance in the newly exposed tidal soil. Minor undulations in elevation within the excavated 

tidal zone are desired in order to facilitate a mosaic of various plant species as found in a natural 

system, Preliminary soil sampling does not indicate the presence of high chroma or pure clay 

soils at the desired final grade. However if encountered these areas will be cut down to 

approximately 6" below desired grade then back filled with newly excavated clean top soil from 

the site containing the highest levels of organic malter. As a proactive measure in case this type 

of material is required a stockpile of top soil will be kept on site and readily available until all 

grading is complete. It is estimated that approximately 13,000 cubic yards of material will be 

excavated in order to reach the desired grade within the limits of the marsh creation zone. All 

excavated materials not used as back fill will be hauled from the site and taken to a local 

commercial dirt pit. Once the excavation reaches the interface of the upland buffer a gradually 

slopping bank with variations will be created with a minimum slope ratio of 1 :4. This bank will 

be stabilized using a combination of temporary and permanent seed then covered with clean 

wheat straw mulch to retain moisture and prevent erosion, 

Plr111tl11g andSeeding 

Once the dirt work is completed, all disturbed areas outside the tidal zone will be seeded with a 

tempora1y and permanent seed mix followed by an application of fertilizer in sequence as 

follows. The temporaty seed mix will be done using a cool or warm season seed depending 011 

time of application. 

1. Permanent seed will consist of Ernst FACW Wetland Meadow Mix applied at a rate of 

25 I bs per acre. 

2. Cool season temporary seed will consist of Rye Grass applied at a rate of 50 lbs per 

acre. 

3. Warm season temporary seed will consist of Brown Top Millet applied at a rate of 50 lbs 

per acre. 

4. Seeding will be followed by an application of 10-10-10 fertilizer at a rate of 100 lbs per 

acre, 

Jackson County Port Authority Rail Over Marsh Mitigation Project 

Prepared by Wildlife Solutions, Inc. Fairhope, Alabama March 2021
5. Immediately after seeding, the entire area will be covered with clean wheat straw mulch 

at a rate of 40 bales per acre. 

6. Bald Cypress Taxodium dis//c/111m in one gallon containers will be planted along the newly 

created shoreline at random spacing and elevation to mimic adjacent existing shoreline 

conditions. 

Herbaceous plants for the tidal marsh zone - planting density will be approximately I 0,000 plugs 

per acre/ 2' X 2' spacing, approximately 10,000 plugs will be required. The following plants 

listed are those currently found in tidal marsh in which the newly created marsh will interface. 

During planting, care will be taken to Insure species composition and densities mimic as closely 

as possible the existing marsh. Actual plant quantities may vary among species as adjustments 

are made during planting to accommodate for micro site changes in elevation. 

• 20-40% Juncus roemerianus (Black Needle Rush) 

• 20-40% Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass) 

• 5-10% Spartina patens(Marsh Hay Cordgrass) 

• 5.. J 0% Typha angustifolia (Narrowleaf Cattail) 

• 20-40 % Cladiumjama/cense (Sawgrass) 

Note: All seed source material for this project have been procured from authorized collection 

sites along the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast. These sites are all located within 50 miles 

of the project site. All plants for this project will be procured from Tidelands Wetland Nurse1y, 

located in Loxley, Alabama. 

Jackson County Port AuthorityRail Over Marsh Mitigation Project 

Prepared by Wildlife Solutions, Inc. Fairhope, Alabama a March 2021
-------------- 218·0S1 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. JACKSON COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY (JCPA), - NORTH MIL CONNECTOR, 

ENGINEERING, SURVEYIUO & EIIVIROtlMEIITAL SERVICES PROPOSED PERMITTED RESPONSIBLE, 

P/ISC,\GOULA • BILOXI • DAY sr. LOUIS HITIGATION !IRfA, 

228-762-3970 l2NJHl3l 228•467-2170 SHEET 2 www,comploncnglnwlng.com SCALE: NTS 

ORN. DY: JPL 

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~-----------~ 2)8·051 

CoMPmNENo~EeRING, INC. JAcKsoncounrrP0RrAm110R1TY(JcPA), • NORTH RAIL CONNECTOR, 

ENGINEERING, SURVEYING & ENVJROI/MEIITAL SERVICES PROPOSF.O PERMITTED RESPONSIDLE, 

MSCAGOULA • DJLO)(J • DAV ST, LOUIS MITIGATION AREA, 

· 22a,16?•J97o 226•432-2133 228·-461-2110 SHEET 3 

www.c<1mptone11glneerlng,com SCALI:: NTS 

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Wildlife Solutions, Inc. 

Phone: 251-591-2682 

-88.512122 30.414181 Dcclmol Degrees 
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0 140 280 560 840 11120 Phone: 251-591-2682 

Feel 

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0 GS 130 260 390 520 Phone: 251-591-2682 

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ru- Wildlife Solutions, Inc. 

o 20 40 80 120 160 Phone: 251-591-2682 

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Appendix C - HGM Worksheets 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

218-051

Miligalion Plan 

Page 18 
lmpacted Tidal Marsh a) 0.081 ha, b) 0,203 ha, c) 0.081 ha 

Mean FCI: a) 0.90 b) 0.84 c) 0.88 -Total FCU's: 0,32 

Where:

Function 1: Wave Attenuation Ene,·gy 

FCI 

FCl's = a) 0.77 b) 0.54 c) 0.46

Function 2: Biochemical Cycling 

FCI's = a) 0.93 b) 0.93 c) 0,93 

Function 3: Neklon Utilization 

FCI's = a) 0.90 b) 0,83 c) 1.0 

Function 4: Wildlife Habitat 

FCI's = a) 0.89 b) 0,91 c) 1.0 

Function 5: Plant Structure & Composition 

FCI or or )] 

FCI's = a) 1,0 b) 1.0 c) 1.0 
Created Tidal Marsh 0.38 Ha - Lift equals 0.32 FCUs 

Mean FCl: 0.85 

Where: 

Function I: Wave Attenuation Energy 

. 

FCl =0.77 

Function 2: Biochemical Cycling 

Function 3: Nekton Utilization 

FCJ (,' ' 

FCI=0,82 

Function 4: Wildlife Habitat 

FCI = 

FCI=0.75 

Function 5: Plant Structure & Composition 

FCl= 1.0 
Assessmont:(eam: i.Jcf , \ 

Project: N • • --1 "'- I<-,, , _ 

Date: a. I~') h I 

Slzo of tho 'wolland Assossment Area (WAA): I , C! (ha) 

Smnplc vnrinblcs 1-5 using ncrinl pholos, digllul ortho-photo quadrangle 

Image!)•, etc., ot a scnlc of(I :4800) (I inch ~400 feet) (color infrnrcd or tnic 

color preferred), using GIS or other means. 

I. Vsm: Wetland l'ntch Size (ha) / I, ~- Cnlculntc the nreo (in hectares) of the contiguous tidnl fringe wetland within 

which the WAA is located. In some situntions, the WAA may encompass the 

entire wetland patch and the WAA size ond weilond patch size will be equal. 

2. Vu.Nous£ AdJncc11l lnnd me 

Determine the proportion of the WAA perimeter (expressed as n pcrcc1uage, 

rounded to the ncorcst 5 percent) that is bounded by eneh of1he following 

land use types. 

Pcoportlon of 

WM 

Land Uso Calcgory Descrlpllon Porlmotor 

Undovoloped oelotally o) Openwelor: Shorollno rs- nlloas\ 100 m ftom / vegetated oreati or navigation channel, If prosonl. 

open w.!lor b) rweslrial: > 76% of lott\l oroa Is nalumlty vegelated 

fornsled otg1assy1,1ptantl's or w<lllands. 

MosUy agrlwllU!at More than 503⁄4 of tho Iola\ orol! Is 0CCl.lplecf by cropland. 

Mosllydovelopad a) Open wale 1: Harbors, po1W, and ma1lnas 

b) rorrns!lial: Mo1e lh31l 403⁄4 or tho Iola I area rs 

davelopod (f.o,, rosidonlla~ «immerclal, Of lndt.1slrlal 

areas; also Includes pofnlsources such as golf courses, 

waslawaler troalmenl plant ou\(alls, feedlots, 010,} 

Ml,:ed 3) Op Fm wale,: areas where Iha sho1eUno ls wi!hln 

100 m of a navigalfonchannel. 

b) ro11eslrial: Doos nol fil ony of U10 at>ovo calog01ies, 

may loclude low.denslly rural ros:Jdantlal, unpaved roads, 

etc, 

3, Vw1PT1J Mcn11 Mm·sh Width 3'1 iJ- (m) 

llstnblish the appropriate number of lrnnsccts according lo the baseline length 

and record the length of each trnnsect (in meter.<) in the boxes below, then 

calculntc the nvcmgc. 

T2 490 T3 ',"fl T4 T5 

TT T8 rn TIO 

B2 Appendix O Flold Oola forms 
Assessment Jeam1 

Project: \'I~ "1-

Dato: 'JI t C:- I~- I 

4. Vmusi; Wave Energy Exposure 

Circle the cxposuro condition tlmt most closely corresponds to the site 

condition described in the tnblc below. 

Note: Sites with no exposed shorelines arc not assessed for this function. 

SIie Dosc1lptlon l!xposuro 

Goomorphlc Satlln9: Low•l!noroy lnlotlor Marsh Low 

rho so sllos havo 0/\0 or moro sho1o!inos lot"aled along Iha odgos of ptoleclod covos or 

(lffibaymonts (concave shorolirte) OR olong tho edge of a small Ilda! cteol< 001 used by 

e-0mmorcial boat l1affic. 

Qeomorphlc Setnng: Modo1alo•F.noroy Interior Mmh 

These slles have one or moro ~horolin&s localed along lho edges of largo tidal ueoks 01 rlve,s Iha\ a,o usocJ by rocrnaUonal and/or OOMtfU'lftlal boat 11affic. 

Geomorphlc Solllng1 O,ion Day or fsluary High These sites havo ono- or mciro shorelines located dlrecuy along !ho Olfgos oJ an osiua'J)' or bay (0,9., Mlsslsslppl Sound, Mob!lo hay). Shorol!no ls g1morally 1/noa,, exposed to 

m!aUYety hi Oh V.-intl Etntl Wti.Vo ono1gy, \'iith lonfl fetch dlstances, 01 adJacen\ lo 

miv!g:eUon ch11nnol lhal Is r,equen\ly usod by tetrnallonal ortommercial boal lrnfflc, 

Goomorphlc Solllno: Zoro,Enoroy Interior .Marsh 

lhoso $iteS: have no-0horo1ines &xposod lo \\ind orwav& one,gy presenl , Nono 

5. V """" Aquatic Edge Circle !he qualitative or quantlialivc mcnsurc llmt most closely corresponds 

to the site condition described in the lable below. Sec pictorial key in 

Appendix E (Figures EI-E 11) for specific examples. Note: U1ll'egetatcd 

sho!'e!i11cs (i.e. sa1110• beaches) lll'e 1101 /11c/11de<I 11s edge, 

. . 

Quelltallve Ou1mtllallvo 

Sito ll8scrlp\ion Musuta Maa:mro 

1J WoH,devefoped Iida I drainage notwo1k present (Figure& E·1 

end E•21. 

High .;:. 225 mltta 

OR 

2) Vort narrow fringe marsh that lacks tidal ttooks, Ono 

lrmglhWise shorel!no thiit 1op1oson1$ al fe.i~\ 40% of lha total 

pafime101 Is expo.sod lo lid.ii waler$ (e.g., Onplma 8a)1ronl 

Park). 

3} Other geomorph!c oonflguralion with a large amounl of 

shoreline relative lo total area (I.e., small Island er nrmcw ponlnsula) (F19utos E,3 and E•4). ,....,.,,.._ 

Stmp!a Udal dtafoag8 netwo1k (May oonstsl or one or more small 'Mo<J~ 175•224 nvlla 

Channels} that ow woU-tJisl<ibuled across lhe [oliil WM area f!i9h 

(Ffgutas E~5 and E.•6), " lldal Cl eeks may bo laddng, or If ptosenl, droin only a smell ModetalEJ• 100.175 nvlla 

ptopO/l]OO otlno lolal WM"" (F19010, E-7, E·O, ana E·9). Low 

Shorolino Is gonorally linear or smoou, cutvll!noar wilhout Low 1-100mllla 

embaymonls or convolutlons. Tidal creeks l)'p!cally abs en I. lho area of marsh Is largo rolallvo to shoto!!no length (Figure E-10). 

No vegetated ffiPISh•walor lntotfaco presenl In WM Absant Om/ha 

(Flguto E·111. 

Appendix n Field Oala Fo1ms B3 
Assessmon\Jearo: 

Pro)ect: •I'\·\, 

Date: /J I~ ,r I~ I 

' 

Snmplc l'nrioblcs 6-B boscd on o wolklogrcconnoissoncc oflho WAA. 

6. V11vono Hydrologlc regime 

Pince o chock in the box lhnl most closely fils silo conditions. 

Sito Ooe:crlpllon Vtot>11.o 

Silo Is: opon lo f,ee oxchangn of ltd al walers, Lowor cdgos of vo.9otated marsh surface aro flooded on a rogular bosls as ov!donood by WtQck !Jnos, watermarks, olo. No obvious 

hy!Jrolog!c aUeraUon, f11I, or rostrlcllons prosonl. 

Minor hydrolo910 ellorn.Uon or rosltictfon p,esenl (I.e., presenco of low•olevauon borm, 

\Wllctl is f requenlly ovortopped by hlgh,Udo ovonts or has muUipla brnachas or rarge: 

culverts; presence of somo rm lhal raises a small porUon (<20 percent of mnrsh area) of 

marsh smfaC(I abova nOITT1al tidal Rooding zona). 

Moderate hydrologlc aHeraUon prnsont (i.e., presence of high,elovaUon betm, \-.1Jtch is 

infrequently ovanoppod by hl.oMid'o ovonts 01 has a s!nglo opening, btt'l.ach, or a mall 

culve,1; groate, extent of fill {>20 percenl) tho I ,alses portions of rnarsh surlaco elevation 

tibovo 00ITT1al Udol nooding zone). 

Sovern hydtologlc aHorotion; sit& receives tidal noodwatets onl)' du1fn9 oxttemo tid(l ,;wants 

{I.e., surface elevaUon of marsh Is abova normal Udal llnodlng lOMi block0d culvan, otc,). 

Sito ts lsolalad ffom t!dal oxchang&. lho principal source of Roodlng lswa\or sources olher 

lhan tldal action (I.e., preclpltal/on or groundwaler), 

Note: 11 lhTs oondilion ex/$lt, use of enolhsrwol/Dnd e.m1umont modol $h0Vld bs .slrongty 

considered unless tha sito wat ll tidsl wollond priDr to hydrologk; modiffcaUon. 

7. V,110 Nckton Hnbltnt Diversity 

Chock lhe habitats prese11l within 1)111 WM 

Low marsh (daily Iida! flooding} 

High marsh (irregular Udal flooding) ,/ 

Sublidal channels 

Intertidal Ch8MOIS (OXJ)OSOd al low Ude) 

Sha1toYJ(<:: 1 m) sand or mud Oats 

Ponds or deprosslons {(empornry or pe1manenl) / 

Check tho hablt.aLB proaonl wllhln 30 m of WAApedmelor 

Submorood aqualicvegelallon 

oy.slM ,oor 

iota! number ornekton frnbllal typos prosont (,, 

84 Appondlx B Ff old Oala F<lm1s 
I'\\~ 

Assossment;am: • \ 

Projeot: 1> .~ I,,_ 'R ~, 

Dato: :1 / r17~ I 

8. Vw110 WIidiife Hnbltnt Diversity 

Check lhe habitals presenl within the WAA or ndjnccnt 10 !he WAA 

perimeter. 

ChockU 

Wildlife H,bl~I Typo prH.ent 

Lor go patches of fall, robust horbacoous voootation within Iha WM Uial Is el foasl 

lm,gulBJly flooded 

(S. 8/lomlhoro, J, (O(Jmorian11s, rypha spp., Schoot10pldalusspp,) 

Ooos tan robust he1hac.eo1.1s vegetation ocwpy al leasl 60 perC!!nl of the total WM 

area? LYES __ NO 

If (ell r-0bust herbaceous 2tali0fl oewrs In a t1arto1v rrin9e1 Is this fringe 

oreaterlhan IOmwlde? YES NO . 

Shor1 herbaceous vegelaUon 'Jllhin the WMlhet Is infrequently flooded (S. paloM, 

Dls.lichJ/s $plUlta, BonlahTtl ffUto.se-ens, 88/is man"liina) 

Intertidal aookt- and mudflats within lha WM Iha! are exposed at low Udo V' 

Naluraly vogo!alod upland buffet adjacenl lo WM v.ilh a minimum wfd!h of 30 m (Corosled, shrul>-scrol), or dense herbaceous) '. 

I 

fl 

! 

I 

Appondix D Fiold Data Forms B5 

I 
Plant Commun!lyFlold Dnla !Shoot Pago 1 

Reoord Iha DB oovor class rddpolnt O for each speclos. 

araun-81anq1w1 Cwarlndicos: 1 n 1•5% (2.6%): 2;; 6·253⁄4 (16.6%); 3 = 26-50% (37,6};4;; 51•75% (67.5%}; 5 = >75% (87.6%) 

Ho1bacooui Wotland Species Plot 1 Plo12 Plo13 fJlol4 Plol6 PlolO Plol7 Pini 0 PlolO Plol 10 

I. lall, Robust Spoolos1 

Sf)llrlino ollomlllora 

Spartlnn cynosutoTdos 

Juncus roomorio11us 

Schoonoploc/us nmaricanus 

Schoo11opfor,/us robus(us 

Clad/um Jomalconso 2, 

ijtpha ongusU!olla ?, y 

Zlxenlopsls ml/lscaa 

Phragmitos auslro!ls 

1

Hefght (cm) tor each p/ol 

II, Low,Growlng Spoclos 

Barrs man·11m9 

Crinvm omodconum 

0/Sl/chll!J spTCbla 

Efoochsrfs spp 

lpomoaa sagl/tats 

Pantr,dorin C(l/dafa 

Sogll/oria spp, 

Spa1/lna pa/ons 

Solioomts spp, 

Symphyotn"rhum ronul(olfvm 

lotal Covor by Vlol I, I\!,. 

''H•lohl /cm) lot oach p/ol /t\o h~• 1

Holghl Is on!}' moasutod for Group I species, If present. 

'Holohl Is measut<id forspectos f11 Group II on!yl/ none of lhe spoclas In Group I ls present onslle. 

86 Appondi< B Flold Oala Forms 
Plan! Community Flo!d 0111a Sh11111 Pnge 2 

Record the BB oovor class mldpoln\ () fot each spocfos. 

Uroun,Blanquol Covorlndicas: 1 1-51/, (2,M'.}: 2;; 6·25o/, (15.5%); 3 l;l 28-501/. (37,5); 4 51-75% (67.6%}; 5 !:: >753⁄4{67,63⁄4) 

Woody Speclos Plol 1 Plol 2 Plot 3 Plot 4 Plol 5 Plot 6 P!ol 7 Plol 8 Plot 9 Plot 10 

Aoorrobrum ·-~1 

aoocharis hofimffolla 

/Jr,x vomltoria 

/fox docldua 

Moro/la C(l.rifuro 

N8 froloswns 

Nyssospp. .. T8Xodium dlslich11m :Ji 

1:11%{ ~\,. .J~~ 

Estlm11to Pr,oportlon of Enllre Site Ocouplod byWoodyVa9ota1lon I 

FACIFACU Spnolo1;1 

Bacchoris halfmifolia 

/fox vcimiton"a 

MO/(J/J(J ccri(C((J 

Panlc11m vi'rgatum 

Tolal FAC Covor by Plot OR 

E5llmale Proporllon of Entlro Sito Oci:uphH.1 byFACIFACU Species I ' 

··1 

(Use whichever melhod results ln lhc hlghos\ value for percent cover) 

lixotlc or Invasive Speclee 

Allomanthruo phlloxoroWos 

Phrogmltos ouslrsJ!s 

Cvscuta ipp. 

lmperara cytimtdc:J 

Psnrcum ropons 

rrladica tiOb!lera 

rypha lalifofln 

Total Exol/c cover by Plot OR 

E,Umato Propo111on of l:ntlro Silo OccupJod by Exotics ·.<~t\t~t:,i~¥:~:,~t~%~J~f1\11 (Uso whichever meU1<xl ,~su\lS: In !ho highest valuo fo,pfl(cenl o.over) If.:;~,ff,};~r,-~_<k-,;>~i () 

Appondix D fh;,ld Oala fonns B7 
\,A) /) Assessment Tenm: · \':J '-I 

Project: V\\., A v.\ 1"- '\, 

Oato: v. 11 .... ~) 

Size of lhb Woltand Assassmont Aroa (WAA): {), ~b (hn) 

Smnple votinhles 1-5 using oeriol pholos, dlgilnl orlho-photo quadrangle 

lmngcry, etc., 01 n scole of(I :4800) (I Inch~ 400 feel) (color lnfrnred or true 

color 11rcferrcd), using GIS or other means. 

l. Vsi,& Welland Pnlch Size (hn) /t, 

Calculate the areo (in hectares) of the contiguons tidnl fringe welland within 

which lhe WAA is loentcd. In some sltuailons, the WAA may encompass the 

cnllrc wetland pntch nnd ihe WAA size and wetland pntch size will be equal. 

2. V1.ANDUSE Adjac('nt land use 

Dclcrmine !he proporlion of !he WAA perimeter (expressed as a percentage, 

rounded to the ncnrcsl 5 percent) tlrnt is bounded by each oflhe followlng 

land use lypes. 

Ptopottlo11 of 

WM 

Land Uso Catogory Oesctlptlon Porlmolor 

Undeveloped naloral!y a) Openwator: Sho,ollne Is at least 100 m rrorn 

vegeleted aroa:i or navlgaUon channel, If presnnl. 

open waler b) Tortes trial: > 76% of Iota! ore a Is nalurally vegetaled foresli!d o, grassy uplands or wallands. 

Mos Uy agricultural Mo,e lhan 50% of lhe Iola} oroa fs ow.ipled by cropland. 

Mos:Uy dovoloped oj Open wt1tor: HalbO/'$, ports, and marinas 

b Tortesldal: More than 40% of !ho lolal area Is 

do\'alopad (I.e., rasldanUal, oommerclel, or lndost,ial 

aroas; clso Includes potnt soU1ces such as golf courses, 

wastewater treatmont p!anl oulfalls, feedro1s, ~fo.) 

Mixod a) Open waler: areas whore lhe shorolina iswilh!n 

100 m of a navigation channel. 

b) Terrostrtsl: Ooos nol fil any or uio ol>ova catogorias, 

maylndudolow,densily 111ral res!denlial, unpaved roads, 

B{C, 

3. Vwmru Mean Mnrsh Wldlh t{o 6 (m) 

Es1ablish the appropriate number of transects according to the baseline length 

nnd record the length of each transect (in meters) in the boxes below, then 

calculnte the average. 

T4 T6 

T7 TO TO 

82 Appemflx B Ffolcl Oala Forms 
Assessment roam: h\ 1

) 

Project: -:~ ", ·~ v- 'F~ '' ', \ 

Dato: j) h,1,.! ? 1 

4. Vi:xron: Wnvc Energy Exposure 

Circle lhc exposure con<lilion lhat most closely corresponds to the site 

condition described in the toblc below. 

Note: Sites with no exposed shorelines ore not nsscsscd for this fimctlon, 

SIie Oescrlpl!on l:xpoaure 

Goomorphlc Selling; Low-Energy lntetlor M&r.tih i 

Theso 6ltos hava one ormoroshoretines loe!ItoU along lh.e odgos of p1ot11elod oovos or !~ 

embaymenls (concave shornUne) OR alono the odgo of a small Ilda! crool<: 11ot usotl by commercial boat liafllc. 

Goomorphlc So!Ung: Moderata,Enorgy lntorlor Mar6h MOderato 

1hoso s!lae havo one or moro r;ho10Jlnos localed along Iha odgos of largo lkful crooks or livofG that a10 usod by HJCfDallona! and/or comme1cial boa! 1,amo, 

GeomorpJ1lo Setting: Opon bay or:mnuary High l'hoso liltos havo one or moro i;ho101lnos localed dl1ecUy along lho odgos of nn 0$\Uary 

01 bay (e.g., Mlsslsslppl Sound, Moblla Bay). Sho10Nno It gans,eJly linuar, oiposed lo 

telaUvely high wind end wavo oneroy, \'tith tong feleh distan(',(ls, or adjaoon\ {o 

mwigatlon channel that I$ r,aquonUyusod by rocroollonal ot commorclal boat trorno. 

Goomorphlc Selllng: Z(lro,£nergy lnlerlor Matah 

Those slias havo no shorol!nos exposed lo \'tind or v,avo onorgy presenl. N(lnO 

5. V,oae Aquatic Edge 

Circle the qualitative ot quanlilalive measure that most closely corresponds 

to the site condition described in the tnblc below. Sec pictorlnl key In 

Appendix E (Figures El-Ill I} for specific examples. Note: U1wegc/a/ed 

sl,ore/i11es (i,e, sand;• beacl,es) are 110/ /11c/11d«d as edge, 

QuaUtallvo Quanmallvo 

SIio D&scrlpllon Measure Mn11vre 

1} Woll-dovo!oped Ilda\ dtalnago 11ctwo1k l')rcsenl (ffguros E-1 

nndE·2), 

Hi9h t2Wnlfhn 

OR 

2} Vory m1rrow fringe ma,sh !hat lac~s Ilda! e<ool<s. Ono 

lenglhwise shoreline th al represorits a1 leas! '101⁄4 of tho to1al 

porimelor Is exposod to Udal watots (e,g,, Daphna Bayftonl 

Paik). 

3) Other 9camorphlc canfi9u1aHQn wllh a largo amount of 

shorelir10 refalivo lo Iola! area (I.e., small Island or nar,ow 

pontnsula) (Flguro, E·3 and E-4). 

S!mple: lid al dfalna!)o notwo11< (may constsl of ono 01 more smell Modoralo• 176·224 m!ha 

channels) lhal orn waU,dlslribulod across lho Iota! WM area Hl~h 

(Figures E•5 and E-6), ,.. 

Tldal croeks may bo lock!ng, or If p1os<ml, d,a!n only o small ( uoiioriif,-j 100,175 mlno 

proportion of tho to!al WMetoa (Figures E-71 E-8, and E-9). _low 

Shorotino Is ganoraHy llnoar or smooth curvi!fnoar Wilhoul LOVr•'_,. 1•100m/lm 

embaymen\s or c.onvo!u\lons. Tidal e<cal<s lyplei!lly absenJ. Tho 

aroa <>I marsh fs large relaUve to shora)itm longlh (Figure E-10). 

No vego!alod marsh•Walar In tort a~ prosan\ In WM Abson\ Omlhfl 

(Figure E-11). 

Appondlx b Flold Dala f:(lrms B3 
h) S 

Assessmenl Toaml I J ,. ,

0 .', \ 

ProJecl: ,N 1>•· 1 ·, t"-•- _ 

Dale: i}..\,,, S: 1-, 1 

' ' 

Smuplc vnrinblcs 6-8 based on o wolklng rcconnolssancc of tho W /1/1, 

6, Y11rn110 Hydrologlc regime 

Place a check in lhc box that most closely fits site conditions, 

Slln Dn,crlpllon V1rrt>J\.O 

Sito Is open lo froo oxchango of \fdalwat11rs. Low or cdgos orvogotaJed m1>nh .surlaw ore flooded on a regular basls as avltf enced by 1wack linos, wa!ormarks, olc, No obvious 

hydfOIO!JIC alteraUon, fill, Of roS\iicUons j'lfCSMI, 

MJnor hydrologlc altoraUoo or 1ostricllon ptoson1 (l,o., proso11ce 1;1f row,olovaUon baun, 

1-',hich Is rroquenUy ovol1oppod by hlgh•tldo ovanls or hOS; multip!o breaches or Iorgo 

culvorts; pr-0sonoo of some f1ll lhal raises a small portion (<20 paroonl or marsh aroa} or rnatsh :.urfaco ubove normal tidal flooding zono), 

Modeta\e hydro!ogfo al{oral!oo presenl (I.e., praserice of hlgh•elevatlon berm, iMllch Is 

lnf1eriuenUy ovor1opped by h!gMkfo events or has P single ope11lng, breach, or smell 

colvort; groalor exlent of rdl (>20 porcen\J that ralsos portlMs of marsh surfaoo oleveUon 

obova normal tlda1 flooding zone). 

SoVQro h}\frologlo a!leraUon; .silo tecelves Udal floodwaters 011lydorlnl extrema Udo events 

(l.o,, svrface olevaUon of marsh Is abovo oorm~llidal fll)O(liftg ionc.; b ocke<l culvort, elo.). 

Sito Is: IS-Olalod from tldal exchartga. 'J'ha prindpal ,our«i of noodln9 fs water so1.11cas o!har 

lhan lfdel ncllon (l.e,1 il/ecfpilali<ln or gro\lndwator), 

Noto: 1/ llllscondilion exftls, uso of e11otMtlV1Wand assessment modal shoufll bo !fton9fy 1Xms/dq1ed unless tha site was ll lldBI wntlBnd prior to hydrofogfc modifies/Ion. 

7, YNIID Nckton Habitat Diversity 

Chock Iha habitats presonl within tho WM , 

Lowmaroh (daily Iida! flooding) ..r. 

High maroh (f,rogular Udal Ooodlng) 

SubUdal chimools 

Jntortldal channol~ (oxposed al low Udo) 

Shallow(< 1 m) sand or mud nots v' 

Ponds or deprosslons (tefllpo,ary or permanent) 

Check lhet habitat.a prosenl wllhln 30 m <lf WMt:i&rlmolor 

Sobmargell aqvauovo{lolaUon 

oystortOflf 

TQ!al nombot of nokton habl!ot typos p1osont "' 

B4 Appandlx 13 Ffald Data Forms 
8. Vwno WIidiife Hobilat DIYCJ'Slty 

Check the habltots present within the WAA or udjncont to the WAA 

perimeter. 

Chock If 

Wlldllfo Hobllol Typo preaont 

Largo palclrns of !all, rob1u1 harbawous vogelalfon within lhe WM that Is. at foast 

Irregularly floodotl 

(S, a/f-0mffioro, J. roemerianus, Typhu spp., Schoonopfo~II$ 6pp,) 

Does tal~busl he1bace:ous vegotaUon octupy n\ loa~l 60 percenl of Ule total WM 

ertrn1_YES __ NO 

I( tall robust herbaceous vegat.:il!on Qcturs In a mmow fn"nge, Is lhls fringo 

g,eater than 10 m \'tido? YES NO 

Short he1baeeous vagelolionv.imln the WM Ou1t is infrequently noooad {S, pelens, 

Dls//chlls splC8/e, Borrichla lrotascens, Batfs miuitrma) 

lnlortldal creeks and mudnats w\lhTn th8 WM that are exposed at low !Ide 

Nalura!ly vogelallld upland bulrer adjacent lo WM \'~th n mln!mumwidth of 30 m v'·· (lorosted, &hrulViCrub, or donso liorbaceous) 

I" 

Appondl< B Flold Data Forms B5 
Assessment Ttiam: \,,'-) Project: ~,\ P '"."s,__-,-i,.__-""\·"""',1-,,-r,, -.-,----------

Date: '• )'<> 1

; h I 

' 

Plant Communll}' Flnld Data Sheol Paos 1 

R-0¢0tc.l lho BD covor dass mldpo!nl (I for oe.ch spe.clos. 

o,aun,BJanqnel Covar lndl«is: 1 = t-5%(2,tWi); 2 =' 6-253⁄4 (16,61⁄4};3 l!:l 28•50o/, (37.5}; 4 = 51-76% {67.51⁄4): 6 = >75% (87.6%) 

Herb~ceous Wot1a11d 6poclos Plot 1 Plol2 Plol3 Plot4 PJo15 Plo16 Plo17 Plo18 Plo19 Plof 10 

I. Tall, llobud Spoclos1 

Sparlfna nlfomfflora 

SPfu1lm1 cynosuror,ros 

Juncus room11ris1ws 

Schotmopfacl11s amM'cerws 

Schoonoploclus robus(us 

OIWlvm Jomolconso r 

7ypha onJ}vstffol!o I 

Zlumtopsls mill ace a 

Plrragmllos ouslral/s 

'Height (cm)foroachplot 

II, Low-Growing Spoolos 

Bolls maritfma 

Cn'num omericanum 

Dlsllc:hfls spfcata 

Elsocheris spp 

lf}Omooa sogmats 

Pontefie1i1J co1clafe 

Sagltlaria llPP• 

SMrlilllf pafons 

Solloomta spp. 

Sympf1yol1/chum tonulto/Jum 

Total Covar by Plot ,;,; 

~l-telght (cm} for each plot JP• 1

Helghl Is only moasured tor Group I spucios, If prnsenl, 

~Hol,ghl Is measured !or speclos In Gtoup II (Inly If none of Iha species fn Gtoup I Is prosonl onsllo. 

B6 Appendix B Fle!d Data Fonns 
Plant Community f'lold Dain Sheol P~Jlo 2 

Record Iha llB .:»var ~lau n~dj'>lllnl (I lor each sp8clos. 

Bmun,oranquot Cover ln!llro3: 1 "1-5% (2.6%); 2" 6•25'/4 [15.5%): 3 ".:16·50¥, (37.5); sl" 61-75% (67.5%): 6" >75% (87.S1⁄4} 

Wotl!l}' Spoclos Plot 1 P/012 Plol 3 Plo14 PlolS Pioli) Plot 7 Plol 8 Plo19 Plot 10 

Awrvbrom \~ 

BncchDtiS ha/imf/olia 

l!exvom//M's 

l/11xdecldus 

Moro/la oolifora 

Iva rw1osw11s 

NyM!fl spp, .... 

Texod/um dis11chvm . {: 

·~:!~i 

. , . -~ . . ..... ~-- ~;~,,__. (.~.-;:~;;:,~ J!};f.iiffJM 

E&tlmalo J>roporllon or Ec\Uro 8l10 Occuplad by Woody Vooalalion I l) - FACIFACU Specl9s 

Bll~h11ris ha/lmifoliu 

J/ox vom/torill 

Mote/Ill ceritero 

Pen/cum vlrgBlvm 

Total f'AC cnvorbyPlot OR 

l!ttima!o P<oport.lon of EJ\t!re Sl\O O ccuplad by FACIFACU Sr,etlea I {'.> (Use whichever method res11Us In ttw hll)hesl value (or pe1«rn1 e-0ve1} 

Exollc or lnvas[va Spoclea .. ':. ~.' -~•:::_ ·: :: ;·. ":· .. 

Nlemsnlhom ph/loxerc!d&s 

P/!lagmrte~ 1111sftalls 

tuscuta spp, 

lmperole Gyilfldrica 

Panrcum repens 

Tliadico s9bf/oro 

}Ypha /aU/111/a 

Total Exotic Cover by fllot OR 

1:ellmalo PropoJ11on or E'ollto SIio Oc~uplad lly F:xo!!~e ·•.;-::{:ftlfti?]\"!:.t,;j (Uso wtilchover melllod 111sules fn lho h~hesl value for partent cove1) ·,\?:.,:1.'i.)i!':o:;tt:t,; D 

Appendix 13 Field Dalo fotrns 87 
1.,,) s 

Assossmon\ Team: · 

Project: Nr·\ '\ \?.~,'I 

Date: ••~ ~·? r\ •jl I 

Slxo of tho •lland Assossmonl Area (WAA): 

Snmplc vnrinblcs 1-5 using nerinl photos, digitol orthu-phofo qun<lrnngle 

imnge,y, etc., UI II scnlc of(l:4800) (I Inch ~400 feel) (color lnfrnrcd or true 

color preferred), 11slng GIS or other mcnns. 

I. Vs11.1; Welland l'ntch Size (ha) _q~--- Cnlculntc the nrcn (in hccturcs) of the contiguous tidal fringe weilan<l within 

which the WAA is locntcd. In some sitimtions, the WAA may encompass the 

entire wctlond patch nnd the WAA size nnd wetland patch size will be equal, 

2. Vt,.r.nu!ii,: Adjacent lnnd use 

Dclcnnine the proportion of !he WAA perhnc1cr (expressed as n percentage, 

rounded lo lhc ucnrcsl 5 pcrccnl) that is bounded by cneh of the following 

loud use types. 

Ptoportltm of 

.. WM 

ory Dasorlpllon Parlmator 

Undevalopod naturn!/y a)Opet1wala1! Shorolfno rs at lea$! 100m from 

/ vesolated o,ee.& or navlQatlon channel. 1r pros.on\, opaowalet b} Toueslrial: > 75o/t of Iota I araa Is natu,ally vego!aled 

foresfod or grnssy uplands or wellMds, 

MosUy 09ricu!lvrol More than 501⁄4 of 010 tote I tiroa ls occupied by ctopland. 

MosUy developed 8) Open wator: Hatbo1s, pol\S, lltld marinas 

b) Ter1os\l1al: More lhafl40% of Ute lo\al area ls 

dovafopad (i.e,, rollidenUal, commercial, 01 lndusttial 

nrees: also Includes point sources such as golf cou~t11:1, 

wastewater lloetmonl plan\ oul(a!ls, faod/ols, etc,) 

Mb:ed n} Open waler: areas \'lirnre !he shoreline Is wltl1!n 

100 m of a na'ilga.\lon chanool. 

b) reuoslrial: Ooos no! fil any of tha abova calagorios, 

may lne!Udll loW,densily ,u,al resldentlol, unpaved toads, 

010. 

•) If" 3. Vw1Dr11 Menn Mnrsh Wfdlh~cs~-~'-(m) 

Establish the appropriate number oflransects according lo the baseline length 

and record the lcnglh of ench transect (in meters) in the boxes below, then 

calculate the avorngc. 

B2 Appondix B FlolcJ Oalu Forms 
I 

Assessmont Tea_m: 1!\, 1 ) 

Project: r\J <-' ' "'-

Date: 'l 'l· r.· I ,;, 

4. Ycxrosf: Wnvc Energy Exposure 

Circle the exposure condition that most closely corresponds to tho site 

condition described in the table below. 

Nole: Sites with 110 exposed shorelines nre 1101 assessed for this function. 

Sl!Q Ooscrlpt1011 Exposuro 

Gaomorphtc Satllnu: Low-t:a-noroy lnlo1lor Marsh • 

Thoso sl!os havo ono or moro shornllnas !owled along tho adgos of prolocled ooves-01 I~ 

embaymonls (oonc.iva sJtOratina) OR a!on9 Iha edgo of a small Ilda\ creak not usod by 

corornerclal bonl lraffio, 

Gaornorphfe Soiling: Modoralo,Enorgy Interior Marsh Modarnlo 

lhoso Si!QS ha'lo (lnO or moro shorelines localed along lhe edges or latoo tkfal ccooks or rivet$ that are vsed by recroalfonal andfor oommwclal boat uaffit, 

G11omorphfo Solllog: Opon nay or Esluary High 

TMs~ i\\os. ha'ia one 01 mo Te sho1elines loca\od ditet\ly along ltio adges of an estvarv 

orbi\}' (o.g, 1 Mbsissippi Sound, Mobl!o Bay). Shornlina Is gono,ally linear, oxposod to 

relaUvely high wind and wave enorgy, ~Wt l0119 fe!Gh dlslances, or odjacent to 

navlgaUon channel I hat ls ftoquonlly used by rec<oallonal or comrnerclal boat Ualno. 

Goomo,phlc soltlng: zoro,Ene,oy Interior Mtitsh 

These $lies have no shoreWnes exposed to \'And 01 w11vo omugy presen\. 

Nor'IO 

5, V,nu, AquntlcEdge 

Circle the qualitative or qunntilotlve measure that most closely corresponds 

to lhe site conditian described in the !able below. See piclorial key in 

Appendix E (Figures El-Et I) for specific exomples, Note: U11vegetaled 

shore//11es (i.e. sandy beaches) are not included as edge. 

Quallt.a.UYe Qvantltallve 

Silo Doscrtptlon Measure Measure 

1) Well-devn!oped Ilda! drolnage netwo1k present {Figures E· 1 

and E·2). 

ll~h ?.225 mlha 

OR 

2} Very nartow Mngo marsh lhal lacks ltd al aeeks. Ono 

leng!hwiM shorolfne lhiil 1ep1esenls el least 40% of lhe tolal 

ptl/lrno!or Is oxposod tolldal walots {o,g., Daphne Ba)'fron1 

POik). 

3) Other geornorphlc: conflgurallon with a l11r90 amounl or shoreline relali'la lo lotal 0rea (I.a., .smaU Island or narrow peninsula) (Figures E·3 ond E-4). 

Simplo Udal drafnaga natwo1k (may consist or one or morn 5mall ,MOdorat5 175·224 mlhB 

channels) thal 8{(J Wllll•dlS!rlbulod 8C(llS$ IM lotalWM area I "!if~,-- (Flguros E.-5 and E,8). 

'Ilda! creoks may bo lacklng, ot If present, drain only o sm0II Modera!e• 100·176 m/lla 

proportion of Iha total WMa1ea (1119urtis E-7, E,8, end E-9}. low 

Shorollno Is uenornlly linear or smoo!h curviUMar without low 1,100 mlh, 

embaymonls or convolullons, lldal c<eo1<s typlca!ly absenl, lho aroa or ma1sh Is largo tolallvo lo shorol!no lotiglh (ff911f0 F.~10). 

No vegetated mar.ih,walet lnto,faco pres on\ In WM 

(Flguro E-11). 

Abson\ 0 mtha 

Appendix B flold oato forms B3 
I 

Assessment Team: ,,) .? , Project: 1\) ,., ' ·\ t" \> ., , \ 

Date: "'}. ·.. t;,..t 

' 

Somplo variables 6-8 based on a walking rccoimaissance of the WAA. 

6. V1ll'nno Hydrologlc regime 

Pince II check in the box !hot most closely fits site conditions. 

SIio Dosorlpllon 

Sito Is opon to rrno oxchango of llt:lalwators, Loworadgos ofvoget.alod morsh eurfaC(I aro nf>OO'ecl on a rngular basis as evldonccd by W/e.Ck !!nos, watermarks, olc, No ob1,olous hydrologlc elte,.allon, 611, or ros!rlclions prnaenl. 

Minor hydrologlc alleraUon or ,oslficUon proson\ (l.o., presence of fow,olovaUon berm, 

which ls ftequenUy ovarioppad by hlgMJdo cvenls or has multiple broachos orlaroa 

culverts: presence of some fill lhal raises e small po11lon (<20 porconl of nmsh area) of 

marsh surlaoo obovo no,mpJ Htlal Ooodfng zone). 

Modera!e hydrologlo al!erstion prosenl (l.e,j presence or hlgh-etevallon bilrm, whlch Is 

lnfrequonUy overloppttd by tJJgtHida even!s o, has aslnglo opening, breath, o,small 

cu!vor1; greater exlonl or fill (>20 parconl) Iha! 1alses JX}rtlons of marsh surface elevallon 

above normal tidal flooding zone). 

Severe hydtologlc nlloraUon; site receives lldal ftoodwatots onty dvring extrnmo lfdo oven ls 

(l.o .. .s1,11foce elevalion of marsh Is above notmal Udal Ooodlno iono; blocked culvel1, etc.}. 

Silo Is Isolated ftom tkfol oxthango, Tho principal sou,~ of fiOOding Is water sources olher 

lhan Ilda! ael!on (l,e,, preel'pl!alion or groundwaler}. 

Noto: II this condition oxlS/$, use of enolherwsl/and nsjoumcint model sho1Jld be Sll(,n9/y 

rxinsldored unloss Ilia $ilo weis a llda1 weUsnd prforto hydro/ogfc modificstlon. 

7. VNIID Nekton HnbUat Diversity 

Chock tho habllals presanl wllhln lho WM 

Low ma,sh (daily Iida I Roodl119} 

High mar$h (friegular 1klal noodlng) 

Vmt•AO 

Subtldal cliannels •/ 

lntal1idal channels (exposed al low I/de} / 

Shallow{<: 1 m)sand or mud Oals ,,,. 

Ponds or depiess!ons (temporary or pe,manenl) v 

Check tho habll.llls pro Gent within 30 m of WMpetJmotor 

Submergad aqua!io vegelaUon 

Oystor taor 

Total number of nekton habilal lypas presonl 

84 Appondix O Flold Oala Forms 
Assossmont-Team: t ~..., 1 \ 

Project: I\) P r 1 "' \.z" , Date: :, \ ~- l ;:, I 

8. Vwuo Wlldllfc Hnbitnt Dlvcrslly 

Check !he lmbit•ls presenl whhin the WAA or adjncclll lo the WAA 

perimeler. 

Chook If 

Wlldllfo Habllal 'fypo proeont 

larga patches of lall, robust ho,baceous vegalallo!\ \'iithln !ho WM Urn! Is r11 least 

Irregularly Ito-Oded 

(S, e/lamm-0re, J, roemerianus, Typhospp,. Schoonopfectusspp.) 

Doos 12bus! he1baceous vegota\!on ocwpy ~t leasl 50 patcenl of Ute l()lal WAA 

aroa? YES __ HO 

II tall tobusl herbaceous vegotaUon occms in a narrowMnge, fs this fnnoo 

g1oaterthan 10 rnw(de? YES NO 

Shorl herbaceous vegetation within Iha WM Iha! Is lnfrequen!.ly fl<>Ocfed (S, pa lens, 

Dl.s/lchlis spfca/a, Bolrichfo frotoscens, Bells mtuifima) 

lntorildal ereo~s and mud0al6 within U10 WMlhol aro oxposod al low Iida f.,,,,.. 

Na1u1al!yvag0laled uplal\d bofferadJaC(!nl loWAA wi1h. a minimum \,,;dlh of30 m 

(forested, shrob•scrob, ot denso ha1ba~ovs) v· 

Appendix B Flo Id Dato ForntB B5 
Plant Communllyflold Data Shoot Pago 1 

Record tho 013 oovat dass mtdpoinl (I for oach &poelos. 

Dtauo-Dlanquel Cove, Indices: 1 = 1•53⁄4 {2,61/t}: 2::. 6-25% (15.5%}; 3 = 26,601/~ (37.5):4:,., 51·75% (67,63⁄4); 5 :::i >75% (67.5%) 

Hetbacoous: Welland Speclos Plol 1. Plol2 Plol 3 Plot4 P/ol 6 Plo16 Plot 7 Plot 8 Plol9 Plot 10 

J, 'fall, Robust Spaclos1 

Spartlna af{omfnora 

Spvrtinn cynosmo/dos 

Juncvs (Ol}moriunvs I 

SchMnopl,mus omuticanus 

Schosnopfsclus robusrus 

Cladii,mjamalcemo ,: 

Typhs anouslifolia I 

Ziumlopslsniitiaceo 

Phrogmitosauslralls 

'Heigh/ (cm) {Qr orich p/QI 

II, Low-01owlog Spaolos 

Balls motillma 

Crlnum emeficvnum 

Olstlch/Js .spfca(a 

Elaochorisspp 

IJ'{lmOM Sagillt1l8 

Ponlodon·a c.ordala 

Ssgfllaria spp, 

Sparllna pa/ans 

Saffcomla spp, 

symphyottichum tenuifolfum 

Total Covor by Plot 1 ",; 11(1Jgflt (vm} for onch plot /10 

'Heigh! Is 0111)' moasurcd ror Group I spatlas, If pro~onl, 

'1--fo!ghl Is measured for species In Group II only If nona of the spocles In Group I Is j)tt'lsonl onsllo, 

86 Appendix. B Flold Data Fom1s 
AssossmontleanJ: 1,,) '::> Project: r-.\ ,,i_,-"-.-13~.,...:.,.,, ..,.I ___________ _ 

Date: '.) / , ,qt;, I 

Plant Community Fl old Data Shoo! Pago 2 

Record tho no oovt1r (;lass mfdpolnl O fot oacJ1 species, 

llraun-Blonquol Covar Indices: 1 u 1·5o/, (2.6%); 2 "- 6-:i!6o/, {16.5Y6);3., W•5Wo (31,-SJ; 4 61¥76% (67,51/t); 5 >76% (87.6%) 

WoodySpoclos Plot 1 Plol 2 Plot3 Plot4 Plots Plol 6 Plot 7 f'lol 8 Plol9 Plol 10 

ACfJtlllbmm II Bacchsrit.: hslfmltolla 

/fox vomltor/9 

/fox decfdua 

Moro/lo cetifom 

Iva f(1Jl0${;-0l/!i 

Nyssospp. 

T8xodlvm D/sllchum 

·i~~ 

)k\~lj 

EsHmnto P1oportlon of Entlrn Sito OccuploU by WoodyVeget.atlon I 

FAC/FACU Spoclos: 

Becd1atis hsllmifolia 

/lex vomifotic, 

Mo1el/a ceri!Bra 

Ponfoum vitgbfum 

Tola! FAC Covor by Plot OH 

Estlmal~ Proportion of Entire Site Ocouplt:d bY FAC/FACU Speclris I ,.) (Use whichever method re suns In Iha highosl value for percent cover) 

El(O\lQ or lnvis\vo Spec1&11 

Allflmen/heta ph/loxeroldfJs 

Phrogmitos twstm/ls 

Cuscula spp. 

Jmperela cy!JMdco 

Pon/cum ropsns 

Triod!MJ .sobiforo 

U,ph1:1 fatifqfia 

Total Exotic Cover by Plot Oil 

E6llmate Proportion of Entire Sito Occuplad by Ex9.H~if\tilf' ' 

(Uso whlchover ro11lhod ,esu!ts In 010 hlg\rnst vaJuo for Poroont .. cov.81 0 

Appo11dl>i: B Flold Oata. Forms 87 
From: Lisa D. Morrison 

To: Villarreal, Rudolph C CIV USARMY CESAM (USA) 

Subject: North Rall SAM-2018-01204-RCV 

Date: Monday, December 07, 2020 1:48:00 PM 

Attachments: North Rail pcka tor Corps .pdf imageoo1 png 

Rudy, please see the attached information requested in your email of November 25, 2020. You will 

find a drawing that shows the adjacent property owners, a drawing that shows the permitted 

footprint and the modified footprint, drawings C2.1, C2.2, and C2.3 that show the pi ling placement, 

a cut and fill report that shows where fill will be in wetlands (shown in red) and uplands (shown in 

yellow) and where the elevated portions wi ll be, and an updated, signed Joint Application. We did 

have a pre-fi ling meeting with Cevion Spann of MDEQ on Friday, December 4, 2020. As a result of 

that meeting we will be providing MDEQ with updated project information including drainage and 

stormwater information. 

Please let me know if you need anything else. 

L isa D . Morrison, RPG

Senior Geologist 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC.

156 Nixon Street, Biloxi, MS 

P: 228-432-2133 F: 228.432-8149 C:760-0643 

The contents of this email transmission are confidential and may be protected by professional privilege. The contents are intended only 

for the named recipients of this email. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, reproduction, 

disclosure or distribution of the information contained in this facsimile is prohibited 

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail" 
JOINT APPLICATION AND NOTIFICATION 

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS 

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES 

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY/OFFICE OF POLLUTION CONTROL 

1. Date Thls form is to be used for proposed activities in wafers of the United Stales In Mississippi and 

for the erection of structures on suitable sites for water dependent industry. Note that some December 7, 2020 

items, as indicated, apply only to projects located In the coastal area of Hancock, Harrison and month day year Jackson Counties. 

2. Applicant name, mailing address, phone Agent name, mailing address, phone number 3. Official use only 

number and email address: and email address: · COE _ Jackson County Port Authority Compton Englneering DMR 

PO Box 70 1969 Market Street DEQ _______ _ 

Pascagoula, MS 39568 Pascagoula, MS 39568 A95 _ 

sfeath ers@portof pasca gou la .com lmorrison@comptonengineering.com DATE RECEIVED 

4. Project location 

Street Address_N_/_A __________ City/Community Moss Point ____ 

Name of Waterway Escatawpa River Latitude 30.415001 Longitude (if Known) -88.513679 ___ 

Geographic location: Section 19 Township 7S Range5W County Jackson 

5. Project description 

New work X Maintenance work_ 

Dredging 

_Channel length width exlslfng depth _____ proposed depth, 

Canal length width existing depth proposed depth, _ 

Boat Slip length width existing depth proposed depth ___ 

Marina length width depth proposed depth ___ _ 

Other-Mooring Basin length width existing depth proposed depth ___ _ 

Cubic yards of material to be removed, _________ Type of material. ______________ _ 

Location of spoil disposal area _ 

Dimensions of spoil area Method of excavation, ____________ _ 

. How will excavated material be contained? ___________________________ _ 

Construction of structures 

__ Bulkhead Total length _______ Height above waler ____ 

__ Pier length width height ________ 

Boat Ramp length width slope ________ _ 

Boat House length width height ________ _ 

__ Structures on designed sites for waler dependent industry (Coastal area only). Explain In item 11 or include as 

attachment. 

_X_other (expla1n) Construction of new rail road track elevated on pilings and on fill 

Filling 

Dimensions of fill area 39,261 square feet {.90 acres) 

Cubic yards of fill 2,649 Type of fill rip rap, crushed stone, sub ballast, ballast 

Other regulated activities (i.e. Seismic exploration, burning or clearing of marsh) Explain. 
6. Additional information relating to the proposed activity 

Does projecl area conlain any marsh vegetation? Yes X X No 

(If yes, explain} ____________________________________ 

Is any portion of the activity for which authorization is sought now complete? Yes No_x 

(If yes, explain}, ____________________________________ 

Month and year activity took place, 

If project Is for maintenance work on existing structures or existing channels, describe legal authorization for the existing 

work. Provide permit number, dates or other form(s} of authorization .. _ 

Has any agency denied approval for the activity described herein or for any activity that is directly related to the activity 

described herein? 

Yes__ No_x_(lf yes, explain}, ___________________________ 

7. Project schedule 

Proposed start date September 2021 Proposed completion date November 2021

Expected completion date (or development timetable) for any projects dependent on the activity described herein. 

8. Estimated cost of the project $15 million

9. Describe the purpose of this project. Describe the relationshlP, between this project and any secondary or future 

development the project Is designed to support. The purpose of the project Is to connect existing MSE rail line south of th 

Escatawpa River with an Interchange located In the Moss Point Industrial and Technology Park. The project is also expected 

to allow closure of the main MSE line through downtown Moss Point and Pascagoula and allow closure of up to 21 crossings. 

Intended use: Private x Commercial Public X Other (Explain) 

1 O. Describe the public benefits of the proposed activity and of the projects dependent on the proposed activity. 

Also describe the extent of public use of the proposed project. 

Improved traffic congestion, improved air quality and livability in Moss Point and Pascagoula. 

11. Narrative Project Description: 

The Jackson County Port Authority (JCPA) received authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Mississippi 

Department of Marine Resources and Water Quality Certification from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to construct a 

railroad connector between the existing MSE rail over the Escatawpa River and an exchange yard located in the Moss Point Industrial 

and Technology Center (MPITC). The permllled rail was to be constructed on fill within a footprint that crosses over marsh and forested 

wetlands and forested uplands. The footprint crossed over 3,576 linear feet of emergent marsh vegetation and 1,115 feet of forested 

wellands. A permit to construct the North Rail Connector was received by JCPA on October 14, 2020. 

Ongoing evaluation of geoteclmlcal borings conducted within the proposed rail footprint through !he marsh indicate that it would require 

several layers of fill within a footprint that would be much wider than proposed and result in a much more expensive project. The original 

cost estimate for a rail line on fill as lnillally estimated was approximately $8 million. Based on the recent geolechnlcal evaluation, the 

construction cost Is estimated al approximately $30 million. In an effort to reduce construction costs, the JCPA has evaluated other 

construction methods and rail line footprints. The evaluation has resulted in proposed use of an elevated rail crossing over a shorter 

section of marsh, crossing over a longer section of forested uplands and joining to existing rail at a different locatlon. The cost estimate for 

this revised layout and construction method is approximately $15,5 million. 

The modified foolprint crosses over approximately 2,852 feet of marsh wetlands and 807 feel of uplands. By using elevated construction 

methods, the impacl to the marsh wetland is greatly reduced with fill going In only at the abulments to the elevated sections and a short 

section of marsh (approximately 413 linear feet). The total Impact for the revised footprint is approximately 39,261 square feel (0.90 

acres) and will require approximately 2,649 net cubic yards of fill. 

The approximate center point of the proposed new rail line Is located at 30.415001 degrees lalilude and -88.513679 degrees longitude. 

The new rail begins at approximately 30.251207/-88.310005 on the north, and extends to 30.413307/-88.508639 on the easl. 

The subject property is located In Seclion 19, Township 7 Soulh, and Range 5 West of Jackson County, MS. A Site Location Map is 

included In the attached drawings. 

2 
12. Provide the names and addresses of the adjacent property owners. Also identify the property owners on the plan 

view of the drawing described in Attachment "A". (Attach additional sheets if necessary.) 

1 · see attached 2. 

13. List all approvals or certifications received or applied for from Federal, State and Local agencies for any structures, 

construction, discharges, deposits or other activities described in this application. Note that the signature in Item 

14 certifies that application has been made to or that permits are not required from the following agencies. If 

permits are not required, place N/A in the space for Type Approval. 

Agency Type Approval Appl/cation Date Approval Date 

Dept. of Environmental Quality WQC this application 

Dept. of Marine Resources Coastal Zone Consist this application 

Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 this application 

City/County 

Other 

3 
14. Certification and signatures 

Application is hereby made for authorization to conduct the activities described herein. I agree to provide any additional 

Information/data that may be necessary to provide reasonable assurance or evidence to show that the proposed project wlll 

comply with the applicable state water quality standards or other environmental protection standards both during 

construction and after the project Is completed. I also agree to provide entry to the project site for inspectors from the 

environmental protection agencies for the purpose of making preliminary analyses of the site and monitoring permitted 

works. I certify that I am familiar with and responsible for the Information contained in this application, and that to the best of 

my knowledge and belief, such Information Is true, complete and accurate. I further certify that I am the owner of the 

property where the proposed project Is located or that I have a legal Interest In the property and that I have full legal 

authority to seek this permit. 

U.S.C. Section 1001 provides that: Whoever, In any manner within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the 

United Slates knowingly and willingly falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme or device a material fact or 

makes any false, fictilious or fraudulent statements or representations or makes or uses any false writing or document 

knowing same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or 

Imprisoned not more than five years, or both. 

Mississippi Coastal Program (Coastal area only) 

I certify that the proposed project for which authorization is sought complies with the approved Mississippi Coastal Program 

and will be conducted In a manner consistent with the program. 

Signature of Applicant or Agent 

4 
15. Fees 

Payable to MS Dept. of Marine Resources Please include appropriate fees for all projects 

$50.00 Single-family residential application fee proposed In coastal areas of Hancock, Harrison and 

$500.00 Commercial application fee Jackson Counties. 

Public notice fee may be required 

16. If project is In Hancock, Harrison or Jackson Counties, send one completed copy of this application form and 

appropriate fees listed In Item 15 to: 

Department of Marine Resources 

Bureau of Wetlands Permilllng 

1141 Bayview Avenue 

Biloxi, MS 39530 

(228) 37 4-5000 

If project IS NOT in Hancock, Harrison or Jackson Counties, send one completed copy of this application form to 

each agency listed below: 

Director 

District Engineer District Engineer Mississippi Dept. of Environmental Quality 

Mobile District Vicksburg District Office of Pollution Control 

Attn: CESAM-RD Regulatory Branch P.O. Box 10385 

P.O. Box 2288 Attn: CEMVK-OD-F Jackson, MS 39289 

Mobile, AL 36628-0001 4155 Clay Street 

Vicksburg, MS 39183-3435 

17. In addition to the completed application form, the following attachments are required: 

Attachment "A" Drawings 

Provide a vicinity map showing the location of the proposed site along with a written description of how lo reach the site from 

major highways or landmarks. Provide accurate drawings of the project site with proposed activities shown in detail. All 

drawings must be to scale or with dimensions noted on drawings and must show a plan view and cross section or elevation. 

Use 8 1/2 x 11" white paper or drawing sheet attached. 

Attachment "B" Authorized Agent 

If applicant desires to have an agent or consultant act in his behalf for permit coordination, a signed authorization 

designating said agent must be provided with the application forms. The authorized agent named may sign the application 

forms and the consistency statement. 

Attachment "C" Environmental Assessment (Coastal Area Only) 

Provide an appropriate report or statement assessing environmental impacts of the proposed activity and the final project 

dependent on II. The project's effects on the wetlands and !he effects on the life dependent on them should be addressed. 

Also provide a complete description of any measures to be taken to reduce detrimental offsile effects to the coastal wetlands 

during and after the proposed activity. Alternative analysis, minimization and mitigation information may be required to 

complete project evaluation. 

Attachment "D" Variance or Revisions to Mississippi Coastal Program (Coastal area only) 

If the applicant is requesting a variance to the guidelines in Section 2, Part Ill or a revision to the Coastal Wetlands Use Plan 

in Section 2, Part IV of the Rules, Regulations, Guidelines and Procedures of the Mississippi Coastal Program, a request 

and justification must be provided. 

5 
Attachment "A" Drawings 

6 
1-Warren A. Powell - 5831 Elder Street, Moss Point, MS 39563 

2 - Juanita Brondum, C/O Lamar Delmas, PO Box 267, Escatawpa, MS 39553 

3 - Raymond Lamar Delmas, PO box 267, Escatawpa, MS 39553 

4-James Edward Bullock-13116 Highway 613, Moss Point, MS 39563 

5 -Angela Hawthorne & Gwenethe Parsen, 5836 Elder Street, Moss Point MS 39563 

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156 Nixon Street 

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Phone: 228.432.2133 

Fax: 228.432.8149 

comptononglneering.com 

PASCAGOULA 

BILOXI 

BAY ST. LOUIS 

COMPTON E NGINEERING, INC. 

ENGINEERING, SURVEYING & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 

December 14, 2020 

Mr. Cevion Spann 

Mississippi Department of En·vironmental Quality 

Office of Pollution Control 

P.O. Box 2261 

Jackson, MS 39225-226 l 

Re: Jackson County Port Authority 

North Rail Connector Planning Project 

(C.E. Job No. 218-051.001) 

Dear Mr. Spann: 

In response to the Water Quality Certification Pre-filing Meeting held with MDEQ and 

Compton Engineering on December 4, 2020 on behalf of the Jackson County Port Authority 

we submit the following information: 

1. Applicant Request: 

Jackson County Port Authority is requesting Water Quality Certification for a modification to 

the footprint of the previously permitted North Rail Connector Project. The project was 

permitted by the Mobile District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by permit number SAM2018-00124-RCV, by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources DMR-190178, and 

MDEQ WQC WQC2019028. 

2. The Applicant is: 

Jackson County Port Authority 

3033 Pascagoula Street 

Pascagoula, MS 39568 

Attn: Mr. Mark McAndrews, Port Director 

3. The project description is as follows: 

The modified footprint crosses over apprnximately 2,852 feet of marsh wetlands and 807 feet 

of uplands. By using elevated construction methods, the impact to the marsh wetland is 

greatly reduced with fill going in only at the abutments to the elevated sections and a short 

section of marsh (approximately 413 linear feet). The total impact for the revised footprint is 

approximately 39,261 square feet (0.90 acres) and will require apprnximately 2,649 net cubic 

yards of fill. Please see the attached letter and drawings that were submitted to the Mobile 

District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources 

providing information on the need for the modification and a table showing the permitted 

projects impacts and the proposed modified footprint. A drawing showing the permitted and 

proposed modified footprint is also attached. A drawing showing the adjacent property

owners is also attached. 
Mr. Cevion Spann 

December 14, 2020 

Page 2 of2 

4. Stormwater Management 

A SWPPP was prepared for the original project footprint and has been modified for the 

revised project footprint. The disti1rbed area has been reduced from approximately five acres 

to less than five acres so the LCNOI has been replaced with an SCNOI. Copies of the 

SWPPP and SCNOI are attached. 

Post construction, stormwater will mainly fall on marsh wetlands for the elevated portion of 

the rail and on pervious surfaces and ditches that will border the rail constructed on fill. The 

stormwater management plan was designed in accordance with the CSX STANDARD 

SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PRIVATE 

SIDETRACKS (attached). 

If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to call me at (228) 432-2133 or 

email me at lmorrison@comptonengineering.com. 

Sincerely, 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. 

Lisa D. Morrison

Lisa D. Morrison, R.P.G. 

LDM/kl 

Attachments: Letter requesting modification dated November 11, 2020 

Drawing Permitted and Modified Footprint 

Drawing/Table Adjacent Property Owners 

Modified SWPPP and SCNOI 

Page from CXS Standard Specifications 

JCPA • North flail WQC 
Permit Modification Request 

November 10, 2020 
COMPTON ENGINEERING llNC. 

ENGINEERING, SURVEYING & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 

November 10, 2020 

Mt·. Rudolph Villareal

Deportment of the Army

Mobile District, Corps of Engineers 

P.O. Box 2288 

Mobile, AL 36628-0001 

Mt·. Greg Christodoulou 

Mississippi Deportment of Marino Resources

1141 Boyview Avenue, Suite 101 

Biloxi, MS 39530 . 

Re: Modification - SAM-2018-01204-RCV, DMRI 90178 

Jackson County Port Authority - North Rall Con11ccto1· Roll Linc, Moss Point, MS 

Dear Mr. Villareal and Mt·. Christodoulou: 

The Jackson County Port Authority (JCPA) received authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, and the Mississippi Dep11rlment of Marine Resources and Water Quality Certification

· from the Mississippi Dep11rtment of Envlronmentol Quality to contruct a railroad connectol' 

between the existing MSE rail ovel' the Bsc11tnwp11 Rlve1· and 1111 exchange yard locnted in the 

Moss Point Industrial and Technology Center (MPITC). Tho permitted rail was to be constructed

011 fill within a footprint that crosses ovel' marsh and forested wotl11nds and forested uplands. Tho 

footprint crossed ovel' 3,576 linear feot of emergent marsh vegetotion and 1,115 feet of forested

wetlands. The initiol cost estimate for a railroad 011 fill versus an elevated rail line indic11ted that 

the fill construction method would be the most cost effective. A permit to construct the North 

Rail Connecto1· was received by JCPA on October 14, 2020. 

Ongoing evaluotion of geotcchnlool borings conducted within the proposed rail footprint through 

the marsh indicate that it would require several layers of fill within a footprint that would be 

much wider th11n proposed and result in a much more expensive project. The original cost 

estimate for a rail line on fill as lnltiolly estimated was approximately $8 million. Based on the 

recent gcotechnicol evnluntion, the construction cost is estimated at approximately $30 million. In 

an effort to reduce construction costs, the JCPA has evnluoted other construction methods and rail

line footprints. The evah111tlon hns resulted ln proposed use of an elevated rail crossing over a

shorter section of marsh, crossing over a longer section of forested uplands nndjoining to existing 

rail at a different location. The cost estimate for this revised layout and constrnction method is 

approximately $15.5 million. 

The modified footprint crosses over approximately 2,852 feot of marsh wetlonds and 807 feet of 

uplands. By using elevated construction methods, the impact to the marsh wetland Is gre11tly 

reduced with fill going in only at the abutments to tho elovntccl sections and a short section of 

marsh (approximately 413 linear feel), The tot11l impact fo1· the revised footprint is approximately

39,261 square feet (0.90 acres) and will require approximately 2,649 not cubic yards of fill. 
COMPARISON OF PERMITTED AND PROPOSED MODIFICATION 

Sq1111re 

Linear Feet of Acres of 

Llne111· Feet of Impact Impact Cubic Ynrds 

Feet of Forested to to ofFlll ln 

Marsh Wotl1111ds Uplands Wetlnnds Wetl1111ds Wetlnnds 

Permitted 3,576 1,115 107 113,440 4.89 20,589 

Proposed 

Modificntion 2,852 0 807 39,261 0.90 2,649 

The JCPA is submitting a request for a permit modificntion bnsecl on constructability nncl cost, 

Attnchccl plenso find clrnwings thnt show tho proposed modified layout and an Environmental 

Assessment for the new proposed footprint. 

Please review and let mo know if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. 

Morrison

Lisa D. Morrison, R.P.G. 

LDM/cf 

Allnchments 

JCPA • 
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 

for 

NORTH RAIL CONNECTOR 

MODIFIED FOOTPRINT 

On behalf of 

Jackson County Port Authority 

P.O. Box 70 

Pascagoula, MS 39568-0070 

by 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. 

Engineering, Surveying, and Environmental Services 

156 Nixon Street 

Biloxi, MS 39530 

(228) 432-2133 

NOVEMBER 2020 

JCPA • No11h Rail 111912020 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 1 

2.0 PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED ............................................................................................ 1 

3.0 PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION AND PROJECT IMPACTS ............................................ 2 

3.1 Impacts to the Human Environment 

3.1.1 Air Quality ............................................................................................................... 3 

3. 1.2 Noise ........................................................................................................................ 4 

3. 1.3 Traffic Congestion ................................................................................................... 4 

3.1.4 TrafficSafety ........................................................................................................... 4 

3 .1.5 Economic ................................................................................................................. 5 

3. 1.6 Livability ................................................................................................................. 6 

3. 1.7 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................... 6 

3.2 Impacts to the Natural Environment 

3.2.1 Essential Fish Habitat .............................................................................................. 7 

3.2.2 Shellfish ................................................................................................................... 7 

3.2.3 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation ............................................................................... 7 

3.2.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ....................................................................... 7 

3.2.5 Wetlands .................................................................................................................. 9 

3.2.6 Water Quality .......................................................................................................... 9 

3.2. 7 Floodplain ................................................................................................................ 9 

3.3 Indirect and Cumulative Impacts 

4.0 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ..................................................................................................... 11 

4.1 Other Alignments 

4.2 Construction Methods 

4.3 No Action 

5.0 MITIGATION .............................................................................................................................. 12 

Figure 1 

Figure2 

Figure 3 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmenlal Assessment 

218-051 

Page i 

FIGURES 

Project Location 

Modified Alignment 

Cut/Ilill Report for Moclificcl Alignment
APPENDICES 

A Wetland Delineation for Modified Footprint 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page ii 
Environmental Assessment 

Jackson Co1111ty Port Authority North Rail Connector

Moclifiecl Footprint 

Moss Point, Mississippi 

November 2020 

1,0 Project Description 

The Jackson County Port Authority has received a permit to construct a North Rail Connector in 

Moss Point, Mississippi. The permitted project includes construction of a rail line on fill, similar 

to the existing Mississippi Export Railroad structures that cross nearby marsh and to which the 

North Rail Connector will extend from, This permitted footprint requires filling 3,73 acres of 

coastal tidal wetlands, 1.16 acres of non-tidal wetlands with mitigation by creation of3.8 acres of 

emergent tidal wetlands and purchase of 3.48 mitigation credits. The cost estimate for 

constrnction of the rail was based on constructing the rail on fill similar to the MSE rail line. 

Ongoing geotechnical evaluation indicates that using fill would require at least two levels of fill 

with a much wider footprint that originally designed. Using this method, there is no guarantee 

that the line would not subside over time requiring expensive repairs. Therefore, the JCPA has 

modified the footprint in order to cross over a shorter section of marsh so that it is economically 

feasible to construct an elevated rail that will not require fill. The modified footprint extends 

further south than the original permitted footprint, uses straighter curves and ties into existing 

rail near Orange Grove Road. This layout requires JCP A to purchase privately owned parcels of 

land. The approximate center point of the proposed modified rail is at 30.415546 degrees latitude 

and -88.514452 degrees longitude. The new rail begins at approximately 30,251207/-88.310005 

on the no1ih and extends to 30.413308/-88.508269 where it joins existing rail. 

JCP A has evaluated the impacts associated with the revised footprint and determined that the 

revised footprint impacts 0.90 acres of marsh wetland and 0.27 acres (807 linear feet by 15 feet 

wide) of uplands. 

The subject property is located in Section 19, Township 7 South, and Range 5 West of Jackson 

County, MS. A map showing the permitted project footprint and the proposed modified project 

footprint is shown on Figure 1. 

2.0 Project Purpose ancl Need 

There are no changes to the project's purpose and need associated with this footprint 

modification. 

3.0 Project Area Description and Project Impacts 

The permitted project footprint is situated pmiially in an upland area and partially in estuarine 

and forested wetlands. The length of the permitted rail line through estuarine wetlands is 

approximately 3,576 lincar feet and through forested wetlands is approximately 1,115 linear feet. 

The modified footprint crosses over 2,852 feet of estuarine wetlands and 807 feet of uplands. No 

forested wetlands are within the modified footprint. Since the modified footprint will be 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

E11vironmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page I 
constructed using rail constructed on elevated pilings, the impacts are associated with fill at the 

abutments and one section of marsh (21,820 square feet) and the total acreage of impact is 0.90 

acres. A layout map for the modified footprint is shown on Figure 2. 

The estuarine vegetation in the modified footprint is similar to that in the permitted footprint and 

consists mainly of black needle rush (Juncus roemerianus) and sawgrass (Caladiumjamaicense). 

The upland forested areas in the modified footprint are dominated by pines, oaks and magnolia. 

The entire forested area is heavily infested with exotic invasive plant species including Chinese 

tallow (Triadica sebifera) and Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). This footprint eliminates 

impacts to forested wetlands. 

The permitted footprint required approximately 20,589 cubic yards of fill material to be used 

during construction of the rail through the estuarine wetlands and forested wetlands. The 

modified footprint will require approximately 2,649 cubic yards of fill. 

The estuarine wetland area is already crossed by high power electrical transmission lines and an 

existing rail line operated by Mississippi Export Railroad. The area is downstream from the 

former International Paper Mill facility (now the MPITC) and west of the former Aeration 

Stabilization Basin which previously discharged to the Escatawpa River. 

3.1 Impacts to the Human Environment 

The impacts to the human environment associated with the modified footprint are similar to 

those of the permitted footprint. The infonnation below is reproduced from the Environmental 

Assessment for the permitted footprint. 

3.1.1 Air Quality 

The project will result in improvements to air quality in and arom1d Moss Point and Pascagoula. 

Various data sources indicate that freight transport by rail and water vessels generate 

significantly less environmental impacts and costs than truck transpmt. Based on the ton-mile, 

rail and water transportation are significantly more efficient than truck transpmiation. As 

repmted in the Mississippi State Rail Plan produced by the Mississippi Department of 

Transportation, 2011, the fine particle matter (PM2.5) impact per million ton-miles of rail and 

water transport is approximately one-tenth of trucktransport (0.0158 and 0.0128 versus 0.1126, 

respectively). Similarly, the nitrogen oxide (NOX) emission tons per ton-mile traveled for rail 

and water transport are approximately one fifth of truck transport (0.5954 and 0.5171 versus 

2.8549, respectively). 

Combined, PM2.5 and NOX emissions generate environmental damages per million ton-miles of 

$41,480 for truck transport, which is several times greater than rail ($6,710) or water ($5,610) 

transpott damages. Fmther mamnade greenhouse gases include CO2 (the dominant emission), 

methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. Similar to the PM2.5 and NOX emissions, the 

impact of both rail and water freight transport for these gases is a fraction of truck transport. 

According to the Association of American Railroads (AAR) white paper, PUTTING 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page2 
TECHNOLOGY TO WORK HOW FREIGHT RAIL DELIVERS THE 2IST CENTURJ'. May

2018, moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 75%. 

The AAR also stated that one gallon of diesel fuel moved a ton of freight by rail 4 79 miles - four 

times the efficiency of trucks. The U.S. Envirolltllental Protection Agency estimates that for 

eve1y ton-mile, a typical truck emits three times more nitrogen oxides and particulates than a 

train. Related studies suggest that trucks emit six to 12 times more pollutants per ton-mile than 

railroads, depending on the pollutant measured. 

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers found that 2.5 million fewer tons of carbon 

dioxide would be emitted into the air annually if IO percent of intercity freight now moving by 

highway were shifted to rail. If 10 percent of truck traffic went by rail - via intermodal 

movements involving both railroads and trucks - the cumulative estimated GHG reductions from 

2017 to 2030 would be 210 million tons. 

Rail traffic through areas of vehicular traffic congestion increases vehicle idling time. An hour of 

automobile idling burns approximately one-fifth of a gallon of gas and releases nearly 4 pounds 

of CO2 into the air. Excessive amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere can contribute to diminished 

air quality. Relocation of the main line to a less populated and congested location will reduce 

congestion and idling time and thereby reduce emissions of CO2 and NOX into the atmosphere. 

3,1.2 Noise 

The project will result in reduced train noise in Moss Point and Pascagoula. Noise from train 

horns and general train traffic can have a significant effect on the livability of a connnunity. 

Conmmnities can establish quiet zones but must implement rail crossing upgrades in order to 

reduce horn noise. Relocating the main line will eliminate much downtown train horn noise and 

the need for crossing upgrades. 

3.1.3 Traffic Congestion 

The project will result in a reduction in traffic congestion, idling time and backups at the rail 

crossings. Local rail traffic is expected to increase due to anticipated construction of new 

industry in northern Jackson and George Counties. Some of the trains, known as unit trains, may 

be up to a mile long including 65-75 freight cars each. These unit trains must travel at reduced 

speeds to maneuver through sharp turns and through cmmnunities. By relocating the main line to 

the proposed route, the number of railroad crossings will be reduced from 22 to seven, thereby 

reducing traffic congestion at rail road crossings significantly. Rail speeds can be maintained on 

the proposed new rail line, which will also help in reducing congestion and idling time. 

3.1.4 Trnffic Safety 

The project will result in improved traffic safety. The rail mode is one of the safest transportation 

modes. According to the MSRP each year more 30,000 deaths and 2 million injuries from 

highway collisions are reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2008 

more than 700 highway-related deaths were recorded in Mississippi. The economic cost of these 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page 3 
collisions to the U.S. economy is more than $200 billion- more than 2 percent of the U.S. gross 

domestic product. Much of this cost is borne by the public at large either through public 

expenditures (law enforcement, medical, disability payments, etc.) or insurance premiums. 

Freight rail transportation is also very safe and, as reported by the Federal Railroad 

Administration, the multi-year trend is positive with all reportable accidents (derailments, 

fatalities, injuries, etc., on the national rail system) declining by almost 32% between 2007 and 

2017, 

The rail safety area most visible to the general public and for which the public is most exposed to 

potential harm is grade crossings. There are 4,209 highway-rail crossings in Mississippi, with 

2,282 located on public roadways, 1,911 crossings on private roads, and 16 pedestrian crossings. 

Reducing rail crossings will reduce the potential for accidents and injuries at these crossings, 

3.1.5 Economic 

The project will result in reduced operation and maintenance costs for the local communities. It 

will also provide communities with the ability to increase jobs by providing manufactures that 

may locate along the rail line the ability to efficiently transport goods for shipment. 

According to the MSRP freight rail plays a prominent role in the livability and sustainability of a 

community. The ability to efficiently transport goods and create access to economic centers is 

critical to the overall success of a region's economy, Time wasted due to transportation 

inefficiency and congestion has significant impacts on profitability and the ability to attract new 

business to a region. 

The efficiency of rail freight is especially important in rural areas where agricultme, local 

industries and communities rely on freight shipping, Many communities have seen a loss or 

reduction in rail freight services in recent years. Improving, expanding and preserving the rail 

network can improve the competitive stature of local industries, agriculture and communities. A 

revitalized rail line can lower shipping costs, provide pricing power for local industries and 

agriculture vis-a-vis trucking, provide redundancy in the transportation network, and shield local 

industries and agriculture from predicted increases in the cost of fossil fuel. 

The freight transp01t unit costs per ton multiplied by the large shipment volumes result in huge 

cost savings compared to truck. For example, it takes 70 large truck semi-trailers to carry the 

same amount of dry cargo as 16 rail cars ( approximately 4.5 trucks per rail car), 

The P01t of Pascagoula conducted a cost/benefit evaluation for plam1ed improvements to the Port 

and MSE rail system that provides rail access to the Port. The following is a brief summary of 

the savings projected for each cost categ01y: 

1)•ack Maintenance - The new track would actually reduce the rail route distance from Lucedale 

to the Port of Pascagoula by four miles and result in annual maintenance savings of more than 

$46,000. 

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Crossing Maintenance - Reducing the number of railroad-highway grade crossings on the route 

by 16 would lower crossing maintenance costs by nearly $6,000 per year. 

Highway Maintenance - Shifting product transp01t from trucks to trains would eliminate the 

potential damage that would otherwise be done to state highways by $37,000 in the first year and 

by more than $50,000 in the fifth and subsequent years. 

Transportation Operations - Shifting from trucks to trains would lower operating costs for 

shipping products from Lucedale to the Port of Pascagoula by almost $4.7 million in the first 

year and by more $7.0 million in the sixth and subsequent years. 

Emissions - 111e shift from trucks to trains would reduce the estimated value of mobile-source 

pollutants emitted by vehicles transporting goods from $73,000 to $86,000 per year. 

Carbon Output - The shipping mode shift would reduce the discounted (at three percent per 

annum) social cost of carbon output by vehicles transporting goods by $25,000 to $73,000 per 

year. 

Discounted Net Benefits would peak at $4.873 million in the sixth year and then fall off little by 

little to $1 .405 million in the last year of the 25-yera cycle. The aggregate value of savings over 

25 years would be $79.622 million. 

State of Good Repair. The US Department of Transportations' National Rail Plan states that, 

"the performance of the freight system can be greatly improved by enhancing the connections 

between individual modes of transportation in order to make the best use of the inherent 

efficiency of each mode." By more efficiently connecting rail to the Po1t of Pascagoula, 

connections between these modes are significantly strengthened and thus creating an efficient 

and reliable transp01tation network. 

3.1.6 Livability 

The project will result in improved livability in the area. The removal of trains from the most 

densely developed sections of the Pascagoula-Moss Point Urbanized Area will significantly 

enhance opportunities for upgrading public infrastructure in both residential and commercial 

areas to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and residents or visitors engaged in recreational 

pursuits. Relocation of train operations to the eastern periphery of both cities will make it 

possible to create cleaner, safer, quieter and more aesthetically pleasing central business districts 

and to improve the visual character and appeal of nearby residential neighborhoods in less 

affluent sections of Pascagoula and Moss Point 

3.1. 7 Cultural Resources 

The project is to be conducted within estuarine and forested wetlands and on uplands. 

Constrnction will include using fill material to build up the rail line base to an appropriate 

elevation for construction. Cultural resources are not likely to exist in the marsh and other 

wetland areas. The upland area was part of the former International Paper Company mill and was 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page 5 
prior impacted with industrial development. As such, historical architectural, archeolegical or 

Native American resources are not expected to be encountered during the construction process. 

During development of the permit for the permitted rail layout, the JCPA requested input from 

the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) in a letter dated November 8, 

2018. MDAH responded in a letter dated November 21, 2018 that they had no objections to the 

project but would like to review the location of the placement of fill material and the source of 

the fill material. A map showing the modified layout of the rail line will be provided to MDAH. 

Requests for comments on the project were provided to the Choctaw Indian Tribe of Oklahoma 

and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. As of this date, neither has responded. 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

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3.2 Impacts to the Natural Environment 

The impacts to the natural environment associated with the modified footprint are similar to 

those of the permitted footprint. The information below is reproduced from the Environmental 

Assessment for the permitted footprint and modified where appropriate. 

3.2.1 Essential Fish Habitat 

The project is located within an area identified as essential fish habitat. The National Marine 

Fisheries Service provided input on the project and worked with JCPA to develop a mitigation 

plan for impacts to the estuarine habitat. The modified footprint and elevated rail reduces the 

impacts to the environment. JCPA will request input from NMFS regarding the modified 

footprint. 

3.2.2 Shellfish 

The area is not identified as a commercial oyster fishery and no known oyster beds are rep011ed 

in the area. 

3.2.3 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation 

The project area is dominated by estuarine and forested wetlands. Submerged aquatic vegetation 

requires shallow open water with low turbidity. Since the area is densely vegetated and no open 

water areas are found within the project footprint, SA V is not present. 

3,2,4 Endangered Species 

Federally listed threatened or endangered species thought to occur within Jackson County are: 

Group Scientific Name Common Name Federal Status 

Amphibians Lithobates sevosa dusky gopher frog endangered 

Birds Ammodramus maritimus Seaside Sparrow imperiled 

Birds Ammodramus 11elso11 Nelson's sharp tailed imperiled

sparrow 

Birds Charadrius melodus piping plover endangered 

Birds Grus canadensis pulla Mississippi sandhill crane endangered 

Birds Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle imperiled 

Birds Picoides borealis Red-cockaded woodpecker endangered 

Ferns and Allies Isoetes louisianensis Louisiana quillwort endangered 

Fishes Acipenser oxyrinclms desotoi gulf sturgeon threatened 

Fishes Percina aurora pearl darter candidate 

Fishes Atraclosteus spatula Alligator Gar imperiled 

Mammals Tricheclms manatus West Indian manatee endangered 

Mammals Ursus americanus luteolus Louisiana black bear threatened 

Reptiles Che/onia mydas green sea turtle threatened 

Reptiles Dermochelys coriacea leatherback sea turtle endangered 

Reptiles Erelmochelys imbricala hawksbill sea turtle endangered 

Reptiles Gopherus polyphemus gopher tortoise threatened 

Reptiles Graptemysjlm1imaculata yellow-blotched map turtle threatened 

Reptiles Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's ridley sea turtle endangered 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

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Reptiles Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi black pine snake candidate 

Reptiles Pseudemys a/abamensis Alabama red-belly turlle endangered 

Endangered species that may occur in the area include several terrestrial and aquatic species. The 

terrestrial species are identified as the Red cockaded woodpecker, the Mississippi sandhill crane, 

the piping plover, two sparrows, the Louisiana black bear, the black pine snake, and the gopher 

tortoise. The Red-cockaded woodpecker and Mississippi sandhill crane are not known to nest in 

the area and can avoid the area during construction activities. The optimal habitat of the seaside 

sparrow is found in unaltered marshes with expanses of medium-high cordgrass with a turf of 

clumped, residual stems. Especially suitable are spots not subject to extreme flooding that have 

open muddy areas for feeding, Dense vegetation such as salt meadow grass is little used and high 

marshes provide marginal sparrow habitat. Therefore, it does not appear that the project area is 

suitable for the seaside sparrow. The Louisiana black bear is not likely to be present due to the 

separation of the construction area by water bodies. 

The gopher tmtoise digs its burrow in dry habitats. Based on the proximity to the estuary and the 

Escatawpa River, it is not likely that the gopher tmtoise is present in the area. 

The black pine snake lives in upland, open longleaf pine forests with sandy, well-drained soils 

and dense grassy or herbaceous groundcover. These snakes may also be found within stream or 

river corridors and in or near pitcher plant bogs located within or adjacent to longleaf pine 

forests. They require large tracts of undisturbed land, from 135 to 385 acres, to conduct seasonal 

and daily activities such as eating, mating and hibernation. Based on the habitat requirements of 

the black pine snake it is not likely to be found in the project area. 

A letter was sent to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Mississippi Department 

of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) for comment on the potential effects of the project on 

endangered species. The USFWS responded that the Alabama red bellied turtle (Pseudemys 

a/abamensis) and the wood stork (Mycteria Americana) could potentially be present in the 

project area. The USFWS requested that a biological survey be conducted to identify the 

presence of these species and to evaluate the effect, if any, the project would have on these 

species, A visual survey of the project area was conducted for indications of the Alabama redbellied turtles and the wood stork. There are no areas of deep open water that is the preference 

of the turtles during the winter months. The survey was conducted on warm sunny days and no 

turtles were observed in potential basking areas USFWS was concerned about the culverts being 

constructed beneath the rail line lo allow passage of tidal flow lo the east and west sides of the 

rail. USFWS was concemed that there be enough free board in the culverts so that the turtles 

would not drown when crossing through these culverts. The modified layout includes an elevated 

rail that will not require culverts, therefore, the requirement involving the culverts does not 

apply to the modified footprint. No wood storks have been identified in the project area. The 

MDWFP indicated that best management practices should be implemented, monitored and 

maintained for compliance, in pmticular measures that will prevent suspended silt and 

contaminants from affecting water quality and habitat conditions in nearby streams and 

waterbodies. Best management practices will be implemented during construction. The practices 

will be identified in a Stonnwater Pollution Prevention Plan. 

The remaining species that may be present are aquatic. The Gulf Sturgeon, West Indian Manatee 

and the Leatherback, Hawksbill, Kemps Ridley and Green sea turtles are not likely to be found in 

Compton Enginecrh1g, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page8 
the project area due to the dense vegetation, water quality, and water depth. The area is not 

mapped as Gulf Sturgeon critical habitat. It is not likely that gulf sturgeon would be found in the 

project area since it is entirely shallow estuarine and forested wetlands with no open water areas. 

The sea turtles would also not likely be found in the project area based on the dense marsh 

vegetation and water quality considerations. 

Compton Engineering> Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page 9 
3.2.5 Wetlands 

A wetland delineation was completed in the modified project area to identify the types and 

amount of wetlands that are present in the modified project area. Approximately 3.5 acres 

(based on a width of 45 feet) of tidally influenced estuarine wetlands are present in the proposed 

project area. An additional 3.0 acres of uplands are present within the project footprint and 

approximately 0.27 acres of upland will be impacted by construction of the rail. A copy of the 

wetland delineation is included in Appendix B. Marsh habitats can provide habitat for fish 

nurseries, amphibians, aquatic reptiles, wading birds, waterfowl, and song birds. Riparian 

woodland can provide foraging, roosting, and nesting habitat for a variety of birds and provide 

cover and refuge sites for small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. These wetlands will be 

impacted by construction activities associated with driving the pilings for the rail line. 

Temporary impacts will occur from construction activities that may require a barge to access 

portion of the rail line. A Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan was prepared and approved by 

the National Marine Fisheries Service, DMR and the US Corps of Engineers. JCPA will work 

with these agencies to evaluate potentially reducing the size of the PRM marsh creation area. In 

addition, the JCPA has already purchased credits for impacts to forested wetlands and these 

impacts are reduced or eliminated from the project. 

3.2.6 Water Quality 

The project location is located adjacent to the Escatawpa River Segment 3 which is described as 

the river from Interstate 10 to the mouth of the Pascagoula River. The Escatawpa River Segment 

3 has been listed as an impaired water body since 1996. Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) 

were established for biological oxygen demand (BOD), chlorine, fecal coliform, pH and toxicity 

in 2001. The water quality standards for other listed contaminants (mercmy, nutrients, priority 

organic compounds, suspended solids and turbidity) were attained in 2005 based on monitoring 

data or lack of numeric criteria for the category. The fill material used to build the rail line will 

be from a clean source of material that will be free of pollutants, and is not expected to adversely 

impact the TMDLs in the Eseatawpa River or the surrounding enviromnent. Best management 

practices will be implemented to prevent sediment from leaving the construction area and to 

prevent increases in turbidity outside of the constmction zone. 

The modified footprint rail line will be elevated by construction on piling and will allow 

continued tidal flushing of the area, 

Stormwater best management practices (bmp's) will be used during construction to protect all 

waters downstream and down gradient of work areas. Erosion and sedimentation will be 

minimized by limiting the size of the work area, installing sediment control structures, and 

stabilizing disturbed soils (in upland areas) as soon as installation is complete by seeding and 

covering with erosion control blankets. A Small Construction Notice oflntent will be prepared 

and a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) will be completed and utilized to ensure 

that adjacent waterbodies are protected. 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Enviromnental Assessment 

218-051 

Page 10 
3.2. 7 Floodplain 

The project area is located within the floodplain. A Jetter was sent to the Mississippi Emergency 

Management Agency (MEMA) for comment on potential impacts to the floodplain. MEMA 

responded that the project was in a Special Flood Hazard Area as shown on the Flood Insurance 

Rate Map (FIRM) 28059C0342G dated March 16, 2009. 

3.3 Indirect and Cumulative Impacts 

The JCPA evaluated indirect and cumulative impacts associated with the project. Indirect effects 

are caused by an action and are later in time or fmther removed in distance, but are still 

reasonably foreseeable. Indirect impacts were identified as: 

• Constrnction of the rail line will have ongoing impacts to the tidal marsh and forested 

wetlands. Water circulation patterns could be altered which could result in changes to the 

areas adjacent to the rail line footprint. The fill portion of the rail line is modified to be 

elevated and cross over a shorter section of tidal marsh, therefore that will be minimal 

impacts to tidal flow in the area. 

• The project will cross over .98 acres of tidal marsh habitat. The marsh habitats can 

provide habitat for fish nurseries, amphibians, aquatic reptiles, wading birds, waterfowl, 

and song birds. Riparian woodland can provide foraging, roosting, and nesting habitat for 

a variety of birds and provide cover and refuge sites for small mammals, amphibians, and 

reptiles. Because the rail will be elevated, minimal impact to this habitat will occur. . 

• Removal of the invasive species within the rail line footprint will remove inferior habitat 

and help to prevent spread of the species into nearby areas. 

• Improvements to rail transportation in Jackson County supports improvements to the 

MSE in George County where new manufacturing facilities are planned or underway. 

This supports new jobs, improvements to other infrastructure and economic development 

in general. Having direct rail access (o the Port of Pascagoula is an incentive for 

businesses to locate along the rail footprint. 

Cumulative impacts are impacts on the environment that result from the incremental impact of an 

action when added to other past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions. If a project 

would not result in a direct or indirect impact on a resource, then it will not contribute to a 

cumulative impact on that resource. The impact used in the cumulative impact analysis is the net 

impact (i.e., chosen alternative impact minus proposed minimization and/or mitigation 

measures). For resource areas where the impact would be fully offset by the proposed 

minimization and/or mitigation measures, there is no contribution to cumulative impacts from 

the project. The environmental analysis conducted for the project has determined that the project 

would not result in a net impact on any resource, with the exception of wetlands. 

Cumulative impacts were identified as: 

• The filling of the estuarine and forested wetlands can degrade habitat and species 

diversity through consequences such as displacement and fragmentation of habitats and 

populations, alteration of hydrology, contamination, erosion, sedimentation, disruption of 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page 11 
migration corridors, changes in water quality, and introduction or promotion of predators. 

The impacts from fill are reduced with the modified footprint. These impacts will be 

mitigated by replacement or preservation of similar habitat within the same watershed. 

• The project can also contribute to potential community impacts identified for the project, 

such as changes in community character, traffic patterns, air quality and employment. 

The community impacts associated with the project are positive. 

• JCPA researched past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects and actions 

that could result in impacts that would coincide in time and space with impacts from the 

proposed rail line. JCP A determined that the relevant projects included 1) railroad 

improvements at the Port of Pascagoula with wetland impacts, 2) construction of a 

manufacturing facility and addition of rail line in George County that connects to the 

Mississippi Export Railroad rail line. The impacts at the Port of Pascagoula have been 

permitted by the USCOE and mitigated for by purchase of mitigation credits. The 

development projects that are ongoing in George County will also require USCOE 

permits and mitigation if there are any wetland impacts. The development in George 

County is expected to provide up to 200 jobs and will be a positive impact on the 

community. 

4.0 Project Alternatives Considered 

4.1 Other Alignments 

Other aliguments for the new rail line were considered. 

1) An aligument was considered that would cross south of the proposed alignment. This 

alignment was several hundred feet longer, crossed a larger area of forested wetland and 

would require purchase of private residentially developed property. Therefore, this 

alignment was not chosen. The alternative alignments are shown in Appendix D. 

2) Utilizing the existing rail line that crosses under Highway 63 and joins the main line at 

the rail yard also includes a tight curve that would not be safe for unit trains to travel. 

Use of this section of rail has been discontinued due to safety considerations. The 

planued rail traffic will need to travel at approximately 20-25 miles per hour in order to 

make rail use economically advantageous. 

3) Two altemate aligmnents were considered that established an acceptable radius that 

would allow the trains to maintain the optimal speed. This alignment required the rail to 

be added south of the existing MSE rail line and impacted several single family 

residential propetties. In addition, this alignment would pass under a p01tion of the 

Highway 63 bridge which would not provide enough vertical clearance for the trains to 

pass underneath. An acceptable vertical clearance for a main line rail is 22 feet. The two 

alignments considered only provided 21 '7" and 20'7" of clearance. The layout of these 

alternatives are shown in Appendix D. 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page 12 
4) The permitted alignment includes approximately 3,576 linear feet and through forested 

wetlands is approximately 1,115 linear feet. The rail will cross over 107 feet of uplands. 

5) The proposed modified alignment includes approximately 2,852 linear feet of elevated 

rail line over marsh (0.90 acres if impact from fill at the abutments and a small marsh 

area) and 807 feet of rail on uplands. 

4.2 Construction Methods 

Based on constrnctability and cost, JCPA looked at elevated the rail rather than construction on 

fill. 

1) Construction of a railroad bridge was considered. This alternative would reduce the 

amount of fill discharged into the alignment but would require that a sidewalk be 

constructed attached to the rail line for maintenance purposes. This would result in an 

approximately 15 foot wide footprint. This width of shaded area would prevent 

continued growth of the estuarine and forested wetland vegetation resulting in a similar 

reduction in wetland habitat. In addition, the method for building a rail road bridge 

would require construction from barges adjacent to the rail road aligrunent resulting in 

additional destruction of the wetland habitat. The area was previously impacted by 

construction of power lines that cross the area and continues to be impacted by power 

line maintenance activities and it does not appear that the marsh vegetation has 

recovered. Estimated costs for rail road bridge construction were estimated to be $33 

million. 

2) An alternative construction method utilizing sheet pile was considered. This would 

involve driving sheet pile along the layout, filling in between the sheet pile and 

constructing the rail line on top of the fill. This allows a narrower footprint, however, it 

is a more expensive than filling and involves additional heavy equipment to drive the 

sheet piles that would damage additional wetlands outside of the rail footprint. Based on 

the cost and damage from heavy equipment, this option was not selected. 

3) The constrnction method for the permitted rail line was to fill the alignment from the 

south end working towards the north and using the previously filled area to access 

further along the alignment, so the areas outside of the fill area will not be impacted. 

Silt fence will be placed along the project footprint to prevent fill from moving outside 

of the project area. This resulted in a total impact of 4.89 acres of tidal and non-tidal 

wetlands. Ongoing geotechnical evaluation indicates that constrncting the rail on fill is 

not technically sound and would likely result in a rail that needed ongoing repairs. 

4) Combination of elevated rail line, fill, and a modified footprint resulted in an estimated 

cost of approximately $15.5 million. 

Compton Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page 13 
4.3 No Action 

With the No Action alternative, the main rail line would not be relocated and rail traffic would 

continue through downtown Pascagoula and Moss Point. Traffic congestion would increase as 

the expected rail traffic increases and the train length increases to as much as 60 to 70 cars for 

some trains. Air quality would continue to be negatively impacted by idling ears. 

5.0 Mitigation 

JCP A has already purchased 3 .48 credits from Wetland Solutions mitigation bank for mitigation 

for impacts to forested non-tidal wetlands (1.16 acres) associated with the permitted alignment. 

JCPA would like to use these credits for a foture project. 

Impacts associated with the permitted footprint included impacts to tidal estuarine wetlands (3. 73 

acres). A Permittee Responsible Mitigation plan that included creation of tidal wetlands by 

grading an upland forested area within the MPITC to restore/create tidal flow and planting 

appropriate marsh vegetation species. The PRM plan was approved and JCP A purchased a 

Pe1formanee Bond for $50,000 to be used if the PRM failed to achieve success within five years. 

The JCP A proposes to work with the agencies to evaluate reduction in the area to be created or to 

be able to use the excess created wetlands for mitigation for future projects. 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page 14 
References 

Association of American Railroads (AAR) white paper, PUITING TECHNOLOGY TO WORK 

HOW FREIGHT RAIL DELIVERS THE 21S1' CENTURY, May 2018, 

Mississippi State Rail Plan, Final Report, June 2011, Mississippi Department of Transportation 

Port of Pascagoula Intermoclal Improvement Project, Tiger Grant Executive Summary, Port of 

Pascagoula, July 2013 

Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Handbook-Revised Second Edition, August 2007. US 

Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. 

http:/ !safety .fhwa.dot.gov/xings/com roaduser/070 l 0/sec04a.htm. 

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Watershed Assessment Tracking and 

Environmental Results, Total Maximum Daily Load Report for Escatawpa River Segment 3, 

accessed on line July 11, 2013 

United State Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Conservation Online System, Species by 

County Report, accessed online July 11. 2013 

Compton Engineering, Inc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page 15 
COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC: 

Englneeilng, surveying, ~nd Envlronmentei Services 

156 Nixon Street 

DIIC>XI, Mississippi 39530 

Phono: (220) 432·2l33 Fax1 (228) 432-0149 

l!•maU: comptonOconiptonenglneerlng.com 

Site: North Rall Connector - Project Area 

Moss Point, Jackson County, MS 

Figure Title: Topographic Map - Project Area (Map source: MyTopo Map Pass. usGs 

7,5 Minute Serles, Pascagoula North Quadrangle, 1982) 

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Compton Engineering, lnc. 

Environmental Assessment 

218-051 

Page J 6 
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Adjacent Property Owners 
1-Warren A. Powell - 5831 Elder Street, Moss Point, MS 39563 

2 - Juanita Brondum, C/O Lamar Delmas, PO Box 267, Escatawpa, MS 39553 

3 - Raymond Lamar Delmas, PO box 267, Escatawpa, MS 39553 

4-James Edward Bullock-13116 Highway 613, Moss Point, MS 39563 

5 -Angela Hawthorne & Gwenethe Parsen, 5836 Elder Street, Moss Point MS 39563 

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Modified SWPPP and SCNOI 
STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN 

for 

NORTH RAIL CONNECTOR PROJECT 

MOSS POINT, MISSISSIPPI 

On behalf of 

Jackson County Port Authority 

Pascagoula, MS 39568 

by 

COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. 

Engineering, Surveying, and Environmental Services 

1969 Market Street 

Pascagoula, MS 39568 

(228) 762-3970 

NOVEMBER 2019 

Updated December 2020 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. Mississippi DEQ Small Construction Notice oflntent (SCNOI) 

2. Narrative 

2.1. Project and Site Description 

2.1.1. Prior to Construction 

2.1.2. Following Construction 

2.1.3. Soils 

2.1.4. Adjacent Properties 

3. Planned Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater Controls 

3.1. Vegetative Controls 

3.2. Structural Controls 

3.2.1 General Construction Activities 

3.2.2 Sediment Basin 

3.2.3 Tcmpora1y Silt Fence 

3 .3. Post Clearing Erosion Control 

3.4 Housekeeping Practices 

3.4.1 Temporary Storage and Laydown Areas 

3.4.2 Above Ground Storage Tanks/ Fuel Handling Areas 

3.4.3 Spill Kit 

3.4.4 Non-Stormwater Discharge Management 

3.5 Post Consh·uction Conh·ol Measures 

4. Implementation Sequence 

5. Maintenance Plan 

6. Sanitary Wastewater 

Attachments 

Figure 1 - Site Location 

Figure 2 - Topographic Map 

Appendix A NRCS Soil Report
1. MISSISSIPPI DEO SMALL CONSTRUCTION NOTICE OF INTENT (SCNOI) 
y u 0. MD 

SMALL CONSTRUCTION NOTICE OF INTENT (SCNOI) 

GENERAL NPDES PERMIT MSR15 ___ (Number to be assigned by MDEQ if submitted)

Prior to the commencement of small construction activity (s_cc Small Construction General Permit ACT1I, T-27), the owner or . operator of11 small construction project 11111s l complete this formand develop a StormWater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) as

required by ACT5 of Mississippi's S11111II Construction General Permit. Th s SCNOI and SWPPP shall be submitted to tlie . . Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (Ml>EQ) onl . u ponrequest from MDE ; however, the SCNOI and SWPPP

must be maintained at the permittted site or locally available in case inspector rev iewisnecessary. Attachments with this 

SCNOI must include: a USGS quad map or copy showing site location (only )f required to be submitted to. MDEQ) 1111d a Storm Water

PollutionPrevention Plan (SWPPP). All uestions must be answered -answer "NA" If the question is not a p plicable.. 

PROJECT INFORMATION 

OWNER CONTACT PERSON; OPERATOR (If different from owner) CONTACT PERSON: 

Mark McAndrews. Port Director 

OWNER COMPANY NAME: OPERA TOR COMPANY: 

Jackson County Port Authority 

OWNER STREET (P.O. BOX): OPERATOR STREET (P.O. BOX)1 

PO Box70 

OWNER CITY: OPERA TOR CITY: 

Pascagoula 

STATE: M MS _ ____ ZJP: 39568 STATE: _____ ZIP: ________ _ 

OWNER PHONE # (INCLUDE AREA CODE): OPERA TOR PHONE# (INCLUDE AREA CODE): 

228-762-4041 

PROJECT NAME: North Rail Connector

DESCRIPTION OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY: Construction of elevated rail and rail on fill 

ACREAGE DISTURBED (to be covered by this permit, 11re11 must be less than five (S) acres): 0.90

PHYSICAL SITE ADDRESS (If not available, indicate the nearest named road. For linear projects, lndlcntc the beginning of the pa·oject and identify nll counties the project traverses.):

STREET: north of Elder Street 

CITY: Moss Point COUNTY1 Jackson ZIP: 39567 

NEAREST NAMED RECEIVING STREAM: Escatawpa River 

I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared undermy directionor supervision in accordancewitha system designed to assure lhal qualified personnelproperly gatheredand evaluated lhc i11fon1101fon submitted Based on my inquiry ot the personor persons who manage the system, or those 

persons directlyresponsible for gathering the information the information submitted Is, to the best of my knowledge andbelief.true, accurate and complete. I am aware that

. there ore SI nificant penalties s r submitting. . lblso information including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations

Signature Date Signed

Mark L.McAnd rews Port Director

Printed Name 'l fl c 

1

Thls application shell be signed accordinglo the Small Construction General Permit,ACTIO, T-4, 1'-5, 

Ir requested, pleaso submil this fom1 lo: Chief, Environmental Permits Division 

MDEQ, Office of Pollution Control 

P.O. Box 2261

Jackson, Mississippi 39225 

Rev. 3/1/13 
2. NARRATIVE 

2.1 Project and Site Description 

The Jackson County Port Authority (JCP A) is proposing to construct a new rail line that will 

extend on lhe northwest from the existing MSE main line just east of Highway 63 in Moss 

Point, Mississippi, will cross over estuarine and forested wetlands and will join on the east 

with existing MSE line that provides access to the Port of Pascagoula east bank facility at 

Bayou Casotte. The rail is needed to allow MSE to abandon numerous rail crossings in 

Moss Point and Pascagoula and to transport a product manufactured in Jackson and George 

Counties to the Port of Pascagoula for shipment. 

The length of the rail line through estuarine wetlands is approximately 3,659 total linear feet 

with approximately 2,952 feet through marsh wetlands, and 807 through uplands. The width 

of the proposed fill area is approximately 45.5 feet resulting in 39,26 I square feet (0.90 

acres) of estuarine impacts. There will be approximately 2,649 cubic yards of fill. For 

construction a laydown yard will be established within the MPITC in an area that was 

recently used for the same purpose. The laydown yard will be approximately I acres in size 

and is not located within a wetland. 

The approximate center point of the proposed new rail line is located at 30.415001 degrees 

latitude and -88.513679 degrees longitude. The proposed new rail line is located within 

JCPA owned land and several parcels are currently being assessed for purchase. 

The subject property is located in Section 19, Township 7 South, and Range 5 West of 

Jackson County, MS. A Site Location Map is shown on Figure 1. A topographic map 

showing the project location is shown on Figure 2, 

The total project area is currently unimproved land and marsh. The intent of the control 

measures prepared herein are to prevent sediment-laden storm water runoff from occurring, 

to prevent sediment from leaving the site and erosion from taking place on the property. 

TMDLs have been established for the Escatawpa River near the proposed project area. 

These TMDLs are for pH, Toxicity, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), fecal coliform and 

Chlorine. The project involves construction of a railroad partially elevated on piles and 

partially on a rock fill foundation. No materials will be used that would cause a discharge 

that would have an impact on the established TMDLs. Best Management Practices (silt 

fence, turbidity curtains) will be in place to prevent any sediment or run-off from leaving 

the construction site. A TMDL for mercury is applicable to upstream segments of the 

Escatawpa River which will not be impacted by the project. 

2.1.1 Prior to Constmction 

The proposed project site includes estuarine wetland, forested wetland and forested 

uplands. The area is flat with little change in relief across the proposed rail footprint. 
2.1.2 Following Construction

The project includes construction of approximately 3,659 linear feet of rail partially 

on an elevated rail and on approximately 45.5 feet wide rail bed construction on rip 

rap, geotextile fabric and metal rails. 

2.1.3 Soils 

The web soil survey identifies the area as Axis mucky sandy clay loam, frequently 

flooded, the Smithton loam, and the Daleville silt loam. The Axis series consists of 

deep, very poorly drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in thick loamy 

marine sediments. These soils are on narrow to broad, level coastal marshes. The 

water table fluctuates with the tide. Slope is less than2 percent. The Smithton series 

consists of very deep, poorly drained, moderately slowly penneable soils that formed 

in loamy alluvial sediments. These level to nearly level soils are 011 Pleistocene and 

younger stream terraces of the Western and Southern Coastal Plains. Slopes are 

dominantly less than 1 percent, but range to 3 percent. The Daleville series consists 

of poorly drained soils that formed in loamy marine or flu vial sediment. Permeability 

is slow. These nearly level soils are on uplands and terraces of the Southern Coastal 

Plain. They are saturated late in winter and early in spring. Water runs off the surface 

ve1y slowly. Slopes range from O to 2 percent. A copy of the NRCS soil survey map 

is included in Appendix A. 

2.1.4 Acliacent Properties

The surrounding area consists of undeveloped marsh and wetlands to the north and 

west, upland residential and existing railroad to the south and wooded areas and 

existing rail line within the Moss Point Industrial and Technology Center (MPITC) to 

the east. 

3.0 PLANNED EROSION, SEDIMENT, AND STORMW ATER CONTROLS 

3.1 Vegetative Controls 

The construction method will include constructing a temporary road and driving piles from 

heavy equipment for the elevated portion of the project. The fill portion of the project will 

be constructed by building rail bed from the upland (south) end of the project, filling the rail 

footprint from already constrncted portions of the rail and proceeding along in a fill and 

construct mam1er or filling from adjacent uplands. Vegetation will be removed from the 

upland forested and fresh water forested portion of the rail footprint. Any disturbed areas 

outside of the rail footprint will be seeded with grass as soon as practicable after grading and 

construction. If exposed soils are to be left undisturbed for 14 days or more, those soils will 

be seeded immediately with grass (interpreted to mean one working day). A 50 foot 

undisturbed vegetated buffer will be maintained around waters of the United States where 

possible. Where not feasible, structural controls will be used to prevent discharge to 
undisturbed areas. 

3.2 Structural Controls 

Strnctural controls will be described for specific areas and for specific types of construction 

activities at the site. A drawing showing the location of sedimentation and erosion controls 

is included in Appendix B. 

3.2.1 General Construction Activities 

A gravel paved road adjacent to the existing rail line in MPTIC will be used as a 

construction access road to the new rail footprint construction area. A construction entrance 

and equipment tumaround will be created at the end of the existing gravel access road to 

prevent damage from the heavy trucks and equipment in the area. This will help to remove 

sediment from construction vehicles and prevent sediment from leaving the property and 

onto public roadways. Details of the construction entrance are shown on the attached site 

plan and detail sheet in Appendix B. A laydown yard will be established in a prior cleared 

area within the MPITC. Soil compaction and preservation of top soil will be accomplished 

by keeping heavy equipment to construction areas and not travelling over non-construction 

areas. Top soil will be stockpiled to be used in areas to be revegetated after construction. 

Steep slopes and storm drains are not present on site. 

3.2.2 Sediment Basin 

Since this project is a linear project with a fill width of approximately 45.5 feet and length of 

3,600 feet, a sediment basin is not required. Most of the project is constructed on pilings. 

3.2.3 Temporary Silt Fence 

Tempora1y silt fence will be placed around the perimeter of the disturbed area to prevent 

sediment from leaving the site. The fence will be installed and maintained in accordance 

with specifications set forth in the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, 

"Handbook for Erosion Control, Sediment Control and Stonnwater Management on 

Construction Sites and Urban Areas, Volume I, Erosion and Sediment Control Manual, 

Volume 2, Volume 2 Stormwater Runoff Management Manna!, and Volume 3, Appendices: 

Developing Plans & Designing Best Management Practices published 2011. Silt fence details 

are shown in Appendix B. 

Accumulated sediment will be removed when it has reached 1/3 to 1⁄2 the height of the 

control. 

Floating turbidity curtains will be used where needed in the areas of the elevated railway 

construction. 
3.3 Post Clearing Erosion Control 

If exposed soils are to be left undisturbed for 14 days or more, those soils will be seeded 

temporarily with grass immediately, interpreted to mean within one working day. 

3.4 Housekeeping Practices 

Scheduled equipment maintenance or repair will not be conducted on site. Should 

unforeseen equipment maintenance or repair be required, and fluids are accidentally released, 

they will be soaked up and visibly stained soils will be removed and properly disposed. No 

lubricant or fuel containers will be stored on site. Paints, solvents, fertilizers, chemicals or 

any other potentially toxic materials will not be stored on site. Waste receptacles will be 

supplied and regularly maintained at convenient locations tlu·oughout the duration of 

construction. Temporary restroom facilities will be supplied and maintained throughout the 

construction process. Dust suppression activities will be conducted on a regular basis/as 

needed on the roads, work areas and construction entrance to prevent windblown dirt/dust 

from leaving the site. 

3.4.1 Temporary Storage and Laydown Yards 

Equipment will be temporarily stored in a tempora1y construction laydown yard within the 

MPITC during construction activities. Inspections will be made daily for leaks or spills from 

heavy equipment. Drip pans will be used when leaks occur and any impacted soil will be 

cleaned up immediately. Oil stained soil will be placed in appropriate containers and 

disposed of properly. 

3.4.2 Above Ground Storage Tanks/ Fuel Handling Areas 

Fuel storage tanks may be stored on site for heavy equipment use. The AST's will be double 

walled or will be placed within a bermed area, on visqueen or on concrete to avoid release to 

the envir01m1ent. 

3.4.3 Spill Kit 

A spill kit will be available on site to address any leaks or spills from heavy equipment or 

from any fuel storage tanks. The spill kit will also be available to protect from spills that 

approach storm drains, ditches or inlets. 

3.4.4 Non- Stormwatcr Discharge Management 

There will be no non-stormwater discharges allowed on site during construction activities 

other than dust control discharges. If necessaty during construction, the contractor will spray 

clean water available from nearby fire hydrants or water trucks, as a dust control measure. 

The amount sprayed will be managed to prevent any run-off from occurring. 
3.5 Post Construction Control Measures 

Final stabilization will include seeding any non-paved areas within 7 days of construction 

completion. Silt fences will be left in place until vegetation is 90 percent established. 

4. IMPLEMENTATION SEQUENCE 

1. Obtain plan approval, and all applicable permits. 

2. Mark off areas of disturbance and sensitive areas ( marsh and other wetlands will be flagged) 

3. Hold pre-construction meeting with contractor to review schedule and implementation of 

erosion control procedures. 

4. Build construction entrance. 

5. Install silt fencing or sediment traps where necessary. 

6. Clear upland and forested wetland footprint of vegetation 

7. If construction activities are not to begin within 14 days, cleared areas will be seeded 

immediately or within the next working day. 

8. Construction activities begin. 

9. Landscaping and final stabilization. 

5. MAINTENANCE PLAN 

I. All erosion and sediment controls and outfall discharge points will be checked for stability 

and operation at least once per week (for a minimum of four times per month) and following 

every runoff-producing rainfall. Any needed repairs will be made "immediately", interpreted 

to mean within the next working day. 

2. Excessive sediment will be removed from in front of the strnctural BMPs when sediment has 

reached 1/3 to 1⁄2 the height of the control. The silt fencing will be replaced or re-seated as 

necessary. 

3. All seeded areas will be fertilized and reseeded as necessary to maintain vigorous, dense 

vegetation. Where a disturbed area will be left undisturbed for 14 days or longer, vegetative 

controls will be implemented "immediately", interpreted to mean no later than the next work 

day. 

4. New or additional employees will be acquainted with the plan as necessary. 

5. All permanent measures will be monitored at least annually, and maintenance or 

modification made as needed. 

6. Any necessary repair, replacement or supplementation of controls will be completed within 

24 hours of noticed failure or as soon as field conditions allow. 

7. The weekly inspection forms (Small Construction Forms Package) will be filled out and 

maintained in accordance with the permit. 

6. SANITARYWASTEWATER 

The facility will not have any sanitary sewer discharges. A portable toilet with a holding tank 

will be used during construction activities. 
FIGURES 
Project Location Map 

Topographic Map 
" 
• 

Site: North Rail Project Area COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. 

Englneerlng, surveying, and Environmental Se,vlces Moss Point, Jackson County, MS 156 Nixon Street 

blloxl, Mississippi 39530 

Phone: (2W) 432-2133 fox1 (220) 432-0149 E·malh comptonOcomptonenglneerfng.com 

Figure Tit le: Topographic M ap (Map Source: USGS, 20121 Appendix ID: 

A 
APPENDIX A 

NRCS Soil Survey Map 
'Jf1'2S'TN 

'Jf1' 24'4S"N 

;:: 

:., 

;:; 

N 

A 

Map5c22: l:4,730 lprintl!d on A lands1:l,pe (ll" xSS) 9iee!. 

Soil Map-Jackson County, Mississippi 

(IP Property) 

---===------======Me!l!rs 0 &l 100 a:o XO 

---c:::===-------=======feet 0 a:o 4D 9:Xl 1a:o 

Map projedion: Wf!b Men:alcr Comerc:xirdinates: WGSS4 E'dgeties: UTM Zale 16NWGSS4 

Natural Resources Web Soil Survey 

• - Conservation Service National Cooperative Soil Survey 

9/26/2019 

Page 1 of3 

'Jf1' 2S'TN 
Soil Map-Jackson County, Mississippi 

OP Property) 

MAP LEGEND 

Area of Interest (AOI) 

D Area of Interest (AOI) 

Soils 

D Soil Map Unit Polygons 

- Soil Map Unit Lines 

a SoIT Map Unit Points 

Special Point Features 

(2) Blowout 

181 Borrow Pit 

Clay Spot 

Closed Depression 

'-/ Gravel Pit 

:. Gravelly Spot 

@ Landfill 

A. Lava Flow 

.:!., Marsh or swamp 

Mine or Quarry 

@ Miscellaneous Water 

@ Perennial Water 

Rock Outcrop 

+ Safine Spot 

.. Sandy Spot 

e Severely Eroded Spot 

Sinkhole 

SlideorSfip 

rJ SodicSpot 

USDA. Natural Resources 

-- Conservation Service 

r 

§ Spoa /vea 

Stony Spot 

@ Very Stony Spot 

VI/et Spot 

D, Other 

-- Special Line Features 

Water Features 

----- ~ams and Canals 

Transportation 

+++ Rails 

- lnterstlte Highways 

- US Routes 

-:::::::: Major Roads 

:::=-~ Local Roads 

Background 

• Aerial Photography 

Web Soil Survey 

National Cooperative Soil Survey 

MAP INFORMATION 

The soil surveys that comprise your AOI were mapped at 

1:24,000. 

Warning: Soil Map may not be valid at this scale. 

Enlargement of maps beyond the scale of mapping can cause 

misunderstanding of the detail of mapping and accuracy of soil 

rine placement The maps do not show the small areas of 

contrasting soils that could have been shown at a more detailed 

scale. 

Please rely on the bar scale on each map sheet for map 

measurements. 

Source of Map: Natural Resources Conservation Service 

Web Soil Survey URL: 

Coordinate System: Web Mercator (EPSG:3857) 

Maps from the Web Soil Survey are based on the Web Mercator 

projection, which preserves direction and shape but distorts 

distance and area. A projection that preserves area. such as the 

Albers equal-area conic projection, should be used if more 

accurate calculations of distance or area are required. 

This product is generated from the USDA-NRCS certified data as 

of the version date(s) listed below. 

Soil Survey Area: Jackson County, Mississippi 

Survey Area Data: Version 15, Sep 17, 2018 

Soil map units are labeled (as space allows) for map scales 

1 :50,000 or larger. 

Date(s) aerial images were photographed: Dec 31, 2009-Mar 

21,2017 

The orthophoto or other base map on which the soil lines were 

compiled and digitized probably differs from the background 

imagery displayed on these maps. As a result, some minor 

shifting of map unit boundaries may be evident 

9/26/2019 

Page2of3 
Soil Map-Jackson County, Mississippi 

Map Unit Legend 

. :.·.· 

. Map Unit Symbol •. ... 13 

26 

63 

92 

95 

226 

Totals for Area of Interest 

USDA Natural Resources 

= Conservation Service 

. --. - . . · .. .-.-,:·· 

; • . Map Unit N~me • • i • · · _·• ."·:·A.~rn·;·1n AoJ _;\·;·: ·. · -::: 

Daleville silt loam, Oto 1 

percent slopes 

Smithton loam, O to 1 percent 

slopes, occasiona!fy flooded 

Stough loam, o to 2 percent 

slopes 

Water (>40 acres) 

Axis mucky sandy clay loam, 

frequently flooded 

Bayou sandy loam.Oto 1 

percent slopes 

Web Soll Survey 

National Cooperative Soll Survey 

1.8 

7,3 

11.7 

13.1 

72.9 

0.2 

107.0 

IP Property 

.. ·. · .. . 

· . .-, ,:_:_::·P.orc~itt ~f AOI _ .· >· 

1.7% 

6.9% 

11.0% 

12.2% 

68.1% 

0.2% 

100.0% 

9/26/2019 

Page 3 of 3 
APPENDIXB 

Sediment and Erosion Controls 

Construction Entrance Details 

Silt Fence Details 
Appendix B Erosion and Sedimentation Controls, Construction Entrance Details, Silt Fence Details 
S:\h1n,et.f1\0-f«,'«h\ZOl!\Z H·OSI Ja'A - l\oM ~• l C"o...,,><lor\~I fl>;,,'"?N>l,loc,n\0/\l1\C\.tt1'l 0..~'l•\Cos«H• O>ol10\Cll,O • C!.0.4ni, l1Jt•ONQ I IWJ.~i 1\1~ l«r1'1'f P, D,\'C To fDF-s<J 

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[TI .~ .. , AS NOTED PORT OF PASCAGOULA RESTORE PROJECT 1M§i COMPTON ENGINEERING, INC. ;.~ffi-';'.: ~;~~;o,, 21~~ NORT/1 RAIL CONNECTOR PLANNING ASSISrANCEl £~G\~!f!•Wl,S'll:mlhG6E!{fLW/,Y.UflH~~~JC!S 1~ .... z& OS<':!E-~ ROL fASrAGOIII.A , &JtO)I • MY sr. iov!$ === w:1. Sr: . .:... wi~'UI. OVERALL EXISTING SITE/ EROSION CONT PlAN m,m,mo m-uM_m m-m-mo , , ' •• .. .-~~<<l'floc<-s;,r.tt<l.--1.«m .<FI0,1 
IIOT1'0MSTW0 

(MIN.10CAC<) 

SIDE ELEVATION 

1. CCOfaTU""8UC,w,!.tlCA~O,)r,wWIO'fMNfO,w_&,Kr1w"'TDCI 

~•TOM WWtC -.::.Clnl«l'tDPTI< oc»c:or. 

2. m:zt.JWT~CS"....-Dl~NOOl''tMC=.,r,.,,t;'tCICllNCL,t.m::a,n,,c,\IIICOO 

JO::T~IC.\~O,:--t"fNtc:x>4'tMO'rOIIGICIN~-,C,OCX 

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._ ccorc:nn.c: ...... ic:JCCTl'IGT-c:TWCff*'IP""'-~MO:w.;f.fC.I.C> TO~nc,c;.Mll'!"ICVZO'lfflJ<M w:at ,ct,ICt. 

1. ~Tl'OOCTOICMT-.LCOA/b.e~~o,...mccr. Qoo::w 0:lloll'9Q.oot~-~'l'O•~•fAU.~~°""'"""" 

@TEMPORARY SILT FENCE DETAIL 

C5.Q NOTTO 

W:RtF?HCI! 

~lAIU-0,°TM:~DffllNC:,:W.U,.ICO'CAW.ffl>r.O,OC::,~.~l'CC't I.OfrrC,Nl/0~0fft.lO'ftoCl\u.WtofMO,"""\OtlCI.LMlu.c::atcn(l'UNMIMMP!XTl 

t«A1a>ON'tte~ 

:0 boe:~,-,,.IC~ltl.'YfoWM'lolJCD~'hCDI.MnoNO,Tl<NOJC'CTTO 

..uvtNrncn,,c:or,oo,~(llrffl)fll#..ICU'.llff~. M.:.~NO 

~~OCTMC~UTYO,THC~ 

2. TICCN'nlUCt'!MIII..LCICC<OICDClfADo\A.Y~NOl!(JOlt( •"""°'lll'M..,.,,U 

MJff,0-IN'~ _.,~'°-IO~CIIO<Cllt:1.:,,C-CTK~OO ,:ri,o~CXTTOTl<OWICII. 

"- Tt<DfflWCl:~IC~Y~TONC'l,OtJTl<PI.OotO,'lCOOC'lff'Olffl) IUIUC•ICfoll'~. M,i,~PV,J..C:,.=-o,.Q,~OllTIUOCNON ~10.COffOIIOIOIIIA"OIIMO~~~ICll()IOll[:O"'"""'TO,•, 

,.. ~ - '4'1.1.~~~~to~ntON~nc 

@ TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION ACCESS / EGRESS 

C6.0 "°T'!O::C,.U, 

=c.--.... 

... -..-. =t=-----='Tn"1,•-· __ _,._ ___ 

r----.., 

----

@TYPE 2 TURBIDITY CURTAIN DETAIL C6.0 NOT'TI>SCAU!: 

ll
CSX Standard Specification for Rail Design 
"' 

jSEENCTE1j 

-+--'c'csc;:c,_+• -12· OR 115• OR !IS' I CENTERS 

WNPACTEI S\JBBALLAST 

SEE NOTE S 

I 

' ' 2r.. 

LSEE NOTE 2 

TYPICAL CUT SECTION 

r- SEE NOTE l -----i 

+ TRACK f OR 15' I teN'n::RS j 12' OR l!l' -+---

I ' 

CO~?ACTED SU8SAI..L.AST 

SEE NOTES 

"' LsEE NOTE 2 

g' 

st.O?E ' 2• 1 

SEE NOTE 4 

TYPICAL WET CUT SECTION 

r-- SEE NOTE ! 

J TRACK 

OR 1!5' I I CENTERS 12' OR 115' 1· 

' "' j......SE:E W-lTE Z 

COMPACTE:0 SU8BALJ.AsT 

""'''"'" 

TYPICAL FILL SECTION 

,. 

SEE NOTE S 

1 1::3::: 

' SLOPE 2•1 SEE: NOTE 4 

'>IHERE RIGHT OF l{AY PE?:MI1'S 

SLOPE 2• 1 EXCEPTION 

SLOPE I/4•l 

HAX!f1UM W 

ROCK 

S 

SEE NOTE 7 

2601 

NOTES• 

1. ROAOBEO li'IOTrlS AT '!'Cl? OF stJ8CRAOE• 

A. SI1'.'CLE MAIN TRACKS, SIDINGS, ANO HE.AVY TONNAGE TRACK$. 

:15'·0' FR:OK CENTERL.It>E OF TRACK, 30'•0' TO'l"Al 

8. SlNO!..E '/ARO, INCIUSTRY, ANO OTHER TRACK• 

12'·0• FROK CENTERLINE OF TRACK, 24'•0' TOTAL. 

C. MULT!PlE PARAL!.El.. TRACKS. 

12' ·lcl' OR 15' -0' FROM CENTERLINE OF TRACK DEPEND.NG 

ON" TI-IE TYPE OF TRACKS PUJS DJSTANCE BETVEEN TRACK 

CENTERLINES, 

2, LOCATION OF GRACE PCit-rr, 

A. SINGLE 1-!AtN OR OTiiEi'I TRACK IS TH£ Cootl!LINE CF TRACK. 

8. ClOfXlLt MAXN TRIICl<S lS '!'Ht;; Cemuu.lNt" SETWEEN TRAC:XS. 

c. c~oE POINT FOR HAIN TRACI<: AND SIOlNC lS CENTERLINE 

OF' W.IN TRACI<. 

3, OE:F"'n-1 OF SUSBAl..1.AS'T• 

A, SUBBALL.AST ON HA:N iRACKS• srnnms AND HEAVY TONNAGE 

TRACl<S rs s· OVER THE 30' ROADBED wIDTI-1. 

8. SUSMU,AST ON YARD, INO!JSTR:CAL ANO O"THE!! TRAO<S IS 

4' OVER THE 24' ROAOBS) .... :om. 

-4. Tl-IE STANDARD St.OPE ON FlLI.. SECTIONS MAY BE INCREASED TJ;'I 

A H/\XlXML/1-1 a;:: l. -~ l AT LOCAT!ONS \/HERE TI-fE BEAAINO 

CAF'ACJTY oi:: IHE NATI.RA[. BED ~s BEEN VERii::nm SY FlELD 

n:srs AND THE STABILITY Of THE i::ILL MATIOiUAL VERIFIED BY LABORATORY TESTS. 

S. UISTRU':.T?ONS i::oR: T.!S: USE AND INSTALLATION OF' GEOl'EXTJLt;S 

ANO GEOGRIOS AAE INCLIJOED rN ),!\jI•lOOJ. 

6. 01-(tT BENCl, ilHE!'IE EXCAVATION rs 5 FEET OR LESS. 

7. CHIT BO!H QITCf{ WKEN NATURAL GROLJl'lO st.OPES AWAY FRCM 

'!'lie: 0:CAVA1"ION. 

CSX. TllNSPOR'W:!ON 

ROADBED SECTIONS 

REVIEWED -

STANDAROS ANO T1::STING 

!SSUED, JA.'IUARY 27, 1997 

ASSISTANT vtCE PREsID;;:NT. 

EQUIPMENT ANO TRACK 

SYSTEMS ENGiNERING 

INITIAL ISSUE