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The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) has received a request from Jacobs for State certification of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Nationwide Permit #14, for the discharge of dredged or fill material to the North Platte River near Encampment, Wyoming. The purpose of the project is to replace the existing DMK bridge over the North Platte River. This section of the North Platte River is a designated Outstanding Resource Waters where point source discharges are prohibited except for storm water and construction related discharges. This certification will require meeting the provisions in Chapter 1, Section 13 (a)(iii)(A) and (D), of the WDEQ Water Quality Rules and Regulations, which allows these discharges under certain circumstances. Proposed activities include the removal of the existing bridge and reconstruction of the new bridge immediately north. The new bridge will replace the existing three piers with one pier within the North Platte River and abutments will be placed outside of the North Platte River within adjacent wetlands. Portions of the stream bank adjacent to the abutments will be armored for scour protection. Temporary cofferdams will be installed prior to construction to reduce local and downstream disturbances. Additionally, the new roadway alignment will be constructed through wetlands to the east to tie in the new bridge approach. To do this, approximately 1,321 cubic yard (CY) of native material will be excavated followed by the placement of 3,433 CY of re-distributed materials, concrete, riprap, and rock material to construct features. Approximately 0.4 acres of wetlands will be permanently impacted, and it is anticipated these impacts will be offset with a 2:1 on-site mitigation ratio (approximately 0.86 acres).
Requests for information about the proposed water quality certification should be directed to James Tarzon by email (james.tarzon1@wyo.gov) or phone (307-777-6701). Written comments must be addressed to James Tarzon, Wyoming DEQ/WQD, 200 W. 17th Street – 4TH floor, Cheyenne, WY, 82002, and be postmarked on or before 5:00 p.m. on Feb 12, 2026 to be considered. Electronic comments may only be submitted through and accepted by the Wyoming DEQ comment portal provided at http://wq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com/. Phone comments will not be accepted.
Para español, visite deq.wyoming.gov. Americans with Disabilities Act: special assistance or alternative formats will be made available upon request for individuals with disabilities. Please provide at least fourteen (14) days before the close of public comment period for such requests.
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