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Corps of Engineers finds wetlands on roughly 20 acres behind county jail; county to consult consultant and IDEM
Summary
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional determination found wetlands — considered 'waters of the U.S.' under Clean Water Act Section 404 — across approximately 20 acres behind the Jefferson County jail. County officials will consult a contractor and state regulators to determine next steps.
County officials announced on Dec. 18 that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a jurisdictional determination finding wetlands on about 20 acres of undeveloped land behind the county jail.
Speaker 1 read from the Corps’ determination, saying the area “is a wetland” and that the Corps regarded the area as waters of the U.S., regulated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Speaker 1 said the county will meet with its consultant the following morning to discuss implications and will contact IDEM (the state environmental regulator) as suggested in the Corps’ notice. Speaker 1 emphasized that the two detention ponds on the site were determined not to be waters of the U.S. and therefore are not regulated under the Clean Water Act.
No formal board action occurred during the meeting; Speaker 1 offered to circulate meeting notes and said the county could delay follow-up consultations if commissioners preferred to attend. The county’s next steps include consultant consultation and coordination with state regulators to determine permitting requirements and any required Army Corps permits related to dredge-or-fill activities.
The board did not set a deadline at the meeting; Speaker 1 said they had a 10:30 a.m. call scheduled with a consultant the next day to clarify next steps.
