Interested parties are hereby notified that an application has been received for a Department of the Army Section 408 permission for certain work at or near a federally authorized flood risk management project of the United States, as described below and shown on attached figures. Written comments are being solicited from anyone having an interest in the requested alteration. Comments providing substantive information or a rationale for the commenter’s position are the most helpful. All comments supporting, opposing, or identifying concerns that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) should consider in its decision process are welcome. Comments will become part of the USACE administrative record and will be considered in determining whether to approve the request.
This Public Notice is not a paid advertisement and is for public information only. Issuance of this notice does not imply USACE endorsement of the project as described.
REQUESTER: In compliance with 33 USC § 408 (Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899; hereinafter Section 408), the City of Rock Island, Illinois has requested permission to modify the Rock Island, IL Levee an existing federally authorized flood risk management project.
LOCATION: The proposed project is located in the city of Rock Island, Illinois, off of 18th Avenue near the Rock Island Boat Club. The proposed pump station is located on the landward side of the Rock Island, Illinois, Local Flood Protection Project levee right-of-way.
LOCATION MAP(S)/DRAWING(S): See Figures 1 and 2.
REQUESTER’S PROPOSED ACTION: The Project consists of installation of a pump station, modifications to the existing gatewell structure, an electrical building, site utility lines and other site features.
A new paved drive and new pavement will provide access to the pump station from 18th Avenue. A new transformer and a new diversion structure will be located southeast of the pump station. Utilities will consist of water, sanitary, storm drain, electrical, and communication. Grade changes will consist of fill placement of up to approximately 7 feet to establish final grade. The proposed pump station will connect to the existing storm drainage network. Upstream of the pump station, on the east side of Mill Street West, stormwater flows through an open channel from Mill Street to a culvert at Mill Street West, then through the existing 36-inch storm sewer to the gatewell and outfall. The outfall conduit is a 36-inch diameter reinforced concrete pipe.
The following improvements are located in or near the Levee right-of-way:
- A new force main consisting of 24-inch diameter ductile iron pipe will extend from the pump station and over the levee to discharge into the gatewell. New compacted embankment fill will be placed over the storm sewer to provide protection to the force main. The new fill will be placed on the levee crest and landward side of the levee. A 10-foot wide top with maximum longitudinal slope of 6% is provided. The slope on the landward face of the levee is 3:1.
- A new fiber optic line will be constructed within the upper portion of the levee in an area where 18th Avenue is supported on the levee embankment.
- A new slide gate will be installed in the existing gatewell on the riverward side of the levee.
- The Great River Trail will be regraded and repaved where it crosses over the levee.
Additional project activities include:
- Removal of the existing portable pump, pole framed shelter, and discharge pipe that is laying on the levee,
- Realignment of two 12-inch storm sewers to connect with main 36-inch sewer upstream of the pump station, and
- Fencing around the pump station, diversion structure, and outdoor electrical equipment.
REGULATORY AUTHORITY: This request will be reviewed according to the provisions of Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 USC § 408). A requestor has the responsibility to acquire all other permissions or authorizations required by Federal, state, and local laws or regulations, including any required permits from the USACE Regulatory Program under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. § 403), Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1344) and/or Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 USC § 1413). The compliance determination for any Section 10/404/103 permit decision associated with the proposed alteration is separate from and will not be included in the Section 408 compliance determination. An approval under Section 408 does not grant any property rights or exclusive privileges nor does it authorize any injury to the property or rights of others.
EVALUATION: The decision whether to grant the requested permission for project modification under Section 408 is based on several factors which are outlined in Engineering Circular (EC) 1165-2-220, Policy and Procedural Guidance for Processing Requests to Alter U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Projects Pursuant to Section 408. The 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. A USACE technical team will review the requests for modification considering the following factors:
- Impair the Usefulness of the Project Determination. The review team will determine if the proposed alteration would limit the ability of the federally authorized project to function as authorized, or if it would compromise or change any authorized project conditions, purposes or outputs. The decision whether to approve a request for modification would be based on a determination of no impairments.
- Injurious to the Public Interest Determination. Proposed alterations will be reviewed to determine the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, on the public interest. Evaluation of the probable impacts that the proposed alteration to the USACE project may have on the public interest requires a careful weighing of all those factors that are relevant in each particular case. Factors that may be relevant to the public interest depend upon the type of USACE project being altered and may include, but are not limited to, such things as conservation, economic development, historic properties, cultural resources, environmental impacts, water supply, water quality, flood hazards, floodplains, residual risk, induced damages, navigation, shore erosion or accretion, and recreation. The decision whether to approve an alteration will be determined by the consideration of whether benefits are commensurate with risks. If the potential detriments are found to outweigh the potential benefits, then it may be determined that the proposed alteration is injurious to the public interest.
- Environmental Compliance. A decision on a Section 408 request is a federal action, and therefore subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental compliance requirements, including the National Historic Preservation Act and the Endangered Species Act. While ensuring compliance is the responsibility of USACE, the requester is providing all information that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District (District) identifies as necessary to satisfy all applicable federal laws, executive orders, regulations, policies, and ordinances. Based on information provided by the applicant to date and current regulations governing USACE NEPA implementation, the proposed action will require further NEPA documentation prior to implementation.
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- This Section 408 action does not meet the requirements for a Rock Island District Categorical Permission. NEPA documentation is covered under Categorical Exclusion (i), 33 CFR 230.9 Paragraph (i) last amended 08 December 2025:
"Real estate grants for rights-of-way which involves only minor disturbances to earth, air, or water:
(1) Minor access roads, streets, and boat ramps.
(2) Minor utility distribution and collection lines, including irrigation.
(3) Removal of sand, gravel, rock, and other material from existing borrow sites.
(4) Oil and gas seismic and gravity meter survey for exploration purposes.”
The District anticipates no significant impacts resulting from this action, and no NEPA documentation beyond this Categorical Exclusion is warranted.
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- The District has evaluated the Federal interest portion of the project area for cultural resources-related concerns and initiated consultation on May 13, 2026, with the State Historic Preservation Officer, appropriate Tribes, and other interested parties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA; 54 U.S.C. § 306108). The District is consulting on a finding of No Effect on Historic Properties.
- Technical Analysis. The District is working closely with the requestor to ensure that all required technical plans, maps, drawings, and specifications are provided and complete. A District-led Agency Technical Review is being conducted to determine any potential adverse impacts to the USACE-authorized flood protection system.
SOLICITATION OF COMMENTS: The USACE 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 the proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the USACE to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permission for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
It should be noted that materials submitted as part of the Section 408 request become part of the public record and are thus available to the general public under the procedures of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Individuals may submit a written request to obtain materials under FOIA or make an appointment to view the project file at the Corps of Engineers Rock Island District, Office of Counsel.
It is presumed that all parties receiving this Public Notice will wish to respond; therefore, a lack of response will be interpreted as meaning that there is no objection to the project as described.
COMMENT SUBMISSION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Written comments on the described work should reference the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice number 2025-0008. Comments must reach this office no later than 31 July 2026. Comments or requests for additional information should be mailed or emailed to the following address:
Email: MVR408@usace.army.mil
District Engineer
US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
Attn: Ryckaert (PM-M)
Clock Tower Building
P. O. Box 2004
Rock Island IL 61204-2004
Figure 1. Project Vicinity
Figure 2. Project Area