On January 10, 1997, the State of Texas received federal approval of the Coastal Management Program (CMP) (62 Federal Register pp. 1439 - 1440). Under federal law, federal agency activities and actions affecting the Texas coastal zone must be consistent with the CMP goals and policies identified in 31 TAC Chapter 26. Requests for federal consistency review were deemed administratively complete for the following project(s) during the period of May 8, 2023 to May 12, 2023.  As required by federal law, the public is given an opportunity to comment on the consistency of proposed activities in the coastal zone undertaken or authorized by federal agencies.  Pursuant to 31 TAC §§30.25, 30.32, and 30.41, the public comment period extends 30 days from the date published on the Texas General Land Office web site. The notice was published on the web site on Monday, May 22, 2023.  The public comment period for this project will close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.

FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIVITIES:

Applicant: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Yoakum District

Location: The project site is located over Carancahua Bay near Point Comfort, Jackson County, Texas.

Project Description: The applicant proposes to replace the existing bridge on SH 35 over Carancahua Bay (CSJ 0179-09-041).  The SH 35 bridge was constructed in 1962 and is a 60-span concrete pan girder bridge. The new concrete bridge would be a 31-span concrete I-girder bridge which would be wider to accommodate current traffic and future needs. The bridge would be constructed to the south of the existing bridge to maintain traffic flow during construction, and approximately 2.3 acres of new ROW would be required to construct the new bridge. The existing bridge has 59 sets of columns in the water, each row containing four columns. The proposed bridge would have 30 sets of columns placed within the water, each row containing six columns.

Type of Application: TxDOT U.S. Coast Guard Bridge Permit Exemption Request.

CMP Project No: 23-1255-F2

Further information on the applications listed above, including a copy of the consistency certifications or consistency determinations for inspection, may be obtained from the Texas General Land Office Public Information Officer at 1700 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, or via email at pialegal@glo.texas.gov. Comments should be sent to the Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Program Coordinator at the above address or via email at federal.consistency@glo.texas.gov.