An official website of the State of Georgia.
This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from BWC Terminals, LLC for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to add culverts to an existing drainage ditch, construct a rail spur, and improve a driveway for access to 501 Lanier Boulevard, Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia. The proposed project is under 1/10 of an acre, and therefore may be considered a minor alteration of coastal marshlands under O.C.G.A. 12-5-280 et. seq.
BWC Georgia, LLC leases a bulk storage facility from the Georgia Ports Authority. The leased property consists of 3 parcels totaling approximately 8.702 acres. Historically the parcels have been used for industrial purposes and have been highly disturbed and manipulated. There is a tidally influenced stormwater ditch located on the eastern most parcel of the leased property. To construct the rail spur, the applicant proposes to fill a portion of the tidal ditch and place a culvert to maintain flow and storage capacity. A new pipe will provide overflow drainage to a non-tidal ditch to the south. There is an existing driveway and associated culvert and fill that currently provides vehicle access to the property from Lanier Boulevard. Existing impacts to CMPA jurisdiction associated with the driveway culvert and fill total 708sq.ft. (0.016 acre).
The applicant is proposing to fill the southern, terminal end of the ditch and install a 18in. reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) that will provide overflow outlet and maintain stormwater storage. Approximately 15.5cu.yds of clean fill material will be used to cover the pipe to connect the rail spur to the rear of the parcels. The overflow pipe and fill will impact approximately 305sq.ft. Total impacts to jurisdictional coastal marshlands will be approximately 1,013sq. ft. (0.02 acres).
There is no upland component associated with this project.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the project is not contrary to the public interest and that no feasible alternative sites exist. Impacts to coastal marshlands must be minimal in size. In passing upon the application for permit, the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee shall consider the public interest: (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful obstruction to or alteration of the natural flow of navigational water within the affected area will arise as a result of the proposal; (2) Whether or not unreasonably harmful or increased erosion, shoaling of channels, or stagnant areas of water will be created; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicants proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, clams, or other marine life, wildlife, or other resources, including but not limited to water and oxygen supply.
A detailed public notice with drawings has been distributed and is available by visiting the Department of Natural Resources website: CoastalGaDNR.org under “Public Notices.”
Please provide this office with substantive, site-specific comments as to why the proposed work should or should not proceed. Comments and questions concerning this proposed project should be submitted in writing and be submitted by the close of business on May 20, 2025 to Paul Tobler, Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 or via email at paul.tobler@dnr.ga.gov.
Click here to view the application.
Click here to view the description.
