Public Notice: Water Quality Certification of Fryingpan Creek Bridge Replacement in Washington
Summary
On June 17, 2025, EPA received a request from the Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, for a water quality certification for the Fryingpan Creek Bridge Replacement Project (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District project number NWS-2025-362).
Section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires applicants for federal permits and licenses that may result in discharges into waters of the United States to obtain certification that the discharge will comply with applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act. Where no state agency or Tribe has authority to give such certification, EPA is the certifying authority.
In this case, the proposed project is within Mount Rainier National Park. Therefore, EPA is the certifying authority for this proposed project.
According to the application, the Federal Highway Administration proposes to impact wetlands and waters in order to replace an existing bridge. The project is located in wetlands and waters in the headwaters of the White River watershed in Pierce County, Washington (latitude 46.888037, longitude -121.609864).
EPA is requesting comments on its Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification for this proposed project.
Project description
The Federal Highway Administration proposes to impact approximately 0.004 acres of wetlands and 0.2 acres of waters by excavating approximately 20 cubic yards and discharging approximately 114 cubic yards of fill material.
The project would replace the existing Fryingpan Creek Bridge to span the 100-year floodplain and relocate associated parking facilities to improve visitor safety.
Project elements include:
- Replacing four existing culverts.
- Adding riprapLoose boulders placed on or along the shoreline as a form of armoring. to the bridge abutments.
- Increasing the impervious surface area of Sunrise Road and the associated parking lot by 0.49 acres.
- Removing the old bridge structure.
- Adding a log jam structure.
A copy of the application is available upon request by contacting Jeff Brittain (brittain.jeffrey@epa.gov), 206-553-0532.