PUBLIC NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR COASTAL WETLANDS PERMIT AND WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION The Jackson County Port Authority has filed an application with the Department of Marine Resources requesting permission to conduct regulated activities under the provision of the Coastal Wetlands Protection Act, Title 49, Chapter 27, Mississippi Code of 1972. The applicant is proposing to permanently fill a total of 0.38 acre of wetlands to construct an elevated rail that ties into an existing rail near Highway 63 in Moss Point, Jackson County, MS. The project will consist of the proposed fill of 0.01 acre of intermediate marsh to install bridge pilings for the construction of 760 feet of elevated track, 0.23 acre of high marsh for the construction of 379 feet of rail track to tie in to existing rail, 0.05 acre of high marsh and 0.05 acre of unvegetated waterbottoms for the construction of a working platform, 0.01 acre of intermediate marsh for the construction of a crash wall, and 0.03 acre of intermediate marsh for reprofiling of existing rail. The applicant has requested variances to 22 Miss. Admin. Code, Pt. 23, R.8.6.A which states, "Bridging must be used in preference to filling to create roadbeds, railways, and other transportation facilities," R. 8.6.C which states, "Except for the construction of replacement bridges and approaches, transportation improvement projects must generally follow existing alignments in coastal wetlands," and R.8.15.A which states, "Permanent filling of coastal wetlands below the OHWM is not authorized." The applicant justifies this request under 22 Miss. Admin. Code, Pt. 23, R. 8.19.C which states, "No feasible, alternative sites or construction techniques are available; there is a significant public benefit in the activity; and a public hearing has been conducted." This public notice, project diagrams, and a copy of the full project application may be accessed on MDMR's website at https://dmr.ms.gov/permitting/. A copy can also be mailed upon request. In compliance with Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251, 1341), as amended by PL 95-217, the applicant will request certification from the Office of Pollution Control that the above mentioned activity will be in compliance with applicable provisions of Section 301 (33 U.S.C. 1311), Section 302 (33 U.S.C. 1312), Section 303 (U.S.C. 1313), Section 306 (U.S.C. 1316), and Section 307 (U.S.C. 1317) of the Act and appropriate requirements of the State Law. A public hearing will be held on Thursday, May 28th, 2026, at 5:30 pm in the Moss Point City Hall Boardroom at 4320 Mc Innis Ave, Moss Point, MS 39563. The public hearing will not be a question-and-answer session but will be a medium for concerned parties to make comments about the proposed project for the public record. Any person wishing to make comments or objections to the proposed regulated activity must submit those comments in writing to the Department of Marine Resources by mail to 1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39530; by fax to 228-374-5008; or by email alyssa.timbs@dmr.ms.gov before 1:00 p.m. on the day May 22, 2026. IPL0336516 May 3,10,17 2026