[Federal Register: August 31, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 168)]
[Notices]
[Page 53053-53054]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au04-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for a Permit Application for a Proposed
Marine Terminal Expansion at Piers D, E and F in the Middle Harbor
District of the Port of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA
AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is considering an
application for Section 404 and Section 10 permits to conduct dredge
and fill activities to redevelop and consolidate two existing container
terminals for the construction of a 342-acre marine terminal including
redevelopment of 272 acres of existing land and the placement of
dredged material in open water to create 70 acres of new land.
The primary Federal concern is the dredging and discharging of
materials within waters of the Unites States and potential significant
impacts to the human environment. Therefore, in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is requiring the
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to
consideration of any permit action. The Corps may ultimately make a
determination to permit or deny the above project, or permit or deny
modified versions of the above project.
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the
Port of Long Beach will serve as Lead Agency for the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its consideration of development
approvals within its jurisdiction. The Corps and the Port of Long Beach
have agreed to jointly prepare a Draft EIS/EIR in order to optimize
efficiency and avoid duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is intended to be
sufficient in scope to address both the Federal and the state and local
requirements and environmental issues concerning the proposed
activities and permit approvals.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments and questions regarding
scoping of the Draft EIS/EIR may be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Branch, ATTN: File Number
2004-01053-AOA, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, California 90053-2325.
Comments or questions can also be sent to Stacey Crouch, Port of Long
Beach, P.O. Box 570, Long Beach, CA 90801-0570. Phone messages or
questions should be directed to Dr. Aaron O. Allen at 805-585-2148.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Project Site
The proposed project is located in the southern portion of the Port
of Long Beach, California. The proposed dredge and fill activities
would take place at Piers D, E and F and would involve redeveloping
portions of Pier D and reconfiguring existing wharves and berths at
Piers E and F to create a single 342-acre marine terminal to
accommodate increasing cargo volumes being produced by the new
generation of larger container vessels.
2. Proposed Action
The project applicant, the Port of Long Beach, proposes to
permanently impact approximately 70 acres of open-water habitat for
dredge and fill activities and to rehabilitate 272 acres of existing
terminal area at Piers D, E and F for the construction of a new 342-
acre container terminal in the Port of Long Beach. The proposed project
would reconfigure existing wharves and berths at Piers D, E and F into
one 4,250-foot-long wharf with four deep-water berths, a container
terminal yard that includes 70 acres of new land and 272 acres of
rehabilitated land and an intermodal rail yard. The specific components
of the proposed project would include: widening Slip Number Three to
480 feet and deepening it to -55 to -60 feet Mean Lower Low Water
(MLLW); excavating one million cubic yards of material from Berths D28-
D31; filling Slip One with 2.7 million cubic yards of structurally
suitable dredge and excavated material; placement of an additional
770,000 cubic yards in waters of the United States for the construction
of a rock dike to the contain the proposed fill at Slip One; filling
the East Basin between Piers E and F with 4.06 million cubic yards of
dredged material, including the construction of a rock dike to contain
the fill area; and construction of 2,260 linear feet of pile supported
concrete wharves. The proposed construction and rehabilitation
activities would be completed over a 12-year period. All of the above
construction activities would include the demolition of existing
terminal facilities as well as existing buildings and infrastructure in
both open water and upland areas.
3. Issues
There are several potential environmental issues that will be
addressed in the Draft EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be identified
during the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially
significant include:
1. Geological issues including dredging and stabilization of fill
areas.
2. Potential impacts to marine biological resources.
3. Impacts to air quality.
4. Traffic, including navigation issues and transportation related
impacts.
5. Potential noise impacts.
6. Impacts to public utilities and services.
7. Impact to aesthetic resources.
8. Potential impacts on public health and safety.
9. Cumulative impacts.
4. Alternatives
Several alternatives are being considered for the proposed marine
terminal. These alternatives will be further formulated and developed
during the scoping process and an appropriate range of alternatives,
including the no federal action alternative, will be considered in the
Draft EIS/EIR.
5. Scoping Process
A public meeting will be held to receive public comment and assess
public concerns regarding the appropriate scope and preparation of the
Draft EIS/EIR. Participation in the public meeting by Federal, state,
and local agencies and other interested organizations and persons is
encouraged.
The Corps of Engineers will also be consulting with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act and Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the National
[[Page 53054]]
Marine Fisheries Service under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Additionally,
the EIS/EIR will assess the consistency of the proposed Action with the
Coastal Zone Management Act and potential water quality impacts
pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. The public scoping
meeting for the Draft EIS/EIR will be held at the Port of Long Beach on
September 27, 2004 and will start at 6:30 PM. Written comments will be
received until October 4, 2004.
6. Availability of the Draft EIS
The Draft EIS/EIR is expected to be published and circulated in
April of 2005, and a Public Hearing will be held after its publication.
David H. Turk,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Acting District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 04-19874 Filed 8-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-P