[Federal Register: November 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 227)]
[Notices]
[Page 68887-68888]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no04-60]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the
Chesapeake Bay Native Oyster Recovery Project, Maryland
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Baltimore District,
is preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the
upper Chesapeake Bay waters. This DEIS is a part of the 10 year plan
for the Chesapeake Bay native oyster recovery project in cooperation
with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as the local sponsor.
The feasibility study will include the final EIS.
ADDRESSES: Questions and comments about the meetings, feasibility
study, and/or EIS can be addressed to Ms. Jean Kapusnick, Baltimore
District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box
1715, Baltimore, Maryland, 21203-1715. E-mail address:
jean.a.kapusnick@usace.army.mil. Please include your name and address
in your message.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District will address
activities in Virginia waters. Please contact Mr. Mark Mansfield, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, VA 23510-1096. E-
mail: Mark.T.Mansfield@usace.army.mil. Phone: 757-441-7500.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Kapusnick, phone: (410) 962-
4417 or (800) 295-1610.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Previously performed oyster restoration
activities by the Baltimore District include the: creation of new
oyster bars and rehabilitation of existing non-productive bars;
construction of seed bars for production and collection of seed oysters
or ``spat''; planting of hatchery-produced and seed bar spat on new and
rehabilitated bars;a nd monitoring of implemented projects. The actions
considered in the forthcoming oyster recovery study and DEIS may
include those actions or other actions that are considered feasible to
reach the projects restoration goals.
The decision to implement actions will be based on an evaluation of
the probable impact of the proposed activities on the public interest.
That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and
utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may
be expected to accrue from the proposal, will be balanced against its
reasonablyt foreseeable costs and impacts. The Baltimore District is
preparing a DEIS, which will describe the impacts of the proposed
projects on environmental and cultural resources in the study area and
on the overall public interest. The DEIS will be prepared in accordance
with NEPA and will document all factors that may be relevant to the
proposal, including the cumulative effects therof. Among these factors
are habitat restoration, channel and erosion control, improvements to
water quality, storm water management, conservation, economics, energy
needs, general environmental concerns, fish and wildlife values,
wetlands, historic and cultural values, navigation, shoreline erosion
and accretion, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, recreation,
safety, food production, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the
people. the work will not be accomplished unless it
[[Page 68888]]
is found to be in the public interests. If applicable, the DEIS will
comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Guidelines fo
the Specification of Disposal Sites for Dredged or Fill Material issued
under the authority of Seciton 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act of 1977
(Pub. L. 95-217).
Public involvement activities for the study will include
coordination with interested private individuals and organizations, as
well as with concerned Federal, state and local agencies. Coordination
letters and newsletters will be sent to appropriate agencies,
organizations, and individuals on an extensive mailing list. Additional
public information will be provided through printed media, mailings,
radio and television announcements. Public scoping meetings will be
held in January 2005. Further information concerning dates and
locations will be distributed at a later date.
In addition to the Corps, other participants that will be involved
in the study and DEIS process include the following: Maryland
Department of Natural Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), EPA Region III, EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, national Marine Fisheries Service, Maryland
Department of the Environment, Maryland Historical Trust, the Maryland
Oyster Roundtable, and the oyster Recovery Partnership. The Baltimore
District invites potentially affected Federal, State, and local
agencies, and other organizations and entities to participate in this
study.
The DEIS will be prepared in accordance with 91) The National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for
implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and (3) USACE regulations implementing NEPA (ER-200-2-2).
Jean Kapusnick,
Study Manager.
[FR Doc. 04-26136 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
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