[Federal Register: September 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 172)]
[Notices]
[Page 53170-53172]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07se05-50]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army
Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for a Permit Application for
Navigation Modifications and Improvements as Part of the San Pedro
Waterfront and Promenade Development, in the Port of Los Angeles, Los
Angeles County, CA
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI).
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Los Angeles District
in conjunction with the Los Angeles Harbor Department (Port) is
examining the feasibility of various waterside navigation improvements
as part of the Port's proposed San Pedro Waterfront and Promenade
redevelopment proposal in the Port of Los Angeles. The Corps is
considering the Port's application for a Department of the Army permit
under Clean Water Act Section 404 and River and Harbor Act Section 10
to conduct dredge and fill activities and construct various navigation
improvements
The primary Federal involvement is the discharge of dredge and/or
fill materials within waters of the United States, work (e.g. dredging)
and structures in or affecting navigable waters of the United States,
and potential impacts on the human environment from such activities.
Therefore, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Corps is requiring the preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) prior to rendering a final decision on the
Port's permit application. 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 will serve as Lead Agency for the Preparation of an Environmental
Impact Report (EIR). The Corps and the Port have agreed to jointly
prepare a Draft EIS/EIR for the improvements at Berth 136-147 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: Questions about the proposed action
and Draft EIS/EIR can be answered by Mr. Joshua Burnam, Corps Project
Manager, at (213) 452-3294. Comments shall be addressed to: U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Branch. ATTN: File
Number 2003-0-1142-JLB P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325, and
Dr. Ralph Appy, Director of Environmental Management, Port of Los
Angeles, 425 S. Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background. The EIS/EIR will assess a master development plan
for specific development projects and
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associated infrastructure improvements for approximately 418 acres,
from the Vincent Thomas Bridge to the federal breakwater within the
property of the City of Los Angeles, Harbor Department. The proposed
project would be developed over multiple phases throughout the next
approximately 30 years. The EIS/EIR will analyze the master development
plan at a programmatic (general overview) level to focus on the
cumulative impacts associated with the entire proposed plan. Where
information is available, project elements proposed during Phase 1
(Years 1--5) and Phase 2 (Years 6--10) will be studied at a project-
specific level of detail. Project elements proposed for construction in
Phase 3 (Years 11+) of the master development plan and other project
elements for which data are not available will require an additional
CEQA and NEPA evaluation, where appropriate, before construction could
occur.
2. Clean Water Act Project Purpose. The overall project purpose
relevant to the Clean Water Act Section 404 is to:
(a) Perform modifications to the existing shorefront, including
water cutouts to increase water area (up to 9.64 acres maximum) and
fills, as needed, to reconfigure the site to provide for a variety of
waterfront uses, including berthing for visiting tall ships and other
vessels, additional marinas for pleasure craft, water taxi and ferry
service, tugboats, and other recreational, commercial, and port-related
uses, without impeding the public's right to free navigation;
(b) preserve or enhance natural systems that are already within the
Port complex (i.e., beaches, salt marsh, wetlands, shallow and deep
water habitat, and bluffs);
(c) utilize and enhance the value of existing deep water in the
Outer Harbor and Main Channel by upgrading two existing cruise vessel
berths and constructing up to two new cruise vessel berths, each
approximately 1,250 linear feet, to accommodate projected future growth
in the cruise ship industry (one of the new cruise vessel berths would
operate 120 days per year);
(d) create a permanent berth for Catalina Express and Island
Express; and
(e) provide for a variety of waterfront uses, including berthing
for visiting tall ships and other vessels, additional marinas for
pleasure crafts, water taxi and ferry service, tugboats, and other
recreational, commercial, and port-related uses.
3. Issues. There are several potential environmental issues that
will be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be identified
during the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially
significant include:
(a) Geological issues, including dredging and stabilization of fill
areas in an area of known seismic activity;
(b) Impacts to hydrology;
(c) Impacts to air quality;
(d) Impacts to traffic, including marine navigation and ground
transportation;
(e) Potential for noise impacts;
(f) Impacts to public utilities and services;
(g) Potential impacts to aesthetic resources, including light and
glare;
(h) Potential impacts on public health and safety;
(i) Cumulative impacts; and
(j) Disposal of dredged materials.
4. Alternatives. Alternatives initially being considered for the
proposed improvement project include the following:
(a) No Project/No Action. This alternative would not implement any
of the elements presented in the project description.
(b) No Federal Action Baseline. This alternative is the proposed
project without any activity requiring a Corps permit. This alternative
represents Corps' environmental baseline.
(c) No Federal Action Baseline with Cruise Ship Expansion. This
alternative represents an additional Corps environmental baseline
wherein LAHD would only receive Corps permits for the Cruise Ship
Expansion/Modification features of the proposed project. This
evaluation would allow Corps and LAHD to separately weigh the impact of
the cruise ship facilities.
(d) Reduced Density Alternative. This alternative would reduce the
density or amount of development as presented in the project
description. Results from LAHD-sponsored June 4, 2005 Reduced
Development Alternative workshop, held in conjunction with the Port
Community Advisory Committee and the San Pedro Neighborhood Councils,
along with comments received by the public, would define the project
elements included in this alternative.
(e) Maximum Density Alternative. This alternative would increase
the density, amount of development, or timing of development as
presented in the project description. Comments received by the public
and LAHD's Engineering and Project Design Team would influence the
project elements included in this alternative.
5. Scoping Process. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Los
Angeles Harbor Department (LAHD) will jointly conduct a public scoping
meeting for the proposed From Bridge to Breakwater Master Development
Plan for the San Pedro Waterfront and Promenade Project--Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
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 are encouraged. This meeting will
be conducted in both English and Spanish. Members of the public who
wish to communicate and listen entirely in Spanish are encouraged to
attend this meeting. The meeting will be held on October 11, 2005 from
6 p.m.--8:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Harbor Hotel, located at 601 South
Palos Verdes Street. Parties interested in being added to the Corps'
electronic mail notification list for the Port of Los Angeles can
register at: http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/regulatory/register.html.
This list will be used in the future to notify the public about
scheduled hearings and availability of future public notices.
Participation in the public meeting by Federal, state and local
agencies and other interested organizations and persons are encouraged.
During the public scoping hearing, anyone wishing to make a
statement will be allocated a certain amount of time to provide
information on the proposed project. The amount of time each person is
allowed will be directly dependent on the number of people who sign up
to speak at the public hearing. At this time, we estimate that
individuals will be given 3 minutes to provide their comments verbally.
We would like to encourage interest groups to designate an official
spokesperson to present the group's views. We will allocate a larger
amount of time to official representatives of such groups upon request.
Groups wishing to designate an official representative must notify the
Corps in writing prior to, but no later than October 4, 2005. The
determination of this extended speaking time will be based on the
number of responses received by the Corps. This rule will be strictly
enforced at the discretion of the Corps' hearing officer. Written and
email comments to the Corps and LAHD will be received until October 28,
2005. Written comments should be sent to the address below: U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Branch, c/o Dr.
Joshua Burnam, 915 Wilshire, Los Angeles, California 90017-3401, e-
mail: Joshua.L.Burnam@usace.army.mil.
6. Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR. The joint lead agencies
expect the Draft
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EIS/EIR to be made available to the public in June 2006. A public
hearing will be held during the public comment period for the Draft
EIS/EIR.
Dated: August 22, 2005.
Mark R. Blackburn,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Acting District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 05-17691 Filed 9-6-05; 8:45 am]
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