[Federal Register: May 10, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 89)]
[Notices]
[Page 24556]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10my05-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for the Boston Harbor Inner Harbor Maintenance Dredging
Project
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is
preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to
maintenance dredge the federal navigation channels landward of
Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor, MA. Maintenance dredging of the
navigation channels landward of Spectacle Island is needed to remove
shoals and restore the navigation channels to their authorized depths.
Ships are currently experiencing tidal delays and potential damage from
grounding. Material dredged from the federal channels will either be
disposed at the Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site (if the material is
suitable for ocean disposal) or, if the material is not suitable for
ocean disposal, in confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cell(s). Major
navigation channel improvements (depending) were made in 1999 through
2001 in the Reserved Channel, the Mystic River, Inner Confluence and
the Chelsa River. A final EIS was prepared for this previous navigation
improvement project in June of 1995 in which the use of CAD cells in
the Mystic River, Inner Confluence, and Chelsea River were
investigated. CAD cells not used during the construction of the
previous navigation improvement project will be investigated for
acceptability during the preparation of this SEIS.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to be placed on the mailing list for this
project, or have questions about the proposed action and the DSEIS,
please contact Ms. Catherine Rogers, Ecologist, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, New England District, Evaluation Branch, 696 Virginia Road,
Concord, MA 01742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Catherine Rogers, (978) 318-8231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
authorized by the various Rivers and Harbor Acts and Water Resources
Development Acts to conduct maintenance dredging of the federal
navigation channels and anchorage areas in Boston Harbor.
In addition to maintenance dredging of the inner harbor, a
feasibility study is currently underway to investigate deepening of the
main shipping channels in the port of Boston seaward of the Ted
Williams Tunnel to a depth greater than the currently authorized
depths. This feasibility study, which will also include the preparation
of a Supplemental EIS to the 1995 Record of Decision for the navigation
improvement project, will examine the engineering feasibility, economic
justification, social and cultural resource impacts, and environmental
acceptability of the proposed channel deepening. The existing -40 foot
MLLW main harbor entrance channel from Broad Sound, through President
Roads, and up to the Marine Terminal just seaward of the Ted Williams
Tunnel will be examined for depths up to -50 feet MLLW, as will the
Reserved Channel. Deepening of a small area of the Mystic River Channel
upstream of the Moran Terminal, from the current -35 foot depths to -40
feet will also be examined, as will deepening the Chelsea River Channel
from the current -38 foot depth -40 feet.
Maintenance dredging of the federal Main Ship channel seaward of
Spectacle Island, the President Roads anchorage area, and the Broad
Sound North Channel is scheduled to be completed by May 2005. Material
dredged from these channels was determined to be suitable for ocean
water disposal and was disposal at the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency designated dredged material Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site.
Alternatives: The no action alternative will be investigated.
Material unsuitable for ocean disposal would most likely be disposed
within confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cells within the federal
navigation channels above the Ted Williams Tunnel. The draft and final
EIS for the previous Boston Harbor navigation improvement project
investigated other alternative disposal sites for the disposal of
dredged material. Material suitable for ocean disposal would likely be
disposed at the Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site. A draft SEIS is
expected to be completed by October 2005.
Dated: April 25, 2005.
Thomas L. Koning,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, New England District.
[FR Doc. 05-9316 Filed 5-9-05; 8:45 am]
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