[Federal Register: October 27, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 208)]
[Notices]
[Page 63005-63006]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27oc06-50]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Lower Willamette River Dredged Material Management Plan, Portland, OR
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and Public
Law 102-484 Section 2834, as amended by Public Law 104-106 Section
2867, the Department of the Army hereby gives notice of intent to
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the subject
Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP). The Portland District of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be the lead agency in preparing the
EIS.
The EIS will consider Federal actions associated with the
development of a DMMP for the Federal navigation channel in the city of
Portland, Multnomah County, OR. The DMMP is a study conducted to
develop a long-term (20-year) strategy for providing viable dredged
material placement alternatives that would meet the needs of
maintaining the Federal channel at Portland Harbor. The overall goal of
the DMMP is to develop a long-term plan for continued maintenance of
the federal navigation channel that supports commercial navigation
within Portland Harbor and to conduct dredged material placement in the
most economically and environmentally sound manner and to maximize the
use of dredged material as a beneficial source.
DATES: Submit comments by November 27, 2001.
[[Page 63006]]
ADDRESSES: Mail comments to Ms. Carolyn Schneider, Portland District,
Corps of Engineers, CENWP-PM-E, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald Erickson, Project Manager,
Portland District, Corps of Engineers, telephone: (503) 808-4713, or
Ms. Carolyn Schneider, Environmental Resource Specialist, Portland
District, Corps of Engineers, telephone: (503) 808-4770.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal navigation channel is from
Willamette River mile (WRM) 0 to 11.6. Historically, approximately
500,000 to 750,000 cubic yards of silty sand and sandy silts have been
dredged from the Lower Willamette River in three to five year
intervals. The Corps has not performed maintenance dredging since 1997.
Presently, sediment has accumulated in the Federal navigation channel
to the point that portions of the channel are less than the 40 foot
depth required for safe navigation. Additional sediment accumulation
could increase the potential for safety hazards and adverse economic
impacts.
Proposed Action: In accordance with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Regulation 1105-2-100, a DMMP is being prepared for the Federal
navigation project to ensure that maintenance dredging activities are
performed in an environmentally acceptable manner, use sound
engineering techniques, are economically warranted, and that sufficient
disposal facilities are available for at least the next 20 years. The
Lower Willamette River DMMP will focus on management of material
dredged from the federal navigation channel and will take into
consideration non-Federal dredging projects permitted by the Portland
District.
Reasonable Alternatives: The Corps will consider both dredging and
non-dredging measures, either separately or in combination. The EIS
will evaluate alternatives that will consist of an array of disposal
and beneficial use options. It is Corps of Engineers planning policy to
consider all practicable and relevant alternative management
procedures. Options for maintaining the Lower Willamette River Federal
navigation channel that are being considered include the following: (1)
Dredging and in-water placement of dredged material. Dredged material
that satisfies Sediment Evaluation Framework (SEF) guidelines for
unconfined aquatic disposal will be placed at in-water sites. The Corps
has identified potential locations for in-water disposal of dredged
material that are being assessed; (2) Dredging and upland disposal of
dredged material. Material that doesn't meet the SEF guidelines for
unconfined aquatic disposal will be placed upland. The Corps has
identified potential locations for upland disposal of dredged material
that are being assessed; (3) Beneficial uses of dredged material; (4)
Non-dredging channel maintenance measures. Non-dredging channel
maintenance measures will be considered that reduce dredging needs.
They include, but are not limited to, hydraulic control structures,
sediment control structures, sediment traps, upstream erosion control
measures, and changes to the operation of upstream dams; (5) ``No
Action''. This alternative consists of a continuation of the current
maintenance dredging at the as-constructed channel dimensions and
placing dredged material at the existing sites without modification.
Scoping Process: The Corps of Engineers invites affected Federal,
State, and local agencies, Native American tribes, and other interested
organizations and individuals to participate in the development of the
EIS. The Corps of Engineers anticipates conducting a public scoping
meeting for this EIS in the fall of 2006. The exact date, time, and
location of this meeting have not yet been determined. This information
will be publicized once the meeting arrangements have been made. The
Corps will provide notice to the public of additional opportunities for
public input on the EIS during review periods for the draft and final
EIS. The draft EIS is currently scheduled to be available for public
review in June 2007. The final EIS is currently scheduled to be
available in January 2008.
Thomas E. O'Donovan,
Colonel, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 06-8934 Filed 10-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-AR-M