[Federal Register: May 1, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 83)]
[Notices]
[Page 23806]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01my07-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement With an
Integrated Feasibility Report for the Chesapeake Bay Shoreline Erosion
Study, MD
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 Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
will conduct a review of the 1990 Chesapeake Bay Shoreline Erosion
Study to investigate shoreline erosion and related sediment management
measures which could be undertaken to protect the water and land
resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and achieve the water quality
conditions necessary to protect the Bay's living resources. USACE will
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and integrated
feasibility report documenting study findings and plan formulation.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed DEIS with
integrated feasibility report can be addressed to Mr. Kevin Luebke,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-P, 10 South Howard Street,
P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715, telephone 410-962-6141; e-mail
address: Kevin.Luebke@usace.army.mil; or Mr. Christopher Spaur, same
address, telephone 410-962-6134; e-mail address:
Christopher.C.Spaur@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USACE is conducting this review in
partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The 1990 study evaluated erosive conditions along the Chesapeake Bay
shoreline where publicly owned property and/or infrastructure were
threatened. The 1990 study also investigated sources of sediment from
shoreline that contribute to shoaling of public navigation channels.
Several efforts have been completed to date in the review.
Conditions of the Maryland shoreline have been inventoried by the
Virginia Institute of Marine Science and summary data and maps are now
available on the worldwide Web at http://ccrm.vims.edu/gisdatabases.html.
Wave energy has been modeled regionally for the
study area shoreline by USACE. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
prepared a planning aid report identifying shoreline-dependent animal
and plant species and important habitats. Efforts currently underway
include: (1) Conducting a statistical analysis of historic shoreline
change rates, modeled shoreline wave energy, and current shoreline to
correlate relationships between these variables; (2) Forecasting
shoreline areas likely to be vulnerable to future erosion; (3)
Characterizing tidal tributary shoreline segments vulnerable to boat
wake erosion; and (4) Formulating shoreline ecosystem restoration and
public property and infrastructure storm/flood damage reduction
projects for implementation by USACE, DNR, and other agencies or
organizations. Engineering feasibility, economic costs and benefits,
and environmental impacts will be considered in formulating projects.
Additionally, the study partners, in conjunction with Md. Dept. of the
Environment (MDE), initiated preparation of an updated shoreline
erosion control handbook for waterfront property owners.
Study products will comprise components of a shoreline management
master plan DNR and MDE are developing for the state of Maryland. The
master plan would address issuance of stabilization permits for
shoreline property owners, shoreline habitat restoration and
conservation, and coastal flood and erosion hazard reduction. The USACE
EIS and integrated feasibility report will provide an overview of the
master plan and include environmental compliance documentation for
specific projects USACE may pursue. Projects to be pursued
independently by others would require separate environmental compliance
efforts to be undertaken by other agencies and organization.
The study will be conducted in compliance with Sections 401 and 404
of the Clean Water Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the
Clean Air Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Section 106
of the National Historic Preservation Act, Prime and Unique Farmlands,
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act. All appropriate
documentation (i.e., coordination letters and public and agency
comments) will be obtained and included as part of the EIS. As part of
the EIS process, recommendations of projects will be based on an
evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activity on the
public interest. The decision will reflect the national concern for the
protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which
may reasonably be expected to accrue from the proposal, will be
balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments.
It is expected that public release of the DEIS and integrated
feasibility report will occur in Summer 2009.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-2114 Filed 4-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M