[Federal Register: September 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 174)]
[Notices]
[Page 52029-52030]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08se08-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Availability of Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
for Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project--General
Reevaluation Study: Borrow Sources for 2010-2044, Ocean City, MD
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE), has prepared a Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Atlantic Coast of
Maryland Shoreline Protection Project (Atlantic Coast Project). The
SEIS evaluated new borrow sources to provide sand for routine periodic
beach nourishment of Ocean City, MD, for the years 2010-2044. Existing
borrow sources in state waters are anticipated to be exhausted after
about 2010.
Between 6,800,000 and 15,000,000 cubic yards of sand would be
needed through 2044, depending on future storm frequency and intensity.
Three offshore shoals in Federal waters are proposed as sand sources:
Weaver, Isle of Wight, and ``A.'' Sand may also be dredged from Shoal
``B,'' also known as Bass Grounds or First Lump, in the future, but
only if its value as a fishing ground declines substantially.
Guidelines to minimize long-term impacts to the offshore shoals were
formulated in coordination with resource agency personnel and academic
experts. Dredging would be conducted in accordance with these
guidelines. Specific dredging plans would be developed in coordination
with resource agencies prior to each beach nourishment cycle.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Spaur by mail at U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Attn: Mr. Christopher
Spaur, CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715; or
electronically at christopher.c.spaur@usace.army.mil, or by telephone
at (410) 962-6134 or (800) 295-1610.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic Coast Project is designed to
provide coastal flood and erosion protection to Ocean City, MD against
a 100-year storm on the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Coast of Maryland
and Assateague Island Virginia Feasibility Report and Final
Environmental Impact Statement for the project was finalized in August
1980. Subsequent environmental documents were prepared for the project
in 1989 (Atlantic Coast of Maryland Hurricane Protection Project Final
General Design Memorandum, Book 1 Main Report and Environmental
Assessment) and 1993 (Environmental Assessment for the Use of Borrow
Area No. 9 as Part of the Periodic Renourishment and Maintenance of the
Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project). The project
was completed in 1994. Periodic nourishment and maintenance of the
beach are required to maintain the design level of protection. Since
1998, a period of few severe storms, approximately 800,000 cubic yards
of sand have been placed on Ocean City beach every four years.
This Final SEIS documents findings of investigations conducted to
select new borrow sources for the Atlantic Coast Project through the
remainder of the project's 50 year economic life. Studies to develop
the borrow plan were conducted by USACE in partnership with the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Minerals Management
Service (MMS), Ocean City, and Worcester County. DNR is the cost-
sharing non-Federal sponsor of the study with USACE; MMS is a
cooperating agency. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a General
Reevaluation Report and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was
published in the Federal Register on October 21, 2003 (68 FR 60095).
Coordination with resource agency personnel, academic experts, and
fishermen was undertaken during plan formulation. The USEPA listed the
draft SEIS among its weekly receipts in the Federal Register on July 6,
2007 (72 FR 37006). An NOA was published in the Federal Register on
July 10, 2007 (72 FR 37518) by the Department of the Army announcing
release of the draft SEIS for public and agency review. The comment
period closed August 28, 2007. A public meeting for the draft SEIS was
held in Ocean City on July 25th, 2007. Written and oral comments were
received from resource agencies and the public. Principal among the
agency comments concerned potential impacts on Assateague Island.
Revisions were made to the draft SEIS to provide additional information
to address these comments, as well as provide updates and correct minor
information omissions. A summary of these revisions is provided in the
final SEIS.
Offshore shoals are the most appropriate sand sources for the
project since these contain large quantities of suitable sand that can
be cost-effectively obtained. Offshore shoal borrow sources in Federal
waters that could provide up to 15,000,000 cubic yards of sand through
2044 were sought and identified. Three offshore shoals were selected
and proposed as sand sources based on engineering, environmental, and
economic screening criteria: Weaver, Isle of Wight, and ``A.'' Sand at
Shoal ``B,'' also known as Bass Grounds or First Lump is engineeringly
and economically suitable, however that shoal is currently an important
fishing ground. Accordingly, Shoal ``B'' would not be utilized unless
future reevaluation finds that its relative value as a fishing ground
has declined substantially. Sub-areas on each shoal
[[Page 52030]]
were delineated based on suitability of sand for beach nourishment
purposes.
Dredging guidelines to minimize long-term impacts to the offshore
shoals were formulated. No more than about 5% of the total volume of
any shoal would be dredged. Dredging on any given shoal would avoid the
crest, be conducted uniformly over a wide area, go no deeper than
ambient seafloor depths, and preferentially dredge on the up and
downdrift ends of the shoal if suitable sand is present there.
This Final SEIS documents the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) compliance for the proposed new offshore shoal borrow sources
and supplements previous environmental documents. Printed and
electronic copies of the Final SEIS can be obtained from Christopher
Spaur. You may view the Final SEIS and related information on the
worldwide web at: http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/PN/CivilWorks.htm.
The Final SEIS has been prepared in accordance with (1) 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 for implementing NEPA (ER-200-2-2).
Christopher C. Spaur,
Ecologist.
[FR Doc. E8-20720 Filed 9-5-08; 8:45 am]
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