[Federal Register: November 17, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 222)]
[Notices]
[Page 67847-67848]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17no08-52]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Proposed Gray's Beach Restoration Project, Waikiki, O'ahu, HI,
Department of the Army Regulatory File Number POH-2007-192
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: In order to establish a stable, sandy beach seaward of the
Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, its owners propose to construct three T-head
groins extending seaward from the existing seawall which defines the
hotel property boundary. They propose to pump sand from nearby marine
deposits and place it between the groins to form a protected beach. The
proposed project site, which is within the State of Hawai'i
Conservation District, would remain state-owned. The project site is
located within the navigable waters of the United States and the
proposed activity is subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers.
DATES: In order to be considered in preparation of the DEIS, comments
and suggestions should be received no later than 30 days after
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Honolulu District; ATTN: Regulatory Branch (CEPOH-EC-R/P. Galloway),
Building 230; Fort Shafter, HI 96858-5440. Facsimile comments can be
sent to 808-438-4060. Comments may also be submitted via e-mail to:
peter.c.galloway@usace.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be addressed
to: Mr. Peter Galloway (see ADDRESSES), Telephone 808-438-8416.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts LP, which owns the
Sheraton Waikiki Hotel (Sheraton) and the adjacent Royal Hawaiian
Hotel, proposes to develop a stable sandy beach on the abutting inshore
reef flat fronting the Sheraton in order to enhance recreational and
aesthetic enjoyment of the area, provide protection for the backshore
area, and facilitate lateral access along the shoreline. The Sheraton
is presently protected by a vertical seawall, constructed at the
hotel's seaward property line, which has been in place since the 1920s.
There is presently very little beach area fronting the Sheraton, which
was constructed close to the seaward property line, making the area one
of the most constrained in Waikiki with respect to public alongshore
(lateral) access. The narrow band of sand fronting the Sheraton seawall
comes and goes, and is typically under water at high tide. The site of
the proposed project is owned by the State of Hawai'i and is designated
State of Hawai'i Conservation District land.
To create the desired beach, the applicant proposes to construct
three un-grouted, basalt-rock T-head groins that would span 500 feet of
shoreline. The stems of the T-head groins would extend 160 feet seaward
into the inshore area from the existing seawall, and the T-heads would
extend 53 feet to either side of each stem, at angles ranging from 90
to 120 degrees. The angle of each T-head will be established so as to
best orient the gaps between the heads parallel to the average wave
approach. Approximately 15,000 cubic yards of sand would be pumped from
nearby offshore deposits and placed between and adjacent to the T-head
groins to create sections of protected beach. The total area of the
permanent rock and sand fill in waters of the U.S. would be
approximately 2.7 acres. The total area of dry beach (sand area above
the high tide line) created would be approximately 1 acre. In order to
provide access for construction of the groins, the applicant proposes
to construct temporary sections of rock platform, approximately 20 feet
in width, along the seaward side of the existing vertical concrete
seawall.
The proposed project would involve work or structures in or
affecting the course, condition, location or capacity of navigable
waters of the United States. In addition, it would involve the
discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters of the
United States. Federal authorization of the project will therefore
require issuance of a Department of the Army (DA) permit pursuant to
both Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403)
and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
In addition to the no-action alternative, other alternatives to be
considered in the DEIS may include: (1) Project with different size
and/or number of T-head groins, or other structural designs; (2)
project with groin structures but no sand fill; and (3) sand placement
and replenishment with no stabilizing structures.
Potentially significant impacts identified to date and to be
addressed in the DEIS include: (1) Conversion of an inshore reef area
to a structurally protected sandy beach; (2) loss of foraging habitat
(algae beds) utilized by federally protected sea turtles; (3) changes
in adjacent algal community; (4) changes in inshore water circulation
pattern including water residence time; (5) other, unforeseen changes
in adjacent reef habitat; (6) effects of sand removal from seaward
marine deposits; (7) effects on surfing and wave reflection; (8)
changes in availability of recreation and recreational facilities; (9)
changes in beach and shoreline access and use; (10) setting of
precedent for use of T-head groins in Hawai'i; (11) setting
[[Page 67848]]
of precedent for privately funded beach restoration or creation on
adjacent public conservation lands.
The decision whether to issue a DA permit will be based on an
evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of
the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will
reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of
important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may be expected to
accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably
foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the
proposal will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof:
among these are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general
environmental concerns, wetlands, historic values, fish and wildlife
values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation,
shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and
conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber
production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership and, in
general, the needs and welfare of the people. Evaluation of the impact
of the activity on the public interest will include application of the
guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection
Agency (40 CFR part 230).
The Corps will invite the National Marine Fisheries Service and
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be cooperating agencies in
preparation of the DEIS. The Corps anticipates that consultations will
be required pursuant to provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Before
a final DA permit can be issued, the applicant must first obtain a
Hawai'i Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program federal consistency
certification issued by the State of Hawai'i Department of Business,
Economic Development and Tourism, and a Clean Water Act Section 401
Water Quality Certification, or waiver thereof, issued by the State of
Hawai'i Department of Health.
The Corps invites participation in the EIS process of affected
federal, state and local agencies; affected Hawaiian organizations,
individuals and practitioners; and other interested private
organizations and parties. The applicant has issued a state-level EIS
Preparation Notice (EISPN) pursuant to requirements of the Hawai'i
Revised Statutes (HRS Chapter 343) stating that the applicant
anticipates preparation of a joint state and federal EIS document. All
comments received in response to this NOI and the state EISPN will be
considered when determining the scope of the combined DEIS. To the
extent practicable, federal and state requirements will be coordinated
in the preparation of the joint document.
A public scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 17,
2008, at the Waikiki Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Avenue, Honolulu,
Hawaii, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., to help determine the scope of
analysis of the proposed action. The scoping meeting will also be
announced in local media. Interested parties are encouraged to express
their views during the scoping process and throughout the development
of alternatives and the joint DEIS. To be most helpful, comments should
clearly describe specific environmental topics or issues which the
commenter believes the document should address. Further information
concerning the proposed or the scoping meeting may be obtained from
Peter C. Galloway (see ADDRESSES). The DEIS is expected to be published
and circulated for review in mid-2009, and the final EIS is expected to
be completed 4 to 6 months later.
Dated: November 7, 2008.
John W. Henderson,
Major, U.S. Army, Acting Commander.
[FR Doc. E8-27176 Filed 11-14-08; 8:45 am]
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