[Federal Register: March 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 51)]
[Notices]
[Page 13872-13873]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr08-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the San
Francisco Bay to Stockton (John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels)
Navigation Improvement Project, California
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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), San Francisco
District, the Port of Stockton, and the Contra Costa County Water
Agency are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to evaluate the efficiency of the movement of
goods along the existing deep draft navigation route extending from the
San Francisco Bay to the Port of Stockton. The proposed action consists
of altering the depth of the deep draft navigation route. The authority
for the San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Project
was provided under House Document 208, House Report 89-973 cited in
Section 301 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1965, Pub. L. 89-298,
Sec. 204, 79 Stat. 1073. This is a notice of intent to prepare an EIS/
EIR, and to consider all reasonable alternatives, evaluate potential
impacts of the proposed action, and identify appropriate mitigation
measures.
DATES: Two public scoping meetings will be held on the proposed action.
The first public scoping meeting will be held in Martinez on March 26,
2008, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The second public scoping meeting will be
held in Stockton on April 2, 2008, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public
comment period begins on March 12, 2008. Written comments from all
interested parties must be received by April 30, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The Martinez scoping meeting will be held at the Contra
Costa County Administration Building, Room 101, 651 Pine Street,
Martinez, CA 94553. The Stockton scoping meeting will be held at the
Cesar Chavez Central Library, Stewart-Hazelton Room, 605 N. El Dorado
Street, Stockton, CA 94553.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions and comments regarding the
proposed action can be addressed to: Ms. Nancy Ferris, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, San Francisco District, 1455 Market Street, San
Francisco, CA 94103-1398, telephone: (415) 503-6865, or
SPNETPA@usace.army.mil. All written comments can also be faxed to (415)
503-6692 or sent electronically to SPNETPA@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following section will address the study
area, and some of the alternatives that will be addressed in this
study.
1. Background: The San Francisco Bay to Stockton Improvement
Project includes the John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels, which
extend 75 nautical miles from the Pacific Ocean, just outside the
Golden Gate, to the Port of Stockton. The project is divided into two
separate reaches, with the John F. Baldwin Ship Channel extending from
the Golden Gate to Chipps Island, and the Stockton Ship Channel
extending from Chipps Island to the Port of Stockton. Portions of the
reaches have been deepened in the past; however, not all reaches
attained authorized dimensions. Currently, the Corps is reevaluating
the authorized Federal project to determine the extent to which changes
to channel dimensions are warranted.
2. Proposed action: Based on the need for improved efficiency of
the movement of goods, the proposed action is to alter the depth of the
John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels.
3. Project Alternatives: The following are some of the alternatives
that will be evaluated in the EIS/EIR:
(a) No action. The efficiency of maintaining the current depths of
the John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels will be evaluated.
(b) Modify the shipping channels to authorized depths. Following
the original plans of the authorized project, the channels will be
modified to the authorized project depths. Alternative placement sites
for dredged material, including beneficial reuse, will be evaluated.
(c) Modify the shipping channels to alternate depths. All or
portions of the John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels will be
evaluated for depths differing from current or authorized depths. This
will be accomplished in consideration of economic and environmental
impacts of the proposed project.
(d) Alternative transport methods. Alternative methods for the
transport of goods such as truck or rail transport will be evaluated.
[[Page 13873]]
4. Environmental Considerations: In all cases, pursuant to NEPA
guidelines, environmental considerations will include human health,
biological resources, geophysical impacts, air quality, water quality,
salinity, hazards, noise, utilities and service systems,
transportation, land use and planning, historic and cultural resources,
aesthetics, recreation, social and economic effects, as well as other
potential environmental issues of concern.
5. Scoping Process: The Corps is seeking participation and input of
all interested Federal, State, and local agencies, Native American
groups, and other concerned private organizations or individuals
through this public notice. Public scoping meetings will be held in
Martinez, CA and Stockton, CA (see DATES). Any changes to the date,
time, or location will be published in the newspaper or provided by
mail to those requesting information. The purpose of the meeting is to
solicit comments regarding the potential impacts, environmental issues,
and alternatives associated with the proposed action. Public
participation will help to define the scope of the environmental
analysis in the EIS/EIR; identify other significant issues; provide
other relevant information; and recommend mitigation measures. The
public comment period starts on March 12, 2008, and closes on April 30,
2008. All comments received will be considered in the preparation of
the EIS/EIR.
6. Availability of EIS: The public will have an additional
opportunity to comment on project alternatives once the draft EIS/EIR
is released. The Corps will announce availability of the draft EIS/EIR
in the Federal Register and other media, and will provide a 45-day
public review period for the public, organizations, and agencies to
review and comment on the EIS/EIR. All submitted comments will be
addressed in the Final EIS/EIR. All interested parties should respond
to this notice and provide a current address if they wish to be
notified of the EIS/EIR circulation.
Mike A. Dillabough,
Chief, Operations and Readiness Division.
[FR Doc. E8-5133 Filed 3-13-08; 8:45 am]
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