[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 25217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10802]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Northwest
Aggregates' Previously Authorized Replacement of an Existing Barge
Loading Facility in East Passage of Puget Sound on the Southeast
Shoreline of Maury Island, King County, WA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Seattle District is
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the
environmental effects of replacing an existing dock and resuming sand
and gravel mining operations. The Corps issued a permit to Northwest
Aggregates for the dock replacement project on June 2, 2008, under
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act. Construction of the new dock began in December 2008 and
approximately 49% of the construction was completed as of January 2009.
The Corps has been directed by the U.S. District Court to complete an
EIS on the project. The EIS will include additional analysis of
potential impacts of the project on the marine environment, including
Chinook salmon, Southern Resident Killer whales, and forage fish,
additional analysis and evaluation of the no action and off-site
alternatives, and additional analysis of cumulative impacts associated
with the permit project.
DATES: Scoping meetings for this project will be held on (see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section).
ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting locations are (see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments on the scope of the
EIS or requests for information should be addressed to Mrs. Olivia
Romano, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle
Regulatory Branch, 4735 E. Marginal Way South, Seattle, Washington
98134; (206) 764-6960 or via e-mail to [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS process begins with the publication
of this Notice of Intent. The scoping period will continue for 30 days
after publication of this Notice of Intent and will close on June 7,
2010. During the scoping period the Corps invites Federal agencies,
State and local governments, Native American Tribes, and the public to
participate in the scoping process either by providing written comments
or by attending the public scoping meetings scheduled for at the time
and location indicated.
1. May 17 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Seattle, Washington. An open
house will be held as part of the meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Following a presentation on the project the open house will continue
from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Located at Federal Center South, 4735 East
Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA.
2. May 18 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Vashon Island, Washington. An
open house will be held as part of the meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Following a presentation on the project the open house will continue
from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Located at Vashon High School Commons,
20120 Vashon Highway, SW, Vashon Island, WA.
Written comments will be considered in the preparation of the Draft
EIS. Comments postmarked or received by e-mail after the specified date
will be considered to the extent feasible.
The purpose of the scoping meeting is to assist the Corps in
defining issues, public concerns, alternatives, and the depth to which
they will be evaluated in the EIS. The Corps has prepared a scoping
announcement to familiarize agencies, the public and interested
organizations with the Northwest Aggregates dock replacement project
and potential environmental issues including completed construction
work, the remaining construct work, and the operation of the dock.
Copies of the scoping announcement will be available at the public
meeting or can be requested by contacting the Corps Seattle District as
described above. Corps' representatives will answer scope-related
questions and accept comments.
The EIS will be prepared according to the Corps' procedures for
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4232(2)(c), and consistent with the Corps' policy to
facilitate public understanding and review of agency proposals. As part
of the EIS process a full range of reasonable alternatives will be
evaluated. Development of the Draft EIS will begin after the close of
the public scoping period. The Draft EIS is expected to be available
for public review in the Fall 2010.
Michelle Walker,
Chief, Regulatory Branch, Seattle District.
[FR Doc. 2010-10802 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P