[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 5 (Friday, January 7, 1994)] [Notices] [Pages 1006-1007] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-368] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: January 7, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Record of Decision for Construction of Element II Breakwater/Pier at Naval Station Puget Sound, Everett, WA Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy announces its decision to construct a breakwater/pier at Naval Station Puget Sound, Everett, Washington. This action was identified as the preferred alternative in the Draft and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statements (DSEIS/FSEIS) distributed to the public in March and November, 1993, respectively. The process leading to the SEIS and this decision are consistent with a Settlement Agreement with the Friends of the Earth, et al. concerning homeporting actions at Everett. Comments received from the public on the DSEIS and during a public hearing held in April 1993 were concerned primarily with potential impacts from dredging and breakwater/pier physical obstruction/shading of salmonid migrations. These concerns were responded to in the FSEIS and there were no public comments on the FSEIS. The Navy is not aware of any remaining unresolved environmental issues. The Element II breakwater/pier project consists of dredging and construction of a pile-supported breakwater/pier. The breakwater/pier will allow berthing for the currently planned ship-mix which cannot be adequately accommodated at the Element I facilities, and will provide wave attenuation for ships berthed at the Carrier Pier. The breakwater/ pier will also provide for fish passage. Element II projects will not increase the number of vessels or personnel to be stationed at Everett, over those planned for in Element I. The project will require dredging and disposal of about 150,000 cubic yards of marine sediments, construction of a baffle-wall breakwater structure, and, at a later date, conversion of the structure into a breakwater pier capable of berthing Navy ships. Dredging and construction of the breakwater component is expected to begin in Fiscal Year (FY) 1994. Construction of the pier component is scheduled to begin in FY 1997. The material to be dredged has been determined to be acceptable for disposal at the Port Gardner, Puget Sound Dredged Disposal site. Dredging will be scheduled to avoid the out-migration of juvenile salmon from the Snohomish River from March 15 to July 1. The no action alternative was dismissed from further consideration because it would make it impracticable for the Navy to safely complete its mission at an established home port. Alternative designs and concepts for wave attenuation and berthing were evaluated in the SEIS and were rejected in preference to the proposed action for environmental, operational, and safety reasons that were described in detail in the DSEIS/FSEIS. The FSEIS incorporates the DSEIS by reference and the two must be used in conjunction. The proposed action will not impact federally protected wetlands or endangered species. The proposed action conforms with the Washington State Implementation Plan for meeting ambient air quality standards. The proposed action will not impact archaeological, cultural, or historic resources listed, or determined eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic Places. The Navy has determined that the proposed action is consistent with the maximum extent practicable with the Washington State Coastal Zone Management Plan. Questions regarding the SEIS prepared for this action may be directed to the Engineering Field Activity Northwest, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, (Attn: Mr. Don Morris), 3505 NW Anderson Hill Road, Silverdale, Washington, telephone (206) 396-5976. Dated: January 3, 1994. Elsie L. Munsell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Environment and Safety). Dated: January 4, 1994. Michael P. Rummel, LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 94-368 Filed 1-6-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810-AE-M