[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 82 (Friday, April 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10257]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 29, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers

 

Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Proposed Providence River and Harbor Maintenance Dredging 
Project

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England Division, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: A draft and final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be 
prepared for the proposed maintenance dredging in the Providence River 
and Harbor in Rhode Island and associated disposal of dredged material. 
Dredging is required because shoaling in the channel has created unsafe 
conditions for navigation. The proposed project is intended to restore 
the navigational efficiency and safety of the Providence River and 
Harbor for the deep draft vessels using the area. The non-Federal 
sponsor of this project is the State of Rhode Island. Other Federal and 
non-Federal dredging projects will also be considered in the EIS.

ADDRESSES: New England Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Impact 
Analysis Division, 424 Trapelo Road, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254-9149.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Larry Oliver, Impact Analysis Division, (617) 647-8347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Providence River is formed by the junction of two small 
streams, the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers, which rise in 
northern Rhode Island. The river flows southerly for one mile to the 
head of Providence Harbor at Fox Point in Providence, where it is 
joined by the Seekonk River. The Corps project consists of a 16.8-mile-
long channel beginning near the head of Providence Harbor and following 
the river on a southerly course through the communities of East 
Providence, Cranston Barrington, Warwick, Bristol, and Portsmouth. 
Providence River and Harbor together constitute the principal 
commercial waterway in Rhode Island.
    Initial work on the river and harbor began in the 19th century with 
the construction of a nine-foot-deep channel near the head of the 
harbor. Subsequent improvements involved the construction of a 5.5 
mile-long channel, 25 feet deep and generally 600 feet wide, extending 
from Fox Point to Bullock Point in east Providence; and extending this 
channel 5.1 miles southward to North Point (Poppasquash Neck) in 
Bristol and deepening it to 35 feet through its entire length.
    A modification to the project was completed in 1976. This involved 
extending the channel 6.2 miles southward to the southeasterly side of 
Prudence Island, and deepening the entire channel to 40 feet. The 
channel is generally 600 feet wide, except for the stretch between 
Fields Point (near the Providence-Cranston city line) and Fox Point, 
where it has varying widths of up to 1700 feet.

Project Description

    The proposed maintenance dredging project consists of removing 
about 3.5 million cubic yards of shoal material between Fox Point in 
Providence and Conimicut Point in Warwick, Rhode Island to restore the 
Federal channel to its authorized dimensions. An estimated 400,000 
cubic yards of material will be removed by non-Federal interests from 
the berthing areas served by the Federal channel.
    Various public and private entities in Rhode Island have expressed 
an interest in meeting other dredging needs concurrently with this 
project. Thus, the disposal site selected for the Providence River 
project may also be used for material dredged from areas not directly 
abutting the Providence River channel. The best current estimate is 
that an additional 1.5 million cubic yards may be added to the Federal 
Providence River and Harbor portion of this project by these 
activities, possibly including material from other Federal projects.

Scoping

    The Corps will conduct an open scoping and public involvement 
process with scoping meetings in various locations throughout the 
State. All interested Federal, State, and local agencies are invited to 
attend one or more scoping meetings. Interested private and public 
organizations, affected Indian tribes, and individuals are encouraged 
to attend the scoping meetings. These meetings will be scheduled for 
the Spring of 1994.
    The alternatives analysis of dredged material disposal sites is 
expected to be a significant issue that will be addressed in depth in 
the EIS. The physical, chemical, biological, and economic effects of 
disposal will be evaluated in the EIS. Scoping will be used to identify 
any other issues not identified to date.

Other Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements

    To the fullest extent possible, the EIS will be integrated with 
analyses and consultation required by the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Pub. L. 93-205; 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.); the 
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (Pub. L. 89-655; 
16 U.S.C. 470, et seq.); the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 
1958, as amended (Pub. L. 85-624; 16 U.S.C. 661, et seq.) the Coastal 
Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (Pub. L. 92-583; 16 U.S.C. 
1451, et seq.); and the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act 
of 1972, as amended (Pub. L. 92-532; 16 U.S.C. 1431, et seq.).

Schedule

    The DEIS is anticipated to be available for public review in late 
Summer of 1994.
Kenneth L. Denton,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-10257 Filed 4-28-94; 8:45 am]
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