[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 97 (Friday, May 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11910]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on 
the Proposed South Tongue Point Land Exchange and Marine Industrial 
Park Development Project

agencies: Fish and Wildlife Service (lead agency), Interior; General 
Services Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and Oregon Division 
of State Lands (cooperating agencies).

action: Notice of availability.

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summary: This notice advises the public that the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement on the proposed South Tongue Point Land Exchange and 
Marine Industrial Park Development Project is available. Preparation of 
the Record of Decision to implement the preferred alternative will 
begin no sooner than 30 days from this notice.

for further information contact: Benjamin Harrison, South Tongue Point 
EIS Team Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Eastside Federal 
Complex, 911 NE. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181 or David 
Blum, South Tongue Point Project Coordinator, Oregon Division of State 
Lands, 775 Summer Street NE., Salem, Oregon 97310.
    Individuals wishing copies of this Final EIS for review should 
immediately contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 
Portland Regional Office. Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to all 
agencies and individuals who previously received copies and to all 
others who have already requested copies.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    In 1979, the U.S. Government declared the property known as South 
Tongue Point near Astoria, Oregon, to be excess to the Federal 
inventory. In 1981, the State of Oregon contacted the Federal 
Government regarding a possible exchange of property involving south 
Tongue Point and state-owned islands in the Columbia River.
    In May 1989, the U.S. Navy contacted the Oregon Division of State 
Lands (Division) in regard to the possibility of homeporting mine 
hunter coastal vessels at South Tongue Point. At the time, the Division 
was studying the feasibility of acquiring South Tongue Point and 
developing the site as a marine industrial park in conjunction with the 
Federal Government's proposal to exchange property with the State of 
Oregon. The Navy's interest led to the development of a master plan for 
the marine industrial park at South Tongue Point, with the Navy as the 
first proposed tenant.
    The General Services Administration is proposing to convey 
approximately 130 acres of land at South Tongue Point near Astoria, 
Oregon (section 12, T.8N., R.9W.), administered by the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers to the State of Oregon. In exchange for the Federal land, 
the Division is proposing to convey approximately 3,930 acres of State-
owned land within the administrative boundary of Lewis and Clark 
National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), to the General Services 
Administration which will in turn transfer those lands to the Service. 
An additional 950 acres of State-owned land within the Refuge is 
proposed for Service management under a long-term cooperative 
agreement.
    The State is proposing to develop a multitenant shallow draft 
marine industrial park and moorage facility for a variety of water-
dependent and general industrial uses. Water-dependent uses would have 
water access by means of pile-supported piers. General industrial uses 
would be located in upland areas without water access.
    This development activity is intended to create real property 
assets and associated income for the Common School Fund of the State of 
Oregon, encourage new industrial employment within the area, and 
contribute to the economic stability and employment diversification of 
Clatsop County and the State of Oregon. Under the proposed action, the 
Service would gain fee title to lands within the administrative 
boundary of the Refuge. This would provide the Service with the needed 
management flexibility to control future expected incompatible uses and 
enhance wildlife populations and their habitats.
    Scoping activities were undertaken preparatory to developing an EIS 
with a variety of Federal, State, and local entities. A Notice of 
Intent to prepare the EIS was published in the Federal Register on 
November 4, 1991. A Draft EIS was issued in June 1992. A notice of 
availability for the Draft EIS was published in Federal Register on 
July 2, 1993.
    In January 1993, the U.S. Navy announced that Navy vessels would 
not be homeported at South Tongue Point as previously planned. Since 
the decision by the U.S. Navy, the South Tongue Point Master Plan has 
been revised with only minor changes. Proposed site developments are 
the same as described in the June 1992 Draft EIS except that now a 
Marine Environmental Research and Technology Station operated 
principally by Clatsop Community College is expected to be the first 
tenant rather than the U.S. Navy. A replacement tenant for the Navy is 
not known but will be a shallow draft water dependent tenant.
    Project impacts are expected to be the same or less as described in 
the June 1992 Draft EIS since dredging will not be required to 
accommodate water dependent tenants.

B. Development of the Final EIS

    This Final EIS has been developed cooperatively by the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Pacific Division (lead agency); U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Portland District; U.S. General Service Administration, 
San Francisco Office; and Oregon Division of State Lands.
    In the development of this Final EIS, the Service has initiated 
action to assure compliance with the purpose and intent of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
    Key issues addressed in this Final EIS are identified as the 
effects that implementation of various alternatives would have upon: 
(1) Threatened and endangered species and their habitats, (2) other 
wildlife and their habitats, (3) physical environmental factors, and 
(4) local and regional economy.

C. Alternatives Analyzed in the Final EIS

    More than 20 alternatives were considered before limiting the 
alternatives to be advanced for further study. Alternatives considered 
but not advanced for detailed analysis included alternative development 
concepts, alternative sites, and single versus multitenant 
developments. Alternatives advanced for detailed analysis include: (A) 
The proposed land exchange and development of a multitenant marine 
industrial development, (B) the proposed land exchange and multitenant 
marine industrial development with connecting road to North Tongue 
Point, and (C) a No Action Alternative. Alternative A is the Service's 
preferred alternative.
    Implementation of Alternatives A and B would result in a beneficial 
situation in terms of meeting the project objectives. Both alternatives 
would result in some detrimental environmental affects, for the most 
part, to biological factors. Alternative B would result in greater 
impacts on biological factors than Alternative A. Impacts under 
Alternative A can be mitigated to a degree of less than significant 
whereas impacts under Alternative B cannot be mitigated to a degree of 
less than significant. Alternative C would have no impact on biological 
factors but would not meet the project objectives and would not have 
the beneficial economic impacts of either Alternative A or B.

    Dated: May 10, 1994.
Don Weathers,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-11910 Filed 5-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M