[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14968]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army

 

Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Construction and Operation of a Dredged Material Placement 
Facility at Holland, MI

AGENCY: U.S. Army Cops of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Detroit District, Corps of Engineers, proposes to 
construct and operate a dredged material placement facility at Holland, 
Michigan. The Federal navigation project at Holland, Michigan extends 
approximately six miles from Lake Michigan to Holland, Michigan. The 
navigation channel has an authorized depth of 21 feet in the main 
channel and 23 feet in the entrance channel. Channel depth has been 
significantly reduced by shoal buildup in certain areas of the project, 
resulting in impacts to shipping. The proposed dredged material 
placement facility is necessary to allow for continued maintenance 
dredging and would allow restoration of authorized project depths.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Engineer District, Detroit; Environmental Analysis 
Branch, P.O. Box 1027; Detroit, Michigan 48231-1027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul H. Allerding, 313-226-7590.

SUPPLEMENTRY INFORMATION: Holland Harbor, Michigan, is on the eastern 
shore of Lake Michigan, about 95 miles northeast from Chicago, 
Illinois. The Federal navigation project extends approximately six 
miles eastward from Lake Michigan, through Lake Macatawa to the mouth 
of the Macatawa River at Holland, Michigan. Authorized project depths 
are 21 feet in the main navigation channel and 23 feet in the entrance 
channel. And 18-foot deep turning basin is located near the upstream 
limit of the project.
    Sites previously used for dredged material placement are at 
capacity. In addition, the navigation project has an estimated backlog 
of 130,000 cubic yards of sediments, which have impacted shipping by 
significantly reducing channel depths in certain areas of the project. 
Therefore, to allow for restoration of authorized project depths and 
continued operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Federal project, the 
Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, proposes to construct a new 
dredged placement facility at Holland, Michigan.
    The proposed facility would be designed to contain approximately 
400,000 cubic yards of shoal material, which would accommodate 10 to 20 
years of O&M dredging, depending on site and material management 
practices. This facility would be incorporated into the Long-Term 
Dredged Material Management Plan for Holland Harbor, which is currently 
being developed to accommodate at least 20 years of O&M dredging.
    Alternative sites for dredged material placement include upland 
sites, open-water placement, and beach nourishment. The no Federal 
action alternative will also be considered and will serve as a baseline 
from which to measure the impacts of the action alternatives.
    A proposed upland sit is a farm about two miles east of Lake 
Macatawa in Holland Township. This site, which is in an industrial zone 
along the north side of Macatawa River, extends south from Lakewood 
Boulevard between 112th and 120th Avenues (approximately the N\1/4\ of 
the SW\1/4\ of Section 22, T5N, R15W).
    A preliminary design for the farm site is a facility construed with 
earthen dikes, up to approximately 11 feet in height, occupying 
approximately 30 acres. Dredged material would be transported to the 
facility by truck or hydraulic pipeline. The pipeline would be routed 
up the Macatawa River.
    An alternative upland disposal site is located about two miles 
north of Lake Macatawa in Section 15 of Park Township (T5N, R16W), 
which is bounded by 160th and 168th Avenues and Riley and James 
Streets. This section includes scattered residential development, 
wooded areas, blown-out dunes, and two Superfund cleanup areas 
(Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 
1980). An earthen design would be considered.
    Open-water placement could be at or near previously used open-water 
sites, approximately 1.5 miles west-southwest from the harbor entrance 
along the 60-foot depth contour of Lake Michigan. Open-water placement 
of material dredged from some areas of the navigation channel would 
require covering or capping with cleaner material.
    Only harbor entry channel material is suitable for beach 
nourishment. Dredged material from the remainder of the project is 
unsuitable for beach nourishment because it is fine-grained. Beach 
nourishment is in use as dredged material management tool at Holland 
Harbor and would be considered for future disposal or suitable 
materials.
    Significant issued to be analyzed include potential impacts on 
wetlands, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, cultural resources, 
and farmlands. Social impacts including impacts upon recreation and 
aesthetics, will also be considered.
    The proposed actions will be revised for compliance with the Fish 
and Wildlife Act of 1956; the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 
1958; the National Historic Preservation Act of 1989; the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; the Clean Air Act of 1970; the 
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972; the Endangered Species Act of 
1973; the Water Resources Development Act of 1976; the Clean Water Act 
of 1977; the Farmland Protection Policy Act (Subtitle I of Title XV of 
the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981); Executive Order 11593, 
Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment, May 1971; 
Executive Order 11988, Flood Plain Management, May 1977; Executive 
Order 11990, Wetland Protection, May 1977; and Corps of Engineers, 
Department of the Army, 33 CFR part 230, Environmental Quality: Policy 
and Procedure for Implementing NEPA.
    The proposed project will be coordinated in detail with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Michigan 
State Historic Preservation Office. Funds have been provided to the FWS 
(pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958) for the 
preparation of detailed report on potential project impacts on fish and 
wildlife resources.
    All affected Federal, State and local agencies, Indian tribes, and 
other private organizations and parties are invited to participate in 
the proposed project review. Questions, concerns, and comments may be 
directed to the address given in this notice. The Macatawa Area 
Coordinating Council, a local planning group, has scheduled a public 
meeting for August 2, 1994, at Holland, Michigan. It is anticipated 
that the DEIS would be available for public review in February 1995.
Kenneth L. Denton,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-14968 Filed 6-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-GA-M