[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23795]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 27, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
 

Record of Decision for the Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (FSEIS) for Dredging at Pier D of the Puget Sound 
Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington

    Pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations on 
Implementing NEPA Procedures (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department 
of the Navy announces its decision to implement the final supplemental 
environmental impact statement (FSEIS) for dredging at Pier D of the 
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS), Bremerton, Washington. This decision 
updates and supplements the Record of Decision for the Final 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Fast Combat Support 
Ship (AOE-6 Class) U.S. West Coast Homeporting Program which was issued 
on March 10, 1992.
    The proposed action is to dredge and make structural upgrades at 
Pier D of the PSNS, and dispose of the dredged material in federally 
and state approved disposal sites. The action will provide the 
necessary bathymetry for permanent berthing for up to two AOE-6 Class 
ships and temporary berthing of one of the largest deep draft ships 
already homeported at PSNS, typically an aircraft carrier. The proposed 
action has been developed from a combination of three berthing 
configurations and five disposal options. The required dredging 
quantity is approximately 105,000 cubic yards, of which approximately 
53,400 cubic yards are contaminated and are unsuitable for in-water 
disposal. The disposal method is a mixed mode of operation which 
utilizes an upland facility (landfill) for contaminated sediment 
disposal and an in-water site for disposing of clean material. The 
primary upland disposal site is the Olympic View Sanitary Landfill 
(OVSL) about 10 miles south of Bremerton. The Roosevelt Regional 
Landfill (RRL) and Columbia Ridge Landfill and Recycling Center (CRLRC) 
would be used as backup in the event of unforeseen problems at OVSL. 
Each of these landfills is currently authorized to accept the type of 
dredged materials produced by this project which have been designated 
unsuitable for in-water disposal by regulatory agencies. The primary 
in-water disposal site is the Puget Sound Dredge Disposal Analysis 
(PSDDA) approved Elliot Bay disposal site near Seattle which is about 
15 miles east of PSNS; backup sites include PSDDA approved Commencement 
Bay near Tacoma or Port Gardner near Everett.
    Other berthing configurations and the ``No Action'' alternative 
were considered and eliminated. Other berthing configurations would not 
address the Navy's need for operational flexibility at PSNS with 
respect to large deep-draft vessels. The ``No Action'' alternative 
would not accommodate Navy's AOE-6 homeporting mission in the west 
coast.
    Disposal options considered and eliminated were capped aquatic 
disposal (CAD), an upland disposal facility (CDF), near-shore confined 
disposal (NCDF), and a combination of PSDDA and NCDF.
    Although an alternative requiring less dredging or ``no action'' 
would have fewer environmental impacts (but would not fulfill the 
purpose and need for the project), the dredging and dredged material 
disposal methods chosen will have the least practicable impacts and are 
environmentally preferred.
    Transfer of the dredged material designated for upland disposal 
from marine to upland transportation will occur at a shoreside transfer 
area located near the west side of PSNS. The shoreside transfer area 
will be paved with an impervious pavement and curbing to prevent 
penetration of liquids into subsurface soils, or uncontrolled release 
into Sinclair Inlet. Within this area, dredged materials will be 
segregated according to moisture content, and loaded onto trucks for 
transport to the landfill. Runoff will be directed to sumps that will 
be used to convey water to settling tanks before discharging into 
Sinclair Inlet. If the moisture content of the dredged materials is too 
high for disposal at the landfill site, soil stabilization/
solidification treatment measures will be employed to mitigate the 
problems. Materials that are acceptable to the landfill will not be 
treated prior to disposal.
    Treatment will be through the addition of a portland cement/
pozzolan mixture and/or additional drying. In a portland cement/
pozzolan reaction, portland cement is combined with flyash or other 
pozzolan to produce a sediment-concrete mixture. Water is entrained in 
the hydration of the portland cement. The moist material will be 
screened and mechanically fed to a pugmill-type mixing plant. Portland 
cement/pozzolan soil additives are added through pneumatic system to 
the pugmill mixer. The treated material will be delivered to the 
landfill storage site thoroughly mixed and relatively uniform in 
appearance with all ingredients evenly distributed.
    The preferred site for upland disposal is the OVSL in Kitsap 
County. The RRL and CRLRC are designated as alternative sites to 
provide flexibility and ensure project completion. Although OVSL has 
enough capacity for the volume determined to be unsuitable for open-
water disposal, unforeseen circumstances related to dredging, 
transportation, or landfill operations could adversely affect the 
overall project schedule. Rather than delay the project, the 
alternative disposal sites would be used until use of the OVSL is 
reestablished. Use of these sites would involve the same process as 
described above for dewatering and treatment, but transportation would 
occur by rail car rather than by truck.
    Dredging causes localized short-term effects on water quality in 
the immediate vicinity of the dredge operation. This will be mitigated 
through the use of regulatory dilution zones and water quality 
monitoring during the dredging operation. If water quality effects 
exceed these of regulatory requirements, such as alterations in pH 
value, dissolved oxygen, and/or turbidity to an unacceptable quantity, 
the dredging operation will be halted until the cause of the water 
quality degradation is identified and mitigated. Dredging is allowed to 
proceed only after all practicable measures are taken to correct the 
problem. The FSEIS and water quality permits provide water quality 
mitigation requirements. These requirements are a part of the 
construction specification detailing approaches and equipment 
requirements to maintain environmental quality.
    Temporary losses will occur in benthic infauna, epifauna, and other 
bottom dwelling organisms through destruction of existing benthic 
habitat in the area affected by dredging. However, these losses are 
anticipated to be recovered within about a year after completion of the 
work.
    Dredging operation, tug-barge transportation, and truck/train 
hauling operation will produce short term localized increases in air 
emissions and noise. No safety related effects are anticipated from 
these impacts. The affected area is in attainment with clean air 
standards and an air conformity analysis is not required.
    The SEIS was prepared by the Navy in coordination with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region X; U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Seattle District; Washington State Department of Ecology; 
City of Bremerton; and the Suquamish Tribe. The FSEIS was distributed 
to agencies and officials of federal, state and local governments, 
citizen groups and associates, public libraries, and other interested 
parties for review. The comment period ended on September 6, 1994. All 
significant issues identified were resolved through discussions with 
concerned agencies and parties.
    Questions regarding the Draft and Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement prepared for this action may be directed to: 
Commanding Officer, Engineering Field Activity Northwest, Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command, 3505 Anderson Hill Road, Silverdale, 
WA, 98383-9130 (Attn: Mr. Peter Havens, Code 232.PH), telephone (206) 
396-5976, fax (206) 396-7929.

    Dated: September 21, 1994.
Elsie L. Munsell,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Environment and Safety).
    Dated: September 21, 1994.
Saundra K. Melancon,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-23795 Filed 9-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-AE-M