[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32306-32307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15194]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplement I to the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Wilimington Harbor Channel Widening, 
New Hanover and Brunswick Counties, NC

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Wilimington Harbor is an approximately 31-mile-long Federal 
navigation project located along the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear 
Rivers in southeastern North Carolina. Local interests, represented by 
the North Carolina State Ports Authority, the North Carolina Division 
of Water Resources, and the Cape Fear River Pilots Association, have 
requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study the following 
improvements for Wilmington Harbor: (1) construction of a 6.2-mile-long 
passing lane at a central location between the North Carolina State 
Port and the mouth of the Cape Fear River; and (2) widening of five 
turns. This recommended plan may require the blasting of nondredgeable 
rock. Possible adverse impacts could occur to endangered species, 
primary nursery areas, and anadromous fish migrations. This Draft 
Supplement I to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) will 
address the effects of blasting on the estuarine environment and 
develop a post-blast monitoring plan. Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers is looking at alternative disposal areas for dredged 
material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the Draft Supplement I to the FEIS can be answered by: 
Mr. Hugh Heine, Environmental Resources Section, at the U.S. Army 
Engineer District, Wilmington, Post Office Box 1890, Wilmington, North 
Carolina 28402-1890; telephone: (910) 251-4070.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This study was conducted under authority of 
a resolution adopted 8 September 1988 by the Committee on Public Works 
and Transportation of the United States House of Representatives. The 
authorizing resolution directs studies of the entire Wilmington Harbor-
Northeast Cape Fear River navigation system. A Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) was filed with the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (USEPA) on August 13, 1993, and was circulated for a 
45-day public review period. Comments received on the DEIS were 
addressed in the FEIS. The FEIS was filed with USEPA in April 1994. The 
Record of Decision was signed on August 25, 1994.
    1. As indicated in both the DEIS and FEIS, the principal adverse 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action stem 
primarily from the blasting required to remove any nondredegeable rock. 
Possible adverse impacts could occur to endangered species, primary 
nursery areas, and anadromous fish migrations. Since the publication of 
the DEIS and FEIS, it is estimated from core borings, the most recent 
geophysical surveys, and historical data that the top of rock is below 
minus (-) 41 feet mean lower low water (mllw) for Turn 1, the 6.2-mile-
long passing lane (which includes Turn 5), and Turn 6. However, this 
same data indicates that the top of rock is located above -41 feet mllw 
for Turns [[Page 32307]] 2, 3, and 4 (from Keg Island Channel to Lower 
Brunswick Channel). As a worst case, it is estimated that such 
nondredgeable rock comprises less than 35,000 cubic yards or about 5 
percent of all material to be dredged in Turns 2, 3, and 4. 
Approximately 122 blasts would be required to remove the nondredgeable 
rock. This assumes that the maximum number of holes per day would be 
drilled and then fired together as a unit making up one blast. 
Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is looking at 
alternative disposal areas for dredged material originally planned to 
be placed in disposal island Nos. 4, 11, 12, and 13. The Draft 
Supplement I to the FEIS will address these environmental issues and 
develop a post-blast monitoring plan.
    2. The project will utilize mechanical dredging with disposal in 
the USEPA designated Wilmington Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site 
(Wilmington ODMDS) and hydraulic pipeline dredge with disposal in 
existing upland disposal islands.
    3. All private interests and Federal, State, and local agencies 
having an interest in the project are hereby notified of project 
authorization and are invited to comment at this time. The scoping 
process will consist of public notification to explain and describe the 
proposed action, early identification of resources that should be 
considered during the study, and public review periods. Coordination 
with the public and with other agencies will be carried out through 
public announcements, letters, report review periods, telephone 
conversations, and meetings. A scoping letter requesting input to the 
study will be sent to all known interested parties in June 1995. As 
previously stated, the significant issues to be addressed in the Draft 
Supplement I to the Final EIS are the blasting impacts on endangered 
species, primary nursery areas, and anadromous fish migrations and the 
development of a post-blast monitoring plan. Also to be considered will 
be the effect of alternative disposal areas for the project.
    The lead agency for this project is the U.S. Army Engineer 
District, Wilmington. Cooperating agency status has not been assigned 
to, nor requested by, any other agency.
    The Draft Supplement I to the Final EIS is being prepared in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended, and will address the project's relationship to 
all other applicable Federal and State laws and Executive Orders.
    4. No formal scoping meetings are planned at this time but, based 
on the responses received, scoping meetings may be held with specific 
agencies or individuals as required.
    5. The Draft Supplement I to the Final EIS is currently scheduled 
for distribution to the public in October 1995 and the Final Supplement 
I to the Final EIS is scheduled for distribution in December 1996.

    Dated: June 9, 1995.
Robert J. Sperberg,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 95-15194 Filed 6-20-95; 8:45 am]
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