[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1901-1902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-914]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Ashtabula River Partnership (ARP) Feasibility Study and 
Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) and Development of a Dredging and 
Confined Disposal Facility (CDFs) Project for Ashtabula Harbor, 
Ashtabula County, OH

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD for the Ashtabula River 
Partnership.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The proposed project involves appropriate sediment dredging, 
dewatering, treatment, transport, and use of existing and/or developed 
confined disposal facilities (CDFs) for disposal of polluted material 
dredged from the Lower Ashtabula River. Material will be dredged for 
initial River clean-up and for continued maintenance of harbor 
navigation channels. Project CDFs will be designed and used initially 
for confining some initially dredged Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) 
sediments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tod Smith, 716-879-4175, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo 
District, Environmental Analysis Section, 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, 
New York 14207-3199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    This study is being conducted under the authorities of the U.S. 
Rivers and Harbors Acts from 1919 to 1965, as amended, as they pertain 
to Ashtabula Harbor; authorities associated with the Ashtabula River 
Partnership (ARP); and Section 401 of the 1990 Water Resources 

[[Page 1902]]
Development Act pertaining to technical assistance to OEPA to develop 
ARP plans.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action involves dredging (environmentally) 
approximately 750,000 cubic yards of contaminated material 
(approximately 300,000 cubic yards of which may be PCB TSCA) from the 
lower Ashtabula River and appropriate dewatering, treatment, transport 
and disposal in appropriately designed existing and/or developed 
confined disposal facilities (CDFs). Generally, contaminants of concern 
include metals such as chromium and lead and chlorinated organic 
compounds including PCBs in excess of 50 mg/kg. Some future disposal 
capacity for harbor operations and maintenance dredged material (not 
suitable for unrestricted open-lake disposal) will also be included.

Alternatives

    The Ashtabula River Partnership and the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Buffalo District are investigating several associated 
alternative scenarios and have investigated some 36 sites for potential 
CDF development. The Project Siting Committee recently recommended that 
four upland sites, one in-lake CDF, and three existing landfill areas 
be assessed in further detail. The ``No Action'' alternative must also 
be a consideration.

Scoping Process

    Study activities are being coordinated with government agencies, 
interest groups, and the general public. The intent is to gain 
assistance in: identifying and scoping problems, needs, and concerns; 
developing feasible alternative solutions; assessing/evaluating 
alternative solutions; and identifying the preferred and the selected 
plans. The public involvement process for the study incorporates a 
public involvement (outreach) program, written correspondence, 
telephone communications, public meetings/workshops, and draft and 
final report review procedures.
    An initial local scoping meeting for this project was conducted in 
January of 1994. Subsequent meetings followed. In June 1995, 
supplemental scoping letters were coordinated with agencies and others 
known to have an interest in the study. Coordination continues. 
Additional scoping input from potentially affected Federal, State, and 
local agencies and interests is invited by this notice.

Significant Issues

    The Ashtabula River Partnership, comprised of private citizens, 
government officials, and business and industry leaders, is dedicated 
to exploring how to effectively remediate the contaminated sediments in 
the Ashtabula River and Harbor. The goal is to look beyond traditional 
approaches to determine a comprehensive solution for remediation of the 
contaminated sediments not suitable for open-lake disposal. Successful 
remediation of contaminated sediments in the Ashtabula River and Harbor 
will ultimately enhance economic, environmental, and social development 
opportunities in the Ashtabula region. Alternatives will be developed 
and evaluated for engineering and economic feasibility, and 
environmental and social acceptability. The alternative selected will 
reflect the best overall response to meeting the developed project 
objectives. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District has 
taken the leadership role as a Partnership's project manager to prepare 
its Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement to 
address sediment remediation. The study shall be conducted to comply 
with the various Federal and State Environmental Statutes and Executive 
Orders and associated review procedures. When the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement is completed, it will be filed with the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency and coordinated and reviewed under the 
National Environmental Policy Act procedures.
    Scoping Meeting: Since Federal, State, and local interests have 
been involved with initiation of the study, and adequate coordination 
is already being conducted, no new formal initial scoping meeting is 
scheduled.

Availability

    It is expected that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will 
be made available to the public about October 1997.

    Dated: January 2, 1996.
Walter C. Neitzke,
Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 96-914 Filed 1-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-6P-M