[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2804-2805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1458]



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[[Page 2805]]


DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (DSEIS) for Harbor Improvements at St. Paul, AK

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The proposed action includes deepening and widening the 
Federal entrance channel and maneuvering channels in St. Paul Harbor, 
St. Paul Island, Alaska and reducing damage caused by storm waves 
overtopping the existing breakwater. Dredging and dredged material 
disposal alternatives will be addressed with respect to fish and 
wildlife resources and social and cultural aspects. Breakwater 
overtopping prevention alternatives include submerged reef breakwater, 
construction of a breakwater toe, and placement of additional larger 
stones. Potential impacts associated with the proposed action include 
impacts to Salt Lagoon, impacts on least auklet nesting habitat, and 
water quality degradation to Salt Lagoon and Village Cove. The rock 
quarry for the breakwater overtopping alternatives will not be 
specified.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and DSEIS can be answered by: Mr. 
Guy McConnell, Chief, Environmental Resources Section, Alaska District 
Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 898, Anchorage, Alaska 99506-0898, or 
phone (907) 753-2641.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A previous draft and final Environmental 
Impact Statement was written for this project in 1982. The Record of 
Decision was signed in 1983. The project was not built until 1989. 
Several environmental assessments were prepared and distributed for 
public review assessing changes in the original project design.
    The harbor was designed to support a fishing fleet one-third the 
size of the current operating fleet, and it also lacks moorage for 
smaller boats. The harbor was not intended to have any floating or 
shore-based processing plants. The project design was 100 feet with a 
12-foot unladen draft. The harbor currently serves a fleet of 230 
transient vessels during the crabbing season, with three onshore 
processors and up to 27 floating processors in the immediate area of 
the harbor (within 3 miles). The design vessel for the proposed project 
is 350 feet long with a 23-foot draft. The present entrance channel and 
maneuvering channels are not adequate to safety accommodate these 
vessels.
    The DSEIS will analyze the new harbor and breakwater alternatives, 
and other alternatives that may surface during the scoping process. 
Much of the information contained in the previous EIS and EAs will be 
incorporated by reference. The final EIS will be made available. 
Scoping of the EIS will include coordination with the interested local, 
State, and Federal agencies, the local public, native concerns, and 
other interested parties. Scoping meetings are planned for Anchorage 
and St. Paul Island.
    Anticipated subjects to be addressed include, but are not limited 
to: water quality, Salt Lagoon, alcid nesting habitat, tideland fills, 
wetlands, rock quarry issues, and measures to minimize adverse impacts.
    The expected completion date of the DSEIS is spring 1996.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-1458 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-NL-M