[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7778-7779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4672]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the proposed Ocean City, Maryland, and Vicinity Water Resources 
Feasibility Study at Ocean City, in Worcester County, Maryland

AGENCY:  Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is 
initiating the Ocean City, Maryland, and Vicinity Water Resources 
Feasibility Study to investigate potential solutions to several water 
resources problems in Ocean City, Maryland. The study area includes 
Ocean City and Assateague Island, adjacent coastal bays and nearshore 
waters of the Atlantic, and Maryland mainland areas within the coastal 
watershed boundary. The Feasibility Study will address four different 
water-related problems in the Maryland coastal bay area as separate 
report components, including (1) the restoration of the northern end of 
Assateague Island; (2) long-term sand placement opportunities along 
Ocean City and Assateague Island shorelines; (3) restoration of 
terrestrial and aquatic habitat; and (4) navigation improvements to the 
harbor, inlet, and Thorofare channel. Cost-sharing partners in the 
study include the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Town of 
Ocean City, Worcester County, and the National Park Service (Assateague 
Island National Seashore). The scheduled completion date for the draft 
Ocean City, Maryland, and Vicinity Water Resources Feasibility Report 
and DEIS is June 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be addressed to Ms. Stacey Marek, Project Manager, 
Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-PC, 
P.O. 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, telephone (410) 962-4977. E-
mail address: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. The study was authorized by a resolution of the Committee of 
Environmental and Public Works of the U.S. Senate, adopted 15 May 1991.
    2. The Ocean City inlet was formed in 1933 during a severe storm. 
In 1934 the Army Corps of Engineers constructed jetties to protect the 
newly formed waterway in an effort to provide for navigation between 
the coastal bays and the ocean. The inlet has functioned as a 
thoroughfare for boating traffic for the past 60 years; however, the 
jetties disrupt the normal movement of sediment along the coast from 
Ocean City to Assateague Island. Lacking this sediment supply, 
approximately 6 miles of the northern Assateague shoreline have been 
eroding at an accelerated rate and the island is vulnerable to 
breaching, or forming one of more new inlets. The first two of the four 
study components listed below address this problem.
    3. Restoration of the North End of Assateague Island--This study 
component will address the short-term restoration of Assateague Island 
by investigating methods for a one-time placement of sediment on the 
north end of the island. The sediment placement will mitigate the 
historic impacts of the jetty-induced sediment deficit. Due to a 
potentially imminent breach of the island, this component of the study 
will be completed as a separate draft report prior to completion of the 
other three components.
    4. Long-Term Sand Placement Opportunities--A second component of 
the study will address the long-term placement of sand to restore a 
normal sediment budget to the north end of Assateague Island. After 
analysis and evaluation, a method will be selected to provide a sand 
supply adequate to maintain the integrity of the northern portion of 
Assateague Island. This portion of the study will also review current 
Corps' shoreline protection activities at Ocean City to determine 
whether there is a more cost-effective method of re-nourishing the 
beach.
    5. Restoration of Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitat in the Coastal 
Bays--This study component will identify the best methods for creating 
and restoring wetlands and islands throughout the coastal bay area for 
fish and wildlife habitat. It is expected that between 80 and 200 acres 
of habitat will be created or restored.
    6. Navigation Improvements to the Harbor, Inlet, and Thorofare 
Channel--This study component will determine the best methods for 
improving navigation through the harbor, inlet, and Thorofare Channel. 
Existing shoals cause damage to both commercial and recreational 
vessels and extend travel time for vessels navigating the channels. It 
is expected that the study will investigate deepening and widening the 
Corps of Engineers' channel through the inlet and harbor, and creating 
and maintaining a Federal channel through the existing Thorofare 
Channel.
    7. The Baltimore District is preparing a DEIS that will describe 
the overall public interest and the impacts of the 

[[Page 7779]]
proposed project on environmental resources in the area. The DEIS will 
also apply guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, 
under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-
217). Potential effects of the project on water quality and on 
recreational, aesthetic, cultural, economic, social, fish and wildlife, 
and other resources will also be investigated.
    8. The public involvement program will include workshops, meetings, 
and other coordination with interested private individuals and 
organizations, as well as with concerned Federal, state, and local 
agencies. Coordination letters and a newsletter have been sent to 
appropriate agencies, organizations, and individuals on an extensive 
mailing list. Additional public information will be provided through 
print media, mailings, and radio and television announcements.
    9. In addition to the Corps, the Maryland Department of Natural 
Resources, the National Park Service, the Town of Ocean City, and 
Worcester County, current participants in the DEIS process include the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, Maryland Department of the 
Environment, Maryland Geological Survey, the Worcester Environmental 
Trust, and the Assateague Coastal Trust. The Baltimore District invites 
potentially affected Federal, state, and local agencies, and other 
organizations and entities to participate in this study.
    10. The DEIS is tentatively scheduled to be available for public 
review in June of 1997.
James F. Johnson,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 96-4672 Filed 2-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M