[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11814-11815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6930]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report 
(DEIS/R) for the Port of Hueneme Feasibility Study, Port Hueneme, 
California

AGENCY: Los Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: To date, deep draft vessels entering the Port of Hueneme 
Entrance Channel, have to limit the amount of cargo product that can be 
brought into the harbor for berthing due to existing shallow bottom 
depths. In order to increase the cargo efficiency of product delivery, 
a plan has been developed to deepen the existing channel from the -35 
foot contour depth to a depth of -40 to -45 feet mean lower low water. 
Approximately 1 million cubic yards of material would be dredged for 
disposal. Disposal options include offshore, near/onshore and upland 
sites. Potential disposal sites have not been identified at this time. 
Project figures are available by contacting the below individual and 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the proposed 
action and DEIS/R can be answered by Mr. Russell L. Kaiser, 
Environmental Planning Section, at (213) 894-0247, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, P.O. Box 2711, Los Angeles, California, 90053.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Proposed Action: The proposed action would reduce some of the 
current limit and cargo product restrictions that can be brought into 
the harbor for berthing due to existing shallow depths.
    2. Alternatives: Although no alternatives have been developed to 
date, as part of the process, a full array of alternatives would be 
developed for further analyses. The proposed plan, viable project 
alternatives, and the ``no action'' plan will be carried forward for

[[Page 11815]]
detailed analysis in the National Environmental Policy Act/California 
Environmental Policy Act document.
    3. Scoping Process: Potential impacts associated with the proposed 
action and alternatives will be fully evaluated. Resource categories 
that will be analyzed include: geology, oceanography/water quality, air 
and noise quality, marine resources, cultural resources, 
socioeconomics, land/water use, recreation, ground and vessel traffic 
and safety, energy, and aesthetics. The Los Angeles District will be 
conducting a public scoping meeting with the Port of Hueneme on 28 
March 1996, at 7:00 pm, in the Board Room of the Oxnard Harbor 
District, 105 East Hueneme Road, Port Hueneme, California.
    4. Significant Issues: The only possible significant issue at this 
time may be related to disposal of dredged material if testing shows 
sediments are contaminated and require special handling.
    5. Other Environmental Review and Consultation: Environmental 
review and consultation as required by Sections 401 and 404 of the 
Clean Water Act, as amended, (33 U.S.C. 1341 and 1344); the Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.); the National 
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.); 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.); Executive Order 11990, ``Protection of Wetlands,'' (24 May 
1977); and other applicable statutes or regulations will be conducted 
concurrently with the EIR/EIS review process.
    6. Schedule: We estimate the draft EIR/EIS will be made available 
to the public in Spring of 1997.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-6930 Filed 3-21-96; 8:45 am]
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