[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 67 (Friday, April 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15228-15229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8424]



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[[Page 15229]]



DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Notice of Availability for the Final Poplar Island Restoration 
Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); Project 
Location Is Near Tilgham Island, in Talbot County, Maryland

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, has 
prepared a Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement for the 
restoration of Poplar Island to its approximate size in 1847. In 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the District is conducting public 
coordination and distributing the documents for public review and 
comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed actions, 
Feasibility Study, and EIS can be addressed to Study Manager, Baltimore 
District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-PC, P.O. 1715, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, telephone (410) 962-3639. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Currently, the name Poplar Island refers to a group of four small 
remnant islands, located adjacent to Jefferson and Coaches Islands in 
the upper middle Chesapeake Bay. The project location is approximately 
one mile north of Tilghman Island, on the Bay's eastern shore.
    1. Island restoration would create, 1,110 acres of wildlife habitat 
by placing, shaping, and planting approximately 38 million cubic yards 
of clean dredged material. The habitat created would include 
approximately 555 acres each of intertidal wetlands and upland habitat. 
The material would be dredged during maintenance of the southern 
approach channels to Baltimore Harbor and placed behind containment 
dikes at the project site. The plan includes a 35,000-ft perimeter dike 
surrounding the four remnant islands and protecting the south side of 
Coaches Island. The containment dike on the west side of the restored 
island will be constructed of on-site sand and armor stone brought to 
the site.
    2. Poplar Island has been identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and many other 
natural resource management agencies as a valuable nesting and nursery 
area for many species of wildlife, including black duck, bald eagles, 
osprey, heron, and egret. Habitat for many wildlife species native to 
the upper Chesapeake is sparse and degrading in the project area. The 
complex of upland, wetland, near-shore, and shoal habitats that will 
result form the restored island will offer a diversity of habitat 
resources. The project design includes development of 50% wetland and 
50% upland habitat. Of the wetlands, 80% will be developed as low marsh 
and 20% as high marsh. Small upland islands, ponds, and dendritic guts 
or channels will be created to increase habitat diversity within the 
marsh areas. It is expected that habitat diversity will be increased in 
the upland areas by constructing small ponds and providing both 
forested and relatively open scrub/shrub areas.
    3. The decision to implement this action is being based on an 
evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activities on the 
public interest. The decision will reflect the national concern for 
both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits 
which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposed project 
are being balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All 
factors which may be relevant to the proposal, including the cumulative 
effects thereof, are being considered; among these factors are 
economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, 
cultural values, flood hazards, fish and wildlife values, flood plain 
values, land use, recreation, water supply and conservation, water 
quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, and the 
general needs and welfare of the people.
    4. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) describes the impacts 
of the proposed projects on environmental and cultural resources in the 
study area. The EIS also applies guidelines issued by the Environmental 
Protection Agency, under authority of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (Pub. 
L. 95-217). An evaluation of the proposed actions on the waters of the 
United States was performed pursuant to the guidelines of the 
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The proposed dredging, 
construction, and placement of dredged material is in compliance with 
Section 404(b)(1) guidelines.
    5. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the 
Clean Water Act, the Corps of Engineers has solicited comments form the 
public, Federal, state and local agencies and officials, and other 
interested parties. Any comments received are being considered by the 
Corps of Engineers in the decision to implement the project. To make 
this decision, comments are being used to assess impacts on endangered 
species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental 
effects, and other public interest factors listed above. Comments 
regarding the environmental restoration proposal have been incorporated 
into the Final Environmental Impact Statement are required by NEPA. 
Public comments were also used to determine the overall public 
interest. Opportunities for public comment included a series of three 
public scoping and information meetings and a final public hearing, 
held in November 1995, to present the proposed project and draft EIS. 
In addition, a number of informal meetings were held in order to 
present information to citizen interest groups, including watermen, 
charterboat captains, local officials, and regional planners. The 
public review and comment period for the draft feasibility study and 
draft EIS began on 13 November 1995 and closed on 25 January 1996. 
Comments received throughout the study process have been incorporated 
into the final EIS.
    6. This Notice of Availability is being sent to organizations and 
individuals known to have an interest in the restoration of Poplar 
Island. Please bring this notice to the attention of any other 
individuals with an interest in this matter. Copies of the EIS are 
available upon request or for review at the following locations:

Talbot County Free Library, 100 W. Dover St., Easton, MD.
St. Michales Branch, Talbot County. Free Library, 106 No. Fremont St., 
St. Michaels, MD.
Dorchester County Public Library, 303 Gay St., Cambridge, MD.
Frederick Douglas Library, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, 
Princess Anne, MD.
Twin Beaches Library, 3819 Harbor Rd., Chesapeake Beach, MD.
Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD.

    7. Requests for copies of the EIS may be mailed to the following 
address: District Engineer, ATTN: CENAB-PL-PC, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Baltimore District, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-8424 Filed 4-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M