[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39634-39635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19293]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers
Department of the Army


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for a Proposed Storm Damage Reduction and Beach Erosion Control Project 
at Bethany Beach and South Bethany, Sussex County, DE

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The action being taken is an evaluation of the alternatives 
for storm damage reduction and the control of further erosion at 
Bethany Beach and South Bethany Beach, Delaware. The purpose of any 
consequent work would be to provide shore property protection and to 
stablize the shoreline at a predetermined width.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions regarding the DEIS should be addressed to Mr. Steve Allen, 
(215) 656-6559, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CENAP-PL-E, Wanamaker 
Building, 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia, PA 19107-3390.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Proposed Action

    a. The proposed document evaluates a study area approximately 2.5 
miles in length and includes the land between Sussex Shores and York 
Beach. This area is subject to daily and storm wave action which 
creates severe beach erosion problems. A potential offshore sand borrow 
source situated approximately 0.5-2.0 miles northeast of Bethany Beach 
will be investigated in this study.
    b. The authority for the proposed project is the resolution adopted 
by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works dated 23 
June 1988.

2. Alternatives

    In addition to the no action alternative, the alternatives 
considered for storm damage reduction and erosion

[[Page 39635]]

control will fall into structural and non-sturctural categories. The 
structural measures to correct the beach erosion include bulkheads, 
seawalls, revetments, offshore breakwaters, groins, beach restoration/
nourishment, and beach sills/ Non-sturctural measures are flood 
insurance, development regulations, and land acquisition.

3. Scoping

    a. Numerous studies and reports addressing beach erosion along the 
Delaware Coast were conducted by the Corps of Engineers. The most 
recent study is a Reconnaissance Report: Delaware Coast From Cape 
Henlopen to Fenwisk Island (September 1991), which had identified a 
number of problem areas where erosion was negatively impacting the 
adjacent shorelines. This study identified the Bethany Beach/South 
Bethany area as one of the primary areas to be recommended for further 
study in the feasibility phase.
    b. The scoping process is on-going and has involved preliminary 
coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies. Participation of 
the general public and other interested parties and organizations will 
be invited by means of a public notice. Based on the input of these 
agencies and the interested public, a decision to have a formal scoping 
meeting will be made.
    c. The significant issues and concerns that have been identified 
include the impacts of the project on aquatic biota, water quality, 
intertidal habitat, shallow water habitat, cultural resources, and 
socio-economics.

4. Availability

    It is estimated the DEIS will be made available to the public in 
August 1997.
Robert L. Callegari,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 96-19293 Filed 7-29-96; 8:45 am]
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