[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 169 (Thursday, August 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45413-45414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22079]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for Long-Term Dredged Material Management at St. Joseph Harbor, MI

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, is 
evaluating the environmental impacts of long-term dredged material 
management alternatives for St. Joseph Harbor, Michigan. The Federal 
navigation project includes 7,700 feet of channel with authorized 
depths from 18 to 21 feet. Sandy material dredged from the outer harbor 
is used for beach nourishment--a beneficial use that restores eroding 
beaches in the harbor vicinity. Beach nourishment continues to be an 
effective, beneficial long-term dredged material management tool for 
the outer harbor. The inner harbor dredged material, which is silty, 
traditionally has been placed at various upland sites; however, these 
sites are either full or no longer available. Thus, a 20-year long-term 
dredged material management plan is being developed for the inner 
harbor. Alternatives under consideration include open-water placement, 
new upland placement sites, and beneficial use. The no Federal action 
alternative will also be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be directed to Mr. Les E. Weigum, Chief, Environmental 
Analysis Branch; Engineering & Planning Division; U.S. Army Engineer 
District, Detroit; P.O. Box 1027; Detroit, Michigan 48231-1027. 
Telephone 313-226-6752.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: St. Joseph Harbor lies along the southeast 
shore of Lake Michigan, about 60 miles east-northeast from Chicago, 
Illinois. The harbor is formed by the lower reaches of the St. Joseph 
River, which flows between the cities of St. Joseph, Michigan, on the 
south, and Benton Harbor, Michigan, on the north. The cities of St. 
Joseph and Benton Harbor have several deep-draft facilities at the 
harbor. The harbor has several commercial wharves handling coal, 
building materials, petroleum products, and miscellaneous commodities. 
St. Joseph Harbor is also used by a variety of recreational craft, 
including several charter fishing boats.
    The Federal navigation project at St. Joseph, including operation 
and maintenance activities, is authorized by the River and Harbor Act 
of March 3, 1875, and subsequent acts. The project includes a channel, 
with an authorized depth of 21 feet, extending 6,900 feet up the St. 
Joseph River from Lake Michigan to the mouth of the Paw Paw River, and 
varying in width from 265 feet at the channel entrance to 110 feet at 
the Paw Paw River. The channel extends an additional 800 feet up the 
Benton Harbor Canal to Riverview Drive, with an authorized depth of 18 
feet and a width of 80 feet. Two 18-foot deep turning basins lie on 
either side of the channel near the mouth of the Paw Paw River.
    Dredged material management for St. Joseph Harbor historically has 
consisted of two strategies: The outer harbor material, which is 
primarily sand, is used to nourish adjacent eroding beaches; whereas 
the inner harbor material, which contains silt, has been placed at 
various upland sites for final storage or beneficial use. Maintenance 
dredging of the outer harbor, which includes the entrance canal from 
Lake Michigan through the breakwaters and

[[Page 45414]]

revetments to approximately the Coast Guard station (about 2,800 feet), 
is projected to require management of 350,000 cubic yards of dredged 
material over the next 20 years. This material would continue to be 
beneficially used for nourishment of eroding beaches in the harbor 
vicinity.
    The inner harbor material, which is silty, is dewatered at an 
interim site (Whirlpool site) and later trucked to various upland sites 
for final storage or beneficial use. Previously used upland sites are 
either full or no longer available. Maintenance dredging of the inner 
harbor is projected to require management of 300,000 cubic yards of 
dredged material over the next 20 years. Therefore, the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Detroit District, is evaluating the environmental impacts 
of new long-term dredged material management alternatives for dredged 
material from the inner harbor. The environmental evaluation will be 
coordinated with the development of a 20-year Dredged Material 
Management Plan for the harbor.
    Two specific dredged material management alternatives have been 
identified: Placement at an upland site at the Southwest Michigan 
Regional Airport in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and placement at a 
previously used (1970s and early 1980s) open-water site. Beneficial use 
applications will also be explored. The no Federal action alternative 
will be considered and will serve as a baseline from which to measure 
the impacts of the action alternatives. The final 20-year management 
plan may consist of a combination of alternatives and beneficial use 
applications.
    The upland site lies between the airport and the Paw Paw River, 
extending about 3,000 feet along an embankment at the western runway 
end. The site extends from the top of the bank, about 550 feet toward 
the river, with a change in elevation of over 30 feet. The site 
includes trees, shrubs, and open grassy areas. Below the site is a 
marshy area that borders the Paw Paw River. Dredged material placement 
would avoid the marsh areas, if possible. Dredged material placement at 
the airport site may include beneficial use by providing fill to build-
up the area beyond the end of the runway, which would accommodate the 
development of a runway safety area.
    The open-water site is an area, approximately \1/2\-mile by \1/2\-
mile, located on the bottom of Lake Michigan, about 1\1/4\ miles due 
west from the north pier light. The site has sufficient water depth 
(approximately 50 feet) to prevent significant disturbance of the 
dredged material by wind and storm induced wave action in the lake. 
Dredged material would be transported directly from the dredging 
operation to the open water site by floating plant (such as a barge or 
a bottom dumping dredge), hydraulic pipeline, or other similar methods. 
The suitability of the dredged material for open-water placement will 
be determined in accordance with the Great Lakes Dredged Material 
Testing and Evaluation Manual (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1994), which presents testing and 
evaluation guidance for proposed discharges of dredged material into 
the waters of the United States within the Great Lakes Basin.
    Significant issues to be analyzed include potential impacts on 
wetlands, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and cultural 
resources. Social impacts, including impacts upon recreation, 
aesthetics, and the local economy, will also be considered.
    The proposed dredged material management plan alternatives will be 
reviewed for compliance with the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956; the 
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958; the National Historic 
Preservation Act of 1966; the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
of 1969; the Clean Air Act of 1970; the Coastal Zone Management Act of 
1972; the Endangered Species Act of 1973; the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1976; the Clean Water Act of 1977; Executive Order 
11593, Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment, May 
1971; Executive Order 11988, Flood Plain Management, May 1977; 
Executive Order 11990, Wetland Protection, May 1977; and Corps of 
Engineers, Dept. of the Army, 33 CFR Part 230, Environmental Quality: 
Policy and Procedure for Implementing NEPA.
    The proposed dredged material management plan will be coordinated 
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 
the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State Historic 
Preservation Office, and local and regional Indian tribes.
    All Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and other 
private organizations and parties are invited to participate in the 
proposed project review. Questions, concerns, and comments may be 
directed to the address given above. It is anticipated that the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement would be made available in February 1998 
for a 45-day public review period. During the public review period, the 
Corps of Engineers and the local project sponsor would hold a public 
meeting in the St. Joseph Harbor vicinity.

    Dated: August 16, 1996.
Thomas C. Haid,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 96-22079 Filed 8-28-96; 8:45 am]
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