[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 94 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26783-26784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12723]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers


Draft Integrated Interim Report and Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Restoration of Assateague Island, as Part of 
the Ocean City, Maryland, and Vicinity Water Resources Study.

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Baltimore District Corps of Engineers, Maryland Department 
of Natural Resources, the National Park Service (Assateague Island 
National Seashore), Worcester County, and the Town of Ocean City, 
sponsors of the project, propose the implementation of a short-term 
plan to restore the sediment-starved barrier island of Assateague. This 
sediment starvation has been directly caused by the construction of the 
jetties at the inlet located north of Assateague Island at Ocean City, 
Maryland. The short-term plan involves placing approximately 1.4 
million cubic meters (1.8 million cubic yards) of sand on Assateague 
Island. The borrow area to be used for the project is Great Gull Bank, 
an offshore shoal, and possibly a small portion of the ebb shoal at the 
mouth of the inlet. The area of Assateague Island to be renourished in 
between 2.5 km (1.6 miles) and 11.3 km (7 miles) south of the inlet. A 
low berm will be constructed to an elevation of 3.3 m (10.8 feet) NGVD 
(averaging 0.8 m in height) in the portion of the beach between 2.5 km 
and 10 km (1.6 miles and 6.2 miles) south of the inlet. The placement 
will be configured such that the impacts to Piping Plovers, a 
threatened species, is minimal, and the integrity of the island is 
restored. A plan for a long-term project is being developed to manage 
the sand flow in and around the inlet. One of the project's purposes 
will be to supply to Assateague Island an amount of sand that would 
naturally be transported, should the jetties and inlet not exist. This 
plan will be documented in a second report and EIS.


[[Page 26784]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the Integrated Interim 
Report and DEIS, or for additional information, please contact Ms. 
Stacey Underwood at (410) 962-4977 or Ms. Carol Anderson-Austra at 
(410) 962-2910, or write to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore 
District (Attn: Ms. Stacey Underwood, CENAB-PL-P) P.O. Box 1715, 
Baltimore, MD 21203-1715, or send an e-mail message to: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 that reasonably may be expected to accrue from 
the proposed project are being balanced against its reasonably 
foreseeable detriments. All factors that 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.
    The DEIS describes the impacts of the proposed project on 
environmental and cultural resources in the study area. The DEIS also 
applies guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, under 
authority of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (P.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.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the 
Clean Water Act, the Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the 
public and from Federal, state, and local agencies and officials, as 
well as other interested parties. Any comments received will be 
considered by the Corps of Engineers in the decision to implement the 
project. To make this decision, comments are considered to assess 
impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, 
general environmental effects, and other public interest factors listed 
above. Comments regarding the proposed project will be incorporated 
into the Final Environmental Impact Statement as required by NEPA. 
Public comments will also be used to determine the overall public 
interest.
    The public review and comment period for the draft feasibility 
study and DEIS will be for 45 days, from May 16, 1997, to June 30, 
1997.
    This Notice of Availability is being sent to organizations and 
individuals known to have an interest in the proposed restoration. 
Please bring this notice to the attention of any other individuals with 
an interest in this matter. Copies of the Draft Report and EIS are 
available for review at the following locations:

Eastern Shore Area Library, 122 So. Division St., Salisbury, MD 
Worcester County Library, Snow Hill Branch, 207 No. Washington St., 
Snow Hill, MD
Eastern Shore Public Library, 23610 Front St., Accomac, VA Worcester 
County Library, Ocean City Branch, 14th St. and Coastal Highway, Ocean 
City, MD
Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD Assateague 
Island National Seashore, Route 611, 7206 National Seashore Lane, 
Berlin, MD.

    Scoping: A public scoping meeting will be held to give individuals 
and groups the opportunity to comment, orally and/or in writing, on the 
environmental, social, and economic impacts of the proposed action 
(recommended plan) as presented in the DEIS. The DEIS findings will be 
reviewed at the public meeting, and comments regarding the proposed 
project will be incorporated into the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement as required by NEPA.
    The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 1997, at 6:30 
p.m. at the Ocean City Elementary School. Written comments received by 
June 30, 1997 will be incorporated into the Final EIS.
Dr. James F. Johnson,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 97-12723 Filed 5-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M