[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34747-34748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16939]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5481-2]


Designation of an Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS) 
Offshore Port Royal, SC; Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on the final designation of an ODMDS offshore Port Royal, South 
Carolina.

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PURPOSE: The U.S. EPA, Region 4, in accordance with Section 102(2)(c) 
of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and in cooperation with 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, will prepare a 
Draft EIS on the designation of an ODMDS

[[Page 34748]]

offshore Port Royal, South Carolina. An EIS is needed to provide the 
information necessary to designate an ODMDS. This Notice of Intent is 
issued Pursuant to Section 102 of the Marine Protection, Research and 
Sanctuaries Act of 1972, and 40 CFR Part 228 (Criteria for the 
Management of Disposal Sites for Ocean Dumping).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO BE PLACED ON THE PROJECT MAILING LIST 
CONTACT: Mr. Gary Collins, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 
4, 61 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, phone 706-355-8725 or Ms. 
Robin Coller-Socha, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, 
Planning Division, P.O. Box 919, Charleston, South Carolina, phone 803-
727-4696.

SUMMARY: The entrance channel, inner harbor area and public/private 
berths of Port Royal Harbor must receive periodic maintenance dredging 
to ensure safe navigation. The dredged material has been disposed of at 
an interim ODMDS for Port Royal in the past. Designation of a Port 
Royal ODMDS is being evaluated to determine the most feasible and 
environmentally acceptable ocean disposal site for anticipated future 
dredging.

NEED FOR ACTION: The Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, has 
requested that EPA designate an ODMDS offshore Port Royal, South 
Carolina for the disposal of dredged material from the Port Royal area, 
when ocean disposal is the preferred disposal alternative. An EIS is 
required to provide the necessary information to evaluate alternatives 
and designate the preferred ODMDS.

ALTERNATIVES:

    1. No action. The no action alternative is defined as not 
designating an ocean disposal site.
    2. Alternative disposal sites in the nearshore, and shelf break 
regions.

SCOPING: A scoping meeting will be held during the summer of 1997. 
Further scoping will be accomplished by correspondence with affected 
Federal, State and local agencies, and with anticipated interested 
parties.

ESTIMATED DATE OF RELEASE: The Draft EIS will be made available in 
1998-1999 time frame.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: John H. Hankinson, Jr., Regional Administrator, 
Region 4.


    Dated: June 24, 1997.
Richard E. Sanderson,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 97-16939 Filed 6-26-97; 8:45 am]
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