[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38071-38072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18678]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report/Feasibility Study (EIS/EIR/FS) for the 
Oakland Harbor Navigation Improvement (-50') Project, Alameda County, 
California

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Port of Oakland proposes to deepen the federal channels of 
Oakland Harbor and Port-maintained berths to a depth of 50' below mean 
lower low water (MLLW) to accommodate the newest generation of deep-
draft container ships. In constructing this Project, the Port expects 
to dredge up to 20 million cubic yards (MCY) of sediment. A variety of 
disposal options are under consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions regarding the scoping process or preparation of the EIS/EIR/
FS may be directed to Gail Staba, Port of Oakland, 530 Water Street, 
Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 272-1479, or Eric Jolliffe, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, 333 Market Street, Seventh Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105-
2102, (415) 977-8543.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the 
Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), 
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and Public Law 102-484 
Section 2834, as amended by Public Law 104-106 Section 2867, the 
Department of the Army and the Port of Oakland hereby give notice of 
intent to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental 
Impact Report/Feasibility Study (EIS/EIR/FS) for the proposed Oakland 
Harbor Navigation Improvement (-50') Project (Project), Alameda County, 
California.

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be the lead agency in 
preparing the combined EIS/EIR/FS. The EIS/EIR/FS will provide an 
analysis supporting both the requirements of NEPA and CEQA in 
addressing impacts to the environment which may result from dredging 
the Port's Inner and Outer Harbor Channels to 50' below MLLW and 
disposing of dredged sediments.
    The FS is normally prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE) to identify a Federal interest in a proposed navigation 
improvement project. The FS is necessary to obtain congressional 
authorization and funding for the project pursuant to the Water 
Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986. Under the provisions of 
Section 203 of the WRDA, the Port will prepare this feasibility 
analysis directly, as part of the necessary EIS/EIR documentation, and 
will submit the studies directly to the Secretary of the Army with the 
intent of obtaining authorization for the project to be included in the 
WRDA of 1998.

1. Proposed Action

    The specific improvements under consideration include:
    a. Deepening and widening the Oakland Bar Channel and Approach.
    b. Deepening and widening the Oakland Outer Harbor Channel.
    c. Modifying the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) submarine rail tube 
structure and/or anode cables.
    d. Deepening and widening the Oakland Outer Harbor turning basin.
    e. Deepening and widening the Oakland Inner Harbor turning basin.
    f. Deepening and widening the Oakland Inner Harbor Channel.
    Up to approximately 20 MCY of material will require dredging and 
disposal as part of this proposed project. The sediment to be dredged 
will be classified as Suitable for Unconfined Aquatic Disposal (SUAD) 
or Not Acceptable for Unconfined Aquatic Disposal (NUAD) as designated 
by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol for sediment 
chemistry and bioassay testing.

2. Project Alternatives

    a. No Project: Area would remain at current 42' depth and 
footprint.
    b. Provision of Unrestricted Access for ``K'' Class Shipping 
Requirements: The project would include a -50' depth, 750' wide, one-
way traffic Inner Harbor channel, a 1500' diameter Inner Harbor turning 
basin, a -50' depth, widened to 1000' two-way traffic Outer Harbor 
channel, and a 1600' diameter Outer Harbor turning basin. This 
alternative assumes five berths would be constructed at the entrance of 
Inner Harbor as a result of the Vision 2000 project, and one 
replacement marine terminal would be constructed as part of the Berth 
22 extension.
    c. Provisions of Inner Harbor One-way Access for ``K'' Class 
Shipping Requirements: The project would include the existing -42' 
depth and footprint in the Outer Harbor, a -50' depth, 750' wide one-
way traffic Inner Harbor channel, and a 1500' diameter Inner Harbor 
turning basin. This alternative assumes five berths would be 
constructed at the entrance to the Inner Harbor as a result of the 
Vision 2000 project.
    d. Provisions of Outer Harbor Two-way Access for ``K'' Class 
Shipping Requirements: The project would include the existing -42' 
depth and footprint in the Inner Harbor, a -50' depth, 1000' wide two-
way traffic Outer Harbor channel, and a 1600' diameter Outer Harbor 
turning basin. This alternative assumes that one replacement marine 
terminal would be constructed as part of the Berth 22 extension.
    e. Provisions of Outer Harbor One-way Access for ``K'' Class 
Shipping Requirements: The project would include the existing -42' 
depth and footprint in Inner Harbor, a -50' depth, 750' wide one-way 
traffic Outer Harbor channel, and a 1600' diameter Outer Harbor turning 
basin. This alternative assumes that one replacement marine terminal 
would be constructed as part of the Berth 22 extension.

3. Dredged Material Disposal Alternatives

    a. Aquatic disposal at San Francisco Deep Ocean Disposal Site (SF-
DODS) or

[[Page 38072]]

Alcatraz Disposal Site (SF-11) for SUAD sediment.
    b. Upland and aquatic construction fill for Port of Oakland Vision 
2000 program, to be used for public access, berths, and to raise 
existing grades. SUAD and NUAD sediment would be used.
    c. Aquatic construction fill for Port of Oakland Berth 22 extension 
SUAD and NUAD sediment would be used.
    d. SUAD sediment would be used for upland construction fill at the 
former Alameda Naval Air Station (NAS) for a Port priority use area, or 
to develop a golf course.
    e. Use of SUAD and NUAD sediment to create aquatic habitat at Fleet 
and Industrial Supply Center, Oakland (FISCO/Port of Oakland), or at 
Bay Farm Borrow Pit.
    f. Aquatic and upland beach nourishment at Ocean Beach, San 
Francisco, using SUAD sediment.
    g. Upland habitat enhancement at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
refuge at former Alameda NAS using SUAD sediment.
    h. Upland habitat at Crissy Field using SUAD sediment.
    i. Wetland restoration at former Hamilton Airfield or Montezuma 
Wetlands using SUAD sediment.
    j. Use of SUAD sediment as a cap on contaminated aquatic sites, and 
possible confined aquatic disposal at Alameda Seaplane Basin.
    k. Upland disposal of SUAD and NUAD sediment at various landfills 
(Vasco Rd., Altamont, Redwood).
    l. Upland disposal of SUAD and NUAD sediment at former Mare Island 
NAS and or Delta Islands.

4. Scoping Process

    Federal, state and local agencies, and interested individuals are 
invited to participate in the scoping process to determine the range of 
issues and alternatives to be addressed. The Port of Oakland and the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a public scoping meeting to 
receive oral and written comments on August 5, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. at the 
following location: Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street, 
Oakland, CA 94612, Conference Room H.
    In addition, written comments will also be accepted until August 
18, 1997 at the addresses listed above.

5. Availability of EIS/EIR/FS

    The Draft EIS/EIR/FS should be available for public review in 
February 1998.
Gregory D. Showalter,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-18678 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am]
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