[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 55397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28278]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for a Proposed Deepening of the Brunswick Harbor Navigation Project, 
Glynn County, Georgia

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: A feasibility study is underway which considers alternatives 
of a 2, 4, or 6 foot deepening of the navigation channel from the inner 
harbor to the ocean.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions regarding this proposal may be directed to Ms. Ana Vergara, 
(912) 652-5837, U.S. Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, P.O. Box 
889, Savannah, Georgia 31402-0889.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    1. Current Project Description. The Brunswick Harbor Navigation 
Project is located in the southeastern section of Glynn County, 
Georgia, adjacent to the City of Brunswick. The harbor is approximately 
80 highway miles south of Savannah, Georgia, and 70 miles north of 
Jacksonville, Florida. The authorized project consists of approximately 
30 miles of channels at various depths and widths which include the 
following segments: 32 feet deep and 500 feet wide across the outer 
bar; 30 feet deep and 400 feet wide through St. Simons Sound, Brunswick 
River, and East River; 30 feet deep and 300 feet wide in Turtle River 
to mile 12.76; 30 feet and 400 feet wide, and 7000 feet long in South 
Brunswick River above the Georgia Port Authority bulk terminal dock; 27 
feet deep and 350 feet wide in East River from Second Avenue to the 
confluence with Academy Creek; 24 feet deep and 150 feet wide in 
Academy Creek; 20 feet deep and 150 feet wide in Back River; and 10 
feet deep and 80 feet wide in Terry Creek. The project has three 
authorized turning basins. Annual maintenance of the project requires 
dredging and disposal of approximately 1.8 million cubic yards of 
material.
    2. Proposed Action. The alternatives being considered are 2, 4, or 
6 foot deepening of the navigation channel from the inner harbor 
(approximately from Station 12+000 at the East River Upper Range and 
Station 45+500 at the Turtle River Lower Range), across the bar channel 
to the ocean. The proposed plan would include: widening the channel 
from 200 feet to 400 feet at the Sidney Lanier Bridge; widening Lower 
Turtle Range from 350 feet to 400 feet; improving the Lower Turtle 
River turning basin; constructing a new turning basin in Upper East 
River, dike raising the Andrews Island confined disposal facility to 
+35 feet mlw; placing material dredged from the inner/upper harbor into 
the confined disposal facility; place material dredged from the Bar 
Channel into the existing Ocean Disposal Site and using dredged 
material from two ranges for the construction of a submerged berm in 
the nearshore area off the northern end of Jekyll Island. Overdepth and 
advanced maintenance requirements in the navigation channel will be 
analyzed as part of the feasibility study. Any proposed modification of 
this proposed plan will be addressed, as appropriate, during 
preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement.
    3. Alternatives. The proposed study includes the following 
alternatives:
    a. No Action/Maintenance of status quo.
    b. Improvement of existing navigation facilities, with alternatives 
addressed in 2-foot increments to a maximum of 6 feet.
    4. Study Description. This study will include an analysis of 
potential impacts on endangered species, fisheries, birds, marine 
mammals, water quality, historic properties, etc., resulting from the 
various alternatives. This study is being conducted by the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers.
    5. Scoping Process: Federal, State, and local officials; 
conservation groups; and interested businesses, groups, and individuals 
are invited to comment on the proposed project. Comments received as 
result of this notice will be used to assist in identifying potential 
impacts to the quality of the environment. This study is a continuation 
of a harbor deepening study initiated in 1963 that considered project 
depths of 2, 4, 6, and 8 feet. Formal coordination with State and 
Federal Agencies was conducted at that time. On May 4, 1995 a Public 
Information Meeting was held at Brunswick to identify issues and 
concerns from the public about the proposed Brunswick Harbor Deepening 
Project.
    6. Address for Comments: Written comments may be forwarded to: 
District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Attention: Ms. Ana 
Vergara, PD-E), P.O. Box 889, Savannah, Georgia 31402-0889. Comments 
should be received within 30 days of the publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register to ensure timely consideration.
    7. Availability of the DEIS. The Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement is expected to be available to the public in December 1997.
M.J. Yuschishin,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 97-28278 Filed 10-23-97; 8:45 am]
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