[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28997-28998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13966]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers; Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of Draft Supplement II Environmental 
Impact Statement (DSIIEIS) and Notice of Public Hearing for a Proposed 
Navigation Improvement Project at Ma'alaea Harbor, Maui, HI

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

ACTION: Notice of availability and notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Engineer District, Honolulu, in partnership with 
the State of Hawaii, is planning to construct improvements to the 
Ma'alaea Harbor for light-draft vessels at Ma'alaea, Maui, Hawaii. The 
Federal portion of the proposed action consists of realigning the 
entrance channel and modifying the existing breakwater to protect the 
new entrance channel. The purposes of these improvements are to reduce 
the surge within the harbor basin, reduce navigation hazards in the 
entrance channel, and provide opportunity for addition of commercial 
and recreational berthing spaces and associated harbor facilities. 
Later, the project sponsor, the State of Hawaii Department of Land and 
Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DLNR-
DBOR), would provide expanded berthing facilities and improved 
infrastructure, including fuel, sewage treatment and pumpout 
facilities. Total construction costs are estimated at $5,000,000 to 
$10,000,000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please address questions regarding 
this notice to Mr. Benton Ching, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, 
Honolulu, Attention: CEPOH-ED-CE, Building 230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 
96858-5440, Telephone (808) 438-1157 or Fax (808) 841-1581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A General Design Memorandum and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) were approved by the Chief of 
Engineers in 1980, and a State of Hawaii Revised EIS was accepted by 
the Governor in 1982. The 1980 and 1982 plans of improvement were 
modifications of the plan originally approved by Congress in 1968. A 
Final Supplemental EIS was prepared and circulated in 1994 to update 
the environmental information regarding the proposed project and 
alternatives. This second supplemental EIS has been prepared to provide 
additional information on design modifications to avoid and minimize 
impacts to surfing sites, coral reefs, and other aquatic habitat; to 
provide further evaluation of potential effects to endangered and 
threatened species; to provide analysis and evaluation of Alternative 
plan 6; and to respond to public and agency comments received on the 
1994 Final Supplemental EIS. Previous and present studies indicate that 
the proposed project will fully achieve the Federal and State purposes. 
A mitigation plan developed by a team of Federal and State agencies 
would provide mitigation for unavoidable adverse environmental impacts, 
which include elimination or alteration of 8.16 acres of marine 
habitat, including 4.8 acres of coral reefs, removal of a small sandy 
beach, and removal of one surfing site.
    The proposed action is consistent with Hawaii Coastal Zone 
Management (CZM) Program policies and objectives. The National Marine 
Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have determined 
that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued 
existence of listed endangered or

[[Page 28998]]

threatened species. The recommendations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service and Hawaii DLNR-DBOR have been considered with respect to fish 
and wildlife resources. The State of Hawaii Department of Health is 
expected to issue a Section 401 water quality certification. A 
preliminary evaluation pursuant to 40 CFR 230, EPA's Guidelines for the 
Specification of Disposal Sites for Dredged and Fill Material, 
concludes that the proposed action complies with those guidelines.
    Comments on this Draft Supplemental II EIS (DSIIEIS) should be 
provided to the address below within 45 days of the date of publication 
of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
    Copies of the DSIIEIS are available for review at the U.S. Army 
Engineer District, Honolulu office in Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
    A Public Hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 1998 at 6:30 
p.m. at Kihei Elementary School. The hearing will provide an 
opportunity for individuals and groups to comment on the proposed 
action as presented in the DSIIEIS.
Ralph H. Graves,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 98-13966 Filed 5-26-98; 8:45 am]
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