[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 53024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26498]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepared a Dredge Material Management Plan Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Los Angeles Area Harbors and 
Marinas

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Los Angeles District, 
DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Corps, Los Angeles District, has maintenance authorities 
for the following marinas and harbors in Los Angeles County: Marina del 
Rey, Redondo, Los Angeles and Long Beach. Recently, the Corps has 
conducted dredge efforts on a biennial basis at the Marina del Rey 
harbor and the Los Angeles River mouth due to unanticipated and 
exceptionally high flows associated with extreme storm activity. High 
runoff in the watershed has caused severe sedimentation problems in the 
downstream portions of the rivers, especially in the approach channels 
to the ocean. With high sediment loads settling in the approach 
channels, the Corps has been required to dredge the channels under 
Emergency Authorities for navigation safety purposes. To expedite the 
process, the Corps has dredged only clean materials suitable for 
unconfined ocean disposal by conventional methods. Other sediments 
remained in situ. Efforts have been hampered by the inability to find 
disposal sites for materials not suitable for unconfined ocean 
disposal. As recent investigations have detected more and more harbors 
and marinas containing sediments questionable for unconfined ocean 
disposal, the Corps is proactively exploring use of unconventional 
dredge and disposal techniques for these types of materials. The Marina 
del Rey harbor and the Los Angeles River mouth contain sediments 
questionable for unconfined ocean disposal, the DMMP is being developed 
to specifically permit removal and disposal of sediments not suitable 
for conventional techniques in an environmentally acceptable manner and 
place. It is estimated that 515,000 cubic meters (M \3\) of sediments 
need to be removed from the harbor entrance at Marina del Rey and 
700,000 M \3\ at the mouth of the Los Angeles River to continue to 
provide safe navigation opportunities. Based on historic and recent 
testing, it is expected that 230,000 M \3\ at Marina del Rey and 
250,000 M \3\ at Los Angeles River are not suitable for unconfined 
ocean disposal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Mr. 
Russell L. Kaiser at 213-452-3846 or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. 
Box 532711, Los Angeles, California, 90053-2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps along with several other Federal, 
state and local agencies and interested parties representing different 
environmental groups in the Los Angeles region have been meeting 
regularly over the last several years to discuss and develop a strategy 
for the placement of contaminated sediments in an environmentally 
acceptable manner and place. This consortium of agencies and interested 
parties, hereafter known as the Contaminated Sediment Task Force 
(CSTF), has formulated preliminary concepts for unconventional disposal 
techniques.
    The Corps has held several public scoping meetings in association 
with this project. Formal meetings have been conducted on November 19, 
1997, in Marina del Rey, California and on November 20, 1997, in Long 
Beach, California to identify special interests and environmental 
concerns. No major concerns nor issues were raised at these meetings. 
As the CSTF meetings are open to the public, all interested parties and 
agencies are welcome to attend and encouraged to participate in them. 
Individuals and agencies may offer information or data relevant to the 
proposed study and/or request to be placed on the mailing list for 
future announcements and/or the PEIS by mailing the information and/or 
request to Mr. Russell L. Kaiser. The Draft PEIS will be available for 
review and comment in November 1998.

Alternatives

    A full array of preliminary alternatives, using both conventional 
and non-conventional disposal methods, have been developed to meet 
project needs. Conventional methods include: beach nourishment and 
unconfined ocean disposal. Non-conventional methods may include: 
subaqueous capping, confined disposal, upland disposal, physical 
separation, sediment mixing, concrete solidification/stabilization and 
structural reconfiguration. Project criteria have indicated that the 
following alternatives may be viable: (1) Subaqueous capping at North 
Energy Island borrow pit; (2) Confined aquatic disposal on harbor side 
of Long Beach Breakwater; (3) Port of Long Beach landfill at Pier S 
with dredged material converted to structural grade by concrete 
solidification/stabilization or by sediment mixing; (4) Upland disposal 
at the ECDC Class II site in Carbon County, Utah, and/or (5) Treatment 
of dredged material by physical separation. A co-equal analysis will be 
conducted for the no action and each viable project alternative in the 
PEIS pursuant with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4321, as amended. Project area maps will be available upon 
request.

    Dated: September 18, 1998.
Robert L. Davis,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineers.
[FR Doc. 98-26498 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KF-M