[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 43 (Friday, March 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10651-10652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5271]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Jackson Port Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Proposed 
Public Port Facilities on the Tombigbee River at the City of Jackson, 
in Clarke County, Alabama

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: This Notice of Availability announces the public release of 
the Draft (EIS) for the Proposed Public Port Facilities on the 
Tombigbee River at the City of Jackson, in Clarke County, Alabama. This 
Draft EIS has been prepared and released for public review and comment 
in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (40 Code of 
Federal Regulation, parts 1500-1508). The comment period begins March 
5, 1999 and extends to April 19, 1999. The actions proposed and 
analyzed in the EIS include the construction of a spur canal and port 
facilities off the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River Federal navigation 
channel in Jackson, Alabama. The Federal construction of the spur canal 
would facilitate construction of a public port facility by the City of 
Jackson pursuant to authorization by a Department of the Army permit. 
It identifies existing environmental conditions at the City of 
Jackson's proposed port site and analyzes the impacts of the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers proposed construction of a Federal spur canal at the 
site, as well as the City of Jackson's proposed phased port development 
under a Department of the Army permit application. The potential 
impacts analyzed in the Draft EIS include impacts to water resources, 
ecological resources, cultural resources, and sociological resources. 
The principal objective of the EIS is to provide a complete, objective 
appraisal of the positive and negative impacts of the proposed overall 
port development action (including both Federal and non-Federal 
components), and mitigation alternatives.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverley Stout, Jackson Port EIS 
Project Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, 
CESAM-PD-EI, Post Office Box 2288, Mobile AL 36602-0001, phone number 
(334) 694-4637, facsimile number (334) 694-3815, or e-mail address 
(Beverley.H.S[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the EIS is to provide 
sufficient information to support a decision by the Mobile District 
Engineer for construction of Federal navigation facilities which would 
provide for development of a public port on the Tombigbee River, at 
Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama; and to support a decision by the 
District Engineer on issuance of a Section 10 and Section 404 permit to 
the City of Jackson Industrial Development board for construction of 
the ancillary port development facilities adjacent to the Federal 
navigation facilities. The proposed alternatives are divided into two 
Federal project alternatives (FP-A and FP-B) and three City of Jackson 
Alternatives. There are also three no action alternatives. The purpose 
of both of the Federal project alternatives is to expand the existing 
barge slop to a 300-foot-wide by 1000-foot-long spur canal to provide 
navigation facilities to support a public port facility at Jackson, 
Alabama. This would include suitable disposal areas to accommodate 
construction and future maintenance dredging. Alternative FP-A has a 
total development area of 140.0 acres and alternative FP-B has a total 
development area of 121.6 acres. The total wetland development areas 
for alternatives FP-A and FP-B are 18.3 acres and 10.1 acres, 
respectively. The City of Jackson plans to completely develop the 
Jackson Port through three proposed Jackson Port phases. The purpose of 
the City of Jackson's proposed port development is to provide ancillary 
port infrastructure to accommodate berthing, docking and terminal 
facilities, and transloading/temporary storage areas for industrial 
users requiring port-related facilities. The port-related facilities 
would be adjacent to the Federal spur canal. The City of Jackson 
project would also accommodate disposal of materials associated with 
construction and future maintenance of the vessel berthing areas. The 
three Jackson Port phases would involve continuing development and 
expansion to the Federal projects. Jackson Port Phase 1, Jackson Port 
Phase 2, and Jackson Port Phase 3 have total development areas of 206.4 
acres, 235.0 acres, and 343.5 acres, respectively. The total wetland 
development areas for these phases are 70.0 acres, 94.2 acres, and 
189.1 acres, respectively. The three no action alternatives are No 
Federal Project/No City Project (No Action Alternative (1); No Federal 
Project/City Project constructed (No Action Alternative (2); and 
Federal Project constructed/No City Project (No Action Alternative (3). 
No Action Alternative 1

[[Page 10652]]

could develop 76.9 acres of available expansion area under an existing 
Department of the Army permit which includes 1.0 acre of wetlands; No 
Action Alternative 2 would develop 125.8 acres which includes 3.3 acres 
of wetlands; and No Action Alternative 3 would include the development 
of one of the Federal project alternatives.
    The scope of the Federal project is defined by Public Law 99-591 
and House Report 99-831. A Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on August 16, 1991. A scoping meeting 
was held at City Hall in Jackson, Alabama on September 16, 1991. 
Executive Orders requiring analyses of proposed Federal actions were 
followed.
    Draft EIS Availability: To receive a copy of the Draft EIS, contact 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, CESAM-PD-EI, Post Office 
Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36602-0001. A copy of the Draft EIS will also be 
available for public review at the Jackson public library.
    Comment Period: The public comment period for the Draft EIS begins 
March 5, 1999 with the release of this Notice of Availability, and 
extends to April 19, 1999. Written comments may be submitted to the 
Corps of Engineers by mail, facsimile, or electronic mail. To become 
part of the formal record, all written comments must be postmarked, 
faxed, or e-mailed no later than April 19, 1999. Comments should be 
addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, CESAM-PD-
EI, Post Office Box 2288, Mobile AL 36602-0001. The facsimile number 
is: (334) 695-3815 and the e-mail address is: 
Beverley.H.S[email protected]. In addition to this Notice of 
Availability, a press release will be prepared, announcements will be 
mailed to affected State and Federal agencies and special interest 
groups, information fliers will be distributed announcing the release 
of the Draft EIS and inviting the public to participate in a public 
meeting, and the public meeting will be advertised twice in a local 
newspaper. The public meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on April 6, 
1999 at Jackson City Hall, 400 Commerce Street, Jackson, Alabama, 
36545. Written or oral comments may be presented at this time. 
Following the receipt of public comments, a Final EIS will be prepared 
and issued which will consider the comments received.
Curtis M. Flakes,
Chief, Planning and Environmental Division.
[FR Doc. 99-5271 Filed 3-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-CR-M