[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29630-29631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13883]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for Construction of a Containerized Cargo and Cruise Ship Terminal, 
Along Port Road, East of Old Highway 146, in the Extra-territorial 
Jurisdiction of the City of Pasadena and the City of Seabrook, Harris 
County, TX

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District intends 
to prepare a DEIS to access the social, economic and environmental 
effects of the proposed multi-year phased construction of a container 
terminal and cruise ship facility. The DEIS will access potential 
impacts on a range of alternatives, including the preferred 
alternative.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about the proposed action and DEIS, please contact Mr. Mark 
King, Project Manager, by letter at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. 
Box 1229, Galveston, Texas 77550, by telephone at (409) 766-3991, or by 
electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Galveston District intends to prepare a 
DEIS on the proposed container cargo and cruise ship terminal which 
would be located along Port Road, east of Old Highway 146, in the 
Extra-territorial Jurisdiction of the City of Pasadena and the City of 
Seabrook, Harris County, Texas. The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) 
proposes this project.

1. Description of the Proposed Project

    The PHA proposes to construct containerized cargo loading areas, 
roadways, rail lines, an intermodal transit yard, and associated 
warehouses, administration, and operations buildings. It is the PHA's 
projection that initial construction would use approximately 1,600 feet 
of waterfront and 54 acres of land for a container yard. Construction 
beyond this initial phase would occur in increments (50-100 acre yard 
expansions and associated waterfront construction). These additional 
phases of construction would occur based upon cargo demand. It is 
currently estimated that the ultimate build-out of the container 
terminal to seven berths and over 608 acres of container yard and a 90 
acre intermodal transit facility (rail yard) could take 15 to 20 years. 
Cruise ship facilities beyond the initial single berth would be 
construction based upon passenger demand.

2. Alternatives

    The following alternatives will be examined to identify the 
reasonable alternatives to be fully evaluated in the DEIS: No Action; 
the modification of existing PHA facilities to meet the purpose and 
need of and for the proposed project; alternative locations within the 
jurisdictional authority of the PHA where the proposed facilities might 
be developed; off-site alternatives such as Spillman Island, Shoal 
Point (Texas City), and Galveston Harbor; modified on-site 
alternatives. The applicant's preferred alternative is the PHA owned 
property on the Bayport

[[Page 29631]]

Ship Channel (95 deg.00' longitude and 29 deg.36.7' latitude).

3. Scoping and Public Involvement Process

    A workshop and scoping meeting to gather information on the 
subjects to be studied in detail in the DEIS will be conducted on July 
8, 1999, at the Texas Chiropractic College, Russell Building, 5912 
Spencer Highway, Pasadena, Texas.

4. Significant Issues

    Issues associated with the proposed facilities to be given 
significant analysis in the DEIS are likely to include, but may not be 
limited to, the potential impacts of the proposed dredging, the 
beneficial uses of dredged material, placement of fill, construction 
and operation of the proposed facility and surface transportation 
facilities, and of induced developments on: Wetland resources; upland 
and aquatic biotic communities; water quality; fish and wildlife values 
including threatened and endangered species; noise and light levels in 
areas adjoining the proposed facilities; air quality; land forms and 
geologic resources; community cohesion; environmental justice; roadway 
traffic, socioeconomic environment; archaeological and cultural 
resources; recreation and recreational resources; public infrastructure 
and services; energy supply and natural resources; hazardous waste and 
materials; land use; aesthetics; public health and safety; navigation; 
flood plain values; shoreline erosion and accretion; and the needs and 
welfare of the people.

5. Cooperating Agencies

    Those agencies having permitting, certifying, or other approved 
authorities will be asked to be cooperating agencies and to assist in 
the preparation of this DEIS. Cooperating agencies may include the 
Federal Highway Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and 
Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission.

6. Additional Review and Consultation

    Additional review and consultation which will be incorporated into 
the preparation of this DEIS will include: Compliance with the Texas 
Coastal Management Program; protection of cultural resources under 
section 106 of the Historic Preservation Act; protection of navigation 
under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899; protection of water quality 
under section 401 of the Clean Water Act; and protection of endangered 
and threatened species under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

7. Availability of the DEIS

    The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is projected to be 
available in February 2000. A Public Hearing will be conducted 
following the release of the DEIS.

    Dated: May 24, 1999.
Nicholas J. Buechler,
COL, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 99-13883 Filed 6-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-52-M