[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29865-29866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14093]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6243-2]


Designation of Dredged Material Disposal Sites in Long Island 
Sound, Connecticut and New York. Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCIES: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)--Region I, New 
England and Region II, New York in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers (Corps), New England and New York Districts.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to consider the potential designation of one or more dredged 
material disposal sites in the waters of Long Island Sound under 
section 102(c) of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act 
(MPRSA) and 40 CFR 230.80 of EPA's regulations under section 404 of the 
Clean Water Act. The EIS will provide an evaluation of the existing 
historically used sites known as the Western Long Island Sound Disposal 
Site, the Central Long Island Disposal Site, the Cornfield Shoals 
Disposal Site and the New London Disposal Site, as well as additional 
alternatives including other open water disposal sites, other types of 
dredged material disposal and management, and the no action 
alternative.

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Purpose

    In accordance with EPA's Statement of Policy for Voluntary 
Preparation of National Environmental Policy Act documents for all 
ocean disposal site designations (Federal Register 62(229): 63334-
63336, October 29, 1998), EPA issues this Notice of Intent to prepare 
an EIS for the Designation of Dredged Material Disposal Sites in Long 
Island Sound, offshore of Connecticut, and New York.

Summary

    Dredged material has been disposed of at the existing sites known 
as the Western Long Island Sound, the Central Long Island Sound, the 
Cornfield Shoals and the New London Disposal Sites pursuant to 
programmatic and site designation EISs released by the Corps in 1982 
and 1991. This activity has been regulated in different ways at 
different times depending on the status of applicable law and policy. 
EPA and the Corps have identified a likely need to continue the marine 
disposal of dredged material in the Long Island Sound area. Therefore, 
the two agencies have decided to consider the continued use of the 
above-listed existing sites and their designation as dredged material 
disposal sites under section 102(c) of the MPRSA. Other alternatives 
will also be evaluated, including other open water disposal sites, 
other disposal and management options, and the no action alternative. 
Designation of a site does not by itself authorize or result in 
disposal of any particular material, it only serves to make the 
designated site a disposal option available for consideration in the 
alternatives analysis for each individual dredging project in the area.
    The EPA and the Corps, have entered an agreement to undertake 
designation of dredged material disposal sites in Long Island Sound 
under section 102(c) of the MPRSA. The EPA has the responsibility of 
designating sites under section 102(c) of the Act and 40 CFR 228.4 of 
its regulations. EPA and the Corps will also consider making an 
advanced identification under 40 CFR 230.80 of EPA's Clean Water Act 
section 404 regulations for any site that may be designated. The Clean 
Water Act and the MPRSA come into play because the waters of Long 
Island Sound are inland waters, but section 106(f) of the MPRSA extends 
certain aspects of the MPRSA into Long Island Sound for certain 
projects.
    An EIS will evaluate the four current sites used in the Sound as 
well as other sites for, and means of, disposal and management, 
including the no action alternative. The EIS will support the EPA's 
final decision on whether one or more dredged material disposal sites 
will be designated under the MPRSA identified in advance under 40 CFR 
230.80. The EIS will include analysis applying the five general and 11 
specific site selection criteria for designating ocean disposal sites 
presented in 40 CFR 228.5 and 228.6, respectively. The Corps, New 
England District, has prepared a study reviewing existing data for the 
existing sites relative to these criteria and this study will serve as 
a starting point for further evaluation of the existing sites in the 
EIS.

Need for EIS

    On May 7, 1974, and as amended in October 29, 1998, the EPA 
published a Statement of Policy on Environmental Impact Statements 
(EISs). Section (1) (d) (2) of that policy specifies that EISs will be 
prepared in connection with ocean disposal site designations under 
section 102 (c) of the MPRSA. Evaluation of site designation, and 
advanced identification under 40 CFR 230.80, will serve to clarify the 
availability of particular sites for consideration as dredged material 
disposal options over the long term.

Alternatives

    In evaluating the alternatives, the EIS will identify and evaluate 
locations within the Long Island Sound study area that are best suited 
to receive dredged material suitable for open water marine disposal. At 
a minimum, the EIS will consider various alternatives including:
     No-action (i.e., no designation of any sites);
     Designation of one or more of the existing open water 
sites;
     Designation of alternative open water sites identified 
within the study area that may offer environmental advantages to the 
existing sites; and
     Identification of other disposal and/or management 
options, either in or out of the water.

Scoping

    The Environmental Protection Agency--New England Region and the 
Corps of Engineers, New England District, will hold public scoping 
meetings on June 15, 1999 at the State University of New York, Stony 
Brook Union Auditorum,100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook , June 16, 1999 and 
Groton Inn & Suites, Main Room Left, 99 Goldstar Highway, Route 184, 
Groton Connecticut; and June 23, 1999 at Westin Stamford Hotel, 
Commodore Vanderbilt, One First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT. For all 
meetings, registration will be from 6-7 p.m.; the meetings will be 
between the hours of 7 and 10 p.m. Details of the history of the 
project and the alternatives to be considered will be presented. The

[[Page 29866]]

public is invited to attend and identify issues that should be 
addressed in the EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO BE PLACED ON THE PROJECT MAILING LIST 
CONTACT: Ann Rodney, U.S. EPA--New England Region, One Congress Street, 
Suite 1100, CWQ, Boston, MA 02114-2023. (617) 918-1538. 
[email protected] 
    Please contact Ann Rodney should you have special needs (sign 
language interpreters, access needs) at the above address or our 
TDY (617) 918-1189.
ESTIMATED DATE OF THE DRAFT EIS RELEASE: Fall 2001.

    Responsible Officials:
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator, EPA--New England.
    Date: May 28, 1999.
Richard E. Sanderson,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 99-14093 Filed 6-2-99; 8:45 am]
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