[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38897-38898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18391]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

U.S. 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, Texas

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

ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent: Date and Location Change for Public 
Scoping Meeting.

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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 assess 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

[[Page 38898]]

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 constructed 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 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 
August 17, 1999, at the Pasadena Convention Center, 7902 Fairmont 
Parkway, 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

    No other Federal agencies have been identified having permitting, 
certifying, or other approval authority for the proposed project. 
However, the Federal Highway Administration, the Environmental 
Protection Agency and Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission 
have agreed to cooperate in the technical review of the DEIS.

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 March 2000. A Public Hearing will be conducted following 
the release of the DEIS.

    Dated: July 2, 1999.
Nicholas J. Buechler,
Col, EN Commanding.
[FR Doc. 99-18391 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-52-M