[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 49782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23935]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Large Scale Developments in Coastal Mississippi

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to 
address the potential impacts associated with the construction of large 
scale developments in sensitive areas of coastal Mississippi, including 
Harrison, Hancock, and a portion of Jackson Counties. The Corps will be 
evaluating permit applications for any proposed work in waters of the 
United States under the authority of Section 10 of the Rivers and 
Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The EIS will be 
used as a basis for permit decisions and to ensure compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and the DEIS should be addressed to Mr. John McFadyen, Regulatory 
Branch, phone (334) 690-3261, or Dr. Susan Ivester Rees, Coastal 
Environment Team, phone (334) 694-4141, Mobile District, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36628.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
1. Development in coastal Mississippi has increased significantly since 
the approval of gaming activities in 1992. Initially this development 
was small scale and localized to the areas immediately adjacent to 
Mississippi Sound. Recently, however development activities in coastal 
Mississippi have taken on a much broader scope both geographically and 
spatially. To ensure adequate evaluation of the cumulative impacts of 
development, especially in those areas considered to be sensitive from 
an environmental standpoint, the Mobile District has decided to 
undertake a comprehensive environmental impact analysis of both past 
development activities and foreseeable future development activities. 
Sensitive areas are those designated for ``General Use'' and 
``Preservation'' in the Mississippi Coastal Program, including the 
interior shoreline of the Bay of St. Louis, Back Bay of Biloxi, west of 
Interstate Highway 110, the marsh island east of this highway and Deer 
Island. The extent of geographical coverage will include those portions 
of Hancock and Harrison counties from approximately 1 mile north of 
Interstate Highway 10 south to the Mississippi Sound shoreline. The 
western portion of Jackson County, bordering on the Back Bay of Biloxi, 
will also be included. The analysis process will: evaluate impacts of 
identified projects, both those requiring U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
permits and not requiring permits, constructed since 1992; identify 
project development trends and project these trends over the next 25 
years; and evaluate the impact of likely future large development 
projects. Past projects which would be evaluated include: 12 operating 
casinos, 5 casinos permitted but not built, 2 large shopping centers, 
new subdivisions, large apartment complexes, a port expansion project, 
and wasterwater plant expansions. Future projects which may be included 
are Destination Broadwater, Deer Island and Biloxi Resorts, other 
proposed casino developments, Turkey Creek development, Greater 
Gulfport Properties development, proposed new subdivisions, and city 
master plan revisions.
    2. Alternative scenarios which may be considered include random 
development (No action); clustered development; development based on 
local planning and economic forces.
    3. Scoping:
    a. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open 
communication on the issues surrounding the proposal. All Federal, 
State, and local agencies, and other persons or organizations that have 
an interest are urged to participate in the NEPA scoping process. 
Public meetings will be held to help identify significant issues and to 
receive public input and comment.
    b. The DEIS will analyze the potential social, economic, and 
environmental impacts to the local area resulting from proposed future 
development. Specifically, the following major issues will be analyzed 
in depth in the DEIS: hydrologic and hydraulic regimes, threatened and 
endangered species, essential fish habitat and other marine habitat, 
air quality, cultural resources, wasterwater treatment capacities and 
discharges, transportation systems, alternatives, secondary and 
cumulative impacts, socioeconomic impacts, environmental justice 
(effect on minorities and low-income groups), and protection of 
children (Executive Order 13045).
    c. The Corps will serve as the lead Federal agency in the 
preparation of the DEIS. It is anticipated that the following agencies 
will be invited and will accept cooperating agency status for the 
preparation of the DEIS: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. 
Department of the Interior--Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department 
of Commerce--National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Department of 
Transportation--Federal Highway Administration.
    4. It is anticipated that the first scoping meeting will be held in 
the October time frame in the local area. Actual time and place for the 
meeting and subsequent meetings or workshops will be announced by the 
Mobile District by issuance of a Public Notice and/or local media.
    5. It is anticipated that the DEIS will be made available for 
public review in May 2000.
John B. McFadyen,
Acting Chief, Regulatory Branch.
[FR Doc. 99-23935 Filed 9-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-CR-M