[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 84 (Monday, May 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25327-25328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10766]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6587-2]


Notice of Availability of the Project XL Proposed Final Project 
Agreement: Naval Station Mayport Project--Beneficial Reuse of Dredged 
Material; Regulatory Reinvention (XL) Pilot Projects

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Project XL Proposed Final Project 
Agreement: Naval Station Mayport Project--Beneficial Reuse of Dredged 
Material.

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SUMMARY: EPA is requesting comments on a proposed Project XL Final 
Project Agreement (FPA) for Naval Station Mayport (hereafter ``NS 
Mayport''). The FPA is a voluntary agreement developed collaboratively 
by NS Mayport, the Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (COE), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection 
(DEP), the City of Jacksonville (Jacksonville) and EPA. Project XL, 
announced in the Federal Register on May 23, 1995 (60 FR 27282), gives 
regulated entities the flexibility to develop alternative strategies 
that will replace or modify specific regulatory or procedural 
requirements on the condition that they produce greater environmental 
benefits. EPA has set a goal of implementing fifty XL projects 
undertaken in full partnership with the states.
    In order to maintain operations at NS Mayport, 600,000 cubic yards 
of sediment must be dredged every 18-24 months from the facility's 
entrance channel and turning basin. Since 1993, NS Mayport has been 
disposing of this material into the ocean. To reduce and eventually 
eliminate ocean disposal, NS Mayport proposes to use this excess 
dredged material as the foundation for the production of construction 
blocks and artificial reef material. Initially, the dredged material 
for construction of the building blocks and the artificial reef 
material will be derived from two existing upland holding sites. In the 
future, the dredged material will come (either directly or indirectly 
through temporary storage at the upland holding sites) from the 
facility's maintenance dredging projects thereby eliminating the need 
for ocean disposal of this material. By the year 2020, NS Mayport has 
estimated that without this project, it will have disposed of 
approximately ten (10) million cubic yards of dredged material into the 
ocean. Additionally, NS Mayport is considering use of excess flyash 
produced by Jacksonville's electrical generating plant as a 
solidification material for the construction blocks. No flyash will be 
used to make materials for artificial reefs.
    In order for NS Mayport to dredge its entrance channel and turning 
basin, and dispose of the material into the ocean, it is required to 
obtain two permits from the COE: a Section 10 permit for dredging and a 
Section 103 permit for ocean disposal. COE 103 permits for ocean 
disposal are subject to EPA concurrence. NS Mayport is also required to 
obtain from Florida DEP an Environmental Resource Permit and any 
associated Sovereign Submerged Land authorizations. As noted above, NS 
Mayport is currently required to obtain three permits, with three 
different time-lines, to dredge and dispose of its maintenance dredged 
material. This creates a confusing process during the permit's renewal 
and public comment periods. Through Project XL, NS Mayport is asking 
EPA to participate in a partnership with COE, Florida DEP, 
Jacksonville, and interested Stakeholders to synchronize the dredging 
and ocean disposal permitting process. The COE regulations state that 
ocean disposal permits will not exceed three (3) years. These 
regulations, however, allow the COE district engineer to grant permit 
extensions. Though the regulations allow extensions, EPA Region 4 and 
the Jacksonville District of the COE do not have procedures for such 
extensions. This Project establishes procedures for EPA Region 4 and 
the Jacksonville District of the COE by proposing a five-year (5) 
permit sequence, consisting of a three-year (3) permit with a two-year 
(2) permit extension when appropriate.
    This XL project has no bearing on the separate discussions 
surrounding the Agency's final regulatory determination for flyash. 
Further, this Federal Register Notice is not soliciting comments on the 
Agency's final regulatory determination for flyash. NS Mayport is not 
seeking any relief from regulatory requirements, including any that may 
result from EPA action pursuant to the regulatory determination for 
flyash.

DATES: The period for submission of comments ends on May 22, 2000.

ADDRESSEES: All comments on the proposed Final Project Agreement should 
be sent to: Ms. Michelle Glenn, US EPA, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, 
Atlanta, GA 30303, or Ms. Lisa Reiter US EPA, Ariel Rios Building, Mail 
Code 1802, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. Comments 
may also be faxed to Michelle Glenn (404) 562-8063 or Lisa Reiter (202) 
260-3125. Comments may also be received via electronic mail sent to: 
[email protected] or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: To obtain a copy of the Project Fact Sheet or 
the proposed Final Project Agreement, contact: Michelle Glenn, US EPA, 
Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, GA 30303, or Lisa Reiter, US EPA, 
Mail Code 1802, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20460. The FPA and related documents are also available 
via the Internet at the following location: http://www.epa.gov/ProjectXL. In addition, the proposed FPA will be available at the 
Beaches Branch Public Library--600 Third St., Neptune Beach, FL. 
Questions to EPA regarding the documents can be directed to Michelle 
Glenn at (404) 562-8674 or Lisa Reiter at (202) 260-9041. To be 
included on the NS Mayport Project XL mailing list about future public 
meetings, XL progress reports and other mailings from NS Mayport on the 
XL project, contact Cheryl Mitchell, Environmental Director, NS 
Mayport, Mayport, FL 32228-0067 or (904) 270-6730. For information on 
all other aspects of the XL Program, contact Christopher Knopes at the 
following address: Office of Policy and Reinvention, US EPA, Mail Code 
1802, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20460. Additional information on Project XL, including documents 
referenced in this notice, other EPA policy documents related to 
Project XL, regional XL contacts, application information, and 
descriptions of existing XL projects and proposals, is available via 
the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/ProjectXL.


[[Page 25328]]


    Dated: April 25, 2000.
Elizabeth A. Shaw,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Reinvention Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-10766 Filed 4-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P