[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 170 (Thursday, August 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52995-52996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22219]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for Construction of a Containerized Cargo Terminal, on Shoal Point, 
Adjacent to the Texas City Channel, Texas City, Galveston 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-phased construction of a container 
terminal. The DEIS will access potential impacts on a range of 
alternatives, including the preferred alternative. The Federal action 
is consideration of a Department of Army Permit application for work 
under

[[Page 52996]]

Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and section 404 of the 
Clean Water Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about the proposed action and DEIS, please contact Ms. Sharon 
Manzella Tirpak, Project Manager, by letter at U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, Texas 77553, by telephone at (409) 
766-3136, or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Galveston District intends to prepare a 
DEIS on the proposed container terminal which would be located on Shoal 
Point, adjacent to the Texas City Ship Channel, Texas City, Galveston 
County, Texas. The City of Texas City (Texas City) proposes this 
project.
    1. Description of the Proposed Project: Texas City is proposing the 
construction and operation of a container port facility located on 
Shoal Point, adjacent to the Texas City Channel and Galveston Bay. The 
project site is a dredge material disposal area for the Texas City 
Channel and the Port of Texas City. The Shoal Point project would be 
built in three phases, ultimately consisting of 400 acres of container 
yard, six berths, a new turning basin, a land side access corridor and 
the deepening of the existing Texas City Channel from 40 to 45 feet. An 
estimated 8 million cubic yards of new dredged material would be 
generated during Phase I. Potential total build-out of Phases II and 
III would include an additional 3.2 million cubic yards of new dredged 
material. Approximately 1.2 acres of emergent marsh, 10.3 acres of high 
marsh, 3.6 acres of fresh water wetlands and 92.4 acres of open water 
habitat would be impacted by the proposed project, during Phase I. 
Potential total build-out of Phases II and III may impact an additional 
74 acres of open water habitat.
    2. Scoping and Public Involvement Process: A scoping meeting to 
gather information on the subjects to be studied in detail in the DEIS 
will be conducted on October 3, 2000, at 7:00 PM, at the Charles Doyle 
Convention Center, 2010 5th Avenue North (21st Street and Phoenix 
Lane), Texas City, Texas. An informal open house, allowing for review 
of the proposed project and questions and answers, will be conducted 
between 5:00 and 7:00 PM, prior to the scoping meeting.
    3. 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, impact of air quality during construction and operation of the 
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; 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.
    4. Technical Review and Consultation: Several State and Federal 
Agencies will be invited to provide technical review of the DEIS. Those 
agencies include: the Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United 
States Coast Guard, Federal Highways Administration, Texas Natural 
Resource Conservation Commission, Texas General Land Office and the 
Texas Department of Transportation.
    5. Additional Review and Consultation: Additional review and 
consultation that 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.
    6. Availability of the DEIS: The Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement is projected to be available in September 2001. A Public 
Hearing will be conducted following the release of the DEIS.

Nicholas J. Buechler,
Col., EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 00-22219 Filed 8-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-52-P