[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 59784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29786]



[[Page 59784]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for Navigation Improvements at Unalaska, AK

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, intends to 
prepare a DEIS for navigation improvements at Unalaska, Alaska. The 
city of Unalaska, population 4,283, is on Unalaska and Amaknak Islands 
in the Aleutian Island chain, about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) 
southwest of Anchorage, Alaska. Unalaska's economy is based on 
commercial fishing, fish processing, and fleet services including fuel, 
repairs and maintenance, trade and transportation. Unalaska has been 
ranked as the number one port in the nation for seafood volume and 
value for the past 11 years. The proposed navigation improvements are 
needed to provide adequate moorage for transient vessels and the 
Unalaska fleet. Additional moorage would reduce overcrowded conditions 
at the existing facilities by providing a safer and more efficient 
moorage area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Abadie (907) 753-2736, Alaska 
District Corps of Engineers, Environmental Resources Section (CEPOA-EN-
CW-ER), P.O. Box 898, Anchorage, AK 99506-0898. E-mail: 
william.d.abadie@ poa02.usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An environmental assessment (EA) was 
prepared titled ``Navigation Improvements, Draft Feasibility Report, 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact'' dated 
August 2001. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers subsequently concluded 
that the action would be a major Federal action that could 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The finding 
of no significant impact was not signed and a DEIS will be prepared. 
The DEIS will consider structural and non-structural alternatives 
including the construction of a breakwater, a dredged basin, and harbor 
related infrastructure. The August 2001 EA evaluated four alternatives 
in detail: Alternative 1--Dutch Harbor Site (Spit Site), Alternative 
2A--Little South America Site (combination of floating and rubblemound 
breakwaters), Alternative 2B--Little South America (identical to 
Alternative 2A except a wave barrier was substituted for the north 
floating breakwater), and Alternative 3--Captains Bay site (Westward 
Seafoods Site). Other harbor locations and non-structural alternatives 
identified during the scoping process will be evaluated.

Issues

    The DEIS will consider the needs of the community and commercial 
vessel operations, impacts to marine intertidal and subtidal 
communities, fish and wildlife, wetlands, threatened and endangered 
species, essential fish habitat, water quality, cultural resources, 
socio-economic resources, the need for practicable and justifiable 
mitigation, and other resources and concerns identified through 
scoping, public involvement, and interagency coordination.

Scoping

    A copy of this notice and additional public information will be 
sent to interested parties to initiate scoping. All parties are invited 
to participate in the scoping process by identifying any additional 
concerns, issues, studies, and alternatives that should be considered. 
A scoping meeting will be held in Unalaska at the Grand Aleutian Hotel 
on Saturday, February 2, 2002, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Significant 
issues include potential adverse impacts to Steller's eiders, a 
threatened species, and the justification and identification of 
compensatory mitigation. The DEIS is tentatively scheduled for release 
in June 2003.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-29786 Filed 11-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-NL-M