[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2861-2863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1448]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army


Intent To Prepare a Draft Tier II Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, Savannah, GA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY OF THE ACTION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead 
Federal agency for an evaluation of the deepening of the Federal 
Navigation Project at Savannah Harbor, Georgia, to ease current 
shipping constraints and to accommodate anticipated growth in commerce 
and vessel sizes. In the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, the 
U.S. Congress authorized deepening the navigation channel to a maximum 
depth of 48 feet Mean Low Water, subject to further studies and 
approval of those study results by four Federal agencies. Those 
additional studies are being conducted. The Savannah District intends 
to prepare a combined General Reevaluation Report and Tier II 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate information concerning 
the economic feasibility and environmental acceptability of various 
methods of addressing the existing and expected future navigation 
problems. These documents will serve as the decision documents 
concerning implementation of the recently authorized harbor 
improvement. The other three Federal agencies--the Environmental 
Protection Agency (Region IV), the Department of Commerce (acting 
through the National Marine Fisheries Service), and the Department of 
the Interior (acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)--have 
agreed to participate as Cooperating Agencies in the preparation of the 
Tier II EIS. The Georgia Ports Authority will also serve as a 
Cooperator in the EIS development process. In response to requirements 
of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Corps hereby notifies the 
public that it is beginning preparation of a Draft Tier II EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or written comments about 
the proposed action and DEIS should be provided by March 7, 2002 to: 
Mr. William Bailey at 912-652-5781, email address: 
[email protected], or at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah 
District, ATTN: PD-E, Post Office Box 100, Savannah, Georgia 31402.

[[Page 2862]]

    Background: Following the provisions of section 203 of the Water 
Resources Development Act of 1986, the Georgia Ports Authority 
conducted a feasibility study of various methods of improving 
navigation in Savannah Harbor and the expected environmental effects of 
those proposals. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers adopted the documents 
prepared by the GPA and published a Draft EIS in May 1998 and a Final 
Tier I EIS in September 1998. After Congressional authorization of the 
proposed improvement (found in section 101(b)(9) of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1999), the Corps completed the EIS process when it 
signed a Record Of Decision (ROD) in December 1999. The ROD 
incorporated the requirements for further technical evaluations that 
were outlined in the authorization.
    After the authorization, the Georgia Ports Authority sought the 
views of local and regional stakeholders to define what additional 
studies they believe are needed to determine and fully describe the 
potential environmental effects of deepening the navigation channel. As 
those studies were identified, GPA began conducting those tasks. 
Further information on these GPA activities can be found at 
www.sysconn.com/harbor.
    1. Proposed Action. The proposed action is development of an 
Environmental Impact Statement to describe the potential impacts of 
deepening the navigation channel at Savannah, Georgia, in increments 
from the existing depth of 42 feet Mean Low Water to a potential depth 
of 48 feet, including the effect of no channel deepening.
    2. Alternatives. In addition to the ``No Action'' alternative, 
channel increments between the existing 42-foot depth and a depth of 48 
feet will be evaluated. Other alternatives to accommodate trade growth 
will be considered. Among the potential alternatives are relocation of 
existing port facilities within the harbor, development of new port 
facilities elsewhere in the harbor, and transfer of cargo to other 
ports in the region. Mitigation plans will be prepared for each 
alternative considered in detail.
    3. Scoping Process.
    3.A. As part of its public outreach efforts, the Georgia Ports 
Authority conducted an information meeting in July 2000 to help it 
define studies that it would conduct during this second phase of the 
project. Comments provided to GPA at that time should be submitted to 
the Corps in response to this Notice to ensure their consideration as 
part of the Federal scoping process. GPA also met with representatives 
of natural resource agencies and local groups to obtain input to the 
studies to be conducted. The Corps has coordinated with the 
Environmental Protection Agency (Region IV), the National marine 
Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerning 
what issues should be addressed and what studies should be conducted 
during this Tier II evaluation. The Corps will conduct a separate 
additional scoping process to ensure that all issues are identified and 
included in the EIS.
    3.B. The National Environmental Policy Act requires Federal 
agencies to involve the public in determining the scope of an EIS. 
Savannah District intends to conduct a public scoping meeting to inform 
the public of the issues it intends to consider in the EIS and to 
solicit further input from the public regarding any other issues that 
may need to be addressed. The Cooperating agencies have indicated they 
intend to participate in that scoping meeting. The meeting will also 
provide a forum for people to raise questions about the work done to 
date and plans for further analyses of all issues. The public is 
cordially invited to participate, provide input on issues being 
considered and to make recommendations to address issues not currently 
under consideration. All interests are invited to participate, 
including Federal, state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and other 
interested private organizations and parties.
    3.C. The issues currently under consideration are as follows:

A. Issues identified in the Tier I as requiring further study:
    1. Impacts to the wetlands from changes in salinity, particularly 
wetlands located on the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
    2. Impacts to the endangered shortnose sturgeon from changes in 
salinity and dissolved oxygen
    3. Impacts to striped bass spawning and nursery habitat from 
changes in salinity and other factors
    4. Impacts to the City of Savannah's water intake from changes in 
chloride levels
    5. Impacts to dissolved oxygen levels
B. Verification of the 3-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Model
C. Salinity Changes
D. Dissolved Oxygen
E. Chloride Levels
F. Striped Bass
G. Shortnose Sturgeon
H. Freshwater Wetlands
I. Saltwater Wetlands
J. TideGate Restoration
K. Cumulative Impacts from Previous Dredging
L. Closing Middle River
M. Fishery Management Plans
N. Anadromous Fish Populations
O. Other Fish Species; red drum, American shad, river herring
P. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
Q. Endangered Species Act Compliance
R. Management of Contaminated Sediments
S. Beach Erosion
T. Channel Slope Erosion
U. Fort Pulaski Erosion
V. Dissolved Oxygen/Fecal Coliform on Beaches
W. Agitation Dredging
X. Sand as a Resource
Y. Upstream Water Releases
Z. Project Economics
AA. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 1135 Restoration Study
BB. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah River Comprehensive Study
CC. Bend Widener Impacts
DD. Fort Pulaski Impacts
EE. Dredged Material Disposal Capacity and Impacts
FF. Impacts on Adjacent South Carolina Properties
GG. Integration with the COE Savannah River Basin Comprehensive Water 
Resources Management Study
HH. Tidal Amplitude
II. Ballast Water
JJ. Drinking Water Aquifer
KK. Cultural and Historic Resources
LL. CSS Georgia Impacts
MM. Old Fort Jackson Impacts
NN. Impacts on Adjacent Georgia Properties
OO. Environmental Justice
PP. Multiport Analysis
QQ. Landside Infrastructure
RR. Alternate Methods to Improve Transportation Efficiencies
SS. Alternate Sites for Terminal Operations
TT. Consistency with Coastal Zone Management Plans

    3.D. Environmental review and consultation requirements for this 
project include explicit approval by the Secretary of the Army, the 
Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental 
reviews will also be needed from the following agencies or offices:
     US Fish and Wildlife Service (endangered species)
     US Fish and Wildlife Service--Savannah National Wildlife 
Refuge (use of refuge property)
     National Marine Fisheries Service (endangered species)
     Georgia Department of Natural Resources--Environmental 
Protection Division (water quality certification)

[[Page 2863]]

     Georgia Department of Natural Resources--Coastal Resources 
Division (coastal zone management consistency certification)
     Georgia State Historic Preservation Office (cultural and 
historic resources)
     South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental 
Control (water quality certification)
     South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental 
Control--Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (coastal zone 
management consistency certification)
     South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office 
(cultural and historic resources)
    In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act requires full 
coordination of potential project impacts with Federal and state 
agencies responsible for management of fish and wildlife resources. 
Savannah District intends to meet several times with technical experts 
in these Federal and state natural resource agencies as part of this 
coordination process. Coordination is also required with the National 
Marine Fisheries Service for potential impacts to Essential Fish 
Habitat.
    4. Scoping Meeting. The scoping meeting is scheduled for February 
21, 2001, from 3 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Savannah International 
Trade and Convention Center on Hutchinson Island in Savannah, Georgia.
    5. Availability of the Draft EIS. The Draft Tier II EIS is 
presently scheduled for release in late 2004. However, that date may 
change. Notification of the availability of the document will be 
published in the Federal Register and in the local newspaper. A Public 
Notice will also be sent to individuals and organizations that have 
expressed interest in projects proposed in Savannah Harbor.

    Dated: January 15, 2002.
Terry D. Stratton,
Acting Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 02-1448 Filed 1-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-M