[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 35801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12647]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Improvements to the Sabine-Neches Ship Channel Near Beaumont and Port 
Arthur, Texas as Published in a Resolution of the Senate Committee on 
Environment and Public Works, dated June 5, 1997, 105th Congress, 2nd 
Session

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The proposed action to be addressed in the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) is to evaluate several widening and deepening 
alternatives to improve a deep-draft navigation channel that connects 
harbor facilities in the Beaumont and Port Arthur area with the Gulf of 
Mexico. The study will focus on circulation and salinity changes 
associated with an improved channel and develop dredged material 
disposal options that will include an evaluation of beneficial uses of 
dredged material. The project is being maintained at its authorized 
depth of 40 feet and includes about 56 nautical miles of deep-draft 
channel. The Beaumont/Port Arthur area is located about 90 miles 
northeast of Houston, Texas. The local sponsor for the project is the 
Jefferson County Waterway and Navigation District.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be answered by: Ms. Lizette Richardson, (409) 
766-3123, Project Manager, Project Management Branch, or Ms. 
Janelle Stokes, (409) 766-3039, Environmental Lead, Environmental 
Section, Planning Branch, Planning Environmental and Regulatory 
Division, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, Texas 77553-1229.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    (1) Background. The study began in 1997 when Congress directed the 
Secretary of the Army to study the feasibility of modifying the 
channels serving the Ports of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange, Texas 
in the interests of commercial navigation. A reconnaissance study 
evaluated a deepening and widening plan to establish a Federal Interest 
in the project. The study concluded that there was a Federal Interest 
in continuing studies in 1998. The feasibility study began in March 
2000 and will determine the most cost-effective alternative for 
improving the channel while protecting the Nation's environment.
    (2) a. Alternatives. The construction alternatives that will be 
evaluated in the feasibility phase are: (1) Deepening the channel to 45 
ft from offshore to the Beaumont turning basin; (2) deepening the 
channel to 48 ft from offshore to the Beaumont turning basin ; (3) 
deepening the channel to 50 ft from offshore to the Beaumont turning 
basin ; (4) various combinations of selective widening and turning 
basins; 5) various combinations of selective widening and turning 
basins with each one of the above depths.
    b. No Action. A "No Action" alternative will be 
evaluated and presented for comparison purposes in evaluating the 
various construction alternatives.
    (3) Scoping. The scoping process will involve Federal, State and 
local agencies, and other interested persons and organizations. Scoping 
meetings are scheduled for May 28 and 29, 2002 in Lake Charles, 
Louisiana, and Beaumont, Texas. The time and place of these meetings 
will be announced in local newspapers and mailings. Issues to be 
discussed at these meetings include, but are not limited to, changes in 
salinity and circulation, changes in fresh and saltwater marshes, water 
and sediment quality, erosion along the channel, threatened and 
endangered species impacts, opportunities for ecosystem restoration, 
and the beneficial use of dredged material. Any person or organization 
wishing to provide information on issues or concerns should contact the 
Corps of Engineers at the above address.
    4. Coordination. Further coordination with environmental agencies 
will be conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Fish 
and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean 
Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Essential 
Fish Habitat), and the Coastal Zone Management Act under the Texas 
Coastal Management Program and the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program. 
An Interagency Coordination Team (ICT) has been formed to provide 
guidance and counsel on matters relating to the evaluation of 
environmental impacts of this project. The ICT is composed of 
representatives from 4 Federal agencies, 7 regulatory agencies from the 
States of Texas and Louisiana, the local sponsor, and the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers.
    5. DEIS Preparation. It is estimated that the DEIS will be 
available to the public for review and comment in January 2004.

Carolyn E. Murphy,
Chief, Environmental Section.
[FR Doc. 02-12647 Filed 5-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-52-P