[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44810-44811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16886]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for a Permit Application for the 
Proposed West Basin Marine Terminal Improvement Projects in the Port of 
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Los Angeles District 
is considering future applications for Section 404 and Section 10 
permits to conduct dredge and fill activities associated with a 
continuing program of waterside, marine terminal, and transportation 
improvement projects in the West Basin area of the Port of Los Angeles. 
Some of the project elements are completed and others are previously 
approved actions by the Port of Los Angeles (Port) and the Corps, 
including the Channel Deepening Project (Corps/Port 2000) that will 
dredge all navigational channels in the West Basin to -53 feet and 
construct 43 acres of new landfill in the Southwest Slip. Major project 
elements to be covered in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Subsequent Environmental Impact Statement/Subsequent Environmental 
Impact Report (EIS/SEIR) include: Dredging, wharf renovation and new 
wharf construction, to match the approved -53 foot channel depths 
construction of new landfill, and potential channel realignment. 
Landside developments will include expansion, redevelopment and 
construction of marine terminal facilities, and transportation 
infrastructure improvements including a grade separation a bridge 
structure, an intermodal rail facility and potential realignment of 
road and railways.
    The primary Federal concern is the dredging and discharging of 
materials within waters of the United States and potential impacts on 
the human environment. Therefore, in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is requiring the preparation 
of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to consideration of 
any permit action. The Corps may ultimately make a determination to 
permit or deny the above project or permit or deny modified versions of 
the above project.
    Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the 
Port will serve as Lead Agency for the preparation of a subsequent 
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its consideration of development 
approvals within its jurisdiction. The Corps and the Port have agreed 
to jointly prepare a Draft EIS/SEIR in order to optimize efficiency and 
avoid duplication. The Draft EIS/SEIR is intended to be sufficient in 
scope to address both the Federal and the state and local requirements 
and environmental issues concerning the proposed activities and permit 
approvals.

DATES: A public scoping meeting for the Draft EIS/SEIR will be held at 
the Port of Los Angeles on July 16, 2002, at 6:30 P.M. Written comments 
will be received until August 5, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Copies of comments and questions regarding scoping of the 
Draft EIS/SEIR may be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los 
Angeles District, Regulatory Branch. ATTN: File Number 2002-01070-AOA, 
P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325. Copies should also be sent 
to Dr. Ralph Apply, Director of Environmental Management, Port of Los 
Angels, 425 S. Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phone messages or questions can be 
directed to Dr. Aaron O. Allen: (805) 585-2148.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Project Site and Background Information

    The proposed project is located in the northwestern portion of the 
Port of Los Angeles, adjacent to the Wilmington and San Pedro Districts 
of the City of Los Angeles, CA. The proposed dredge activities would 
take place at various berths throughout the West Basin portion of the 
Port of Los Angeles, including the Berth 100-102 area, the Berth 118-
131 area, and the Berth 136-147 area. Dredging would also be required 
if the navigation channel at Berths 121-127 was to be widened. Major 
areas of fill include the Southwest Slip and possibly the slip at 
Berths 132-134. The proposed improvement projects represent a 
continuation of a long-term, ongoing process of optimizing cargo 
handling efficiencies and thereby reducing environmental impacts of 
increased container terminal operations in the West Basin area. The 
proposed improvement projects involve dredge and fill operations, new 
wharf construction, renovation of existing wharfs coupled with terminal 
expansion on adjacent areas of existing land, and improvement of 
transportation infrastructure.
    Optimization of terminals and infrastructure in the West Basin was 
initially evaluated in the West Basin Transportation Improvements 
Program Environmental Impact Report (WBTIP EIR, LAHD 1997a). The 1997 
EIR and subsequent CEQA and NEPA assessments have been used to certify 
and approve many project elements in the West Basin. Since the 
certification of the 1997 Program EIR many project elements have been 
completed and others are planned.
    Key objectives of the new West Basin EIS/SEIR identified in this 
notice of intent will be to: (1) Establish an updated baseline of 
current Port operations and environmental conditions with the West 
Basin and (2) assess potential environmental effects of implementing 
currently proposed projects within this part of the Port of Los 
Angeles. A key component of this new EIS/SEIR will be to update the 
cargo-handling capacity of the West Basin container terminals and 
update environmental impacts of ship, truck, and rail traffic 
associated with proposed project elements.

2. Proposed Action

    Construction of the proposed project would require dredging 
approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards of material if all project elements 
are implemented. Placement of sediment within the West Basin to 
construct additional landfill in the Southwest slip would require 
approximately 5,000,000 cubic yard of material and result in the 
permanent loss of 32 acres of open-water habitat. The placement of 
material generated by the federal channel deepening project in the 
Southwest slip to meet this need has been reviewed in terms of dredge 
disposal options in the Port of Los Angeles Channel Deepening Project 
SEIS/SEIR (2000). The potential channel widening between Berths 121 to 
126 would create an additional 6 acres of open-water habitat and the 
potential fill between Berths 131 to 136 would remove 13 acres of open-
water habitat. Additional material would originate from sources outside 
of the West Basin such as the Pier 400 storage area. In addition to 
project elements that may arise from the public scoping process will 
also be evaluated in the West Basin

[[Page 44811]]

Marine Terminal Improvement Projects EIS/SEIR, the proposed improvement 
projects include the following elements:
    (a) Berth 100-102 area Phase II and III projects.
    (1) Construction and operation of a second 1,300 foot long wharf.
    (2) Construct and operate container terminal backlands, buildings, 
facilities and infrastructure on the 43 acres created under Channel 
Deepening Project.
    (3) Construct a bridge to the Berth 118-131 area across the 
Southwest Slip.
    (4) Potential realignment of the Front Street road and railways 
around Knoll Hill.
    (5) Consolidation of adjacent parcels at Berth 99, from the Front 
Street realignment, and the former Todd Shipyard parking lot for 
container terminal operators.
    (6) Creation of up to 32 acres of new landfill in the adjacent 
Southwest Slip for construction and operation of terminal backlands and 
infrastructure.
    (b) Improvements to the Berth 118-131 area.
    (1) Construction and upgrades of up to 2,800 feet of new and 
reconstructed wharves to match the planned -53 foot channel depths.
    (2) Wharf improvements, including upgrade to 100-foot gauge crane 
rail.
    (3) Construction of new facilities and buildings.
    (4) Redevelopment of the 20-acre marine oil terminal at Berths 118-
129 to container terminal operations.
    (5) Potential widening of the navigation channel at between Berths 
121 to 126.
    (6) Potential landfill at the slip between Berths 131 to 136 of 
approximately 13 acres.
    (c) Improvements to the Berth 136-151 area.
    (1) Consolidation of the area into a single facility.
    (2) Construct and upgrade up to 2,600 feet of wharves.
    (3) Wharf improvement, including upgrade to 100-foot gauge crane 
rail.
    (4) Construct and operate additional terminal gate facilities and 
buildings.
    (5) Construction and operation of a grade separation at Neptune 
Avenue.
    (6) Expansion of the terminal into the 20-acre area south of the 
realigned Harry Bridges Blvd.
    (7) Construction and operation of additional 10-acre intermodal 
rail and infrastructure.
    (8) Consolidation of the 17-acre marine oil terminal and 
infrastructure at Berths 148-151 into a five to six acre site and 
redevelopment of the area at Berth 149 to container terminal 
operations.

3. Issues

    There are several potential environmental issues that will be 
addressed in the EIS/SEIR. Additional issues may be identified during 
the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially 
significant include:
    (a) Land use and planning impacts, including creation of new 
landfill requiring amendment of the Port Master Plan and approval by 
the California Coastal Commission.
    (b) Geological issues including dredging and stabilization of fill 
areas in an area of known seismic activity.
    (c) Impacts to water quality.
    (d) Potential impacts to marine biological resources and endangered 
species of birds.
    (e) Impacts to air quality.
    (f) Impacts to traffic, including marine navigation and ground 
transportation.
    (g) Potential for noise impacts.
    (h) Impacts to public utilities and services.
    (i) Potential impacts to aesthetic resources including increased 
light and glare.
    (j) Potential impacts on public health and safety.
    (k) Potential impacts to recreation.
    (l) Cumulative impacts.

4. Alternatives

    Several alternatives are being considered for the proposed 
improvement projects. These alternatives will be further formulated and 
developed during the scoping process and an appropriate range of 
alternatives, including the no federal action alternative, will be 
considered in the EIS/SEIR.

5. Scoping Process

    A public scoping meeting (see DATES) will be held to receive public 
comment and assess public concerns regarding the appropriate scope and 
preparation of the Draft EIS/SEIR. Participation in the public meeting 
by federal, state and local agencies and other interested organizations 
and persons is encouraged.
    The Corps will also be consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service under the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act, and with the National Marine Fisheries Service under 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Additionally, the EIS/SEIR will assess the 
consistency of the proposed action with the Coastal Zone Management Act 
and assess potential water quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 of 
the Clean Water Act.

6. Availability of the Draft SEIR/EIS

    The Draft SEIR/EIS is expected to be published and circulated in 
the fall of 2002 and a public hearing will be held after the 
publication of the Draft EIS/SEIR.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-16886 Filed 7-3-02; 8:45 am]
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