[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2532-2533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1112]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island, MD, Environmental Restoration Feasibility 
Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 
in partnership with the State of Maryland Department of Transportation, 
Maryland Port Administration has initiated an environmental restoration 
feasibility study for the restoration of island habitat in the Mid-
Chesapeake Bay region. The study focuses on restoring hundreds of acres 
of aquatic and wildlife island habitat in the Mid-Chesapeake Bay region 
through the beneficial use of dredged materials from the Port of 
Baltimore channel system. As part of this study and in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to document the plan 
formulation process and recommendations of this study.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or information about the 
proposed action and draft EIS can be addressed to Ms. Michele (Mimi) 
Bistany, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL, 10 South Howard 
Street, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715, telephone 410-962-
4934; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mid-Chesapeake Bay study area is defined 
by the confluence of the Chester River south to the confluence of the 
Potomac River with the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.
    Land subsidence, rising sea level, and wave action have caused 
valuable island habitats to be lost through erosion throughout the 
Chesapeake Bay. Through the beneficial use of dredged material, a 
restored island can be constructed to replace hundreds of acres of 
wetland and upland habitat. Therefore, the goal for this feasibility 
study is to restore valuable aquatic and terrestrial resting, foraging, 
and nursery habitat that has been lost in the Chesapeake Bay for many 
migratory birds, fish, and wildlife species through the beneficial use 
of dredged material. This habitat will afford improved productivity to 
the surrounding area, while providing an environmentally sound method 
for the use of dredged material removed from Bay channels.
    Corps feasibility studies are conducted using a six-stage planning 
approach that incorporates the NEPA process: (1) Identify problems, 
opportunities, goals, and objectives; (2) Inventory baseline 
conditions; (3) Formulate alternatives; (4) Evaluate effects of the 
alternatives; (5) Compare alternatives; and (6) Select a recommended 
plan or set of alternative plans that are environmentally, 
economically, and engineering sound.
    The project delivery team is actively seeking public opinion, 
participation, and advice to be incorporated into the planning process 
and the selection of an island for restoration. At this time, the 
islands that are under consideration within the Mid-Chesapeake Bay 
region include Barren, Bloodsworth, James, Holland, Lower Eastern Neck, 
Parson's and Sharp's islands. The team is open to any additional 
islands for consideration in the Mid-Bay region. As part of the initial 
phase of the study, an objective screening criteria will be developed 
based on information obtained for the State of Maryland's Dredged 
Material Management Program, public and agency input, available data, 
and best professional judgment. Following the Corps and NEPA processes, 
once the island is selected for restoration, a detailed analysis of the 
current existing conditions will be undertaken; alternative restoration 
plans will be developed, analyzed and compared; the impacts of those 
plans

[[Page 2533]]

will be analyzed; and a recommended plan will be selected.
    To solicit public input into the study and into the island 
selection, up to three public scoping meetings are planned for the late 
January/early February 2003 timeframe. A newsletter broadcasting the 
dates, times, and locations will be sent to agencies, groups and 
individuals on the study's mailing list once the meetings have been 
scheduled. To verify your inclusion, or to be added in the mailing 
list, please contact the study team leader, Ms. Michele Bistany (see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    The study will be conducted in compliance with Section 404 and 
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act, the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Prime and Unique 
Farmlands, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act. All 
appropriate documentation (i.e., Section 7, Section 106 coordination 
letters, and public and agency comments) will be obtained and included 
as part of the EIS.
    As part of the EIS process, recommendations will be based on an 
evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activity on the 
public interest. The decision will reflect the national concern for the 
protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which 
may reasonably be expected to accrue from the proposal, will be 
balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors 
that may be relevant to the proposal will be considered, among these 
are wetlands; fish and wildlife resources; cultural resources; land 
use; water and air quality; hazardous, toxic, and radioactive 
substances; threatened and endangered species; regional geology; 
aesthetics; environmental justice; cumulative impacts; and the general 
needs and welfare of the public.
    The draft EIS for the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island environmental 
restoration study is expected for public release in July 2005.

Robert W. Lindner,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 03-1112 Filed 1-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M