[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60095-60096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26434]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a General Reevaluation Report and Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Atlantic Coast of Maryland 
Shoreline Protection Project, Ocean City, MD

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 
will conduct a General Reevaluation Report (GRR) and Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to evaluate new sand borrow areas 
for the continued beach replenishment at Ocean City, Maryland, and 
potential modifications to the existing project to better protect Ocean 
City at areas of high erosion.
    The Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project, Ocean 
City, Maryland, is designed to provide coastal flood and erosion 
protection to Ocean City. As part of the project design, periodic 
renourishment and maintenance of the beach are required to maintain the 
design level of protection. Every four years, approximately 800,000 
cubic yards of sand are required to renourish and maintain the beaches. 
The original feasibility report identified borrow areas that will be 
consumed within the next eight years (two beach renourishment cycles) 
or less, assuming no extreme storm events. Estimates show that 
approximately 10-12 million cubic yards of sand are needed to maintain 
the four-year cycles for the remaining project life. The District 
proposes to analyze, evaluate, and select the best site(s) for 
additional borrow material.
    In addition, the project has experienced three persistent areas of 
erosion, or hot spots, that have required significant amounts of sand 
renourishment since the project's inception. These areas, centered on 
32nd Street, 81st Street, and 146th Street have been examined in the 
past, and several potential cost-effective solutions were identified. 
The second purpose of this reevaluation study and resulting GRR is to 
analyze, evaluate, and select the best alternative to reduce 
maintenance costs for two of the three areas. The area at 146th Street 
has been addressed by the Corps' Philadelphia District's Fenwick 
Island, Delaware, Interim Feasibility Study--Final Integrated 
Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement.
    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

[[Page 60096]]

agency comments) will be obtained and included as part of the 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be addressed to Mr. Harold K. Clingerman, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-P, 10 South Howard Street, P.O. Box 1715, 
Baltimore, MD, 21203-1715, telephone 410-962-2650; e-mail address: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. In September 1991 construction of the 
shoreline protection features of the project were essentially complete 
and the project was dedicated on October 30, 1991. The project consists 
of widening and raising the beach from 4th street to the Maryland-
Delaware line (about 8.2 miles) and a 0.3 mile transition into 
Delaware, construction of a steel sheetpile bulkhead from 4th street to 
the north end of the boardwalk at 28th Street (about 1.5 miles), 
construction of a sand dune from the north end of the boardwalk to the 
Maryland-Delaware line (about 6.7 miles plus a 0.3 mile transition into 
Delaware), and project operation and maintenance (non-Federal cost). 
The long-term features of the project include monitoring and 
renourishment (cost shared 53%/47%) over an economic life of 50 years. 
Maintenance of the dune and berm above +6 feet NGVD is the financial 
responsibility of the non-Federal sponsor.
    2. As part of the EIS process, recommendations of borrow areas and 
project modifications 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: 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; and the 
general needs and welfare of the public.
    3. The DEIS for the GRR is expected for public release in late 
2004.

Wesley E. Coleman, Jr.,
Chief, Civil Project Development Branch.
[FR Doc. 03-26434 Filed 10-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M