[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70785-70786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31339]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
West Onslow Beach and New River Inlet (Topsail Beach) Shore Protection 
Project, Pender County, NC

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Town of Topsail Beach is located on Topsail Island, a 
barrier island on North Carolina's central coast. The town has 
experienced severe erosion of the ocean shoreline, high vulnerability 
to storm overwash, and damage to numerous structures due to erosion and 
storms. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1992 authorized a 
Federal Shore Protection Project to address these problems, but the 
project has not been constructed. The authorized project and the 
remaining ocean shoreline at Topsail Beach are now undergoing 
reevaluation studies to provide a basis for a decision regarding 
continuation of

[[Page 70786]]

Federal participation for the design and construction of the project. 
These studies will be documented in a General Reevaluation Report (GRR) 
accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) can be answered by Ms. 
Jenny Owens; Environmental Resources Section; U.S. Army Engineer 
District, Wilmington; Post Office Box 1890; Wilmington, NC 28402-1890; 
telephone: (910) 251-4757.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WRDA of 1992 authorized the implementation 
of the West Onslow Beach and New River Inlet (Topsail Beach) Shore 
Protection Project, as described in the report of the Chief of 
Engineers dated November 19, 1991. However, the plan recommended for 
construction was not the National Economic Development (NED) plan, 
which would have provided a storm dune and beach, a rock terminal 
groin, and periodic beach nourishment. The rock groin was unacceptable 
to the State of North Carolina due to its inconsistency with hard 
structure rules of the Coastal Management Program. Therefore, the 
recommended plan did not include a groin and, instead, provided for 
more frequent beach nourishment to offset the sand retention that would 
have been provided by a groin. The recommended plan extended over a 
distance of approximately 3.6 miles along the oceanfront at the 
southern end of Topsail Beach and included a dune with a crest 
elevation of 13 feet above mean sea level (msl) fronted by a storm berm 
at elevation 9 feet msl and a beach berm at elevation 7 feet msl.
    Reevaluation studies will address the currently authorized project 
and the remaining shoreline at Topsail Beach. The principal purpose of 
a Federal project would be the reduction of damages associated with 
hurricane and storm events and beach erosion. Potential benefits from 
the project would include protection of the town's structures and 
related infrastructure (i.e., roads, utility lines, etc.), as well as 
improvements in aesthetic qualities and recreational opportunities at 
the beach.
    The GRR studies will evaluate several alternatives to address shore 
protection and related issues at Topsail Beach. These alternatives may 
include: (1) Construction of berms and dunes along all or portions of 
the oceanfront within the study area; (2) Removal and/or relocation of 
structures; and (3) No Federal action. The maximum potential project 
length is approximately 4.6 miles (i.e., from the Topsail Beach-Surf 
City town limits to New Topsail Inlet). The selection of final project 
features and reaches for inclusion in a recommended plan will be based 
on a maximization of new benefits.
    During the GRR, potential estuarine, inlet, offshore, and upland 
sources of borrow material will be investigated, and quantities of sand 
required for berm and dune construction will be determined. Estimated 
sand volumes and placement frequency for project maintenance will also 
be developed.
    Alternative methods of beach nourishment and dredging of offshore 
borrow areas will also be evaluated, including the use of an ocean-
certified hydraulic pipeline or hopper dredge.
    All private parties and Federal, State, and local agencies having 
an interest in the study are hereby notified of the study and are 
invited to comment at this time. A scoping letter requesting input to 
the study was sent to all known interested parties on February 14, 
2001.
    A formal scoping meeting is not planned at this time but may be 
held if it is determined that new information could be obtained that 
would not otherwise be available. All comments received as a result of 
this notice of intent and the previous scoping letter will be 
considered in the preparation of the DEIS.
    Significant environmental resources to be addressed during project 
studies and in the DEIS include: (1) Endangered and threatened species; 
(2) Marine and estuarine resources; (3) Fish and wildlife and their 
habitats, including essential fish habitat; (4) Water quality; (5) 
Socioeconomic resources; and (6) Cultural resources. Efforts will be 
made to enhance resource conditions and minimize adverse impacts.
    The lead agency for this project is the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers District, Wilmington. Cooperating agency status has not been 
assigned to any other agency. The DEIS is being prepared in accordance 
with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
as amended, and will address the relationship of the proposed action to 
all other applicable Federal and State Laws and Executive Orders. The 
DEIS is currently scheduled for distribution to the public in the 
summer of 2004.

    Dated: December 2, 2003.
W. Eugene Tickner, P.E.,
Deputy District Engineer, Programs and Project Management.
[FR Doc. 03-31339 Filed 12-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-CE-M