[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7728-7729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3609]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Marine 
Container Terminal at the Charleston Naval Complex in the City of North 
Charleston, Charleston County, SC

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, Charleston District intends 
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the 
potential social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed 
construction of a marine container terminal by the South Carolina State 
Ports Authority (SCSPA), at the Charleston Naval Complex (CNC), on the 
Cooper River, in Charleston Harbor, the City of North Charleston, 
Charleston County, South Carolina. The EIS will assess potential 
effects of a range of alternatives, including the proposed alternative.

DATES: General Public Scoping Meeting: March 16, 2004, 6 p.m., Sterett 
Hall, Building 180, Charleston Naval Complex, North 
Charleston, SC (Located at the corner of Hobson Avenue and Calumet 
Road). Federal and State Agency Scoping Meeting: March 22, 2004, 1:30-
4:30 p.m., Citadel Alumni Center, Renken Room, 69 Hagood Ave., 
Charleston, SC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about the proposed project and EIS, please contact Ms. Tracy 
Hurst, Project Manager, by telephone: (843) 329-8032 or toll free 1-
866-329-8187, or by mail: CESAC-RE-P, 69A Hagood Avenue, Charleston, SC 
29403. For inquiries from the media, please contact the Corps, 
Charleston District Public Affairs Officer (PAO), Alicia Gregory by 
telephone: (843) 329-8123.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for a Department of the Army 
permit was submitted by the SCSPA pursuant to section 10 of the Rivers 
and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) and section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) on January 24, 2003, and was advertised in a 
local public notice, P/N 2003-1T-016-PC, on March 7, 2003. The 
SCSPA submitted revised drawings and clarification of information on 
impacts on January 29, 2004, which were advertised in a local public 
notice, P/N 2003-1T-016-PC (revised), on February 13, 2004. 
The March 7, 2003, public notice is available on Charleston District's 
public Web site at http://www.sac.usace.army.mil/permits/pn/PNs20030307/20031T016PC_SCSPA_NewContainerTerminal.pdf. The 
February 13, 2004, local public notice is also available on Charleston 
District's public Web site at http://www.sac.usace.army.mil/newinternet/org/regulatory/index.htm#permit. The SCSPA was advised that 
based on the significant potential social, economic and environmental 
effects associated with the construction of the proposed marine 
container terminal at the Charleston Naval Complex, an EIS would be 
prepared by the Charleston District, Corps of Engineers.
    1. Description of Proposed Project. The project proposed by the 
South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) is to develop a marine 
container terminal at the south end of the CNC, on the Cooper River, in 
Charleston Harbor, the City of North Charleston, Charleston County, SC. 
The proposed terminal is designed to handle primarily containerized 
cargo and this Notice of Intent will refer to the proposed project as a 
marine container terminal. The marine container terminal development is 
approximately 288.1 acres and will support cargo marshalling areas, 
cargo processing areas, cargo-handling facilities, and related terminal 
operating facilities. Development of the site includes filling 13.9 
acres of freshwater wetlands, and dredging and filling 53.5 acres of 
waters of the US, to include 7.2 acres of tidal marsh. Adjacent to the 
dredge and fill area, a 10.3-acre wharf structure measuring 3,000 feet 
long and 150 feet wide will be constructed. In addition to the 
container terminal development, the project includes dredging an 86.7-
acre berthing area and turning basin adjacent to the wharf. Upland 
disposal of dredged material is proposed in existing dredged disposal 
sites located on the south end of Daniel Island, located in the City of 
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina.
    2. Alternatives. The following alternatives have been identified as 
reasonable alternatives that will be fully evaluated in the EIS: No 
Action; the modification of existing SCSPA terminal facilities to meet 
the purpose and need of and for the proposed project; alternative 
locations within the jurisdictional authority of the SCSPA where the 
proposed project might be developed; alternative facility layouts for 
the proposed marine container terminal project at the CNC; alternatives 
for surface transportation access associated with the proposed marine 
container terminal project, and mitigation measures. However, this list 
is not exclusive and additional alternatives may be considered for 
inclusion as reasonable alternatives.
    3. Scoping and Public Involvement Process. Scoping meetings will be 
conducted to gather information on the scope of the project and the 
alternatives to be addressed in detail in the EIS. There will be two 
(2) sessions, one specifically for the Federal and State agencies with 
regulatory responsibilities and one for the general public (see DATES). 
Additional public and agency involvement will be gained through the 
implementation of a public outreach plan that will be developed from 
input received by the public.
    4. Significant Issues. Issues associated with the proposed project 
to be given significant analysis in the EIS are likely to include, but 
may not be limited to, the potential impacts of the proposed dredging, 
placement of fill, construction and operation of the proposed terminal 
and development of associated surface transportation, and related 
developments on: conservation, economics, aesthetics, general 
environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and 
wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, 
navigation, shore erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and 
conservation, water quality, air quality, energy needs, public health 
and safety, hazardous wastes and materials, food and fiber production, 
mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, environmental 
justice and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people.
    5. Cooperating Agencies. The Federal Highway Administration has 
agreed to be a cooperating Federal agency due to the proposed 
facility's potential impact on the regional highway network including 
the Interstate system.
    6. Additional Review and Consultation. Additional review and 
consultation which will be incorporated into the preparation of this 
EIS will include, but shall not be limited to: Section 401 of Clean 
Water Act, section 307(c) of the Coastal Zone Management Act; the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the National 
Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act; the 
Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Air Act.

[[Page 7729]]

    7. Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is anticipated to be 
available in July of 2005. A Public Hearing will be conducted following 
the release of the DEIS.

Alvin B. Lee,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 04-3609 Filed 2-18-04; 8:45 am]
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