[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 122 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35588-35590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14397]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement/Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for the Pacific 
Energy Crude Oil Marine Terminal on Pier 400 in the Port of Los 
Angeles, Los Angeles County, California

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: USACE and LAHD previously prepared and certified the Deep 
Draft Navigation Improvements, Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, San 
Pedro Bay, California Final SEIS/SEIR (Deep Draft EIS/EIR) that in part 
analyzed the impacts of creation of Pier 400 from dredge material and 
the subsequent construction and operation of a new liquid bulk terminal 
on the new Pier 400 land (USACE and LAHD, 1992). LAHD approved the Deep 
Draft SEIS/SEIR in its action of November 18, 1992; and the USACE 
issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on January 21, 1994. The SEIS/SEIR 
being prepared for this specific action is a supplement to the Deep 
Draft EIS/EIR. The landside developments will include (1) development 
and construction of the liquid bulk marine terminal facilities on Pier 
400, (2) construction of product storage terminals on Terminal Island 
and/or other suitable sites, (3) construction of a 42-inch pipeline to 
connect the Marine Terminal to the Storage Terminals, (4) construction 
of two 36-inch pipelines from the Storage Terminals to link with an 
existing 36-inch pipeline running between the ExxonMobil Southwest 
Terminal on Terminal Island and the Ultramar Liquid Bulk Terminal on 
Mormon Island (one of the 36-inch pipelines would deliver product to 
the Exxon/Mobil Southwest Terminal and the other would deliver product 
to the Ultramar Liquid Bulk Terminal), and (5) construction of a 24-
inch pipeline from the Ultramar Terminal to the Ultramar/Valero 
Refinery located north of the Terminal Island Freeway and south of 
Anaheim Street.
    The primary Federal concern is the dredging and discharging of 
materials within waters of the U.S. and potential impacts on the human 
environment. Under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the Corps is 
authorized to approve discharges of dredged or fill material into 
waters of the U.S. Under section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, the 
Corps may authorize activities that could affect navigable waters. The 
Corps is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) prior to deciding whether 
or not to authorize the Proposed Action. The Corps may ultimately make 
a determination to permit or deny the Proposed Action, or permit or 
deny alternatives to the Proposed Action.
    Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the 
Port will serve as Lead Agency for the preparation of an 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 SEIS/SEIR in order to optimize efficiency and avoid 
duplication. The Draft SEIS/SEIR is intended to be sufficient in scope 
to address Federal, State, and local requirements and environmental 
issues concerning the proposed activities and permit approvals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and Draft SEIS/SEIR can be answered by Mr. Joshua Burnam, Corps Project 
Manager, at 213-452-3294. Comments regarding the scope of the Draft 
SEIS/SEIR shall be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los 
Angeles District, Regulatory Branch, Attn: File Number 2004-00917-JLB, 
P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, California 90053-2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Project Site and Background Information. The proposed marine 
terminal portion of this project would be located on the western side 
(Face C) and southern side (Face D) of Pier 400 in the Port's Planning 
Area 9. The currently identified new storage terminal sites would be 
located on Terminal Island and would also be in the Port's Planning 
Area 9. The proposed terminal would require approximately 4 million 
barrels of storage capacity. Five sites within the port (described 
below) with a total storage capacity of approximately 3.5 million 
barrels have already been identified. The total storage capacity will 
be limited to 3.5 million barrels pending identification of other sites 
in or outside the Port that could accommodate the project, in its 
entirety or in part, or accommodate the remaining needed capacity 
(approximately 500,000 barrels). Pacific Energy's anchor customer plans 
to use 1.0 million barrels of capacity and Pacific Energy would use the 
other 3.0 million barrels to serve other customers.

[[Page 35589]]

    Reeves Avenue/Navy Way Site. The Reeves Avenue/Navy Way Site is a 
10.82-acre (4.4-hectare) site that can accommodate four (4) 250,000-
barrel storage tanks plus related manifolds and pumping equipment. The 
proposed 42-inch-diameter offloading pipeline from the Pier 400 Marine 
Terminal dock would terminate at this site. The property that would be 
utilized by Pacific Energy is under the control of the LAHD and 
excludes the nearby strip of land controlled by the U.S. Navy.
    Site 6a. This 9.72-acre (3.9-hectare) site, North of Seaside 
Avenue, is narrow and long and would not provide sufficient width for 
the construction of 250,000-barrel storage tanks. However, Pacific 
Energy could fit 140,000-barrel tanks into this space and would build 
four (4) tanks for a total capacity of 560,000 barrels.
    Naval Reserve Center Site. The Naval Reserve Center Site is located 
east of Terminal Way between Seaside Avenue and Reeves Avenue. Pacific 
Energy could build three (3) 250,000-barrel tanks on the property. 
Pacific Energy assumes that the easterly half of this property, which 
is approximately 11 acres (4.5 hectares), could be used for the 
proposed project since this section of the property is either vacant or 
is being used for operations which could be easily located elsewhere. 
Pacific Energy's design maintains the existing entrance to the 
property, the large parking area on the westerly half, and the main 
Navy Reserve building in the Northwest corner. LAHD has begun 
consultation with the U.S. Navy concerning use of this site.
    Seaside Avenue/Terminal Way Site. The Seaside Avenue/Terminal Way 
Site is a 12.47-acre (5.0-hectare) triangular shaped piece of property 
that is split in half by an active rail system. However, relocation of 
the existing rail to the inside edge of the property would allow 
Pacific Energy to build three (3) 250,000-barrel tanks at this 
location.
    Pier 400 Site. Pacific Energy could build one (1) 500,000-barrel 
storage tank on the Face D side of Pier 400. This tank would be built 
in conjunction with other offloading equipment required for the new 
marine terminal such as pumps, manifolds, electrical buildings, and a 
small 50,000-barrel surge tank to be used for pumping operations. Use 
of this site will require consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service and the California Department of Fish and Game regarding the 
nearby least tern nesting site on Pier 400.
    2. Proposed Action. Construction would consist of three primary 
activities, i.e., marine terminal construction, storage terminal (tank 
farm) construction, and pipeline construction.
    Marine Terminal Construction. The principal elements of the 
proposed marine terminal project are described below.
    1. Construct and operate the following marine structures:
    (a) Construct approximately 6000 square feet (SF) of unloading 
platform (ULP) with dock house and placement of 8 steel and/or concrete 
piles in waters of the U.S.
    (b) Construct approximately 8000 SF of breasting dolphins (BD), and 
placement of approximately 16 steel and/or concrete piles.
    (c) Construct approximately 8000 SF of north and south trestles 
(NST) with roadway, and pipe-way, and placement of approximately 20 
steel and/or concrete piles.
    (d) Construct approximately 270-foot wharf (23,500 SF) along the 
existing rock dike and adjoining the NST, and placement of 
approximately 70 concrete piles.
    (e) Construct approximately 4500 SF of walkway, and placement of 
approximately 8 steel and/or concrete piles.
    (f) Construct approximately 1500 SF of floating dock and gangway 
and placement of approximately 8 concrete piles.
    (g) Construct approximately 6 power capstans (shore mooring points) 
with approximately 48 concrete piles.
    (h) Construct control building.
    (i) Construct fire protection system.
    (j) Construct spill containment boom.
    2. Construct and develop 10 acres of backland area for roadway, 
pipelines, buildings and landscaping.
    Offloading Berth. The proposed liquid bulk-offloading berth would 
be designed to accommodate marine crude oil tankers up to 375,000 DWT, 
with a length overall (LOA) of 1,200 ft (366 m) and 2.8 million barrel 
capacity. The maximum allowable vessel draught at the proposed Pier 400 
Berth is 79.5 ft (24.2 m). The offloading arms would be designed to 
deliver crude oil from ships to the proposed storage terminals at rates 
that average 52,500 gallons per minute (75,000 barrels per hour [BPH]). 
Initially, the marine terminal would deliver an average of about 
150,000 barrels per day from vessels to the proposed storage terminals.
    Storage Terminal (Tank Farm) Construction. Storage terminals with 
3.5 million barrels of capacity would be constructed at the sites 
previously described. An additional site with up to 500,000 barrels of 
capacity has yet to be identified. This remaining unidentified site may 
be located on or off of Port property.
    The proposed tanks would be designed for crude oil storage and 
service. The total number of tanks will depend on the final selection 
of tank sites. It is anticipated that the tanks would be external 
floating roof, drain dry, welded steel crude oil storage tanks, 
designed and constructed in accordance with the API Standard 650, 
Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage. Although the final dimensions of 
the tanks would be determined during detailed design, the current 
proposed dimensions for a 500,000-barrel tank are nominally 285-ft 
(86.9 m) diameter by 48-ft (14.6 m) tall.
    Principal components of the storage terminals to be constructed 
would be:
    (1) External floating roof, drain dry, welded steel crude oil 
storage tanks.
    (2) Containment structures and dikes including primary containment 
structures that encircle all tanks.
    (3) Control, switchgear, and storage buildings.
    (4) Electrical substation and electrical power system.
    (5) Fire suppression and emergency response systems.
    Pipeline Construction. Pipelines to be constructed would include a 
42-inch pipeline from the Pier 400 Marine Terminal to the Storage 
Terminals, two 36-inch pipelines from the Storage Terminals to connect 
to the existing Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMEP) 36-inch pipeline 
at a point on Terminal Island, between ExxonMobil Southwest Terminal, 
and the Ultramar Liquid Bulk Terminal on Mormon Island. A new 24-inch 
pipeline would be constructed from the Ultramar Liquid Bulk Terminal on 
Mormon Island, to the Ultramar/Valero Refinery.
    Proposed Action Operation: Activities and system elements that 
would be associated with the operation of the Marine Terminal, the 
Storage Terminals, and the Pipelines are listed below.
    (1) Site access and security.
    (2) Process control and safety systems.
    (3) Vapor and leak monitoring/detection.
    (4) Spill detection and containment.
    (5) Storm water drainage and treatment system.
    (6) Wastes/waste handling.
    (7) Chemical storage (lubricating oil, hydraulic fluid, water based 
solvents, fire fighting foam surfactant, oil drag reducing agents, 
corrosion inhibitors, etc.).
    (8) Lighting.
    (9) Product transfer operations.
    (10) Fire detection and suppression.
    (11) Cathodic protection system.
    3. Issues: There are several potential environmental issues that 
will be

[[Page 35590]]

addressed in the SEIS/SEIR. Additional issues may be identified during 
the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially 
significant include:
    (1) Impacts to air quality from new air emissions;
    (2) Potential for cultural impacts due to pipeline disturbance of 
historical resources;
    (3) Geological issues, including risks from known seismic activity 
and the presence of expansive soils;
    (4) Potential for hazardous materials impacts through transport and 
use of crude oil products and risk of upset or accident;
    (5) Impacts to hydrology, including known risks due to seiches and 
tsunamis;
    (6) Potential impacts on public health and safety;
    (7) Potential impacts on aesthetics due to light and glare;
    (8) Potential impacts on biological resources, in particular impact 
to the least tern nesting area on Pier 400;
    (9) Potential noise impacts during both construction and operation 
phases;
    (10) Impacts to marine vessel traffic, including marine navigation; 
and
    (11) Cumulative impacts.
    Alternatives: Alternatives initially being considered for the 
proposed project include the following:
    (1) Proposed Action as described above (does not require dredging 
activity).
    (2) Expansion of other crude oil terminals within the POLA.
    (3) Development of a new landfill and/or terminal within the POLA.
    (4) Expansion or construction of a crude oil terminal outside of 
the POLA.
    (5) Lightering of crude from deep-water locations in the Inner or 
Outer Harbor.
    (6) Development of a deepwater offshore mooring site with 
connection to onshore storage facilities via underwater pipeline.
    (7) Combination marine terminal/lightering operation.
    (8) Near-shore dredging with wharf setback.
    (9) No Project (no physical changes).
    (10) Relocation of existing liquid bulk facilities with wharf 
construction.
    (11) No Federal Action (no structures or dredging in waters of the 
U.S.).
    5. Scoping Process. The Corps and the Port will jointly conduct a 
scoping meeting for the proposed project. English and Spanish 
translation services will be provided at the meeting. The public 
scoping meeting will be held to receive public comment and assess 
public concerns regarding the appropriate scope of the Draft SEIS/SEIR. 
Participation in the public meeting by Federal, State and local 
agencies and other interested organizations and persons are encouraged. 
Parties interested in being added to the Corps' electronic mail 
notification list for Port projects in Los Angeles District can 
register at: http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/regulatory/register.html. 
This list will be used in the future to notify the public about 
scheduled hearings and availability of future public notices.
    The Corps of Engineers will also be consulting with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act and Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the National Marine Fisheries 
Service under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Additionally, the SEIS/SEIR 
will assess the consistency of the proposed Action with the Coastal 
Zone Management Act and potential water quality impacts pursuant to 
section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
    The public scoping meetings will be held July 8th, 2003 at the 
Banning's Landing Recreation Center in Wilmington beginning at 6:30 
p.m. Written comments will be received until July 16, 2003.
    6. Availability of the Draft SEIS/SEIR. The Draft SEIS/SEIR is 
expected to be published and circulated in the Spring of 2005, and a 
Public Hearing will be held after its publication.

    Dated: May 27, 2004.
David E. Hurley,
Major, U.S. Army, Acting Deputy District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 04-14397 Filed 6-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-P