[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68887-68888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26136]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Chesapeake Bay Native Oyster Recovery Project, Maryland

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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Baltimore District, 
is preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the 
upper Chesapeake Bay waters. This DEIS is a part of the 10 year plan 
for the Chesapeake Bay native oyster recovery project in cooperation 
with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as the local sponsor. 
The feasibility study will include the final EIS.

ADDRESSES: Questions and comments about the meetings, feasibility 
study, and/or EIS can be addressed to Ms. Jean Kapusnick, Baltimore 
District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 
1715, Baltimore, Maryland, 21203-1715. E-mail address: 
[email protected]. Please include your name and address 
in your message.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District will address 
activities in Virginia waters. Please contact Mr. Mark Mansfield, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, VA 23510-1096. E-
mail: [email protected]. Phone: 757-441-7500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Kapusnick, phone: (410) 962-
4417 or (800) 295-1610.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Previously performed oyster restoration 
activities by the Baltimore District include the: creation of new 
oyster bars and rehabilitation of existing non-productive bars; 
construction of seed bars for production and collection of seed oysters 
or ``spat''; planting of hatchery-produced and seed bar spat on new and 
rehabilitated bars;a nd monitoring of implemented projects. The actions 
considered in the forthcoming oyster recovery study and DEIS may 
include those actions or other actions that are considered feasible to 
reach the projects restoration goals.
    The decision to implement actions will be based on an evaluation of 
the probable impact of the proposed activities on the public interest. 
That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and 
utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may 
be expected to accrue from the proposal, will be balanced against its 
reasonablyt foreseeable costs and impacts. The Baltimore District is 
preparing a DEIS, which will describe the impacts of the proposed 
projects on environmental and cultural resources in the study area and 
on the overall public interest. The DEIS will be prepared in accordance 
with NEPA and will document all factors that may be relevant to the 
proposal, including the cumulative effects therof. Among these factors 
are habitat restoration, channel and erosion control, improvements to 
water quality, storm water management, conservation, economics, energy 
needs, general environmental concerns, fish and wildlife values, 
wetlands, historic and cultural values, navigation, shoreline erosion 
and accretion, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, recreation, 
safety, food production, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the 
people. the work will not be accomplished unless it

[[Page 68888]]

is found to be in the public interests. If applicable, the DEIS will 
comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Guidelines fo 
the Specification of Disposal Sites for Dredged or Fill Material issued 
under the authority of Seciton 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act of 1977 
(Pub. L. 95-217).
    Public involvement activities for the study will include 
coordination with interested private individuals and organizations, as 
well as with concerned Federal, state and local agencies. Coordination 
letters and newsletters will be sent to appropriate agencies, 
organizations, and individuals on an extensive mailing list. Additional 
public information will be provided through printed media, mailings, 
radio and television announcements. Public scoping meetings will be 
held in January 2005. Further information concerning dates and 
locations will be distributed at a later date.
    In addition to the Corps, other participants that will be involved 
in the study and DEIS process include the following: Maryland 
Department of Natural Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), EPA Region III, EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, national Marine Fisheries Service, Maryland 
Department of the Environment, Maryland Historical Trust, the Maryland 
Oyster Roundtable, and the oyster Recovery Partnership. The Baltimore 
District invites potentially affected Federal, State, and local 
agencies, and other organizations and entities to participate in this 
study.
    The DEIS will be prepared in accordance with 91) The National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for 
implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and (3) USACE regulations implementing NEPA (ER-200-2-2).

Jean Kapusnick,
Study Manager.
[FR Doc. 04-26136 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M