[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5420-5421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1914]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed 
Wharf Improvements and Fill at Apra Harbor, GU

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the 
Port Authority of Guam and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hereby give 
notice of intent to prepare a Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
proposed wharf improvements and fill at Apra Harbor, Guam.
    Under a Federal grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic 
Development Administration, the Port Authority of Guam is proposing 
modifications to Apra Harbor for the purpose of improving maritime 
access and services to the island of Guam. The harbor is in need of 
improvements to meet anticipated future demands of the island's 
commercial port operations by providing additional cargo container 
storage area, and berthing facilities capable of accommodating the 
newest generation of large deep draft container vessels, and cruise 
ships. The proposed improvements would also provide contingency 
berthing facilities for U.S. Navy military vessels.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be the lead agency in 
preparing the EIS. The EIS will provide an analysis of potential 
impacts to the environment from the proposed modifications to Apra 
Harbor, in compliance with NEPA and CEQ regulations.

DATES: In order to be considered in the draft EIS, comments and 
suggestions should be received no later than June 1, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Honolulu District, ATTN: Mr. James Hatashima, Project Manager, Civil 
and Public Works Branch (CEPOH-PP-C), Rm. 312, Bldg. 230, Fort Shafter, 
HI 96858-5440.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments concerning the 
proposed action should be addressed to Mr. James Hatashima, Phone: 
(808) 438-2264, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Apra Harbor is the commercial hub of Guam, 
handling both containerized and conventional cargo from around the 
world. The harbor is located near the center of the western coast of 
Guam. It is a natural harbor, protected by Orote Peninsula to the south 
and Cabras Island to the north. Proposed modifications would occur 
within outer Apra Harbor along the presently undeveloped, southern face 
of the Glass Breakwater, located west of Wharf F-2 on Cabras Island. 
The proposed improvements would provide additional berthing area and 
increased landside capacity for commercial port cargo storage and 
handling operations.
    Proposed Action--Harbor improvements under consideration include: 
(1) Construction of a new 1,500-foot wharf to the east of Hotel Wharf. 
Improvements may include construction of a cellular sheet pile 
bulkhead, deposition of approximately 950,000 cubic yards of fill 
material in Apra Harbor, and construction of mechanized cargo container 
handling facilities; (2) Placement of approximately 500,000 cubic yards 
of fill over 18 acres of submerged lands in three areas along the east 
end of the Glass Breakwater. Improvements may also include construction 
of rock revetments, and construction of cargo container storage yard 
facilities; (3) Dredging of submerged lands to depths of 55 to 60 feet 
in waters adjacent to the proposed 1,500-foot wharf to accommodate 
larger deep draft commercial and military vessels.
    Project Alternatives--Alternatives to be considered include: (1) 
``No Action''. No improvements would be undertaken and existing port 
facilities within Apra Harbor would remain unchanged; (2) Alternate 
designs, and construction methods; (3) Alternate sources and types of 
fill material (4) Dredge material disposal alternatives.
    To provide a forum for the public to obtain information on the 
project, the

[[Page 5421]]

Port Authority of Guam and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a 
public scooping meeting on or about February 2005. The purpose of the 
scoping meeting is to present information and solicit public input, in 
the form of oral and written comments, on the proposed action and 
alternatives under consideration. Interested agencies, organizations, 
and individuals are invited to attend and participate in the scoping 
meeting to help determine the range of issues and alternatives to be 
addressed in the EIS. The date, time, and location of the scoping 
meeting will be publicly announced.
    The draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public review in 
November 2005, and a public meeting will beheld after publication of 
the draft EIS. The date, time, and location of the meeting will be 
publicly announced.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-1914 Filed 2-1-05; 8:45 am]
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