[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 101 (Thursday, May 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30421-30422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10543]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Construction of a Proposed Disposal Site for Dredged material 
in the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, at Masonville, Baltimore 
City/Application for a Corps Section 10/404 Individual Permit

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 
expects receipt of an application in

[[Page 30422]]

January 2006 from the State of Maryland Department of Transportation, 
Maryland Port Administration (MPA) for a Section 10/404 individual 
permit for the construction of a disposal site for dredged material in 
the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, at Masonville, Baltimore City, 
MD. Based on preliminary discussions with the MPA, the Corps has 
determined that an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required for 
this proposed project. The applicant's stated purpose of the proposed 
project is to provide a disposal site to accommodate dredged material 
generated by dredging projects occurring over the next 5 to 10 years in 
the Baltimore Harbor area. The EIS will focus on the 5-10 year dredging 
needs within Baltimore Harbor and upland containment and beneficial use 
of dredged materials from the Port of Baltimore channel system in the 
Patapsco River and its tributaries. As part of this study, in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 
an EIS will be prepared to document the plan formulation process and 
recommendations of this study.

DATES: A public scoping meeting is scheduled for June 15, 2005, at 7 
p.m. Display material and staff will be available beginning at 6 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting address is the Baum Auditorium at the Harbor 
Hospital; 3001 S. Hanover Street, Baltimore, MD 21225.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or information about the 
proposed action and draft EIS can be addressed to Jon Romeo, Operations 
Division, Regulatory Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-
OP-RMN, 10 South Howard Street, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-
1715, telephone 410-972-6079; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Baltimore Harbor study area is defined 
as the Patapsco River area west of the North Point-Rock Point line in 
the Patapsco River to include Old Road Bay, Bear Creek, Middle Branch, 
Northwest Branch, and Curtis Bay and the shoreline and open water 
between them. Currently dredged material from Baltimore harbor is being 
placed in the Hart-Miller Island (HMI) Containment Facility, and, in 
the near future, will be placed in the Cox Creek Dredged Material 
Containment Facility (DMCF). State legislative requirements prohibit 
placing dredged material in HMI after December 31, 2009. Management of 
the cover and closure of HMI may limit acceptance of dredged material 
placement capacity could occur beginning with the 2008 dredging season 
(Fall 2008). The purpose of the proposed Masonville disposal site, and 
the associated EIS is to determine an environmentally sound, 
economically feasible method for the placement or use of dredged 
material removed from harbor channels and new dredge areas. There is an 
estimated 16 million cubic yard shortfall in dredged material capacity 
within the harbor over the next 20 years. The applicant and the Corps 
are actively seeking public opinion, participation, and advice to be 
incorporated into the planning process and the selection of placement 
options for harbor dredged material. At this time, the projects under 
consideration include confined disposal sites at Masonville, BP-
Fairfield, and Sparrows Point.
    Alternatives to be addressed in the DEIS will include: The no 
action alternative and confined disposal facilities at Masonville, BP-
Fairfield, and Sparrows Point. Beneficial uses, such as habitat 
creation or restoration may be associated with these options. Community 
enhancement may also be associated with these options, such as public 
access to waterfront areas, maritime heritage projects, community parks 
and trails. As part of the initial phase of the study, an objective 
screening criteria developed in 2002 through the State's Dredged 
Material Management Program (DMMP) process, will continue to be used to 
evaluate harbor sites based on current information obtained from the 
State of Maryland's DMMP, the Harbor Team, public and agency input, 
available data, and best professional judgment. Following the NEPA 
process, once projects are selected for consideration, a detailed 
analysis of the existing conditions will be undertaken; alternative 
plans will be developed, analyzed and compared; the impacts of those 
plans will be analyzed; and a recommended plan will be selected.
    To solicit public input into the draft EIS and into the selection 
of a project or projects, a public scoping meeting is planned (see 
DATES and ADDRESSES).
    The EIS will be integrated with analyses and consultation required 
by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), seciton 10 of the 
River and Harbor Act, section 401 and section 404 of the Clean Water 
Act, section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act, Prime and Unique Farmlands, the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. All appropriate 
documentation (i.e., section 7, section 106 coordination letters, and 
public and agency comments) will be obtained and included as part of 
the EIS. As part of the EIS process, recommendations will be based on 
an evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activity on the 
public interest. The decision will reflect the national concern for the 
protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which 
may reasonably be expected to accrue from the proposal, will be 
balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors 
that may be relevant to the proposal will be considered, among these 
are wetlands; fish and wildlife resources; cultural resources; land 
use; water and air quality; hazardous, toxic, and radioactive 
substances; threatened and endangered species; regional geology; 
aesthetics; environmental justice; navigation; cumulative impacts; and 
the general needs and welfare of the public. The draft EIS is expected 
for public release in March 2006.

Christina E. Correale,
Chief, Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 05-10543 Filed 5-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M