[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76449-76450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7870]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for a Permit Application for a Proposed 
Marine Terminal Expansion at Piers D, E and F in the Middle Harbor 
District of the Port of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA

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

ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is considering an 
application for Section 404 and Section 10 permits to conduct dredge 
and fill activities to redevelop and consolidate two existing container 
terminals for the construction of a 342-acre marine terminal including 
redevelopment of 294 acres of existing land and the placement of 
dredged material in open water to create 48 acres of new land. The 
primary reason for the revised notice of intent is because the proposed 
terminal expansion project has been modified to utilize additional 
existing land to reduce the amount of fill in open water by 
approximately 20 acres.
    The primary Federal concern is the dredging and discharging of 
materials within waters of the Unites States and potential significant 
impacts to the human environment. Therefore, in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is requiring the 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to 
consideration of any permit action. The Corps may ultimately make a 
determination to permit or deny the above project, or permit or deny 
modified versions of the above project.
    Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the 
Port of Long Beach 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 of Long Beach 
have agreed to jointly prepare a Draft EIS/EIR in order to optimize 
efficiency and avoid duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is intended to be 
sufficient in scope to address both the Federal and the State and local 
requirements and environmental issues concerning the proposed 
activities and permit approvals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments and questions regarding 
scoping of the Draft EIS/EIR may be

[[Page 76450]]

addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 
Regulatory Branch, ATTN: File Number 2004-01053-AOA, P.O. Box 532711, 
Los Angeles, California 90053-2325. Comments or questions can also be 
sent to Patricia Shoemaker, Port of Long Beach, P.O. Box 570, Long 
Beach, CA 90801-0570. Phone messages or questions should be directed to 
Dr. Aaron O. Allen at 805-585-2148.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Project Site: The proposed project is 
located in the southern portion of the Port of Long Beach, California. 
The proposed dredge and fill activities would take place at Piers D, E 
and F and would involve redeveloping portions of Pier D and 
reconfiguring existing wharves and berths at Piers E and F to create a 
single 342-acre marine terminal to accommodate increasing cargo volumes 
being produced by the new generation of larger container vessels.
    2. Proposed Action: The project applicant, the Port of Long Beach, 
proposes to permanently impact approximately 48 acres of open-water 
habitat for dredge and fill activities and to rehabilitate 294 acres of 
existing terminal area at Piers D, E and F for the construction of a 
new 342-acre container terminal in the Port of Long Beach. The proposed 
project would reconfigure existing wharves and berths at Piers D, E and 
F into one 4,250-foot-long wharf with four deep-water berths, a 
container terminal yard that includes 48 acres of new land and 294 
acres of rehabilitated land and an intermodal rail yard. The proposed 
project would include dredge and fill activities, new wharf 
construction and terminal expansion on adjacent areas that consist of 
existing and newly created land. The specific components of the 
proposed project would include: dredging to deepen Slip Number Three to 
-55 Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) and widen Slip 3 by 110 feet to 
accommodate four deep-water berths; filling the 22-acre Slip One and 
approximately 33 acres of the East Basin between Pier E and F to create 
additional terminal area; fill existing submerged land with suitable 
dredge and excavated material from Slip 3 and Berth F201; wharf and 
container yard redevelopment; new wharf construction; and expansion of 
terminal backland capacity. The proposed project would generate 
approximately 680,000 cubic yards of dredged material and excavated 
material generated by the project would be approximately 1,290,000 
cubic yards. Approximately 6,730,000 cubic yards of imported fill from 
sources both inside and outside the Harbor District would be required 
to complete all the proposed discharges of dredged and fill material in 
waters of the United States to create approximately 48 acres of new 
land. The proposed construction and rehabilitation activities would be 
completed over a 10-year period. All of the above construction 
activities would include the demolition of existing terminal facilities 
as well as existing buildings and infrastructure in both open water and 
upland areas.
    3. Issues: There are several potential environmental issues that 
will be addressed in the Draft EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be 
identified during the scoping process. Issues initially identified as 
potentially significant include:
    1. Geological issues including dredging and stabilization of fill 
areas.
    2. Potential impacts to marine biological resources.
    3. Impacts to air quality.
    4. Traffic, including navigation issues, and transportation related 
impacts.
    5. Potential noise impacts.
    6. Impacts to public utilities and services.
    7. Impact to aesthetic resources.
    8. Potential impacts on public health and safety.
    9. Cumulative impacts.
    4. Alternatives: Several alternatives are being considered for the 
proposed marine terminal. These alternatives will be further formulated 
and developed during the scoping process and an appropriate range of 
alternatives, including the no Federal action alternative, will be 
considered in the Draft EIS/EIR.
    5. Scoping Process: A previous Notice of Intent for the original 
project design was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 
2004. A public meeting will be held to receive public comment and 
assess public concerns regarding the appropriate scope and preparation 
of the Draft EIS/EIR. Participation in the public meeting by Federal, 
State and local agencies and other interested organizations and persons 
is encouraged.
    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 EIS/EIR 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 meeting for the Draft 
EIS/EIR will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers in Long Beach on 
January, 30, 2006, and will start at 7 p.m. Written comments will be 
accepted until February 13, 2006.
    6. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS/EIR is expected to 
be published and circulated in July of 2006, and a Public Hearing will 
be held after its publication.

    Dated: December 14, 2005.
Alex C. Dornstauder,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. E5-7870 Filed 12-23-05; 8:45 am]
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