[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16293-16294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3140]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Elliott Bay Seawall, WA

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 amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a 
proposed seawall rehabilitation project along the Elliott Bay shoreline 
in Seattle, WA. The seawall, known as the Alaskan Way Seawall, is 
experiencing significant decay and deterioration, leading to structural 
instability along the Seattle waterfront and central business district. 
Seawall structural instability is putting a tremendous amount of public 
and private infrastructure, development, and transportation linkages at 
risk of damage due to wave and tidal erosion, and hence potential for 
undermining and collapse. In addition, the failure of the seawall would 
result in a high risk to public safety and substantial environmental 
degradation. The purpose of the proposed rehabilitation effort is to 
protect the public facilities and economic activities along the Elliott 
Bay shoreline from storm damages associated with failure of the 
existing seawall.

DATES: Submit comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) by April 30, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Ms. Aimee 
Kinney, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Environmental 
Resources Section, PO Box 3755, Seattle, WA 98124-3755. Submit 
electronic comments and other date to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the scoping 
process or preparation of the DEIS may be directed to Ms. Aimee Kinney, 
telephone (206) 764-3634, e-mail [email protected].

[[Page 16294]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Proposed Action: The Alaskan Way Seawall extends for a distance 
of approximately 7900 feet along Seattle's central waterfront, between 
Washington Street to the south and Bay Street to the north. The 
proposed action would involve an extensive structural rebuild or 
replacement of the seawall in order to reduce damage resulting from 
storms and erosion. The proposed action is closely related to the 
proposed replacement of the State Route (SR) 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct, 
which runs parallel to a portion of the seawall. The SR 99 Alaskan Way 
Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (AWVSRP DEIS) was issued by the U.S. Department of 
Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Washington State 
Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and City of Seattle on April 9, 
2004 (69 FR 18898). The AWVSRP DEIS evaluated the rebuilding of the 
Alaskan Way Seawall because it is essential to the function of 
transportation facilities and is at risk of collapsing in a large 
earthquake. The geographic area covered in the AWVSRP DEIS is virtually 
the same as the Corps study area. However, the Corps' EIS will evaluate 
the seawall from a storm damage reduction perspective; the seawall will 
be the primary focus of the analysis rather than a secondary project 
element, as in the AMVSRP DEIS. The Corps is reviewing the existing 
body of work and coordinating closely with the city of Seattle, FHWA, 
and WSDOT to incorporate all relevant material from their NEPA efforts, 
share information, and reduce duplication of efforts.
    2. Alternatives: There are currently four alternatives which will 
receive consideration in the EIS: (1) The no action alternative; (2) 
construction of a vertical face wall with structural frame; (3) 
construction of a drilled shaft wall with soil improvements; and (4) 
replacing the portion of the seawall adjacent to the Alaskan Way 
viaduct with the outer wall of the new tunnel identified as the 
preferred alternative for the AWVSRP. These alternatives are the same 
as the rebuild, frame, and tunnel wall seawall alternatives evaluated 
in the AWVSRP DEIS. The development of seawall study alternatives has 
been and will continue to be closely coordinated with the AWVSRP 
through the City of Seattle, WSDOT, and FHWA. The selection of the 
Corps tunnel wall alternative could not occur unless FHWA signed a 
record of decision for the AWVSRP selecting the tunnel alternative. 
Opportunities will be sought to incorporate measures for improvement of 
habitat values, as well as recreation and public access. Public input 
is specifically invited regarding the reasonableness of the build 
alternatives and whether any additional alternatives are appropriate 
for consideration.
    3. Scoping and Public Involvement: This notice of intent formally 
commences the scoping process under NEPA. As part of the scoping 
process, all affected Federal, State and local agencies, Native 
American Tribes, private organizations, and the public are invited to 
comment on the scope of the EIS. To date, the following issues of 
concern have been identified for in depth analysis in the draft EIS: 
(1) Construction impacts, particularly those related to noise, water 
quality, transportation, and effects to businesses and residences 
within/adjacent to the construction zone; (2) impacts associated with 
potential deviation of the existing seawall alignment; and (3) 
potential impacts to historical properties.
    4. Scoping Meetings: Two public Scoping meetings will be held to 
identify issues of major concern, identify studies that might be needed 
in order to analyze and evaluate impacts, and obtain public input on 
the range and acceptability of alternatives. Both meetings will be 
conducted on April 18, 2006 in the Lopez Room at Seattle Center, 305 
Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109. The first meeting will be held from 
1 to 3:30 p.m. An informal open house will be held between 1 and 2 p.m. 
A brief presentation will be made between 2 and 2:30 p.m. Then 
testimony will be taken between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. The second meeting 
will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Another informal open house will be 
held between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. The presentation will be made again 
between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Then testimony will be taken between 6 and 7 
p.m. Verbal or written comments will be accepted at the Scoping 
meetings, or written comments may be sent by regular or electronic mail 
to Aimee Kinney (see ADDRESSES). Ongoing communication with agencies, 
Native American tribes, public interest groups, and interested citizens 
will take place throughout the EIS development through the use of 
public meetings, mailings, and the Internet. Additional meetings will 
be scheduled upon completion of the DEIS.
    5. Other Environmental Review, Coordination and Permit 
Requirements: The environmental review process will be comprehensive 
and will integrate and satisfy the requirements of NEPA, and other 
relevant Federal, State and local environmental laws. Other 
environmental review, coordination, and permit requirements may include 
preparation of a Clean Water Act, Section 404 evaluation by the Corps.

    Dated: March 17, 2006.
Debra M. Lewis,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander.
[FR Doc. 06-3140 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am]
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