[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17456-17458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4904]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army


Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for a Permit 
Application for the Berths 136-147 Terminal Improvement Project, Also 
Known as the TraPac Container Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles, Los 
Angeles County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Los Angeles District 
in conjunction with the Los Angeles Harbor Department (Port) is 
examining the feasibility of waterside, terminal and transportation 
improvements at Berths 136-147 in the Port of Los Angeles. The Corps is 
considering the Port's application for a Department of the Army permit 
under Clean Water Act section 404 and River and Harbor Act section 10 
to conduct dredge and fill activities and construct one new wharf 
approximately 705 feet and seismically upgrade two wharves 
approximately 3,022 feet in length associated with the proposed 
project.
    Major project elements to be covered in the Draft EIS/EIR include: 
wharf construction and landside improvements. The landside developments 
will include expansion, redevelopment and construction of marine 
terminal facilities, and transportation infrastructure improvements 
including construction of grade separations, and potential realignment 
of road and railways.
    The primary Federal involvement is the discharge of dredge and/or 
fill materials within waters of the United States, work (e.g. dredging) 
and structures in or affecting navigable waters of the United States, 
and potential impacts on the human environment from such activities. 
Therefore, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Corps is requiring the preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) prior to rendering a final decision on the 
Port's permit application. 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 will serve as Lead Agency for the Preparation of an Environmental 
Impact

[[Page 17457]]

Report (EIR). The Corps and the Port have agreed to jointly prepare a 
Draft EIS/EIR for the improvements at Berth 136-147 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: Questions about the proposed action 
and Draft EIS/EIR can be answered by Dr. Joshua Burnam, Corps Project 
Manager, at (213) 452-3294. Comments shall be addressed to: U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Branch. Attn: File 
Number 2003-0-1142-JLB, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325, 
and Dr. Ralph Appy, Director of Environmental Management, Port of Los 
Angeles, 425 S. Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Project Site and Background Information. The proposed project is 
located in the northwestern portion of the Port of Los Angeles, 
adjacent to the San Pedro District of the City of Los Angeles, CA. The 
proposed project involves dredge and fill operations, new wharf 
construction, coupled with terminal expansion on adjacent areas of 
existing land, and improvement of transportation infrastructure at and 
adjacent to Berths 136-147.
    The project's overall goals are to upgrade the container cargo 
handling efficiency at the Berths 136-147 Terminal, increase its cargo 
handling capacity, and to improve transportation infrastructure in 
order to accommodate forecasted and planned increases in the volume of 
containerized goods shipped through the Port. In order to meet these 
goals, the following objectives must be met:
     Establish needed container facilities that would maximize 
the use of existing waterways and integrate into the Port's overall 
utilization of available shoreline, while maintaining opportunities for 
the future integration with adjacent terminals;
     Construct sufficient container berthing and infrastructure 
capacity to accommodate foreseeable increases in containerized cargo 
volumes entering the Port;
     Create sufficient backland area for optimal container 
terminal operations including, storage, transport, and on/offloading of 
container ships in a safe and efficient manner;
     Provide access to rail and truck infrastructure locations 
in order to minimize surface transportation congestion or delays and 
promote transport to both local and distant cargo destinations; and
     Provide needed container terminal accessory buildings and 
structures to support containerized cargo handling requirements.
    2. Changes Since the October 19th, 2003 NOI/NOP. Since the NOI/NOP 
process was completed, there have been some project changes for the 
EIS/EIR. These changes are as follows:
     The project was previously called Berths 136-147. It is 
now identified as Berths 136-149 (Figure 1).
     The size of the Terminal would increase from 176 acres to 
251 acres by the year 2030 (previously, it was to increase to 244 
acres). With the additional 7 acres of terminal area, there would be 
some additional traffic and air quality impacts.
     Projects associated with Phase I were previously to be 
completed by the year 2010 and Phase II by 2025. Now Phase I projects 
would be completed by 2015 and Phase II by 2030.
     Harry Bridges Boulevard will only be moved 50 feet to the 
north instead of 580 feet to the north. Because of this change, there 
is no need to construct a noise buffer (berm) between Harry Bridges 
Boulevard and ``C'' Street residents. There would now be an 
approximately 25-acre landscaped area between Harry Bridges Boulevard 
and ``C'' Street residents between Figueroa Street and Lagoon Avenue. 
This new project component would reduce air quality, health risk, 
noise, and aesthetic impacts on the adjoining Wilmington residents.
     There are presently 13 cranes along Berths 136-149. Some 
cranes will be replaced and there will be a net reduction of one crane 
(12 total) after the proposed projects are completed. This would reduce 
aesthetic impacts.
     10 acres of additional backland would be created for 
container terminal use by filling in the 10-acre Northwest Slip. This 
project would require 1,200,000 cubic yards (cy) of fill. A new 400-
foot wharf (44,332 square feet) would be built at an adjoining new 
berth created by filling the Northwest Slip. The fill slope would be 
covered with 50,000 cy of rocky dike, 12,000 cy of fill would be placed 
behind the dike, and 397 concrete piles would be installed. 
Approximately 3,000 cy would be dredged as part of this project. This 
project component is part of the total 251-acre Terminal project that 
would be completed by the year 2030. This project component would have 
some water quality and marine biology impacts.
     Instead of constructing two grade separations at Neptune 
Avenue and Avalon Boulevard as originally envisioned there would be two 
other transportation projects completed. A Fries Avenue Grade 
Separation (overpass over the rail tracks) would be built (not part of 
the TraPac Terminal project). Most of the TraPac cargo would be moved 
over this new grade separation. Also as part of the proposed project, 
the ``C'' Street/Figueroa Street interchange would be redesigned to 
include an elevated ramp from Harry Bridges Boulevard to the I-110 
Freeway, over John S. Gibson Boulevard. An additional extension would 
connect from Figueroa Street to the new elevated ramp over Harry 
Bridges Boulevard. These transportation projects would reduce traffic 
and air quality impacts.
    Project changes are being analyzed through the Draft EIR/EIS 
process and no new potentially significant impacts not previously 
identified in the initial scoping notice are anticipated as a result of 
the changes. For example, changes include adding 7 acres of terminal 
area, which would result in some additional traffic and air quality 
impacts. However, air quality and traffic were identified as 
potentially significant impacts in the 2003 NOP/NOI. Therefore, air 
quality and traffic impacts are being analyzed as part of the Draft 
EIR/EIS. Some changes may also result in fewer impacts than anticipated 
as part of the 2003 NOP/NOI. For example, eliminating the noise buffer 
between Harry Bridges Boulevard and ``C'' Street and building instead a 
25-acre landscaped area is anticipated to result in fewer impacts than 
discussed in the NOP/NOI. All project changes will be discussed and 
analyzed in the EIR/EIS.
    3. Issues. There are several potential environmental issues that 
will be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be identified 
during the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially 
significant include:
    (a) Geological issues, including dredging and stabilization of fill 
areas in an area of known seismic activity;
    (b) Impacts to hydrology;
    (c) Impacts to air quality;
    (d) Impacts to traffic, including marine navigation and ground 
transportation;
    (e) Potential for noise impacts;
    (f) Impacts to public utilities and services;
    (g) Potential impacts to aesthetic resources, including light and 
glare;
    (h) Potential impacts on public health and safety;
    (i) Cumulative impacts; and
    (j) Disposal of dredged materials.

[[Page 17458]]

    4. Alternatives. Alternatives initially being considered for the 
proposed improvement project include the following:
    (a) Alternate location(s) for the Terminal Improvements (within the 
State or within the Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach).
    (b) Development of new landfills for a container terminal.
    (c) Non-containerized use of terminal (i.e., lumber, autos).
    (d) Non-shipping use i.e., park, cruise terminal, commercial 
development, empty container storage, etc.
    (e) No Federal action (No wharf construction or dredging--
construction of only backlands developments for Phases I and II) with 
and without Harry Bridges being relocated.
    (f) Larger facility (14-acre fill for more storage area).
    (g) Reduce Wharf (reduced fill--reduction in rip-rap, pilings, and 
dredging).
    (h) Proposed project without Harry Bridges Boulevard being 
relocated.
    (i) No Project (no physical changes).
    5. Comment Process. All comments received as part of the 2003 
scoping period will remain part of the administrative record and be 
addressed in the Draft EIR/EIS. A new public scoping meeting will not 
be held. Written comments to the Corps and Port regarding the Project 
changes will be received until April 28, 2006. Written comments should 
be addressed to the address below:
    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory 
Branch and the Los Angeles Harbor Department, c/o Dr. Joshua Burnam and 
Dr. Ralph G. Appy, Attn: 2003-0-1142-JLB, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, 
California 90053-2325.
    Parties interested in being added to the Corps' electronic mail 
notification list for the Port of Los Angeles can register at: http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/regulatory/register.html. This list will be used 
in the future to notify the public about scheduled hearings and 
availability of future public notices.
    6. Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR. The joint lead agencies 
expect the Draft EIS/EIR to be made available to the public in Summer 
2006. A public hearing will be held during the public comment period 
for the Draft EIS/EIR.

Alex C. Dornstauder,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
 [FR Doc. E6-4904 Filed 4-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-P