[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47191-47192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13473]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Evaluate 
the Impacts Associated With a Previously Authorized Pier Extension in 
Strait of Georgia at Cherry Point, Near Ferndale, Whatcom County, WA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Seattle District is 
the permitting agency and lead Federal agency for this action. The U.S 
Coast Guard (USCG) is cooperating agency. The Corps is announcing its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS will support the 
Corps' permit evaluation process under Section 10 of the Rivers and 
Harbors Act for the BP Cherry Point marine pier extension.

DATES: Submit comments by September 15, 2006.

[[Page 47192]]

    Scoping meetings for this project will be held on:
    1. September 5, 2005 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Port Angeles, WA. An 
open house will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. prior to the meeting.
    2. September 7, 2006 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Anacortes, WA. An 
open house will be head from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. prior to the meeting.
    3. September 12, 2006 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Ferndale, WA. An open 
house will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. prior to the meeting.
    4. September 13, 2006 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Seattle, WA. An open 
house will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. prior to the meeting.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS or requests for 
information should be sent to Mrs. Olivia Romano at the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Seattle Regulatory Branch, Post Office Box 3755, Seattle, 
Washington 98124-3755, or sent via e-mail to 
[email protected].
    The scoping meetings will be held at:
    1. Port Angeles: The Port Angeles Public Library on 22108 Peabody 
Street, in Port Angeles, Washington.
    2. Anacortes: The Seafarer's Memorial Park Building on 601 14th 
Street, in Anacortes, Washington.
    3. Ferndale: The American Legion Hall on 5537 2nd Avenue, in 
Ferndale, Washington.
    4. Seattle: The Federal Center South, 4735 East Marginal Way South, 
Seattle, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Olivia Romano at the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Seattle Regulatory Branch, 4735 E. Marginal Way 
South, Seattle, Washington 98134, (206) 764-6960, or e-mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps has been directed by Ninth Circuit 
Court of Appeals to complete an EIS on the impacts of the permitted 
pier extension, including vessel traffic study and risk of oil spills 
from potential increase in oil tanker traffic in Puget Sound and 
reevaluate the pier extension's potential violation of the Magnuson 
Amendment of the Marine Mammals Protection Act.

Proposed Action

    To evaluate the potential environmental impacts for the continued 
operation of the pier extension (north wing) to the existing BP Cherry 
Point dock. The evaluation will include a vessel traffic study and oil 
spill risk analyses for the all vessels unloading and loading at the 
dock.

Preliminary Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    The EIS will evaluate a range of alternatives including a No Action 
Alternative. The EIS will consider alternatives that may result from 
comments received during the agency and public scoping period. The EIS 
will also discuss alternatives considered and eliminated from further 
detailed study. The Corps will use this evaluation to determine 
compliance with Section 10 of Rivers and Harbors Act and compliance 
with Magnuson Amendment of Marine Mammals Protection Act.

EIS Scoping Process

    The EIS process begins with the publication of this Notice of 
Intent. The scoping period will continue for 30 days after publication 
of this Notice of Intent and will close on September 15, 2006. During 
the scoping period the Corps invite Federal agencies, State and local 
governments, Native American Tribes, and the public to participate in 
the scoping process either by providing written comments or by 
attending the public scoping meetings scheduled for September 5, 6, 7, 
and 13, 2006 at the time and location indicated above. We have 
identified the following as probable major topics to be analyzed in 
depth in the Draft EIS: Oil spill impacts on aquatic resources, fish 
and wildlife habitat functions, threatened and endangered species 
impacts, surface water quality, and cumulative impacts. Both written 
and oral scoping comments will be considered in the preparation of the 
Draft EIS. Comments postmarked or received by e-mail after the 
specified date will be considered to the extent feasible.
    The purpose of the scoping meeting is to assist the Corps and U.S. 
Coast Guard in defining issues, public concerns, alternatives, and the 
depth to which they will be evaluated in the EIS. The public scoping 
meeting will begin with a briefing on the existing BP dock and the 
vessel traffic study. Copies of the meeting handouts will be available 
to anyone unable to attend by contacting the Corps Seattle District as 
described in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Following the 
initial presentation, Corps representatives will answer scope-related 
questions and accept comments.

EIS Preparation

    Development of the Draft EIS will begin after the close of the 
public scoping period. The Draft EIS is expected to be available for 
public review in the fall of 2008.

Other Environmental Review and Consultations

    To the fullest extent possible, the EIS will be integrated with 
analysis and consultation required by the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Pub. L. 93-205; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended 
(Pub. L. 94-265; 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.), the National Historic 
Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (Pub. L. 89-655; 16 U.S.C. 470, et 
seq.); the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, as amended (Pub. 
L. 85-624; 16 U.S.C 742a, et seq. and 661-666c); and the Clean Water 
Act of 1977, as amended (Pub. L. 92-500; 33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.); and 
all applicable and appropriate Executive Orders.

    Dated: August 10, 2006.
Michelle Walker,
Chief, Regulatory Branch, Seattle District.
[FR Doc. E6-13473 Filed 8-15-06; 8:45 am]
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