[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 96 (Friday, May 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28032-28034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2339]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Public Hearing and Notice of Availability for the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Matagorda Ship Channel 
Improvement Project, Calhoun County and Matagorda County, TX

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

ACTION: Notice of a availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District announces 
the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the 
public

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comment period, and the date and location of the Public Hearing, for 
the Calhoun County Navigation District's (CCND) proposed Matagorda Ship 
Channel Improvement Project (MSCIP).

DATES: The USACE Galveston District will be accepting written public 
comments on the DEIS through July 2, 2007. All comments must be 
postmarked by July 2, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may send written comments to the USACE, Galveston 
District, Attn: Denise Sloan, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553-1229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be answered by Ms. Denise Sloan, (409) 766-3962.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Authority: This Federal Action is not in consideration of a 
Department of the Army (DA) permit application for work under Section 
10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403), Section 404 
of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), and Section 103 of the Marine 
Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) (33 U.S.C. 1413).
    Background: In January 2006, CCND submitted a DA permit application 
to widen and deepen the Matagorda Ship Channel (MSC) and to dredge a 
new turning basin and marine ship. It was determined that an 
Environmental Impact Statement would be required for the proposed 
project. Since the April 25, 2006, Scoping Meeting, the consulting firm 
of PBS&J, under the direction of the Galveston District, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (USACE), prepared a DEIS for the proposed project. 
The DEIS is not available for public review and comment.
    Project Description: The CCND proposes to deepen their berthing 
facilities at the Port of Port Lavaca-Port Comfort (Port), enlarge the 
approximately 26.6-mile-long MSC from the existing turning basin at the 
Port (Channel Station 117+223), through Lavaca Bay and Matagorda Bay, 
and ending offshore in the Gulf of Mexico (Channel Station -23+100). A 
proposed new turning basin at the intersection of the MSC and the Alcoa 
Channel would have a 1,650-foot turning circle, and both the existing 
CCND berthing facilities, the existing and proposed turning basins, and 
a proposed new CCND berthing area adjacent to the proposed new turning 
basin would be dredged to a depth of -44 feet Mean Low Tide (MLT). The 
authorized channel dimensions of the MSC, from the Port to the 
Matagorda Peninsula, are 200 feet wide (bottom width) by -36 feet MLT 
deep, and the CCND proposes to enlarge this reach to 400 feet wide by -
44 feet MLT deep (plus 2 feet of advanced maintenance depth and 2 feet 
of overdepth). The existing authorized channel dimensioned through the 
Matagorda Peninsula are 300 feet wide by -36 feet MLT deep, and the 
CCND proposes to enlarge this reach to 600 feet wide by -46 feet MLT 
deep (plus 3 feet of advanced maintenance and 2 feet of overdepth). In 
the Gulf of Mexico, the existing authorized channel dimensions are 300 
feet wide by -38 feet MLT deep, and CCND proposes to enlarge the 
offshore reach to 600 feet wide by -46 feet MLT deep (plus 3 feet of 
advanced maintenance and 2 feet of overdepth). The CCND proposes to use 
both hydraulic and mechanical dredges, including hopper dredges, to 
perform new work and maintenance dredging of the proposed project. 
Approximately 46.5 million cubic yards of new work dredged material 
would be generated from the proposed widening and deepening project. 
Maintenance dredging of the proposed channel would generate 
approximately 257.5 million cubic yards of material during the 50-year 
planning period. Dredged material would be used to create or protect 
habitats, nourish beaches, and cap mercury-impacted sediments, and 
would be placed in confined dredged material placement areas (PAs) in 
bays and on land, and in unconfined PAs in Matagorda Bay and in 
unconfined ocean dredged material disposal sites (ODMDS) in the Gulf of 
Mexico. Additional dredging and placement of 400,000 cubic yards of 
dredged material would create a levee designed to protect habitat.
    Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 
(MPRSA): Section 103 of the MPRSA authorizes the USACE to permit the 
placement of dredged material within an ODMDS, subject to EPA 
concurrence and use of the EPA's dumping criteria. With concurrence 
from the EPA, the placement of approximately 11.9 million cubic yards 
of new work dredged material from construction of the proposed project 
into a new, one-time use ODMDS may be authorized by the USACE under 
Section 103 of MPRSA. Similarly, with EPA concurrence, the USACE may 
authorize continued use of the existing maintenance material ODMDS 
following construction of the proposed project under Section 103 of 
MPRSA. Information associated with the Section 103 authorizations is 
included in the DEIS (primarily in Appendix L).
    National Register of Historic Places: The staff archaeologist has 
reviewed the latest published version of the National Register of 
Historic Places, lists of properties determined eligible, and other 
sources of information. The following is current knowledge of the 
presence or absence of historic resources and the effects of the 
proposed project upon these properties: Remote sensing surveys have 
been completed for the majority of the project footprint in Matagorda 
and Lavaca bays and the Gulf of Mexico. Remote sensing surveys will be 
conducted for the following potentially affected areas that have not 
already surveyed: the proposed new-work ODMDS, three beach nourishment 
sites, and the remainder of two areas for proposed oyster bed creation. 
Additional close-order surveys will be conducted on 11 features within 
164 ft of the proposed channel alignment. The close-order surveys will 
help identify features that need further investigation to determine 
significance. Close-order surveys will also be conducted on two 
features identified within, or within 164 ft of, a proposed in-bay PA 
that cannot be avoided. Archival research and terrestrial surveys will 
be conducted at the upland PA and along the three beach nourishment 
areas. In addition, limited terrestrial shoreline surveys will be 
conducted where one proposed PA would tie into the bluff. Coordination 
with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) is ongoing and will be 
continued to conduct additional surveys of impact areas, test 
potentially eligible sites, and manage data recovery or avoidance 
measures as necessary. Should the decision be made to issue a permit 
for the proposed MSCIP, it would be conditioned to require completion 
of historical and archeological surveys to meet National Historical 
Preservation Act Section 106 requirements. The CCND will obtain 
clearance from the THC and the USACE prior to performing construction 
activities in these areas.
    Threatened and Endangered Species: Preliminary indications are that 
the proposed project may affect a few Federally listed endangered or 
threatened species. The project may affect and is likely to result in 
adverse effects to the following species: Loggerhead sea turtle, Kemp's 
ridley sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, and green sea turtle. The 
project, however, is unlikely to jeopardize/destroy or adversely modify 
critical habitat for any listed species. The piping plover may 
experience a beneficial effect from the proposed project resulting from 
habitat enhancement (i.e., shoreline nourishment) through beneficial 
use of dredged material. A draft Biological Assessment has been 
prepared and is

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presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in the DEIS.
    Essential Fish Habitat: Consultation for Essential Fish Habitat 
(EFH) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
was initiated in April 2006 via the workshop prior to the public 
scoping meeting. Letters were also sent to the NMFS in May 2006. Our 
initial determination is that the proposed action would not have a 
substantial adverse impact on EFH or Federally managed fisheries in the 
Gulf of Mexico, but might result in a benefit to EFH species by 
increasing the productivity in the bay system. Our final determination 
relative to project impacts and the need for mitigation measures is 
subject to additional review by and coordination with the NMFS.
    Other Agency Authorizations: Texas Coastal Zone consistency 
certification is required. The applicant has stated that the project is 
consistent with the Texas Coastal Management Program goals and policies 
and will be conducted in a manner consistent with said Program. 
Additional information can be found in Appendix P of the DEIS. The DEIS 
and Texas Coastal Consistency Determination have been submitted to the 
Coastal Coordination Council for review.
    Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS): 
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended and as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) a DEIS for the proposed 
Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project has been filed with the EPA 
and is being made available to Federal, State, and local agencies and 
all interested parties. The DEIS can be viewed at http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/reg/pn.asp. Copies of the DEIS are available by 
contacting Ms. Denise Sloan. In addition, copies of the DEIS are 
available for viewing at the following libraries:
     Calhoun County Public Library, Port O'Connor Branch, P.O. 
Box 424, Port O'Connor, TX 77982.
     Calhoun County Public Library, Point Comfort Branch, P.O. 
Box 382, Point Comfort, TX 77978.
     Victoria Public Library, 302 N. Main, Victoria, TX 77901.
     Jackson County Memorial Library, 411 N. Wells, Room 121, 
Edna, TX 77957.
     Palacios Library, 326 Main St., Palacios, TX 77465.
     Matagorda County Library, Bay City Branch, 1100 7th St., 
Bay City, TX 77414.
    Public Comment and Public Hearing: If you wish to voice your 
comments, a Public Hearing on the proposed project is scheduled for 
June 5, 2007, at the Bauer Community Center, 2300 North Highway 35, 
Port Lavaca, TX 77979. Poster presentations will be available for 
viewing and project team members will be present to discuss the DEIS at 
a Workshop that will precede the hearing. The Workshop will be 
conducted from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and the formal Hearing will commence 
at 7 p.m.
    Public Interest Review Factors: The application will be reviewed in 
accordance with 33 CFR 320-330, the Regulatory Programs of the USACE, 
and other pertinent laws, regulations and executive orders. The 
decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of 
the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the proposed 
activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the 
national concern for both protection and utilization of important 
resources. The benefits which reasonably may be expected to accrue from 
the proposal must be balanced against reasonably foreseeable detriments 
associated with the proposal. All factors which may be relevant to the 
proposal will be considered. These include, but are not limited to: 
Dredged material management, air quality, shoreline erosion, economics, 
general environmental concerns, historic resources, protected species, 
navigation, recreation, water and sediment quality, energy needs, 
safety, hazardous materials, and, in general, the welfare of the 
people.
    Solicitation of Comments: The USACE is soliciting comments from the 
public, Federal, State, and local agencies and officials, Indian 
tribes, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate 
the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be 
considered by USACE to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or 
deny a permit for this proposal.To make this decision, comments will be 
considered in the evaluation of impacts on endangered species, historic 
properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other 
public interest factors listed above. Comments will be used in the 
preparation of the Final Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to 
NEPA. Comments are also used to determine the overall public interest 
of the proposed activity.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-2339 Filed 5-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-52-M