[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66170-66171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23043]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6693-4]


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; Apra Harbor, 
GU

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to designate a permanent ocean dredged material disposal site 
(ODMDS) off Apra Harbor, Guam.

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    Purpose: EPA has the authority to designate ODMDSs under section 
102 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) of 
1972 (33 USC 1401 et. seq.). It is EPA's policy to publish an EIS for 
all ODMDS designations (39 FR 37119, October 1974). Comments on the 
scope of the EIS evaluation will be accepted for 45 days from the date 
of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, TO SUBMIT COMMENTS, AND TO BE PLACED ON A

[[Page 66171]]

PROJECT MAILING LIST, CONTACT:
    Mr. Allan Ota, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, 
Dredging and Sediment Management Team (WTR-8), 75 Hawthorne Street, San 
Francisco, California 94105-3901, Telephone: (415) 972-3476 or Fax: 
(415) 947-3537 or E-mail: [email protected].

SUMMARY: EPA intends to conduct public meetings and collect public 
comments in advance of preparing an EIS to designate a permanent ODMDS 
off Apra Harbor, Guam. This EIS will be prepared in cooperation with 
the U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy). An EIS is needed to provide the 
environmental information necessary to evaluate the potential 
environmental impacts associated with ODMDS alternatives and select a 
preferred alternative that meets EPA's site selection criteria at 40 
CFR 228.5 and 228.6.
    Need for Action: Both the Navy and the Port Authority of Guam (PAG) 
have plans to expand their operations in Apra Harbor, Guam. Expansion 
of the Apra Harbor Naval Complex and Commercial Port is proposed to 
accommodate projected increases in vessel and cargo traffic, newer 
classes of vessels and dockside maintenance and support operations. 
Expansion plans would require dredging to increase water depths for the 
safe navigation of military and commercial vessels. In addition, 
ongoing navigation activities also require periodic maintenance 
dredging. It should be noted that designation of an ODMDS does not 
constitute approval of ocean disposal. The Corps, with EPA concurrence, 
must first determine on a case by case basis that the proposed dredged 
material is suitable and that all beneficial reuse or other 
alternatives to ocean disposal have been considered. However, not all 
of the anticipated dredged materials can be accommodated in existing 
landfills and these sediments may not all be suitable for beneficial 
re-use (e.g., construction fills, wetlands restoration). Therefore, it 
is necessary to establish a permanent ODMDS to accommodate dredged 
material generated from anticipated new work and maintenance dredging 
in Apra Harbor.
    Alternatives: The following proposed alternatives have been 
tentatively defined.

--``No Action''--Do not designate a permanent ODMDS, and continue to 
manage dredged material generated from new work and maintenance 
dredging with existing landfill and construction fill options subject 
to disposal volume limits. Future expansion of the naval and commercial 
port facilities will be limited significantly.
--``North Alternative ODMDS''--Designate a permanent ODMDS north of 
Apra Harbor, Guam, in a study area approximately 12-15 nautical miles 
offshore and in depths ranging from 6,000 to 6,600 feet.
--``Northwest Alternative ODMDS''--Designate a permanent ODMDS 
northwest of Apra Harbor, Guam, in a study area approximately 9-15 
nautical miles offshore and in depths ranging from 6,600 to 8,400 feet.

    The North and Northwest study areas were identified in the Zone of 
Siting Feasibility (ZSF) Study, Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site, 
Apra Harbor, Guam, Final Report (September 2006). This ZSF study 
excluded areas from further consideration, such as: shipping lanes, 
navigational hazards, military operating areas (i.e., for submarines), 
marine protected areas (i.e., marine preserves), and important fishing 
areas (commercial and recreational).
    Scoping: EPA is requesting written comments from federal, state, 
and local governments, industry, non-governmental organizations, and 
the general public on the range of alternatives considered, specific 
environmental issues to be evaluated in the EIS, and the potential 
impacts of the alternatives for an ODMDS designated offshore of Apra 
Harbor, Guam. Scoping comments will be accepted for 45 days, beginning 
with the date of this Notice. A public scoping meeting is scheduled on 
the following date: December 6, 2007, from 6-8 p.m., at The Weston 
Resort Guam, 105 Gun Beach Road, Tumon, Guam. The EPA presentation will 
be followed by public comments and questions.
    Estimated Date of Draft EIS Release: March 2009.

    Dated: November 9, 2007.

Laura Yoshii,
Deputy Regional Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 
9.

    Dated: November 20, 2007.
Anne Norton-Miller,
Director, OFA.
[FR Doc. E7-23043 Filed 11-26-07; 8:45 am]
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