[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 51 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13872-13873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5133]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the San 
Francisco Bay to Stockton (John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels) 
Navigation Improvement Project, California

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), San Francisco 
District, the Port of Stockton, and the Contra Costa County Water 
Agency are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental 
Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to evaluate the efficiency of the movement of 
goods along the existing deep draft navigation route extending from the 
San Francisco Bay to the Port of Stockton. The proposed action consists 
of altering the depth of the deep draft navigation route. The authority 
for the San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Project 
was provided under House Document 208, House Report 89-973 cited in 
Section 301 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1965, Pub. L. 89-298, 
Sec.  204, 79 Stat. 1073. This is a notice of intent to prepare an EIS/
EIR, and to consider all reasonable alternatives, evaluate potential 
impacts of the proposed action, and identify appropriate mitigation 
measures.

DATES: Two public scoping meetings will be held on the proposed action. 
The first public scoping meeting will be held in Martinez on March 26, 
2008, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The second public scoping meeting will be 
held in Stockton on April 2, 2008, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public 
comment period begins on March 12, 2008. Written comments from all 
interested parties must be received by April 30, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The Martinez scoping meeting will be held at the Contra 
Costa County Administration Building, Room 101, 651 Pine Street, 
Martinez, CA 94553. The Stockton scoping meeting will be held at the 
Cesar Chavez Central Library, Stewart-Hazelton Room, 605 N. El Dorado 
Street, Stockton, CA 94553.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions and comments regarding the 
proposed action can be addressed to: Ms. Nancy Ferris, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, San Francisco District, 1455 Market Street, San 
Francisco, CA 94103-1398, telephone: (415) 503-6865, or 
[email protected]. All written comments can also be faxed to (415) 
503-6692 or sent electronically to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following section will address the study 
area, and some of the alternatives that will be addressed in this 
study.
    1. Background: The San Francisco Bay to Stockton Improvement 
Project includes the John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels, which 
extend 75 nautical miles from the Pacific Ocean, just outside the 
Golden Gate, to the Port of Stockton. The project is divided into two 
separate reaches, with the John F. Baldwin Ship Channel extending from 
the Golden Gate to Chipps Island, and the Stockton Ship Channel 
extending from Chipps Island to the Port of Stockton. Portions of the 
reaches have been deepened in the past; however, not all reaches 
attained authorized dimensions. Currently, the Corps is reevaluating 
the authorized Federal project to determine the extent to which changes 
to channel dimensions are warranted.
    2. Proposed action: Based on the need for improved efficiency of 
the movement of goods, the proposed action is to alter the depth of the 
John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels.
    3. Project Alternatives: The following are some of the alternatives 
that will be evaluated in the EIS/EIR:
    (a) No action. The efficiency of maintaining the current depths of 
the John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels will be evaluated.
    (b) Modify the shipping channels to authorized depths. Following 
the original plans of the authorized project, the channels will be 
modified to the authorized project depths. Alternative placement sites 
for dredged material, including beneficial reuse, will be evaluated.
    (c) Modify the shipping channels to alternate depths. All or 
portions of the John F. Baldwin and Stockton Ship Channels will be 
evaluated for depths differing from current or authorized depths. This 
will be accomplished in consideration of economic and environmental 
impacts of the proposed project.
    (d) Alternative transport methods. Alternative methods for the 
transport of goods such as truck or rail transport will be evaluated.

[[Page 13873]]

    4. Environmental Considerations: In all cases, pursuant to NEPA 
guidelines, environmental considerations will include human health, 
biological resources, geophysical impacts, air quality, water quality, 
salinity, hazards, noise, utilities and service systems, 
transportation, land use and planning, historic and cultural resources, 
aesthetics, recreation, social and economic effects, as well as other 
potential environmental issues of concern.
    5. Scoping Process: The Corps is seeking participation and input of 
all interested Federal, State, and local agencies, Native American 
groups, and other concerned private organizations or individuals 
through this public notice. Public scoping meetings will be held in 
Martinez, CA and Stockton, CA (see DATES). Any changes to the date, 
time, or location will be published in the newspaper or provided by 
mail to those requesting information. The purpose of the meeting is to 
solicit comments regarding the potential impacts, environmental issues, 
and alternatives associated with the proposed action. Public 
participation will help to define the scope of the environmental 
analysis in the EIS/EIR; identify other significant issues; provide 
other relevant information; and recommend mitigation measures. The 
public comment period starts on March 12, 2008, and closes on April 30, 
2008. All comments received will be considered in the preparation of 
the EIS/EIR.
    6. Availability of EIS: The public will have an additional 
opportunity to comment on project alternatives once the draft EIS/EIR 
is released. The Corps will announce availability of the draft EIS/EIR 
in the Federal Register and other media, and will provide a 45-day 
public review period for the public, organizations, and agencies to 
review and comment on the EIS/EIR. All submitted comments will be 
addressed in the Final EIS/EIR. All interested parties should respond 
to this notice and provide a current address if they wish to be 
notified of the EIS/EIR circulation.

Mike A. Dillabough,
Chief, Operations and Readiness Division.
[FR Doc. E8-5133 Filed 3-13-08; 8:45 am]
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