[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 174 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52029-52030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20720]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Availability of Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
for Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project--General 
Reevaluation Study: Borrow Sources for 2010-2044, Ocean City, MD

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (USACE), has prepared a Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Atlantic Coast of 
Maryland Shoreline Protection Project (Atlantic Coast Project). The 
SEIS evaluated new borrow sources to provide sand for routine periodic 
beach nourishment of Ocean City, MD, for the years 2010-2044. Existing 
borrow sources in state waters are anticipated to be exhausted after 
about 2010.
    Between 6,800,000 and 15,000,000 cubic yards of sand would be 
needed through 2044, depending on future storm frequency and intensity. 
Three offshore shoals in Federal waters are proposed as sand sources: 
Weaver, Isle of Wight, and ``A.'' Sand may also be dredged from Shoal 
``B,'' also known as Bass Grounds or First Lump, in the future, but 
only if its value as a fishing ground declines substantially. 
Guidelines to minimize long-term impacts to the offshore shoals were 
formulated in coordination with resource agency personnel and academic 
experts. Dredging would be conducted in accordance with these 
guidelines. Specific dredging plans would be developed in coordination 
with resource agencies prior to each beach nourishment cycle.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Spaur by mail at U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Attn: Mr. Christopher 
Spaur, CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715; or 
electronically at [email protected], or by telephone 
at (410) 962-6134 or (800) 295-1610.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic Coast Project is designed to 
provide coastal flood and erosion protection to Ocean City, MD against 
a 100-year storm on the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Coast of Maryland 
and Assateague Island Virginia Feasibility Report and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the project was finalized in August 
1980. Subsequent environmental documents were prepared for the project 
in 1989 (Atlantic Coast of Maryland Hurricane Protection Project Final 
General Design Memorandum, Book 1 Main Report and Environmental 
Assessment) and 1993 (Environmental Assessment for the Use of Borrow 
Area No. 9 as Part of the Periodic Renourishment and Maintenance of the 
Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project). The project 
was completed in 1994. Periodic nourishment and maintenance of the 
beach are required to maintain the design level of protection. Since 
1998, a period of few severe storms, approximately 800,000 cubic yards 
of sand have been placed on Ocean City beach every four years.
    This Final SEIS documents findings of investigations conducted to 
select new borrow sources for the Atlantic Coast Project through the 
remainder of the project's 50 year economic life. Studies to develop 
the borrow plan were conducted by USACE in partnership with the 
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Minerals Management 
Service (MMS), Ocean City, and Worcester County. DNR is the cost-
sharing non-Federal sponsor of the study with USACE; MMS is a 
cooperating agency. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a General 
Reevaluation Report and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was 
published in the Federal Register on October 21, 2003 (68 FR 60095). 
Coordination with resource agency personnel, academic experts, and 
fishermen was undertaken during plan formulation. The USEPA listed the 
draft SEIS among its weekly receipts in the Federal Register on July 6, 
2007 (72 FR 37006). An NOA was published in the Federal Register on 
July 10, 2007 (72 FR 37518) by the Department of the Army announcing 
release of the draft SEIS for public and agency review. The comment 
period closed August 28, 2007. A public meeting for the draft SEIS was 
held in Ocean City on July 25th, 2007. Written and oral comments were 
received from resource agencies and the public. Principal among the 
agency comments concerned potential impacts on Assateague Island. 
Revisions were made to the draft SEIS to provide additional information 
to address these comments, as well as provide updates and correct minor 
information omissions. A summary of these revisions is provided in the 
final SEIS.
    Offshore shoals are the most appropriate sand sources for the 
project since these contain large quantities of suitable sand that can 
be cost-effectively obtained. Offshore shoal borrow sources in Federal 
waters that could provide up to 15,000,000 cubic yards of sand through 
2044 were sought and identified. Three offshore shoals were selected 
and proposed as sand sources based on engineering, environmental, and 
economic screening criteria: Weaver, Isle of Wight, and ``A.'' Sand at 
Shoal ``B,'' also known as Bass Grounds or First Lump is engineeringly 
and economically suitable, however that shoal is currently an important 
fishing ground. Accordingly, Shoal ``B'' would not be utilized unless 
future reevaluation finds that its relative value as a fishing ground 
has declined substantially. Sub-areas on each shoal

[[Page 52030]]

were delineated based on suitability of sand for beach nourishment 
purposes.
    Dredging guidelines to minimize long-term impacts to the offshore 
shoals were formulated. No more than about 5% of the total volume of 
any shoal would be dredged. Dredging on any given shoal would avoid the 
crest, be conducted uniformly over a wide area, go no deeper than 
ambient seafloor depths, and preferentially dredge on the up and 
downdrift ends of the shoal if suitable sand is present there.
    This Final SEIS documents the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) compliance for the proposed new offshore shoal borrow sources 
and supplements previous environmental documents. Printed and 
electronic copies of the Final SEIS can be obtained from Christopher 
Spaur. You may view the Final SEIS and related information on the 
worldwide web at: http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/PN/CivilWorks.htm.
    The Final SEIS has been prepared in accordance with (1) The 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality 
for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and (3) USACE regulations for implementing NEPA (ER-200-2-2).

Christopher C. Spaur,
Ecologist.
[FR Doc. E8-20720 Filed 9-5-08; 8:45 am]
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