[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 188 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55822-55823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22641]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/ Environmental Impact Report for the San Pedro Waterfront 
Project, Los Angeles County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District 
(Regulatory Division), in coordination with the Port of Los Angeles, 
has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental 
Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the San Pedro Waterfront Project, 
encompassing approximately 400 acres of land and water primarily along 
the west side of the Main Channel westward to Harbor Boulevard from the 
Vincent Thomas Bridge southward to Inner Cabrillo Beach in the Port of 
Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles requires authorization pursuant to 
section 404 of the Clean Water Act, section 10 of the Rivers and 
Harbors Act, and section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and 
Sanctuaries Act, to implement various regulated activities in and over 
waters of the U.S. associated with redeveloping San Pedro Waterfront, 
which would include the following elements:

Promenade, Harbors, and Open Space

    Waterfront Promenade--Construct a continuous promenade 
approximately 30 feet wide along the west side of the Main Channel 
through the project area.
    Three New Harbors (North Harbor, Downtown Harbor, and 7th Street 
Harbor)--Develop three new harbors along the west side of the Main 
Channel to provide berthing for visiting tall ships, tugboats, and 
other vessels used for recreational, commercial, and other port-related 
purposes. This would require excavation and dredging to create the 
approximately 7 acres of new surface water. Cleaner material would to 
be disposed of at a designated ocean site (LA-2/LA-3), and unsuitable 
material to be disposed of at an approved upland site. In-harbor sites 
would also be considered if any become available.
    7th Street Pier--The constructed 7th Street Pier would be the 
public dock for short-term berthing of visiting vessels and would be 
located within the 7th Street Harbor, adjacent to the Los Angeles 
Maritime Museum.
    Town Square--The Town Square would comprise approximately 0.79 acre 
in front of the historic San Pedro

[[Page 55823]]

Municipal Ferry Building (existing Los Angeles Maritime Museum) at the 
foot of 6th Street and would incorporate a portion of the downtown 
promenade.
    Downtown Civic Fountain--The Downtown Civic Fountain would be 
adjacent to the Town Square. The water feature would be designed to 
complement the civic setting of the adjacent San Pedro City Hall 
Building and the Town Square, and simulate the extension of the 7th 
Street Harbor to the San Pedro City Hall Building.
    John S. Gibson Jr. Park--John S. Gibson Jr. Park is an existing 
1.61-acre park located south of the 5th Street green. The intent is to 
maintain the existing memorials at the park and enhance their 
surroundings to highlight their historical and cultural significance 
with improved hardscape, landscaping, lighting, and interpretive 
signage elements.
    Fishermen's Park--The proposed Fishermen's Park would encompass 
approximately 3 acres within Ports O'Call.
    Outer Harbor Park--The proposed Outer Harbor Park would encompass 
approximately 6 acres at the Outer Harbor and would be designed as an 
integral feature and complementary to the secure operations of the 
proposed Outer Harbor Cruise Terminals.
    San Pedro Park--The proposed San Pedro Park would encompass 18 
acres located north of 22nd Street, south of Crescent Avenue, and west 
of Sampson Way.
    Warehouses Nos. 9 and 10 and associated backland area--Adapt the 
area for low-intensity community-serving commercial or educational 
reuse that would be incorporated as an integral element of San Pedro 
Park.

New Development, Redevelopment, Cultural Attractions, and Modifications 
to Existing Tenants, Including Development of the New Cruise Terminals

    Cruise Terminals--Upgrade Berths 45-47 for use as a cruise ship 
berth including terminal construction, and construct a new cruise ship 
berth and terminal at Berths 49-50 in the Outer Harbor.
    Cruise Terminal Parking--The proposed upgrades to Berths 45-47 and 
new cruise ship terminal, the construction of a new cruise berth and 
terminal facility at Berths 49-50 in the Outer Harbor, and projected 
increases in ship calls and passengers at Berths 91-93 would require 
additional parking facilities. The parking for the combined cruise ship 
facilities would be located in the Inner Harbor and Outer Harbor.
    Ports O'Call Redevelopment--Redevelop and construct new commercial 
development within Ports O'Call Village. The redevelopment and 
additional development at Ports O'Call would require an increase in 
parking spaces. Parking would be provided at a number of locations 
within the Port and near Ports O'Call.
    Tug Operations--Renew leases and construct two new 10,000-square-
foot buildings around the North Harbor for both Crowley and Millennium 
tug boats. Dispatching of tugs varies from day to day, and the impacts 
associated with tugboat operations are or will be accounted for in the 
respective projects that utilize tugboats.
    Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI)--Issue a new lease and reuse 
the Crowley Building in the Downtown Harbor area for LAMI.
    Berth 240 Fueling Station--A new fueling station would be developed 
at Berth 240 on Terminal Island (i.e., along the east side of the Main 
Channel).
    Catalina Express Terminal and SS Lane Victory--Permanently relocate 
the Catalina Express Terminal berthing facilities from Berths 95-96 to 
the existing location of the S.S. Lane Victory at Berth 94. S.S. Lane 
Victory would be relocated to the North Harbor water cut.

Transportation Improvements

    Sampson Way--This road would be expanded to two lanes in each 
direction and curve near the Municipal Fish Market to meet with 22nd 
Street in its westward alignment east of Miner Street. The proposed 
construction would also include an enhanced four-way intersection at 
Sampson Way and 7th Street to provide improved access to and along the 
waterfront.
    Harbor Boulevard--This road would remain in place at its current 
capacity with two lanes in each direction. Landscaping and hardscape 
improvements are proposed along the east side and west side of Harbor 
Boulevard south of 7th Street, as well as in the median of Harbor 
Boulevard starting at the Swinford Street intersection, and would 
extend south to 22nd Street.
    The Waterfront Red Car Line--This line would be extended from its 
existing terminus near the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Miner 
Street and 22nd Street to City Dock No. 1 (adjacent to Warehouse No. 
1), to the Outer Harbor along Miner Street, and to Inner Cabrillo Beach 
along Shoshonean Road.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments concerning the 
Draft EIS/EIR should be directed to Dr. Spencer D. MacNeil, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division, Ventura 
Field Office, 2151 Alessandro Drive, Suite 110, Ventura, CA 93001, 
(805) 585-2152.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Port of Los Angeles and U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers will jointly hold a public hearing to receive public 
comments and to assess pubic concerns regarding the Draft EIS/EIR and 
project on October 27, 2008 starting at 6 p.m. in the Crowne Plaza 
Hotel in San Pedro (601 S. Palos Verdes Street). Written comments will 
be accepted until the close of public review on December 8, 2008.

David J. Castanon,
Chief, Regulatory Division, Los Angeles District.
 [FR Doc. E8-22641 Filed 9-25-08; 8:45 am]
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