[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 222 (Monday, November 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67847-67848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27176]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed Gray's Beach Restoration Project, Waikiki, O'ahu, HI, 
Department of the Army Regulatory File Number POH-2007-192

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In order to establish a stable, sandy beach seaward of the 
Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, its owners propose to construct three T-head 
groins extending seaward from the existing seawall which defines the 
hotel property boundary. They propose to pump sand from nearby marine 
deposits and place it between the groins to form a protected beach. The 
proposed project site, which is within the State of Hawai'i 
Conservation District, would remain state-owned. The project site is 
located within the navigable waters of the United States and the 
proposed activity is subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers.

DATES: In order to be considered in preparation of the DEIS, comments 
and suggestions should be received no later than 30 days after 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Honolulu District; ATTN: Regulatory Branch (CEPOH-EC-R/P. Galloway), 
Building 230; Fort Shafter, HI 96858-5440. Facsimile comments can be 
sent to 808-438-4060. Comments may also be submitted via e-mail to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be addressed 
to: Mr. Peter Galloway (see ADDRESSES), Telephone 808-438-8416.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts LP, which owns the 
Sheraton Waikiki Hotel (Sheraton) and the adjacent Royal Hawaiian 
Hotel, proposes to develop a stable sandy beach on the abutting inshore 
reef flat fronting the Sheraton in order to enhance recreational and 
aesthetic enjoyment of the area, provide protection for the backshore 
area, and facilitate lateral access along the shoreline. The Sheraton 
is presently protected by a vertical seawall, constructed at the 
hotel's seaward property line, which has been in place since the 1920s. 
There is presently very little beach area fronting the Sheraton, which 
was constructed close to the seaward property line, making the area one 
of the most constrained in Waikiki with respect to public alongshore 
(lateral) access. The narrow band of sand fronting the Sheraton seawall 
comes and goes, and is typically under water at high tide. The site of 
the proposed project is owned by the State of Hawai'i and is designated 
State of Hawai'i Conservation District land.
    To create the desired beach, the applicant proposes to construct 
three un-grouted, basalt-rock T-head groins that would span 500 feet of 
shoreline. The stems of the T-head groins would extend 160 feet seaward 
into the inshore area from the existing seawall, and the T-heads would 
extend 53 feet to either side of each stem, at angles ranging from 90 
to 120 degrees. The angle of each T-head will be established so as to 
best orient the gaps between the heads parallel to the average wave 
approach. Approximately 15,000 cubic yards of sand would be pumped from 
nearby offshore deposits and placed between and adjacent to the T-head 
groins to create sections of protected beach. The total area of the 
permanent rock and sand fill in waters of the U.S. would be 
approximately 2.7 acres. The total area of dry beach (sand area above 
the high tide line) created would be approximately 1 acre. In order to 
provide access for construction of the groins, the applicant proposes 
to construct temporary sections of rock platform, approximately 20 feet 
in width, along the seaward side of the existing vertical concrete 
seawall.
    The proposed project would involve work or structures in or 
affecting the course, condition, location or capacity of navigable 
waters of the United States. In addition, it would involve the 
discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters of the 
United States. Federal authorization of the project will therefore 
require issuance of a Department of the Army (DA) permit pursuant to 
both Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) 
and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
    In addition to the no-action alternative, other alternatives to be 
considered in the DEIS may include: (1) Project with different size 
and/or number of T-head groins, or other structural designs; (2) 
project with groin structures but no sand fill; and (3) sand placement 
and replenishment with no stabilizing structures.
    Potentially significant impacts identified to date and to be 
addressed in the DEIS include: (1) Conversion of an inshore reef area 
to a structurally protected sandy beach; (2) loss of foraging habitat 
(algae beds) utilized by federally protected sea turtles; (3) changes 
in adjacent algal community; (4) changes in inshore water circulation 
pattern including water residence time; (5) other, unforeseen changes 
in adjacent reef habitat; (6) effects of sand removal from seaward 
marine deposits; (7) effects on surfing and wave reflection; (8) 
changes in availability of recreation and recreational facilities; (9) 
changes in beach and shoreline access and use; (10) setting of 
precedent for use of T-head groins in Hawai'i; (11) setting

[[Page 67848]]

of precedent for privately funded beach restoration or creation on 
adjacent public conservation lands.
    The decision whether to issue a DA 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 benefit, which reasonably may be expected to 
accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably 
foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the 
proposal will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof: 
among these are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general 
environmental concerns, wetlands, historic values, fish and wildlife 
values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, 
shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and 
conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber 
production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership and, in 
general, the needs and welfare of the people. Evaluation of the impact 
of the activity on the public interest will include application of the 
guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection 
Agency (40 CFR part 230).
    The Corps will invite the National Marine Fisheries Service and 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be cooperating agencies in 
preparation of the DEIS. The Corps anticipates that consultations will 
be required pursuant to provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Before 
a final DA permit can be issued, the applicant must first obtain a 
Hawai'i Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program federal consistency 
certification issued by the State of Hawai'i Department of Business, 
Economic Development and Tourism, and a Clean Water Act Section 401 
Water Quality Certification, or waiver thereof, issued by the State of 
Hawai'i Department of Health.
    The Corps invites participation in the EIS process of affected 
federal, state and local agencies; affected Hawaiian organizations, 
individuals and practitioners; and other interested private 
organizations and parties. The applicant has issued a state-level EIS 
Preparation Notice (EISPN) pursuant to requirements of the Hawai'i 
Revised Statutes (HRS Chapter 343) stating that the applicant 
anticipates preparation of a joint state and federal EIS document. All 
comments received in response to this NOI and the state EISPN will be 
considered when determining the scope of the combined DEIS. To the 
extent practicable, federal and state requirements will be coordinated 
in the preparation of the joint document.
    A public scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 
2008, at the Waikiki Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Avenue, Honolulu, 
Hawaii, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., to help determine the scope of 
analysis of the proposed action. The scoping meeting will also be 
announced in local media. Interested parties are encouraged to express 
their views during the scoping process and throughout the development 
of alternatives and the joint DEIS. To be most helpful, comments should 
clearly describe specific environmental topics or issues which the 
commenter believes the document should address. Further information 
concerning the proposed or the scoping meeting may be obtained from 
Peter C. Galloway (see ADDRESSES). The DEIS is expected to be published 
and circulated for review in mid-2009, and the final EIS is expected to 
be completed 4 to 6 months later.

    Dated: November 7, 2008.
John W. Henderson,
Major, U.S. Army, Acting Commander.
[FR Doc. E8-27176 Filed 11-14-08; 8:45 am]
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