[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 58 (Friday, March 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13423-13424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6855]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Morehead City Harbor Project, Dredged Material Management Plan, 
Carteret County, NC

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 
is conducting a study to evaluate the long-term (20-year) dredged 
material placement needs and opportunities for Morehead City Harbor, 
NC. The study area encompasses Morehead City Harbor and the Ocean Bar 
approach channels extending seaward to deep water through Beaufort 
Inlet in Carteret County, near Morehead City, NC. The study will 
include the preparation of an integrated (combined) Dredged Material 
Management Plan (DMMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
and will identify, evaluate, screen, prioritize, and ultimately 
optimize placement alternatives resulting in the recommendation of a 
plan for the placement of dredged materials for at least the next 20 
years.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the DMMP and DEIS 
should be directed to: Mr. Stacy Samuelson; Environmental Resources 
Section; U.S. Army Engineer District, Wilmington; 69 Darlington Avenue; 
Wilmington, NC 28402-1890; telephone: (910) 251-4480.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USACE, Engineering Regulation (ER) 1105-
2-100 mandates that the Corps Districts develop DMMPs for all Federal 
navigation projects where there is an indication of insufficient 
capacity to accommodate maintenance dredging for the next 20 years. The 
ER further requires that the Districts consider options that provide 
opportunities for beneficial uses of dredged material.
    Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended, options for dredged material management will be based on an 
evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activity on the 
public interest. The decision will reflect the national concern for the 
protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which 
may reasonably be expected to accrue from the proposal, will be 
balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors 
that may be relevant to the proposal will be

[[Page 13424]]

considered, including wetlands; fish and wildlife resources; cultural 
resources; land use; water and air quality; hazardous, toxic, and 
radioactive substances; threatened and endangered species; regional 
geology; aesthetics; environmental justice; and the general needs and 
welfare of the public.
    The alternatives currently being considered for the DMMP include, 
but are not limited to: offshore disposal in the Environmental 
Protection Agency designated Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site 
(ODMDS), nearshore disposal on the ebb tide delta, beach disposal, and 
upland disposal at Brandt Island. Additional beneficial uses of dredged 
material will also be investigated for the DMMP. The DEIS will address 
environmental effects of reasonable alternatives.
    All private parties and Federal, State, and local agencies having 
an interest in the study are hereby notified of the intent to prepare a 
DEIS and are invited to comment at this time. A scoping letter was 
mailed to a standard mailing list November 26, 2007 and all comments 
received as a result of the scoping letter and this notice of intent 
will be considered in the preparation of the DMMP and DEIS.
    The lead agency for this project is the U.S. Army Engineer 
District, Wilmington. Cooperating agency status has not be assigned to, 
nor requested by, any other agency.
    The DEIS is being prepared in accordance with the requirements of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and will 
address the relationship of the proposed action to all other applicable 
Federal and State Laws and Executive Orders.
    The DMMP and DEIS is currently scheduled to be available in July 
2010.

    Dated: March 17, 2009.
Jefferson M. Ryscavage,
Colonel, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. E9-6855 Filed 3-26-09; 8:45 am]
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