[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 25217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10802]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Northwest 
Aggregates' Previously Authorized Replacement of an Existing Barge 
Loading Facility in East Passage of Puget Sound on the Southeast 
Shoreline of Maury Island, King County, WA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Seattle District is 
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the 
environmental effects of replacing an existing dock and resuming sand 
and gravel mining operations. The Corps issued a permit to Northwest 
Aggregates for the dock replacement project on June 2, 2008, under 
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act. Construction of the new dock began in December 2008 and 
approximately 49% of the construction was completed as of January 2009. 
The Corps has been directed by the U.S. District Court to complete an 
EIS on the project. The EIS will include additional analysis of 
potential impacts of the project on the marine environment, including 
Chinook salmon, Southern Resident Killer whales, and forage fish, 
additional analysis and evaluation of the no action and off-site 
alternatives, and additional analysis of cumulative impacts associated 
with the permit project.

DATES: Scoping meetings for this project will be held on (see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section).

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting locations are (see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments on the scope of the 
EIS or requests for information should be addressed to Mrs. Olivia 
Romano, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle 
Regulatory Branch, 4735 E. Marginal Way South, Seattle, Washington 
98134; (206) 764-6960 or via e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS process begins with the publication 
of this Notice of Intent. The scoping period will continue for 30 days 
after publication of this Notice of Intent and will close on June 7, 
2010. During the scoping period the Corps invites Federal agencies, 
State and local governments, Native American Tribes, and the public to 
participate in the scoping process either by providing written comments 
or by attending the public scoping meetings scheduled for at the time 
and location indicated.
    1. May 17 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Seattle, Washington. An open 
house will be held as part of the meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
Following a presentation on the project the open house will continue 
from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Located at Federal Center South, 4735 East 
Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA.
    2. May 18 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Vashon Island, Washington. An 
open house will be held as part of the meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
Following a presentation on the project the open house will continue 
from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Located at Vashon High School Commons, 
20120 Vashon Highway, SW, Vashon Island, WA.
    Written comments will be considered in the preparation of the Draft 
EIS. Comments postmarked or received by e-mail after the specified date 
will be considered to the extent feasible.
    The purpose of the scoping meeting is to assist the Corps in 
defining issues, public concerns, alternatives, and the depth to which 
they will be evaluated in the EIS. The Corps has prepared a scoping 
announcement to familiarize agencies, the public and interested 
organizations with the Northwest Aggregates dock replacement project 
and potential environmental issues including completed construction 
work, the remaining construct work, and the operation of the dock. 
Copies of the scoping announcement will be available at the public 
meeting or can be requested by contacting the Corps Seattle District as 
described above. Corps' representatives will answer scope-related 
questions and accept comments.
    The EIS will be prepared according to the Corps' procedures for 
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4232(2)(c), and consistent with the Corps' policy to 
facilitate public understanding and review of agency proposals. As part 
of the EIS process a full range of reasonable alternatives will be 
evaluated. Development of the Draft EIS will begin after the close of 
the public scoping period. The Draft EIS is expected to be available 
for public review in the Fall 2010.

Michelle Walker,
Chief, Regulatory Branch, Seattle District.
[FR Doc. 2010-10802 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P