[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 111 (Thursday, June 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32919-32920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13929]


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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.

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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 barge loading dock to 
facilitate resumption of sand and gravel mining operations at Northwest 
Aggregates' Maury Island facility. The Corps issued a permit to 
Northwest Aggregates for the dock replacement project on July 2, 2008, 
under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 
of the Clean Water Act. Northwest Aggregates has been enjoined by the 
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington from 
conducting any further marine construction work under the Corps' 
permit, until the Corps completes an EIS on the project. A portion of 
this marine construction work was done prior to the Court's 2009 
ruling; the balance remains incomplete at this time. The EIS will 
analyze the environmental effects of the issuance of the Corps permit, 
including additional analysis of potential impacts of the project on 
the marine environment, including endangered species (Chinook salmon, 
Southern Resident Killer whales, rockfish, eulachon, and other listed 
species) and forage fish, additional analysis and evaluation of the no 
action and other alternatives to achieve the project purpose, 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 60 days 
after publication of this Notice of Intent and will close on August 9, 
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 by providing written comments at any 
time during the scoping period or during attendance at one of the 
public scoping meetings scheduled at the times and locations indicated.
    1. July 12, 2010 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. July 14, 2010 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 7p.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 meetings is to assist the Corps in 
defining existing conditions, anticipated project impacts, other 
issues, public concerns, a reasonable range of alternatives, and the 
depth to which the various alternatives will be evaluated in the EIS. 
The Corps has prepared a scoping announcement

[[Page 32920]]

to familiarize agencies, the public and interested organizations with 
the Northwest Aggregates dock replacement project and potential 
environmental issues associated with completed construction work, the 
remaining construction 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 questions pertaining to the 
scope of the EIS, and accept scope-related 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. 4332(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, Seattle District.
[FR Doc. 2010-13929 Filed 6-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P