[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38122-38123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16292]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Currituck Sound Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Currituck Sound 
Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study. The feasibility study is a 
cost-shared effort, being conducted in partnership with the North 
Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR), to recommend Federal 
actions for ecosystem restoration in Currituck Sound. The study is 
taking a watershed perspective to develop and evaluate alternatives to 
restore and enhance ecosystem resources in a holistic, collaborative 
manner, and to ensure full participation of all stakeholders. 
Significant environmental resources to be addressed during project 
studies and in the DEIS include, but are not limited to: (1) Endangered 
and threatened species; (2) Marine and estuarine resources; (3) Fish 
and wildlife and their habitats, including essential fish habitat; (4) 
Water quality; (5) Socioeconomic resources; and (6) Cultural resources. 
Efforts will be made to enhance resource conditions and minimize 
adverse impacts.
    The lead Federal agency for this study is the USACE, Wilmington 
District. As stated above, the NCDWR is the lead State agency and a 
full cost-sharing partner in the conduct of this study. The DEIS is 
being prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 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 DEIS is currently scheduled 
for distribution to the public February 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be answered by Mr. Doug Piatkowski, Environmental 
Resources Section; U.S. Army Engineer District, Wilmington; 69 
Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403; telephone (910) 
251-4908.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION. 
    1. Authority. The feasibility study is being carried out under the 
Corps of Engineers' General Investigation Program and is being 
conducted in response to the following House resolution adopted March 
11, 1998:

    Resolved by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the United States House of Representatives, that the Secretary of 
the Army is requested to review the report of the Division Engineer 
dated June 25, 1991, on Eastern North Carolina above Cape Lookout, 
North Carolina, and other pertinent reports, to determine whether 
modifications to the recommendations contained therein are advisable 
at the present time in the interest of water quality, environmental 
restoration and protection, and related purposes in Currituck Sound.

    2. Project Purpose. The project purpose is to maintain, restore, 
and enhance vital aquatic habitats of the Currituck Sound to ensure the 
survival of wildlife and fisheries. These habitats include: the 
estuarine water column, wetlands including coastal marsh and shrub 
buffers, submerged aquatic vegetation, and bird nesting islands.

[[Page 38123]]

    3. Alternatives. This study will investigate the following 
alternatives: No action alternative, creation, enhancement, or 
protection of marsh islands and/or back barrier marsh including 
creation and/or restoration of bird nesting habitat; construction of 
vegetative buffers along riparian drainages; removal and/or control of 
exotic and invasive species; and protection and establishment of SAV 
habitats. The final outcome of this study would be a feasibility report 
and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which would recommend 
projects for construction authorization.
    4. Public Involvement. Public participation in the EIS process will 
be strongly encouraged both formally and informally, to support the 
formulation of a more technically feasible and socially and politically 
acceptable ecosystem restoration project. Public involvement activities 
for this study will include but are not limited to: periodic 
dissemination of information and study findings via meetings and the 
Wilmington District web site; identification of restoration problems, 
needs, and opportunities; evaluation of potential restoration measures 
and subsequent development of alternatives; issuance of public and 
scoping notices and meetings; public and stakeholder workshops; and 
posting of the completed EIS on the Internet as well as in hard copy at 
readily accessible public locations.
    5. Scoping. All private parties and Federal, State, and local 
agencies having an interest in the study are hereby notified of the 
initiation of the Currituck Sound EIS and are invited to comment at 
this time. An initial scoping letter dated 13 April 2001 was circulated 
during the early planning phase of this study. This Notice of Intent 
(NOI) constitutes an updated scoping request.
    A formal scoping meeting is not planned at this time but may be 
held if it is determined that new information could be obtained that 
would not otherwise be available. All comments received as a result of 
this NOI and the previous scoping letter will be considered in the 
preparation of the EIS.
    In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ's) 
NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.1), Federal agencies with jurisdiction by 
law or with special expertise shall be invited to be Cooperating 
Agencies. Through an email dated 12 July 2010, Agency representatives 
were invited to participate in this study as a Cooperating Agency. To 
date, no formal Cooperating Agency status has been established with any 
Agencies.
    6. Coordination. The USACE will consult with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act; with the National Marine Fisheries Service 
under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and 
the Endangered Species Act; and with the North Carolina State Historic 
Preservation Office under the National Historic Preservation Act. 
Additionally, the USACE will coordinate the DEIS with the North 
Carolina Division of Water Quality to assess the potential water 
quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, and 
with the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management to determine the 
project's consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act. Other 
Agencies will be consulted with as required.
    7. Availability of the Environmental Impact Statement. The earliest 
the DEIS will be available for public review would be February 2012. 
The DEIS or a Notice of Availability will be distributed to affected 
Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and other interested 
parties.

Jefferson M. Ryscavage,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. 2011-16292 Filed 6-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P