[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 199 (Friday, October 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63911-63912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26660]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) for a Permit 
Application for a Proposed Aggregate Terminal Project on Pier D in the 
Port of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA

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) is considering a 
permit application from Eagle Rock Aggregates, Inc., a division of 
Polaris Minerals Corporation, to develop an aggregate receiving and 
storage terminal on privately held land within the Port of Long Beach 
(Port). The Proposed Action would be subject to the Corps permitting 
authority under Section 10 of the River and Harbors Act and include the 
following in-water and land-based elements: dredging, wharf 
improvements, installation of truck scales and conveyor system for 
aggregate.
    The primary Federal concerns are the dredging and wharf 
improvements within waters of the United States and the potential 
impacts to the natural and human environment. Therefore, in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is 
requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
prior to consideration of any permit action. The Corps may ultimately 
make a determination to permit or deny the Proposed Action, or permit 
or deny alternatives to the Proposed Action.
    Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the 
Port will serve as the lead agency for the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its consideration of development 
approvals within its jurisdiction. The Corps and the Port have agreed 
to jointly prepare a DEIS/DEIR in order to optimize efficiency and 
avoid duplication. The DEIS/DEIR is intended to be sufficient in scope 
to address the Federal, state, and local

[[Page 63912]]

requirements and environmental issues concerning the proposed 
activities and permit approvals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the Proposed Action 
and DEIS/DEIS should be directed to Antal Szijj, Corps of Engineers, at 
(805) 585-2147. Comments regarding the scope of the DEIS/DEIR should be 
addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 
Ventura Field Office, ATTN: Antal Szijj, 2151 Allesandro Drive, Suite 
110, Ventura, CA 93001. Alternatively, comments can be e-mailed to 
[email protected]. Comments should also be sent to Richard 
D. Cameron, Director of Environmental Planning, Port of Long Beach, 925 
Harbor Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90802.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Project Site and Background Information. The Proposed Project 
site is located at Berth D-44 on Pier D in the Port of the Beach 
(Port). The site is currently owned by L.G. Everist, Inc. and would be 
leased to Eagle Rock Aggregates for terminal development and operation. 
The site, located at 1925 Pier D Street, is bounded by Channel 3 to and 
SSA Matson to the north, G.P. Gypsum to the east, berths D-41, D-42, 
and D-43 to the west, and Pier D Street to the south. The site was 
previously used as an aggregate import terminal by Connolly-Pacific 
Company who operated the terminal from 2000 until 2009. The terminal 
received pre-sorted aggregate that was barged by diesel-powered tugs 
boats, where it was off-loaded and stockpiled by conveyor systems.
    2. Proposed Action. The Project applicant, Eagle Rock Aggregates, 
proposes to construct a sand, gravel and granite aggregate receiving, 
storage, and distribution terminal. The Project site is 8.3 acres in 
size, of which the Project footprint would occupy 7.25 acres. The 
proposed dredging and wharf modifications would prepare the site to 
accept Panamax-class vessels which would deliver aggregate material to 
the site. The Proposed Project would be dredged to -44 feet Mean Lower 
Low Water (MLLW) over the majority of the dredge footprint. In 
addition, Eagle Rock Aggregates would conduct advanced maintenance 
dredging of an additional 2 feet (to -46 MLLW) to mitigate future 
accumulation of sediments, which are likely to accrete once the 
facility is operational. The total proposed dredge volume is 
approximately 6,000 cubic yards. Eagle Rock Aggregates has coordinated 
with the Dredge Material Management Team/Contaminated Sediments Task 
Force on disposal options. The dredge material is scheduled for 
disposal in the Port's confined disposal facility associated with the 
Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project, which has been approved by the 
Corps under a separate permit (Corps File No. SPL-2004-01053-AOA).
    Wharf improvements would include the construction of a berthing 
system consisting of 28 steel piles driven into the adjacent uplands to 
provide anchor points for two V-shaped stiff-legs that would extend 
overwater to support the Panamax-class vessels, followed by concrete 
forming and the installation of additional steel legs and land-based 
conveyor system. These improvements, along with the land-based 
installation of scales and conveyor equipment would prepare the site to 
receive aggregate via vessel and transport via trucks from the site. No 
discharge of fill material into waters of the U.S. is proposed.
    3. Issues. There are several potential issue that will be addressed 
in the DEIS/DEIR. Additional issues may be identified during the 
scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially significant 
include:
    1. Air pollutant emissions from construction and operation, 
including a health risk analysis.
    2. Marine water resources, including potential impacts on marine 
biological resources.
    3. Traffic, including navigational issues, and transportation 
related impacts.
    4. Cumulative impacts.
    In addition, the DEIS/DEIR will address other issues relating to 
the Corps' permit action including, but not limited to greenhouse gas 
emissions, aesthetics, water quality, noise and cumulative effects.
    4. Alternatives. Alternatives initially being considered for the 
Proposed Project include the following:
    (1) Aggregate receiving and storage terminal utilizing Panamax-
class vessels, with dredging and wharf modifications (Preferred 
Alternative);
    (2) Aggregate receiving and storage terminal where vessel 
discharges aggregate material to barges prior to reaching the project 
site, without dredging or wharf improvements (No Federal Action).
    Additional alternatives are currently being considered for the 
Proposed Project. These alternatives with be further formulated and 
developed during the scoping process and an appropriate range of 
alternatives will be included in the DEIS/DEIR.
    5. Scoping Process. The Corps and the Port will jointly conduct a 
scoping meeting for the Proposed Project. English and Spanish 
translation, as well as sign language translation services, will be 
provided at the meeting. The public scoping meeting will be held to 
receive public comment and assess public concerns regarding the 
appropriate scope of the DEIS/DEIR. Participation in the public meeting 
by Federal, state, and local agencies and other interested 
organizations and persons is encouraged. The Corps will also be 
coordinating with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife under the Fish & Wildlife 
Coordination Act and Endangered Species Act, and with the National 
Marine Fisheries Service under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act. 
Additionally the DEIS/DEIR will assess the consistency of the proposed 
Action with the Coastal Zone Management Act and potential water quality 
impacts pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. The public 
scoping meeting for the DEIS/DEIR will be held at the Long Beach City 
Council Chambers, 333 West Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, California on 
November 2, 2011, and will start at 6 pm. Written comments will be 
accepted until November 16, 2011.
    6. Availability of the DEIS/DEIR. The joint lead agencies expect 
the DEIS/DEIR to be published and circulated in early 2012. A Public 
Hearing will also be held during the public comment period for the 
DEIS/DEIR.

    Dated: October 5, 2011.
David J. Castanon,
Chief, Regulatory Division, Los Angeles District.
[FR Doc. 2011-26660 Filed 10-13-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P