[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46427-46428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18943]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) for 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 Availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Los Angeles District 
(Regulatory Division), in coordination with the Port of Long Beach 
(Port), has completed a draft EIS/EIR for the Eagle Rock Aggregates 
Terminal Project. The proposed project would include the following in-
water and land-based elements: dredging, land-based wharf improvements, 
and the installation of truck scales and conveyor system. Construction 
duration of the proposed project is estimated at 5 months.
    The applicant, Eagle Rock Aggregates, Inc. requires authorization 
pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act in order to 
conduct dredging activities within waters of the U.S.
    Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the 
Port will serve as the Lead Agency for the preparation of an 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 Federal, State, and local 
requirements and environmental issues concerning the proposed 
activities and permit approvals.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Project Site and Background Information

    The proposed project site is located at Berth D-44 on Pier D in the 
Port. The site is currently owned by L.G. Everist, Inc. and would be 
leased to Eagle Rock Aggregate, Inc. for terminal development and 
operation. The site, located at 1925 Pier D Street, is bounded by 
Channel 3 and SSA Matson to the north, G.P. Gypsum to the east, berth 
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, which operated the terminal from 2000 until 2009. During this 
time, the terminal received pre-sorted aggregate that was barged by 
diesel-powered tugs boats, then off-loaded by conveyor systems, 
stockpiled, and distributed.

2. Proposed Action

Dredging of Channel 3

    In order to prepare the site to accept larger (Panamax-class) 
aggregate transport vessels, the proposed project would impact 
approximately 1 acre (490-foot-length by 120-foot-width) of waters of 
the U.S. within Channel 3 to dredge approximately 6,000 cubic yards of 
material. The channel bottom within the project area would be deepened 
from -40 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) to -46 feet (ft) MLLW over 
the majority of the dredge footprint, including a 2-foot over-dredge 
allowance (overdepth). In addition, the proposed project would include 
advanced maintenance dredging of 2-ft (to -48 feet MLLW) within a 400-
foot-long by 20-foot-wide area located immediately adjacent to the 
berthing area to reduce the necessity for maintenance dredging over the 
near-term. The applicant has coordinated with the South Coast Dredge 
Material Management Team/Contaminated Sediments Task Force on disposal 
options, and has determined the material to be suitable for placement 
within the Port's Middle Harbor confined disposal facility. The Port 
has received prior approval for the Middle Harbor project from the 
Department of the Army (File No. SPL-2004-01053-AOA).

Land-Based Improvements

    With the proposed project, land-based wharf improvements would 
include installing additional steel (stiff) legs for the new wharf 
structure and conveyor system, driving 28 steel piles to support the 
stiff legs, and installing the aggregate conveyor system. Additional 
site improvements would include the installation of truck scales and a 
pre-fabricated office building. No other site improvements are proposed 
under this project.

3. Alternatives

    Alternatives currently being considered include the following:
    (1) Aggregate receiving and storage terminal at berth D-43 
utilizing Panamax-class vessels to deliver the aggregate material, 
including the dredging of approximately 6,000 cubic yards of sediment 
within Channel 3 (Proposed Project);
    (2) Aggregate receiving and storage terminal at berth B-83 
utilizing Panamax-class vessels to deliver the aggregate material. No 
dredging is proposed under this alternative (Alternative Site);
    (3) Aggregate receiving and storage terminal at berth D-43 
utilizing barges and tug boats to deliver the aggregate material. No 
dredging is proposed under this alternative (No Federal Action 
Alternative);
    (4) No Project Alternative.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the document are available 
at http://www.polb.com/ceqa, as well as the following locations:
     Port of Long Beach Harbor Administration Building, 925 
Harbor Plaza, Long Beach
     Long Beach City Clerk, 333 W. Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach
     Long Beach Main Library, 101 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach
     San Pedro Regional Branch Library, 931 Gaffey Street, San 
Pedro
     Wilmington Branch Library, 1300 N. Avalon Boulevard, 
Wilmington
    Questions about the proposed action and DEIS/DEIR can be answered 
by John W. Markham, Corps Project Manager, at (805) 585-2150. Comments 
regarding the scope of the DEIS/DEIR shall be addressed to: U.S. Army 
Corp of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Ventura Field Office, ATTN: 
File Number SPL-2010-00602-JWM, 2152 Allessandro Drive, Suite 110, 
Ventura, California 93001. Alternatively, comments can be emailed to 
[email protected]. Comments may also be sent to Richard D. 
Cameron, Port of Long Beach, 925 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90802 or 
emailed to [email protected].

Public Hearing and Comment Period

    The U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Long Beach will 
jointly hold a public hearing to receive public comments and to assess 
public concerns regarding the DEIS/EIR and project on August 22, 2012, 
starting at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) in the City of Long 
Beach City Council Chambers in Long Beach, 333 W. Ocean Boulevard, Long 
Beach, California. Written comments will be accepted until the close of 
the 45-day public review on September 17, 2012.


[[Page 46428]]


    Dated: July 23, 2012.
Mark D. Cohen,
Deputy Chief, Regulatory Division, Los Angeles District.
[FR Doc. 2012-18943 Filed 8-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P