[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 250 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 77076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31460]



[[Page 77076]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-9006-8]


Notice of Intent: Designation of an Expanded Ocean Dredged 
Material Disposal Site (ODMDS) off Charleston, South Carolina

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) 
for the designation of an expanded ODMDS off Charleston, South 
Carolina.

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    Purpose: EPA has the authority to designate ODMDSs under Section 
102 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 
U.S.C. 1401 et seq.). It is EPA's policy to prepare a National 
Environmental Policy Document for all ODMDS designations (63 FR 58045, 
October 1998).

For Further Information, to Submit Comments, and To Be Placed On the 
Project Mailing List Contact:  Mr. Gary W. Collins, EPA Region 4, 61 
Forsyth Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, phone 404-562-9393, email: 
[email protected].

SUMMARY: EPA in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
Charleston District (USACE) intends to prepare an EA to evaluate the 
proposed designation of an expanded ODMDS offshore Charleston, South 
Carolina. An EA will provide the environmental information necessary to 
evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with expanding 
the ODMDS.
    Need for Action: The USACE has requested that EPA evaluate and 
designate an expanded ODMDS. The study area includes an area 
approximately 7.18 square miles in size, for the disposal of dredged 
material from the proposed harbor deepening dredging at Charleston 
Harbor (4.04 square miles are within the current ODMDS and 3.14 square 
miles are outside the current ODMDS). The size of an expanded ODMDS 
will based on capacity computer modeling results, and will be refined 
throughout the study phase.
    Alternatives: The following proposed alternatives have been 
tentatively defined.
    1. No action.
    2. Expansion of the existing Charleston ODMDS. Expand the existing 
disposal zone and ODMDS to the north, south and east.
    Scoping: EPA is requesting written comments from federal, state, 
and local governments, industry, non-governmental organizations, and 
the general public on the range of alternatives considered, specific 
environmental issues to be evaluated, and the potential impacts of the 
alternatives. Scoping comments will be accepted for 60 days, beginning 
with the date of this Notice.
    Estimated Date of Draft EA Release: May 2014.
    Responsible Official: Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, Regional 
Administrator, Region 4.

    Dated: December 21, 2012.
Susan E. Bromm,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 2012-31460 Filed 12-28-12; 8:45 am]
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