[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 66 (Friday, April 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 20623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07880]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Environmental Impact Statement for Modernization and Repair of 
Piers 2 and 3, Military Ocean Terminal Concord, CA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces its intent to conduct 
public scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act to gather 
information to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) related 
to the critically-needed modernization and repairs of Piers 2 and 3, 
Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) due to structural decay caused 
by severe deterioration, wide-spread marine borer damage, and fungal 
decay. Piers 2 and 3 are used to transport military supplies in the 
Pacific region. There may be significant impacts to threatened and 
endangered species. The following other resource areas may be impacted: 
water quality, noise, terrestrial and marine species, and traffic. For 
example, the proposed action will replace a large number of piles; this 
work will likely result in water quality issues and an increase in 
noise. The Department of the Army will use the analysis in the EIS to 
determine whether and how to implement the proposed action.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to Mr. Malcolm Charles, 
Directorate of Public Works, Attention: SDAT-CCA-MI (Charles), 410 
Norman Ave, Concord, CA 94520; email: [email protected] or fax (925) 246-4171.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Mr. Malcolm Charles, 
Directorate of Public Works, 410 Norman Ave, Concord, CA 94520; fax 
(925) 246-4171; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The decision to be made by the Army is 
whether and how to modernize and repair Piers 2 and 3 at the MOTCO. The 
EIS will assess the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental 
impacts associated with various proposed facility modernization and 
repair options to meet safety, operational, facilities management, land 
use, and cultural resources management objectives.
    Piers 2 and 3 at MOTCO need to be repaired and modernized in order 
to maintain ammunition out load capabilities at this ocean terminal. 
Pier 2 is the westernmost of three main wharves and is currently 
inoperable due to its poor condition. The pier requires major 
rehabilitation and modernization in order to restore its function and 
bring it to current containerization standards. The deterioration is 
due to a combination of marine borer, fungal decay, and overloading.
    Pier 3 is currently the primary operational wharf at MOTCO. While 
it is in fair condition overall, it has localized areas of severe 
deterioration, wide-spread marine borer damage, and fungal decay. 
Consequently, work at the pier is subject to loading restrictions, and 
recent engineering assessments estimate that it has approximately five 
years of practical service life remaining.
    The proposed action consists of the modernization and repair of the 
critically-needed piers. A range of reasonable alternatives, including 
a No Action Alternative, will be developed and analyzed in the EIS. 
Alternatives to be considered include (1) Fully implement repairs to 
Piers 2 and 3 with Pier 2 re-oriented to align/rotate the west end to 
meet a more modernized configuration, (2) fully implement repairs to 
Piers 2 and 3 leaving the Pier 2 footprint in its present location, and 
(3) fully implement repairs to Piers 2 and 3, reorienting Pier 2 to 
meet a more modernized configuration (same as in Alternative 1) but 
with a larger deck surface and heavier carrying capacity. Other 
reasonable alternatives raised during the scoping process and capable 
of meeting the project purpose and need and criteria will be considered 
for evaluation in the EIS.
    Scoping and public comments: Federally recognized Tribes, federal, 
state, and local agencies, organizations, and the public are invited to 
be involved in the scoping process for the preparation of this EIS by 
participating in scoping meetings and/or submitting written comments. 
The scoping process will help identify possible alternatives, potential 
environmental impacts, and key issues of concern to be analyzed in the 
EIS. Written comments will be accepted within 60 days of publication of 
the NOI in the Federal Register. Scoping meetings will be held in 
Concord, CA. Notification of the times and locations for the scoping 
meetings will be locally published.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-07880 Filed 4-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P