[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1843-1844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00262]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Installation of a Terminal Groin Structure at 
the Western End of South Beach, Bald Head Island, Adjacent to the 
Federal Wilmington Harbor Channel of the Cape Fear River (Brunswick 
County, North Carolina)

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 Corps of Engineers (USACE), Wilmington District, 
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, has received a request for 
Department of the Army authorization, pursuant to Section 404 of the 
Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbor Act, from the 
Village of Bald Head Island (VBHI) to develop and implement a shoreline 
protection plan that includes the installation of a terminal groin 
structure on the east side of the Wilmington Harbor Bald Head Shoal 
Entrance Channel (a federally-maintained navigation channel of the Cape 
Fear River) at the ``Point'' of Bald Head Island.

DATES: A public hearing for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) will be held at the International Longshoreman's Association 
Hall, located at 211 West 10th Street in Southport, Brunswick County, 
North Carolina, on February 12, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. Written comments on 
the DEIS will be received until February 24, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Copies of comments and questions regarding scoping of the 
DEIS may be submitted to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), 
Wilmington District, Regulatory Division. Attn: File Number SAW-2012-
00040, 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be directed to Mr. Ronnie Smith, Wilmington Regulatory 
Field Office, telephone number: (910) 251-4829. A copy of the DEIS can 
be found at the following link: http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPermitProgram/PublicNotices.aspx under the VBHI Terminal 
Groin Project.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Project Description. The west end of South Beach, Bald Head 
Island, Brunswick County, North Carolina, has experienced both chronic 
and short-term shoreline erosion. This erosion has resulted in direct 
impacts to nearby beaches and dunes and could potentially impact public 
infrastructure and homes. This area has been subject to past sand 
placement activities sponsored by both the VBHI and the Corps. The 
Corps has placed several million cubic yards of suitable material on 
this shoreline since 1991 as part of a Federal navigation project. To 
address its erosion issue, the VBHI desires to implement a long-term 
beach and dune stabilization strategy to include installation of a 
single terminal groin at the western end of South Beach. The proposed 
terminal groin would be expected to perform the following functions: 
(1) Reduce inlet-directed sand losses from beach fill projects; and (2) 
stabilize shoreline alignment along the westernmost segment of South 
Beach in such a manner that alongshore transport rates are reduced. The 
terminal groin would serve as a ``template'' for fill material placed 
eastward (of the proposed terminal groin). The proposed groin has been 
designed as a ``leaky'' structure (i.e. semi-permeable) so as to 
provide for some level of sand transport to West Beach (located 
northward and downdrift of the proposed groin).
    2. Issues. There are several potential environmental and public 
interest issues that are addressed in the DEIS. Additional issues may 
be identified during the public review process. Issues initially 
identified as potentially significant include:

[[Page 1844]]

    a. Potential impacts to marine biological resources (benthic 
organisms, passageway for fish and other marine life) and Essential 
Fish Habitat.
    b. Potential impacts to threatened and endangered marine mammals, 
reptiles, birds, fish, and plants.
    c. Potential for shoreline changes on West Beach of Bald Head 
Island and adjacent areas.
    d. Potential impacts to navigation, commercial and recreational.
    e. Potential impacts to the long-term management of the oceanfront 
shorelines.
    f. Potential effects on regional sand sources and sand management 
practices.
    g. Potential effects of shoreline protection.
    h. Potential impacts on public health and safety.
    i. Potential impacts to recreational and commercial fishing.
    j. Potential impacts to cultural resources.
    k. Cumulative impacts of future dredging and nourishment 
activities.
    3. Alternatives. Several alternatives are being considered for the 
proposed project. These alternatives, including the No Action 
alternative, were further formulated and developed during the scoping 
process and are considered in the DEIS. A summary of alternatives under 
consideration are provided below:

 Alternative 1: No-Action (includes component of 
Status-Quo)
 Alternative 2: Retreat
 Alternative 3: Beach Nourishment/Disposal With 
Existing Sand Tube Groinfield To Remain in Place
 Alternative 4: Beach Nourishment/Beach Disposal and 
Sand Tube Groinfield Removal
 Alternative 5: Terminal Groin With Beach Nourishment/
Beach Disposal (Sand Tube Groinfield Remaining)
 Alternative 6: Terminal Groin With Beach Nourishment/
Disposal (Removal of Sand Tube Groinfield)

    4. Scoping Process. Project Review Team meetings were held to 
receive comments and assess concerns regarding the appropriate scope 
and preparation of the DEIS. Federal, state, and local agencies and 
other interested organizations and persons participated in these 
Project Review Team meetings.
    The Corps is also consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service under the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act, and with the National Marine Fisheries Service under 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act and Endangered Species Act. Additionally, the 
DEIS has assessed potential water quality impacts pursuant to Section 
401 of the Clean Water Act, and is being coordinated with North 
Carolina Division of Coastal Management (NCDCM) to determine the 
project's consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act and 
permittability under State Coastal Management rules. The USACE has 
worked with the NCDCM through the DEIS process to ensure the process 
complies with all State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements. 
It is the Corps' and NCDCM's intentions to consolidate both National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and SEPA processes to eliminate 
duplications.
    5. Availability of the DEIS. The DEIS has been published and 
circulated, and a public hearing will be held February 12, 2014 at the 
International Longshoreman's Association Center, located at 211 West 
10th Street in Southport, Brunswick County, North Carolina at 6 p.m.

    Dated: December 30, 2013 .
Scott McLendon,
Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. 2014-00262 Filed 1-9-14; 8:45 am]
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