[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44757-44758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18256]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement 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, NC)

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 Baldhead Shoal 
Entrance Channel (a federally-maintained navigation channel of the Cape 
Fear River) at the ``Point'' of Bald Head Island. The structure will be 
designed to function in concert with Federal beach disposal operations 
associated with the Wilmington Harbor navigation project.

DATES: The Public commenting period on the FEIS will end on September 
1, 2014. Written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. at (see 
ADDRESSES).

ADDRESSES: Copies of comments and questions regarding the FEIS 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, NC 28403.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and FEIS can be directed to Mr. Ronnie Smith, Wilmington Regulatory 
Field Office, telephone: (910) 251-4829, facsimile (910) 251-4025, or 
email at [email protected].

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

[[Page 44758]]

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 FEIS. Additional issues may 
be identified during the public review process. Issues initially 
identified as potentially significant include:
    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 FEIS. 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 has completed consultation with the United States 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. 
Also, the Corps has initiated consultation with the National Marine 
Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act. Additionally, the EIS assesses the potential 
water quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, 
and is coordinated with the North Carolina Division of Coastal 
Management (DCM) to insure the projects consistency with the Coastal 
Zone Management Act. The COE has coordinated closely with DCM in the 
development of the EIS to ensure the process complies with State 
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements, as well as the NEPA 
requirements. The Final EIS has been designed to consolidate both NEPA 
and SEPA processes to eliminate duplications.
    6. Availability of the FEIS. The FEIS has been published and 
circulated. The FEIS for the proposal can be found at the following 
link, http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPermitProgram/PublicNotices.aspx, under the VBHI Terminal Groin Project.

    Dated: July 23, 2014.
 Scott McLendon,
 Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. 2014-18256 Filed 7-31-14; 8:45 am]
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