[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 44600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16189]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Integrated Feasibility/Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Rota Harbor Modifications Project, Island of 
Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 
DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the section 102(2) (C) of National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CMNI), Municipality of 
Rota (Municipality)/Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) gives notice 
that an Integrated Feasibility/Environmental Impact Statement (F/EIS) 
report is being prepared for the Proposed Rota Harbor Modifications 
Project, Island of Rota, CNMI. This project is authorized under section 
209 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87-874) and will 
consider the implementation of navigation improvements at Rota Harbor.

DATES: In order to be considered in the Draft F/EIS, comments and 
suggestions should be received within 30 days after the last public 
scoping meeting. Two public scoping meetings will be held in Saipan and 
Rota in mid/late July 2016. A separate notice will be published for 
meeting times and places.

ADDRESSES: Mail written comments concerning this notice to: Mr. Milton 
Yoshimoto, Project Manager, Civil and Public Works Branch, Honolulu 
District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bldg. 230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 
96858. Comment letters should include the commenter's physical mailing 
address and the project title in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Milton Yoshimoto, Project Manager, 
Civil and Public Works Branch, Honolulu District, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Bldg. 230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858, (808) 835-4034, E-
Mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with NEPA, the Corps intends 
to prepare an F/EIS report. The primary Federal actions under 
consideration are: (1) Navigation improvement measures that expand the 
federal turning basin; (2) surge reduction measures by constructing 
protective structures at both harbors; and (3) expand and deepen the 
harbor basin and entrance channel to accommodate larger vessels by 
dredging. The F/EIS reports shall meet the requirements of NEPA, 
including all applicable federal regulations implementing those 
statutes.
    Evaluation will examine the costs and benefits of this project, as 
well as the environmental impacts of modifying the maintained 
dimensions of the existing Federal project within its authorized 
limits. The purpose of this effort is to conduct a study to assess the 
technical, environmental, and economic feasibility in the 
implementation of navigation improvement at Rota Harbor.
    Project Site and Background Information: Since its construction in 
1985, users of the Rota West Harbor have experienced problems with 
navigation within the entrance channel and with vessels docked at the 
piers attributable to adverse wave conditions and the current harbor 
configuration. As recently as late 2013, there have been periods when 
the harbor has shut down and cargo flown to the island at a 
considerable cost to the island residents. The project will evaluate 
wave action within the harbor and identify modifications to general 
navigations features to improve operating inefficiency and safe 
navigation and address the need to expand the harbor basin to 
accommodate larger vessels.
    Proposed Action(s): The study reports will assess the technical, 
environmental and economic feasibility in the implementation of 
navigation improvement. These include: (1) Navigation improvement 
measures that expand the federal turning basin; (2) surge reduction 
measures by constructing protective structures; and (3) dredging harbor 
sediments to allow larger vessels access to the harbor.
    Issues: Potentially significant issues associated with the project 
may include: aesthetics/visual impacts, air quality emissions, 
biological resource impacts, environmental justice, hazards and 
hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, noise, traffic and 
transportation, and cumulative impacts from past, present and 
reasonably foreseeable future projects.
    Scoping Process: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking 
participation and input of all interested federal, state, and local 
agencies, Native American groups, and other concerned private 
organizations or individuals on the scope of the F/EIS through this 
public notice. The purpose of the public scoping meeting is to solicit 
comments regarding the potential impacts, environmental issues, and 
alternatives associated with the proposed action to be considered in 
the study report. The meeting place, date, and time will be advertised 
in advance in local newspapers, and meeting announcement letters will 
be sent to interested parties. The draft F/EIS report is expected to be 
available for public review and comment in the summer of 2017 and a 
public meeting will be held after its publication.

    Dated: July 1, 2016.
Christopher W. Crary,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2016-16189 Filed 7-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P