[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 248 (Friday, December 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67239-67240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-28306]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers


Announcement of the Selection of the Ten Pilot Projects Pursuant 
to Section 1122 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, 
Beneficial Use of Dredged Material

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Announcement.

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SUMMARY: Section 1122 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 
2016 requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) establish a 
pilot program to recommend ten projects for the beneficial use of 
dredged material. In response to a Federal Register Notice issued on 
February 9, 2018, the USACE received 95 proposals for beneficial use of 
dredged material. Those 95 proposals were evaluated by a team of 
subject matter experts. Based on criteria contained in Section 1122, 
ten projects were selected as having a high likelihood of delivering 
environmental, economic, and social benefits described in the 
proposals, and exhibit geographic diversity.

ADDRESSES: An Environmental Assessment and Findings of No Significant 
Impact (EA/FONSI) were prepared for this action and are available upon 
email request sent to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joseph R. Wilson, Environmental 
Dredging Program Manager, at 202-761-7697, or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1122 of WRDA 2016 requires the USACE 
establish a pilot program to carry out 10 projects for the beneficial 
use of dredged material, including projects for the purposes of--
    (1) Reducing storm damage to property and infrastructure;
    (2) promoting public safety;
    (3) protecting, restoring, and creating aquatic ecosystem habitats;
    (4) stabilizing stream systems and enhancing shorelines;
    (5) promoting recreation;
    (6) supporting risk management adaptation strategies; and

[[Page 67240]]

    (7) reducing the costs of dredging and dredged material placement 
or disposal, such as projects that use dredged material for--
    (A) Construction or fill material;
    (B) civic improvement objectives; and
    (C) other innovative uses and placement alternatives that produce 
public economic or environmental benefits.
    The USACE has developed implementation guidance for carrying out 
the provisions of Section 1122. That implementation guidance can be 
obtained at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Project-Planning/Legislative-Links/wrda2016/wrda2016_impguide. Search Section 
1122(a)-(h) for links to the implementation guidance and other Section 
1122 information.
    The ten recommended projects, listed alphabetically by state/
territory follow:

CA...........................  Restoring San Francisco Bay's Natural
                                Infrastructure with Dredged Sediment:
                                Strategic Placement.
HI...........................  Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor Maintenance
                                Dredging and Beach Restoration.
IL...........................  Public Beach Protection Pilot in Four
                                Illinois Coastal Communities.
MS...........................  Deer Island Lagoon Project.
NJ...........................  Beneficial Use Placement Opportunities in
                                the State of New Jersey Using Navigation
                                Channel Sediments: Barnegat Inlet.
PR...........................  Condado Lagoon.
SC...........................  Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary.
TX...........................  Hickory Cove Marsh Restoration and Living
                                Shoreline.
WA...........................  Grays Harbor South Jetty Sand Placement
                                Pilot Project.
WI...........................  Mississippi River Upper Pool 4, Pierce
                                County Islands and Head of Lake Pepin
                                Backwater Complex--Beneficial Use of
                                Dredged Material.
 

    The USACE process for evaluating all of the 95 proposals received 
and the decision to select the 10 projects is documented in the EA/
FONSI. Further project specific evaluation of the 10 selected projects 
will be accomplished by the appropriate USACE office in accordance with 
Section 1122 implementation guidance and applicable USACE policies and 
regulations.

    Dated: December 18, 2018.
Thomas P. Smith,
Chief, Operations and Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2018-28306 Filed 12-27-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P