[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 248 (Friday, December 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67240-67241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-28344]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Chicago 
Area Waterway System Dredged Material Management Plan Study, Chicago, 
Illinois

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Chicago Area Waterway System 
Dredged Material Management Plan Study. The study is sponsored by the 
Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) on behalf of the City of 
Chicago. The purpose of the EIS is to assess the likely social, 
economic, and environmental effects of a range of potential alternative 
plans to ensure that maintenance dredging activities are performed in 
an environmentally acceptable manner, use sound engineering techniques, 
are economically warranted, and provide sufficient confined disposal 
capacity, as needed, for at least the next 20 years. Based on 
stakeholder and public concerns voiced throughout the process of 
preparing an Environmental Assessment, the Corps has determined that an 
EIS is warranted for the study.

DATES: Previous Scoping letters and outreach occurred between February 
2, 2018 and March 5, 2018. Public Workshops were held on April 28, 2018 
and April 30, 2018 to share preliminary analyses and further solicit 
public input on potential study alternatives.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Mike Padilla, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers Chicago District, 231 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1500, 
Chicago, IL 60608.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about this Dredged Material Management Plan and EIS, please 
contact Mr. Mike Padilla, Project Manager, by telephone: 312-846-5427, 
by email: [email protected], or by mail: ATTN: Mike 
Padilla, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago 
District, 231 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60608.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chicago District is preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to determine the potential impacts 
of the Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) for the Chicago Area 
Waterway System (CAWS). The purpose of the DMMP is to find a new 
location for a Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) for contaminated 
sediment in the CAWS, which includes the Calumet River and Harbor and 
the Cal-Sag Channel. The current CDF is approaching capacity and will 
be full by 2022.
    Dredged material management planning for all federal harbor 
projects is conducted by the Corps to ensure that maintenance dredging 
activities are performed in an environmentally acceptable manner, use 
sound engineering techniques, are economically warranted, and that 
sufficient confined disposal facilities are available for at least the 
next 20 years. These plans address dredging needs, disposal 
capabilities, capacities of disposal areas, environmental compliance 
requirements, potential for beneficial use of dredged material, and 
indicators of continued economic justification. The federal navigation 
channels in the Chicago Area Waterway System are a vital part of the 
local and regional economy and the Corps regularly performs maintenance 
dredging to provide sufficient depths for safe and efficient navigation 
within Calumet Harbor & River.
    The Calumet Harbor and River navigation project is the third 
largest by tonnage among Great Lakes harbors, with shipments and 
receipts totaling 14 million tons annually. Commercial navigation 
activities at the Calumet Harbor & River and Cal-Sag Channel are 
locally and regionally significant, supporting more than 3,700 jobs and 
$600 million in annual sales in the Chicagoland area. If a plan for 
managing the dredged material is not identified, sediment would 
accumulate in the federal channel, reducing the safe depth at which 
vessels can operate, forcing ships to carry less cargo. Shipping costs 
would increase, impacting businesses at the harbor. The project 
requires annual dredging of approximately 50,000 cubic yards (CY) to 
maintain deep draft navigation. Dredged material is currently placed in 
the Chicago Area

[[Page 67241]]

Confined Disposal Facility (CDF). With over 1.3 million CY placed since 
inception in 1984, the CDF will reach capacity in 2022. The plan will 
include disposal management of more highly contaminated dredged 
sediment and beneficial use planning for material that is deemed 
suitable for various identified uses. The study is identifying and 
analyzing potential locations along the Calumet harbor and River to 
construct a new sediment management facility, as well as the 
feasibility of expanding the existing CDF to provide the required 
capacity for safely handling material that is too contaminated for 
beneficial use.
    The Corps has hosted a number of stakeholder engagements and public 
workshops up to this point and is continuing to coordinate with 
stakeholders and resource agencies to identify and assess any 
potentially significant adverse impacts to human health and the 
environment associated with the study. Availability of the Draft 
Dredged Material Management Plan and EIS is anticipated in the spring 
of 2019 for a 45-day period of public review. A public hearing(s) will 
be conducted following public release.
    Additional information about the Chicago Area Waterway System and 
the Dredged Material Management Plan is available on the study website 
at: https://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works-Projects/Calumet-Harbor-and-River/.

Felicia Kirksey,
Assistant Chief, Planning Programs and Project Management Division, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District.
[FR Doc. 2018-28344 Filed 12-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P