[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 5754-5755] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-3276] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Corps of Engineers Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Corpus Christi Bay to Port Isabel, TX AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. ACTION: Notice of intent with request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice provides a summary of the Corps of Engineers ongoing and planned study activities to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW)--Corpus Christi Bay to Port Isabel, Texas. The purpose of the study is to develop a long-term plan for the placement of dredged material from continued maintenance dredging of the GIWW. The Corps of Engineers is soliciting public input as to the problems that need to be addressed and other study efforts that may be needed. Additionally, a series of public workshops to solicit input and concerns on this study are planned within the next several months. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have information or questions concerning this notice or the study, or if you wish to be on the mailing list for this study, please contact Mr. Rick Medina at (409) 766-3044 or Mr. Neil McLellan at (409) 766-3963, or you may write to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, Texas 77553- 1229. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction This notice provides a summary of the ongoing and planned study activities to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW)--Corpus Christi Bay to Port Isabel, Texas. The purpose of the study is to develop a long-term plan for the placement of dredged material from continued maintenance dredging of the GIWW. Because of the public interest and concerns related to dredging and dredged material, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has decided to issue this notice and solicit public input regarding the study. This in no way prejudges the significance of new information and circumstances since 1975 nor predetermines the results of the ongoing studies. Study Background This section of the GIWW is a 12-foot deep by 125-foot wide channel which extends 117 miles from Corpus Christi Bay to Port Isabel through the Laguna Madre. This reach of the GIWW serves the Ports of Port Mansfield, Harlingen, Port Isabel, and Brownsville, transporting 2 million tons of commerce annually. This vital artery transports over 350 million gallons of gasoline to the Rio Grande Valley. Over 2 million cubic yards of material are dredged annually from this reach at an average annual cost of $1.2 million dollars. Within this reach there are 71 placement areas totaling over 9,000 acres. The Laguna Madre is one of only three hypesaline lagoons in the world. This shallow, productive estuary produces over 50% of the State's coastal finfish harvest and serves as nursery grounds for the important Gulf shrimp fishery. Seagrasses are a significant resource in the Laguna and cover over 65 percent of the bay bottom. The seagrasses also provide feeding grounds for the largest population of redhead ducks in the world. Interagency Coordination Team To address the dredging and placement practices along the GIWW within the Laguna Madre, the Corps of Engineers began efforts in September 1994 to form an Interagency Coordination Team (ICT). Over the next several months, extensive coordination and consultation occurred to obtain the commitment of a broadbased Federal and State agency involvement. The ICT first met in February 1995 and has met nine times as of January 1996. In addition, the ICT has formed a Modelling Task Force which has met three times. The ICT is comprised of found Federal agencies and six State agencies. They include:U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Marine Fisheries Service Environmental Protection Agency Texas General Land Office Texas Water Development Board Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Department of Transportation Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program (Advisory) Study Process The study process for developing a long-term dredged material management plan for the Laguna Madre is reflected in the goals established by the ICT. [[Page 5755]] These goals are, in paraphrase, to (1) identify environmental concerns associated with the GIWW in the Laguna Madre, (2) develop scopes of work needed to address environmental concerns, (3) ensure effective team work among state and federal agencies, and (4) contribute to and expedite completion of the dredged material management plan and environmental study for the GIWW. Study Status To address these goals, the ICT has identified a problem list of concerns in the Laguna Madre associated with dredging and dredged material placement. Some of these concerns include: Impacts on the benthic community Effects of turbidity Impacts on seagrass populations Effects on circulation and hydrodynamics Effects on fishery productivity Contaminant concerns Viability of alternate placement areas Potential for beneficial uses of dredged material The ICT has developed and approved several scopes of work to perform the necessary scientific studies to address these concerns. A variety of expertise is being utilized. The approved studies, the contractors, date of study initiation, and the estimated costs are shown below. Environmental Monitoring of Dredging and Processes in the Lower Laguna Madre. Texas A&M University, Conrad Blucher Institute-- August 1994--$300,000 Environmental Monitoring of Dredging and Processes in the Vicinity of Baffin Bay. Texas A&M University, Conrad Blucher Institute--October 1994--$328,769 Hydrographic Characterization and Bottom Characterization, Laguna Madre, Texas. U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station--February 1995--$586,550 Temporal and Spatial Effects of Open Water Dredge Material Disposal on Habitat Utilization by Fishery Species in Laguna Madre, Texas. National Marine Fisheries Service--July 1995--$581,800 Review of Available Water and Sediment Quality Data in the Laguna Madre. Espey, Huston, and Associates--July 1995--$22,722 Several other studies are currently under consideration by the ICT. The anticipated contractor and estimated costs include: Extension of the Monitoring in the Lower Laguna Madre. Texas A&M University, Conrad Blucher Institute--$190,000 Extension of the Monitoring in the Upper Laguna Madre. Texas A&M University, Conrad Blucher Institute--$140,000 Sediment Characteristics, History, and Recent Transport, Laguna Madre, Texas. University of Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology-- $310,000 Laguna Madre Fluid Mud Survey. U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station--$125,000 Laguna Madre Open Water Dredged Material Disposal Study. U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station--$165,000 Predictive Model of Seagrass Impact. Texas A&M University, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department--$400,000 Hydrodynamic Circulation of the Upper and Lower Laguna Madre. Contractor and cost are as yet undetermined The total cost of both approved and proposed studies is approximately $3,150,000, not including the Hydrodynamic Model. Schedule The efforts to date are considered to be the first year of a four- year effort. The ICT has tentatively established this time frame to complete the studies, develop the long-term management plan, and prepare a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Should the study results indicate, and the ICT agree, that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process as described above should be modified, a separate notice will be published describing how the Corps will achieve NEPA compliance. In the interim, maintenance dredging of the GIWW will continue only when necessary, although changes to the placement plan will be made as study results warrant. Public Participation The ICT is soliciting public input as to the problems that need to be addressed and other study efforts that may be needed. Every effort will be made to address concerns identified. Additionally, a series of public workshops to solicit input and concerns on this study are planned within the next several months. Dated: February 6, 1996. Robert B. Gatlin, Colonel, Corps of Engineers District Engineer. [FR Doc. 96-3276 Filed 2-13-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-92-M