[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46427-46428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18943]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) for Proposed
Aggregate Terminal Project on Pier D in the Port of Long Beach, Los
Angeles County, CA
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 Corp of Engineers, Los Angeles District
(Regulatory Division), in coordination with the Port of Long Beach
(Port), has completed a draft EIS/EIR for the Eagle Rock Aggregates
Terminal Project. The proposed project would include the following in-
water and land-based elements: dredging, land-based wharf improvements,
and the installation of truck scales and conveyor system. Construction
duration of the proposed project is estimated at 5 months.
The applicant, Eagle Rock Aggregates, Inc. requires authorization
pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act in order to
conduct dredging activities within waters of the U.S.
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the
Port will serve as the Lead Agency for the preparation of an EIR for
its consideration of development approvals within its jurisdiction. The
Corps and the Port have agreed to jointly prepare a DEIS/DEIR in order
to optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The DEIS/DEIR is intended
to be sufficient in scope to address Federal, State, and local
requirements and environmental issues concerning the proposed
activities and permit approvals.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Project Site and Background Information
The proposed project site is located at Berth D-44 on Pier D in the
Port. The site is currently owned by L.G. Everist, Inc. and would be
leased to Eagle Rock Aggregate, Inc. for terminal development and
operation. The site, located at 1925 Pier D Street, is bounded by
Channel 3 and SSA Matson to the north, G.P. Gypsum to the east, berth
D-43 to the west, and Pier D Street to the south. The site was
previously used as an aggregate import terminal by Connolly-Pacific
Company, which operated the terminal from 2000 until 2009. During this
time, the terminal received pre-sorted aggregate that was barged by
diesel-powered tugs boats, then off-loaded by conveyor systems,
stockpiled, and distributed.
2. Proposed Action
Dredging of Channel 3
In order to prepare the site to accept larger (Panamax-class)
aggregate transport vessels, the proposed project would impact
approximately 1 acre (490-foot-length by 120-foot-width) of waters of
the U.S. within Channel 3 to dredge approximately 6,000 cubic yards of
material. The channel bottom within the project area would be deepened
from -40 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) to -46 feet (ft) MLLW over
the majority of the dredge footprint, including a 2-foot over-dredge
allowance (overdepth). In addition, the proposed project would include
advanced maintenance dredging of 2-ft (to -48 feet MLLW) within a 400-
foot-long by 20-foot-wide area located immediately adjacent to the
berthing area to reduce the necessity for maintenance dredging over the
near-term. The applicant has coordinated with the South Coast Dredge
Material Management Team/Contaminated Sediments Task Force on disposal
options, and has determined the material to be suitable for placement
within the Port's Middle Harbor confined disposal facility. The Port
has received prior approval for the Middle Harbor project from the
Department of the Army (File No. SPL-2004-01053-AOA).
Land-Based Improvements
With the proposed project, land-based wharf improvements would
include installing additional steel (stiff) legs for the new wharf
structure and conveyor system, driving 28 steel piles to support the
stiff legs, and installing the aggregate conveyor system. Additional
site improvements would include the installation of truck scales and a
pre-fabricated office building. No other site improvements are proposed
under this project.
3. Alternatives
Alternatives currently being considered include the following:
(1) Aggregate receiving and storage terminal at berth D-43
utilizing Panamax-class vessels to deliver the aggregate material,
including the dredging of approximately 6,000 cubic yards of sediment
within Channel 3 (Proposed Project);
(2) Aggregate receiving and storage terminal at berth B-83
utilizing Panamax-class vessels to deliver the aggregate material. No
dredging is proposed under this alternative (Alternative Site);
(3) Aggregate receiving and storage terminal at berth D-43
utilizing barges and tug boats to deliver the aggregate material. No
dredging is proposed under this alternative (No Federal Action
Alternative);
(4) No Project Alternative.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the document are available
at http://www.polb.com/ceqa, as well as the following locations:
Port of Long Beach Harbor Administration Building, 925
Harbor Plaza, Long Beach
Long Beach City Clerk, 333 W. Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach
Long Beach Main Library, 101 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach
San Pedro Regional Branch Library, 931 Gaffey Street, San
Pedro
Wilmington Branch Library, 1300 N. Avalon Boulevard,
Wilmington
Questions about the proposed action and DEIS/DEIR can be answered
by John W. Markham, Corps Project Manager, at (805) 585-2150. Comments
regarding the scope of the DEIS/DEIR shall be addressed to: U.S. Army
Corp of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Ventura Field Office, ATTN:
File Number SPL-2010-00602-JWM, 2152 Allessandro Drive, Suite 110,
Ventura, California 93001. Alternatively, comments can be emailed to
[email protected]. Comments may also be sent to Richard D.
Cameron, Port of Long Beach, 925 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90802 or
emailed to [email protected].
Public Hearing and Comment Period
The U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Long Beach will
jointly hold a public hearing to receive public comments and to assess
public concerns regarding the DEIS/EIR and project on August 22, 2012,
starting at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) in the City of Long
Beach City Council Chambers in Long Beach, 333 W. Ocean Boulevard, Long
Beach, California. Written comments will be accepted until the close of
the 45-day public review on September 17, 2012.
[[Page 46428]]
Dated: July 23, 2012.
Mark D. Cohen,
Deputy Chief, Regulatory Division, Los Angeles District.
[FR Doc. 2012-18943 Filed 8-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P