[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33166]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Port
of Long Beach Deep Draft Navigation Project, Los Angeles County, CA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to support a cost-shared feasibility study with
the Port of Long Beach, California, for navigation improvements to
existing navigation channels within the Port. The purpose of the
feasibility study is to provide safe, reliable, and efficient
waterborne transportation improvements to the Port of Long Beach. The
EIS will analyze potential impacts of the recommended plan and a range
of alternatives for navigation improvements. Alternatives will include
both structural and non-structural measures.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your concerns in writing to the Los Angeles
District at the address below. Comments, suggestions, and requests to
be placed on the mailing list for announcements should be sent to Larry
Smith, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 915 Wilshire
Boulevard, Suite 930, Los Angeles, CA 90017-3401, or email to
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Mr.
Larry Smith, Project Environmental Coordinator, (213) 452-3846.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authorization: Resolution of the Senate
Committee on Public Works adopted 11 May 1967 and the Resolution of the
House Committee on Public Works adopted 10 July 1968. The Army Corps of
Engineers intends to prepare an EIS to assess the environmental effects
associated with proposed navigation improvements measures in the study
area.
Study Area: The Port of Long Beach is on the coast of southern
California in San Pedro Bay, approximately 20 miles south of downtown
Los Angeles, California. The communities of San Pedro and Wilmington
are to the west and northwest of San Pedro Bay, respectively, and to
the northeast the city of Long Beach. The study area includes the
waters in the immediate vicinity (and shoreward) of the breakwaters
through the entire Port of Long Beach and the downstream reaches of the
Los Angeles River that have direct impact on the Bay, including Outer
Harbor, Inner Harbor, Cerritos Channel, West Basin, and the Back
Channel.
Problems and Needs: The primary problem is the inefficient
operation of deep draft vessels in secondary channels, which increases
the Nation's transportation costs. This study will address
inefficiencies to container movements only. The following problem
statements summarize these inefficiencies.
(1) Due to depth limitations along channels accessing the Port's
container terminals, existing container vessels cannot load to their
maximum draft, which is causing light-loading of vessels at the point
of origin and delays to an increasing number of containerships.
(2) The dimensions of the world-wide fleet of container vessels
have increased significantly, and it is anticipated that this trend
will continue into the future. Delays and light-loading due to
container vessel draft limits will increase as new, larger vessels are
added to the fleet.
(3) There are diminished recreation opportunities and environmental
degradation in coastal areas outside of the study area.
Proposed Action and Alternatives: The Los Angeles District will
investigate and evaluate all reasonable alternatives to address the
problems and needs identified above. In addition to the NO ACTION
alternative, both structural (deepen the secondary access channel to
Pier J, deepen the secondary access channel to Pier T West Basin,
construct a turning basin in the secondary access channel to Pier J,
construct a turning basin in the secondary access channel to Pier T
West Basin, deepen the approach channel, or deepen the anchorage along
the main channel, beneficial use of dredged material for recreation or
ecosystem restoration) and non-structural (high tide riding, light
loading, and vessel re-routing) measures will be investigated.
Previous Actions: Port of Long Beach Main Channel Deepening
Project, Pier T Marine Terminal, Middle Harbor Redevelopment.
Scoping: The scoping process is ongoing and has involved
preliminary coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies. A
public scoping meeting is scheduled on 19 January 2016, from 2:00 to
4:00 p.m. at the Port of Long Beach Harbor Department Interim
Administrative Offices; 4801 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach,
California. The public will have an opportunity to express opinions and
raise any issues relating to the scope of the Feasibility Study and the
EIS. The public as well as Federal, State, and local agencies are
encouraged to participate by submitting data, information, and comments
identifying relevant environmental and socioeconomic issues to be
addressed in the study. Useful information includes other environmental
studies, published and unpublished data, alternatives that could be
addressed in the analysis, and potential mitigation measures associated
with the proposed action. All comments enter into the public record.
Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is scheduled to be
published and circulated in late 2016, and a public hearing to receive
comments on the Draft EIS will be held after it is published.
Dated: December 29, 2015.
Dennis P. Sugrue,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Acting Commander and Acting District
Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2015-33166 Filed 1-4-16; 8:45 am]
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