[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17450-17451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07061]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Houston Ship Channel 45-Foot Expansion Channel Improvement Project (HSC
ECIP), Harris and Chambers Counties, Texas
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Houston Ship Channel 45-
Foot Expansion Channel Improvement Project (HSC ECIP), Harris and
Chambers Counties, Texas.
This study will identify and evaluate a combination of
modifications to the HSC to improve the efficiency and safety of the
HSC system. A 905(b) report recommending a cost shared feasibility-
level study was approved on September 22, 2015.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for scoping meeting dates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the draft EIS
should be addressed to Ms. Tammy Gilmore, CEMVN-PDN-CEP, P.O. Box
60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267; telephone: (504) 862-1002; fax:
(504) 862-1583; or by email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority. Public Law 91-611; Title II--Flood Control Act of
1970, Section 216 dated December 31, 1970. The study is being performed
in response to the standing authority of Section 216 of the Flood
Control Act of 1970, as amended.
2. Proposed Action. In general, the entire HSC will be evaluated
for up to date current and projected vessel size and traffic. The study
focus will include deepening and widening opportunities of the upper
reach of the HSC referred to as Boggy Bayou to the Main Turning Basin;
improvements to side channels, Bayport Ship Channel and Barbour's Cut
Channel; and Galveston Bay Reach safety and efficiency enhancements.
Details of the study include the following 5 separable elements:
HSC--Boggy Bayou to I-610 Bridge: This analysis would evaluate
deepening and widening the 8-mile portion of the HSC from Boggy Bayou
to the Interstate 610 Bridge (mile 40 to mile 48) to a depth beyond the
existing 40 feet (Boggy Bayou to Sims Bayou) and a width greater than
the existing 300 feet (in 50-foot increments) and possibly improvements
to turning basin and mooring areas.
HSC--I-610 Bridge to Main Turning Basin: This analysis would
evaluate the deepening and widening of the 4-mile portion of the HSC
from the Interstate I-610 Bridge to the Main Turning Basin (mile 48 to
mile 52) to a depth beyond the existing 36 feet (in 2-foot increments),
a new turning basin near Brays Bayou, and revisit dimensions of
existing turning basins and mooring areas.
Bayport Ship Channel: The 4.1 mile long Bayport Ship Channel is
currently authorized to a depth of 40 feet. The Port of Houston
Authority (PHA) has the authority under 33 U.S.C. Section 408 to deepen
the channel to 45 feet and widen the bay portions of the channel 100
feet and widen the constricted portion of the channel within the land
cut 50 feet. This analysis would evaluate whether to include the PHA's
channel deepening for Federal authorization. The analysis would also
evaluate widening to a width greater than 350 feet (25-foot
increments). Other opportunities in this area are to evaluate the need
for open water turning basin, and adding jetty/structures for
minimizing shoaling and flare improvements.
Barbours Cut Channel: The 1.1 mile long Barbour's Cut Channel is
currently authorized to a depth of 40 feet. The PHA has the authority,
under 33 U.S.C. Section 408, to deepen the channel to 45 feet. This
analysis would evaluate whether to include the PHA's channel deepening
for Federal authorization. The analysis would also evaluate widening to
a width greater than 300 feet (25-foot increments). Other opportunities
in this area are to evaluate the need for open water turning basin and
flare improvements.
Bay-reach safety and efficiency enhancements: This analysis would
evaluate whether to construct an anchorage basin in or near Galveston
Bay, the need of selectively widening the existing 530 feet wide HSC to
develop passing lanes or improved vessel meeting opportunities;
evaluate improvements to channel turns and bends; and evaluate the
depth of the existing barge lanes.
3. Public Involvement. Public involvement, an essential part of the
NEPA process, is integral to assessing the environmental consequences
of the proposed action and improving the quality of the environmental
decision making. The public includes affected and interested Federal,
state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, concerned citizens,
stakeholders, and other interested parties. Public participation in the
EIS process will be strongly encouraged, both formally and informally,
to enhance the probability of a more technically accurate, economically
feasible, and socially acceptable EIS. Public involvement will include,
but is not limited to: Information dissemination; identification of
problems, needs and opportunities; idea generation; public education;
problem solving; providing feedback on proposals; evaluation of
alternatives; conflict resolution; public and scoping notices and
meetings; public, stakeholder and advisory groups consultation and
meetings; and making the EIS and supporting information readily
available in conveniently located places, such as libraries and on the
world wide web.
4. Scoping. Scoping, an early and open process for identifying the
scope of significant issues related to the proposed action to be
addressed in the EIS, will be used to: (a) Identify the affected public
and agency concerns; (b) facilitate an efficient EIS preparation
process; (c) define the issues and alternatives that will be examined
in detail in the EIS; and (d) save time in the overall process by
helping to ensure
[[Page 17451]]
that the draft EIS adequately addresses relevant issues. A Scoping
Meeting Notice announcing the locations, dates and times for scoping
meetings is anticipated to be posted on the PHA and U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Web sites and published in the local newspaper in April 2016.
5. Coordination. The USACE and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) have formally committed to work together to conserve, protect,
and restore fish and wildlife resources while ensuring environmental
sustainability of our Nation's water resources under the January 22,
2003, Partnership Agreement for Water Resources and Fish and Wildlife.
The USFWS will provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report.
Coordination will be maintained with the USFWS, the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Texas Park and Wildlife Department
(TPWD) regarding threatened and endangered species under their
respective jurisdictional responsibilities. Coordination will be
maintained with the NMFS regarding essential fish habitat. Coordination
will be maintained with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
concerning compliance with Executive Order 12898, ``Federal Action to
Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations.'' Coordination will be maintained with the Advisory
Counsel on Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation
Office. Coordination will be maintained with the U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG) to assure no interruption with navigation. Coordination will be
maintained with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to
assure limited interruption to highway traffic. The Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will be coordinated with to obtain Water
Quality Certification. The Texas General Land Office (GLO) will be
coordinated with on coastal management.
5. Availability of Draft EIS. The earliest that the draft EIS will
be available for public review would be in 2017. The draft EIS or a
notice of availability will be distributed to affected Federal, state,
and local agencies, Indian tribes, and other interested parties.
Dated: March 21, 2016.
Richard P. Pannell,
Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2016-07061 Filed 3-28-16; 8:45 am]
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