[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25659-25660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09997]
[[Page 25659]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) for the Installation of a Terminal Groin Structure at
the Eastern End of Ocean Isle Beach, Extending Into the Atlantic Ocean,
West of Shallotte Inlet (Brunswick County, NC)
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 Corps of Engineers (USACE), Wilmington District,
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office has received a request for
Department of the Army authorization, pursuant to Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbor Act, from the
Town of Ocean Isle Beach to install a terminal groin structure on the
east side of Ocean Isle Beach, extending into the Atlantic Ocean, just
west of Shallotte Inlet. The structure will be designed to function in
concert with the Federal storm damage reduction project.
DATES: The public commenting period on the FEIS will end at 5 p.m., May
31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Copies of comments and questions regarding the FEIS may be
submitted to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Wilmington
District, Regulatory Division, c/o Mr. Tyler Crumbley. ATTN: File
Number SAW-2011-01241, 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and FEIS can be directed to Mr. Tyler Crumbley, Wilmington Regulatory
Field Office, telephone: (910) 251-4170, facsimile (910) 251-4025, or
email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Project Description. The Town of Ocean Isle Beach is seeking
Federal and State authorization for construction of a terminal groin,
and associated beach fillet with required maintenance, to be located at
the eastern end of Ocean Isle Beach. The proposed terminal groin and
beach fillet is the Town's preferred alternative (#5) of five
alternatives considered in this document. Under the preferred
alternative, the terminal groin would extend 750-feet seaward, and 300-
feet shoreward, of the April 2007 mean high water shoreline. The
seaward section would be constructed with loosely placed armor stone to
facilitate the movement of sand past the structure. The shoreward
anchorage section would be constructed with sheet pile which would have
a top elevation varying from +4.9 feet NAVD to +4.5 feet NAVD.
The proposed terminal groin is one of four such structures approved
by the General Assembly to be constructed in North Carolina following
passing of Senate Bill (SB) 110. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) determined that there is sufficient information to conclude
that the project would result in significant adverse impact on the
human environment, and has prepared an FEIS pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate the environmental effects
of the alternatives considering the project's purpose and need. The
purpose and need of the proposed terminal groin and beach fillet is to
provide shoreline protection that would mitigate chronic erosion on the
eastern portion on the Town's oceanfront shoreline so as to preserve
the integrity of its infrastructure, provide protection to existing
development, and ensure the continued use of the oceanfront beach along
this area.
2. Issues. There are several potential environmental and public
interest issues that are addressed in the FEIS. Public interest issues
include, but are not limited to, the following: public safety,
aesthetics, recreation, navigation, infrastructure, solid waste,
economics, and noise pollution. Additional issues may be identified
during the public review process and addressed in the Record of
Decision (ROD). Issues initially identified as potentially significant
include:
a. Potential impacts to marine biological resources (benthic
organisms, passageway for fish and other marine life) and Essential
Fish Habitat.
b. Potential impacts to threatened and endangered marine mammals,
reptiles, birds, fish, and plants.
c. Potential for effects/changes to Ocean Isle beach, Holden Beach,
Sunset Beach, and Shallotte inlet, respectively.
d. Potential impacts to navigation.
e. Potential effects on regional sand sources and sand management
practices, including the Federal (Ocean Isle Beach storm damage
reduction) project.
f. Potential effects of shoreline protection.
g. Potential impacts on public health and safety.
h. Potential impacts to recreational and commercial fishing.
i. Potential impacts to cultural resources.
j. Potential impacts to future dredging and nourishment activities.
3. Alternatives. Several alternatives are being considered for the
proposed project. These alternatives, including the No Action
alternative, were further formulated and developed during the scoping
process and considered in the FEIS. A summary of alternatives under
consideration are provided below:
a. Alternative 1--No Action (Continue Current Management Practices)
b. Alternative 2--Abandon/Retreat
c. Alternative 3--Beach Fill Only (Including Federal Project)
d. Alternative 4--Shallotte Inlet Bar Channel Realignment with Beach
Fill (Including Federal Project)
e. Alternative 5--Terminal Groin with Beach Fill (Including Federal
Project)/Applicants Preferred Alternative
4. Scoping Process. Project Review Team meetings were held to
receive comments and assess concerns regarding the appropriate scope
and preparation of the FEIS. Federal, state, and local agencies and
other interested organizations and persons participated in these
Project Review Team meetings.
The Corps has completed consultation with the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service pursuant
to the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act. The Corps has also completed consultation with the National Marine
Fisheries Service pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act and Endangered
Species Act. The Corps has coordinated with the State Department of
Cultural Resources pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
Potential water quality concerns have been addressed pursuant to
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act through coordination with the North
Carolina Divisions of Coastal Management (DCM) and Water Resources
(DWR). This coordination will insure consistency with the Coastal Zone
Management Act and project compliance with water quality standards. The
Corps has coordinated closely with DCM in the development of the FEIS
to ensure the process complies with State Environmental Policy Act
(SEPA) requirements, as well as the NEPA requirements. The FEIS has
been designed to consolidate both NEPA and SEPA processes to eliminate
duplications.
5. Evaluation/Release of the Draft EIS (DEIS). The DEIS was
released on January 23, 2015, and a Public Hearing was held on February
24, 2015. Comments received from the DEIS have been addressed and made
part of the FEIS. No less than 30 days from the date of release of the
FEIS, the Corps will prepare a ROD to support a permit decision on the
applicant's preferred
[[Page 25660]]
alternative in accordance with NEPA and our program regulations. The
ROD will address the Public Interest Review criteria, the Section
404(B)1 Guidelines (used to implement Section 404 of the Clean Water
Act), and related Federal Laws (i.e., Endangered Species Act, National
Historic Preservation Act, and the Magnuson Stevens Fisheries
Conservation and Management Act) in addition to applicable Executive
Orders, and other regulatory policies.
6. Availability of the FEIS. This NOA announces that the FEIS has
been released and will be circulated for 30 days from the date of this
NOA. The FEIS for the proposal can be found at the following link under
Major Projects/Town of Ocean Isle Terminal Groin Project: http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPermitProgram/MajorProjects.
Dated: April 20, 2016.
Scott McLendon,
Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-09997 Filed 4-28-16; 8:45 am]
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