[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 44600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16189]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Integrated Feasibility/Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Rota Harbor Modifications Project, Island of
Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the section 102(2) (C) of National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CMNI), Municipality of
Rota (Municipality)/Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) gives notice
that an Integrated Feasibility/Environmental Impact Statement (F/EIS)
report is being prepared for the Proposed Rota Harbor Modifications
Project, Island of Rota, CNMI. This project is authorized under section
209 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87-874) and will
consider the implementation of navigation improvements at Rota Harbor.
DATES: In order to be considered in the Draft F/EIS, comments and
suggestions should be received within 30 days after the last public
scoping meeting. Two public scoping meetings will be held in Saipan and
Rota in mid/late July 2016. A separate notice will be published for
meeting times and places.
ADDRESSES: Mail written comments concerning this notice to: Mr. Milton
Yoshimoto, Project Manager, Civil and Public Works Branch, Honolulu
District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bldg. 230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii
96858. Comment letters should include the commenter's physical mailing
address and the project title in the subject line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Milton Yoshimoto, Project Manager,
Civil and Public Works Branch, Honolulu District, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Bldg. 230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858, (808) 835-4034, E-
Mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with NEPA, the Corps intends
to prepare an F/EIS report. The primary Federal actions under
consideration are: (1) Navigation improvement measures that expand the
federal turning basin; (2) surge reduction measures by constructing
protective structures at both harbors; and (3) expand and deepen the
harbor basin and entrance channel to accommodate larger vessels by
dredging. The F/EIS reports shall meet the requirements of NEPA,
including all applicable federal regulations implementing those
statutes.
Evaluation will examine the costs and benefits of this project, as
well as the environmental impacts of modifying the maintained
dimensions of the existing Federal project within its authorized
limits. The purpose of this effort is to conduct a study to assess the
technical, environmental, and economic feasibility in the
implementation of navigation improvement at Rota Harbor.
Project Site and Background Information: Since its construction in
1985, users of the Rota West Harbor have experienced problems with
navigation within the entrance channel and with vessels docked at the
piers attributable to adverse wave conditions and the current harbor
configuration. As recently as late 2013, there have been periods when
the harbor has shut down and cargo flown to the island at a
considerable cost to the island residents. The project will evaluate
wave action within the harbor and identify modifications to general
navigations features to improve operating inefficiency and safe
navigation and address the need to expand the harbor basin to
accommodate larger vessels.
Proposed Action(s): The study reports will assess the technical,
environmental and economic feasibility in the implementation of
navigation improvement. These include: (1) Navigation improvement
measures that expand the federal turning basin; (2) surge reduction
measures by constructing protective structures; and (3) dredging harbor
sediments to allow larger vessels access to the harbor.
Issues: Potentially significant issues associated with the project
may include: aesthetics/visual impacts, air quality emissions,
biological resource impacts, environmental justice, hazards and
hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, noise, traffic and
transportation, and cumulative impacts from past, present and
reasonably foreseeable future projects.
Scoping Process: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking
participation and input of all interested federal, state, and local
agencies, Native American groups, and other concerned private
organizations or individuals on the scope of the F/EIS through this
public notice. The purpose of the public scoping meeting is to solicit
comments regarding the potential impacts, environmental issues, and
alternatives associated with the proposed action to be considered in
the study report. The meeting place, date, and time will be advertised
in advance in local newspapers, and meeting announcement letters will
be sent to interested parties. The draft F/EIS report is expected to be
available for public review and comment in the summer of 2017 and a
public meeting will be held after its publication.
Dated: July 1, 2016.
Christopher W. Crary,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2016-16189 Filed 7-7-16; 8:45 am]
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