[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32306-32307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15194]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplement I to the Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Wilimington Harbor Channel Widening,
New Hanover and Brunswick Counties, NC
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Wilimington Harbor is an approximately 31-mile-long Federal
navigation project located along the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear
Rivers in southeastern North Carolina. Local interests, represented by
the North Carolina State Ports Authority, the North Carolina Division
of Water Resources, and the Cape Fear River Pilots Association, have
requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study the following
improvements for Wilmington Harbor: (1) construction of a 6.2-mile-long
passing lane at a central location between the North Carolina State
Port and the mouth of the Cape Fear River; and (2) widening of five
turns. This recommended plan may require the blasting of nondredgeable
rock. Possible adverse impacts could occur to endangered species,
primary nursery areas, and anadromous fish migrations. This Draft
Supplement I to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) will
address the effects of blasting on the estuarine environment and
develop a post-blast monitoring plan. Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers is looking at alternative disposal areas for dredged
material.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the Draft Supplement I to the FEIS can be answered by:
Mr. Hugh Heine, Environmental Resources Section, at the U.S. Army
Engineer District, Wilmington, Post Office Box 1890, Wilmington, North
Carolina 28402-1890; telephone: (910) 251-4070.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This study was conducted under authority of
a resolution adopted 8 September 1988 by the Committee on Public Works
and Transportation of the United States House of Representatives. The
authorizing resolution directs studies of the entire Wilmington Harbor-
Northeast Cape Fear River navigation system. A Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) was filed with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) on August 13, 1993, and was circulated for a
45-day public review period. Comments received on the DEIS were
addressed in the FEIS. The FEIS was filed with USEPA in April 1994. The
Record of Decision was signed on August 25, 1994.
1. As indicated in both the DEIS and FEIS, the principal adverse
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action stem
primarily from the blasting required to remove any nondredegeable rock.
Possible adverse impacts could occur to endangered species, primary
nursery areas, and anadromous fish migrations. Since the publication of
the DEIS and FEIS, it is estimated from core borings, the most recent
geophysical surveys, and historical data that the top of rock is below
minus (-) 41 feet mean lower low water (mllw) for Turn 1, the 6.2-mile-
long passing lane (which includes Turn 5), and Turn 6. However, this
same data indicates that the top of rock is located above -41 feet mllw
for Turns [[Page 32307]] 2, 3, and 4 (from Keg Island Channel to Lower
Brunswick Channel). As a worst case, it is estimated that such
nondredgeable rock comprises less than 35,000 cubic yards or about 5
percent of all material to be dredged in Turns 2, 3, and 4.
Approximately 122 blasts would be required to remove the nondredgeable
rock. This assumes that the maximum number of holes per day would be
drilled and then fired together as a unit making up one blast.
Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is looking at
alternative disposal areas for dredged material originally planned to
be placed in disposal island Nos. 4, 11, 12, and 13. The Draft
Supplement I to the FEIS will address these environmental issues and
develop a post-blast monitoring plan.
2. The project will utilize mechanical dredging with disposal in
the USEPA designated Wilmington Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site
(Wilmington ODMDS) and hydraulic pipeline dredge with disposal in
existing upland disposal islands.
3. All private interests and Federal, State, and local agencies
having an interest in the project are hereby notified of project
authorization and are invited to comment at this time. The scoping
process will consist of public notification to explain and describe the
proposed action, early identification of resources that should be
considered during the study, and public review periods. Coordination
with the public and with other agencies will be carried out through
public announcements, letters, report review periods, telephone
conversations, and meetings. A scoping letter requesting input to the
study will be sent to all known interested parties in June 1995. As
previously stated, the significant issues to be addressed in the Draft
Supplement I to the Final EIS are the blasting impacts on endangered
species, primary nursery areas, and anadromous fish migrations and the
development of a post-blast monitoring plan. Also to be considered will
be the effect of alternative disposal areas for the project.
The lead agency for this project is the U.S. Army Engineer
District, Wilmington. Cooperating agency status has not been assigned
to, nor requested by, any other agency.
The Draft Supplement I to the Final EIS is being prepared in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended, and will address the project's relationship to
all other applicable Federal and State laws and Executive Orders.
4. No formal scoping meetings are planned at this time but, based
on the responses received, scoping meetings may be held with specific
agencies or individuals as required.
5. The Draft Supplement I to the Final EIS is currently scheduled
for distribution to the public in October 1995 and the Final Supplement
I to the Final EIS is scheduled for distribution in December 1996.
Dated: June 9, 1995.
Robert J. Sperberg,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 95-15194 Filed 6-20-95; 8:45 am]
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