[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 2804-2805] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-1458] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 2805]] DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) for Harbor Improvements at St. Paul, AK AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The proposed action includes deepening and widening the Federal entrance channel and maneuvering channels in St. Paul Harbor, St. Paul Island, Alaska and reducing damage caused by storm waves overtopping the existing breakwater. Dredging and dredged material disposal alternatives will be addressed with respect to fish and wildlife resources and social and cultural aspects. Breakwater overtopping prevention alternatives include submerged reef breakwater, construction of a breakwater toe, and placement of additional larger stones. Potential impacts associated with the proposed action include impacts to Salt Lagoon, impacts on least auklet nesting habitat, and water quality degradation to Salt Lagoon and Village Cove. The rock quarry for the breakwater overtopping alternatives will not be specified. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action and DSEIS can be answered by: Mr. Guy McConnell, Chief, Environmental Resources Section, Alaska District Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 898, Anchorage, Alaska 99506-0898, or phone (907) 753-2641. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A previous draft and final Environmental Impact Statement was written for this project in 1982. The Record of Decision was signed in 1983. The project was not built until 1989. Several environmental assessments were prepared and distributed for public review assessing changes in the original project design. The harbor was designed to support a fishing fleet one-third the size of the current operating fleet, and it also lacks moorage for smaller boats. The harbor was not intended to have any floating or shore-based processing plants. The project design was 100 feet with a 12-foot unladen draft. The harbor currently serves a fleet of 230 transient vessels during the crabbing season, with three onshore processors and up to 27 floating processors in the immediate area of the harbor (within 3 miles). The design vessel for the proposed project is 350 feet long with a 23-foot draft. The present entrance channel and maneuvering channels are not adequate to safety accommodate these vessels. The DSEIS will analyze the new harbor and breakwater alternatives, and other alternatives that may surface during the scoping process. Much of the information contained in the previous EIS and EAs will be incorporated by reference. The final EIS will be made available. Scoping of the EIS will include coordination with the interested local, State, and Federal agencies, the local public, native concerns, and other interested parties. Scoping meetings are planned for Anchorage and St. Paul Island. Anticipated subjects to be addressed include, but are not limited to: water quality, Salt Lagoon, alcid nesting habitat, tideland fills, wetlands, rock quarry issues, and measures to minimize adverse impacts. The expected completion date of the DSEIS is spring 1996. Gregory D. Showalter, Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 96-1458 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-NL-M