80 FR 79868 - Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement To Evaluate Improvements to the Mobile Harbor Federal Navigation Channel, Mobile, Alabama
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 246 (December 23, 2015)
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 246 (December 23, 2015)
| Page Range | 79868-79869 | |
| FR Document | 2015-32117 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 246 (Wednesday, December 23, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 79868-79869] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-32117] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement To Evaluate Improvements to the Mobile Harbor Federal Navigation Channel, Mobile, Alabama AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) to address the potential impacts associated with improving the Mobile Harbor Federal Navigation Channel in Mobile County, AL. The DSEIS will be used as a basis for ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and evaluating alternative plans including the ``No Action.'' The proposed alternatives identified in the Alternatives Milestone analysis will be evaluated including widening and deepening of selected areas of the navigation channel within the currently authorized dimensions. DATES: The scoping meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held at the Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal, 201 S. Water Street, Mobile, AL 36602. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the DSEIS should be addressed to Mr. Larry Parson, Coastal Environment Team, Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36628 by telephone (251) 690-3139 or email him at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. As Authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 and per the 1981 Chief's Report for Mobile Harbor, Alabama, the major components of the project are as follows: (a) Deepen and widen entrance channel over the bar to 57 by 700 feet, a distance of about 7.4 miles, (b) deepen and widen Mobile Bay Channel from mouth of bay to south of Mobile River, 55 by 550 feet, a distance of about 27.0 miles, (c) deepen and widen an additional 4.2 miles of Mobile Bay Channel to 55 by 650 feet, (d) provide 55[hyphen]foot deep anchorage area and turning basin in vicinity of Little Sand Island, and (e) deepening the Mobile River channel to 55 feet to a point about 1 mile below the Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 highway tunnels. Also, per the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 [[Page 79869]] CROmnibus (Pub. L. 113[hyphen]235): Sec. 110, the Limited Reevaluation Report (LRR) initiated in FY 2012 for the Mobile Harbor, Alabama navigation project shall include evaluation of the full depth of the project as authorized under section 201 of Public Law 99[hyphen]662 (110 Stat. 4090) at the same non[hyphen]Federal share of the cost as in the design agreement executed on August 14, 2012. 2. The evaluation will examine the costs and benefits as well as the environmental impacts of modifying the maintained dimensions of the existing Federal project within its authorized limits. The purpose of the study will be to determine improvements for safety and efficiency of harbor users. Vessels are experiencing delays leaving and arriving at port facilities and inefficiencies have increased as the volume of cargo has grown and larger vessels call on the port to handle the increased cargo. Construction of Mobile Harbor to 45[hyphen]foot depth was completed in FY 1994. The construction depth was limited to 45 feet because the sponsor did not have the funds to construct to the fully authorized depth. A 1300[hyphen]foot extension in the river channel was a separable element new start with the Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) signed in FY 98 and construction completed in FY 2000. A 1200[hyphen]foot and a 2100[hyphen]foot extension in the river channel were also separable element new starts with the PPA signed in FY 2004 and work completed in FY 2008. The Turning Basin was also a separable element new start with the PPA signed in FY 2009 and construction completed in August 2010. Due to traffic changes, vessel delays began being experienced into and out of the port as traffic was limited to one[hyphen]way as larger ships transited the channel. The Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) requested that the Corps consider widening a portion of the authorized channel to allow two[hyphen]way traffic to reduce delays. Subsequently, the Corps initiated an LRR to consider widening a portion of the upper bay channel. The design agreement for the LRR was executed on August 14, 2012. After initial analysis and coordination with the ASPA and its users, the design agreement for the LRR was amended on April 14, 2014 to account for a change in location for the proposed widening to include an approximate 5-mile section of the lower bay channel up to the authorized width of 550 feet and to widen an approximate 2-mile section of the bar channel to its authorized width of 700 feet (all work within the existing project authorization). On June 12, 2014, the ASPA requested that the Corps undertake additional studies to determine the feasibility of deepening and widening the channel to its full authorized depths and widths. Per letter dated October 20, 2014, the Assistant Secretary of the Army (ASA) approved the direction of General Investigation funds to complete Preconstruction Engineering and Design for the channel widening for Mobile Harbor to initiate a General Reevaluation Report (GRR) to evaluate deepening and widening of the channel to its full authorized dimensions. This letter also directed the Corps to halt all work on the LRR being prepared for the widening project. 3. Scoping: a. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open communication on the issues surrounding the proposal. All Federal, State, and local agencies, and other persons or organizations that have an interest are urged to participate in the NEPA scoping process. Public meetings will be held to help identify significant issues and to receive public input and comment. b. The DSEIS will analyze the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts to the local area resulting from improvements to the Mobile Harbor Navigation Project. Specifically, the following major issues will be analyzed in depth in the DSEIS: Hydrologic and hydraulic regimes, water quality, effects on natural resources, sediment transport, threatened and endangered species, essential fish habitat and other marine habitat, air quality, cultural resources, transportation systems, alternatives, secondary and cumulative impacts, socioeconomic impacts, environmental justice (effect on minorities and low-income groups) (Executive Order 12898), and protection of children (Executive Order 13045). c. The Corps will serve as the lead Federal agency in the preparation of the DSEIS. It is anticipated that the following agencies will be invited and will accept cooperating agency status for the preparation of the DSEIS: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Alabama State Port Authority, Alabama Secretary of State, and Alabama State Historic Preservation Office. 4. The scoping meeting will be held on (see DATES and ADDRESSES). Actual time(s) and place(s) for subsequent meetings or workshops will be announced by the Corps by issuance of a public notice and/or notices in the local media. 5. It is anticipated that the DSEIS will be made available for public review in July 2018. Curtis M. Flakes, Chief, Planning and Environmental Division. [FR Doc. 2015-32117 Filed 12-22-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![79868 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 246 / Wednesday, December 23, 2015 / Notices
employee, the issuance of a security manager, granted by Information DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
clearance, the reporting of an Technology Management Directorate to
investigation of an employee, the letting a secure computer application database Department of the Army, Corps of
of a contract, or the issuance of a and are Common Access Card enabled. Engineers
license, grant, or other benefit by the Users receive annual Privacy Act and
requesting agency, to the extent that the information assurance training, and Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental
information is relevant and necessary to only those individuals with an official Environmental Impact Statement To
the requesting agency’s decision on the ‘‘need to know’’ are provided access. Evaluate Improvements to the Mobile
matter. Back-up data and/or paper copies are Harbor Federal Navigation Channel,
stored in a locked room and cabinet. Mobile, Alabama
DISCLOSURE TO THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL
Access to this room is controlled by AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
MANAGEMENT ROUTINE USE:
building badge and swipe access Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
A record from a system of records granted by the security manager. Access ACTION: Notice of intent.
subject to the Privacy Act and to locked cabinet is controlled by
maintained by a DoD Component may system manager.’’ SUMMARY: The Mobile District, U.S.
be disclosed to the Office of Personnel Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
* * * * *
Management (OPM) concerning intends to prepare a Draft Supplemental
information on pay and leave, benefits, SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS: Environmental Impact Statement
retirement deduction, and any other Delete entry and replace with (DSEIS) to address the potential impacts
information necessary for the OPM to ‘‘Assistant Director, Military Personnel associated with improving the Mobile
carry out its legally authorized Division, Human Resources Directorate, Harbor Federal Navigation Channel in
government-wide personnel Washington Headquarters Services, Mobile County, AL. The DSEIS will be
management functions and studies. Department of Defense, 1155 Defense used as a basis for ensuring compliance
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301– with the National Environmental Policy
DATA BREACH REMEDIATION PURPOSES ROUTINE
USE: 1155.’’ Act (NEPA) and evaluating alternative
plans including the ‘‘No Action.’’ The
A record from a system of records NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE: proposed alternatives identified in the
maintained by a Component may be Delete entry and replace with Alternatives Milestone analysis will be
disclosed to appropriate agencies, ‘‘Individuals seeking to determine evaluated including widening and
entities, and persons when (1) The whether information about themselves deepening of selected areas of the
Component suspects or has confirmed is contained in this system should navigation channel within the currently
that the security or confidentiality of the address written inquiries to Military authorized dimensions.
information in the system of records has Personnel Division, Human Resources DATES: The scoping meeting will be held
been compromised; (2) the Component Directorate, Washington Headquarters on Tuesday, January 12, 2015 from 5:00
has determined that as a result of the Services, Department of Defense, 1155 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
suspected or confirmed compromise Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC
there is a risk of harm to economic or ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be
20301–1155. held at the Mobile Alabama Cruise
property interests, identity theft or Signed, written request must include
fraud, or harm to the security or Terminal, 201 S. Water Street, Mobile,
the individual’s name, grade, service, AL 36602.
integrity of this system or other systems and SSN.’’
or programs (whether maintained by the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Component or another agency or entity) RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES: Questions about the DSEIS should be
that rely upon the compromised Delete entry and replace with addressed to Mr. Larry Parson, Coastal
information; and (3) the disclosure ‘‘Individuals seeking access to Environment Team, Mobile District,
made to such agencies, entities, and information about themselves contained U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box
persons is reasonably necessary to assist in this system should address written 2288, Mobile, AL 36628 by telephone
in connection with the Components inquiries to Military Personnel Division, (251) 690–3139 or email him at
efforts to respond to the suspected or Human Resources Directorate, larry.e.parson@usace.army.mil.
confirmed compromise and prevent, Washington Headquarters Services, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
minimize, or remedy such harm. Department of Defense, 1155 Defense 1. As Authorized in the Water
The DoD Blanket Routine Uses set Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301–1155. Resources Development Act of 1986 and
forth at the beginning of the Office of Signed, written request must include per the 1981 Chief’s Report for Mobile
the Secretary of Defense (OSD) the name and number of this system of Harbor, Alabama, the major components
compilation of systems of records records notice, along with the of the project are as follows: (a) Deepen
notices may apply to this system. The individual’s name, grade, service, and and widen entrance channel over the
complete list of DoD Blanket Routine SSN.’’ bar to 57 by 700 feet, a distance of about
Uses can be found online at: http:// 7.4 miles, (b) deepen and widen Mobile
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
dpcld.defense.gov/Privacy/ Bay Channel from mouth of bay to south
SORNsIndex/BlanketRoutineUses.aspx. Delete entry and replace with ‘‘The of Mobile River, 55 by 550 feet, a
OSD rules for accessing records, for distance of about 27.0 miles, (c) deepen
* * * * * contesting contents and appealing and widen an additional 4.2 miles of
RETRIEVABILITY: initial agency determinations are Mobile Bay Channel to 55 by 650 feet,
published in Office of Secretary of
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Delete entry and replace with (d) provide 55-foot deep anchorage area
‘‘Information is retrieved by last name of Defense Administrative Instruction 81; and turning basin in vicinity of Little
recipient, SSN, grade, and/or service.’’ 32 CFR part 311; or may be obtained Sand Island, and (e) deepening the
from the system manager.’’ Mobile River channel to 55 feet to a
SAFEGUARDS: * * * * * point about 1 mile below the Interstate
Delete entry and replace with [FR Doc. 2015–32286 Filed 12–22–15; 8:45 am] 10 and U.S. 90 highway tunnels. Also,
‘‘Accesses are authorized by system BILLING CODE 5001–06–P per the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 246 / Wednesday, December 23, 2015 / Notices 79869
CROmnibus (Pub. L. 113-235): Sec. 110, undertake additional studies to meetings or workshops will be
the Limited Reevaluation Report (LRR) determine the feasibility of deepening announced by the Corps by issuance of
initiated in FY 2012 for the Mobile and widening the channel to its full a public notice and/or notices in the
Harbor, Alabama navigation project authorized depths and widths. Per letter local media.
shall include evaluation of the full dated October 20, 2014, the Assistant 5. It is anticipated that the DSEIS will
depth of the project as authorized under Secretary of the Army (ASA) approved be made available for public review in
section 201 of Public Law 99-662 (110 the direction of General Investigation July 2018.
Stat. 4090) at the same non-Federal funds to complete Preconstruction
Curtis M. Flakes,
share of the cost as in the design Engineering and Design for the channel
widening for Mobile Harbor to initiate a Chief, Planning and Environmental Division.
agreement executed on August 14, 2012.
General Reevaluation Report (GRR) to [FR Doc. 2015–32117 Filed 12–22–15; 8:45 am]
2. The evaluation will examine the
costs and benefits as well as the evaluate deepening and widening of the BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
environmental impacts of modifying the channel to its full authorized
maintained dimensions of the existing dimensions. This letter also directed the
Corps to halt all work on the LRR being DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Federal project within its authorized
limits. The purpose of the study will be prepared for the widening project.
3. Scoping: Department of the Navy
to determine improvements for safety
a. The Corps invites full public [Docket ID: USN–2015–HQ–0017]
and efficiency of harbor users. Vessels
participation to promote open
are experiencing delays leaving and Privacy Act of 1974; System of
communication on the issues
arriving at port facilities and Records
surrounding the proposal. All Federal,
inefficiencies have increased as the State, and local agencies, and other
volume of cargo has grown and larger AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
persons or organizations that have an
vessels call on the port to handle the interest are urged to participate in the ACTION:Notice to add a new System of
increased cargo. Construction of Mobile NEPA scoping process. Public meetings Records.
Harbor to 45-foot depth was completed will be held to help identify significant
in FY 1994. The construction depth was SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy
issues and to receive public input and proposes to add a new system of
limited to 45 feet because the sponsor comment.
did not have the funds to construct to records, N05220–1, entitled ‘‘Data
b. The DSEIS will analyze the Warehouse Business Intelligence
the fully authorized depth. A 1300-foot potential social, economic, and
extension in the river channel was a System (DWBIS)’’ to be used as a
environmental impacts to the local area management tool for statistical analysis,
separable element new start with the resulting from improvements to the
Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) tracking, reporting, and to increase
Mobile Harbor Navigation Project.
signed in FY 98 and construction program effectiveness; to direct the
Specifically, the following major issues
completed in FY 2000. A 1200-foot and workforce education, training, skills,
will be analyzed in depth in the DSEIS:
a 2100-foot extension in the river and experience needed to develop and
Hydrologic and hydraulic regimes,
channel were also separable element deploy key Information Dominance
water quality, effects on natural
new starts with the PPA signed in FY systems for Naval and DoD programs
resources, sediment transport,
2004 and work completed in FY 2008. assigned to this Command; and to
threatened and endangered species,
The Turning Basin was also a separable analyze the correct staffing needed for
essential fish habitat and other marine
element new start with the PPA signed key products supported by the
habitat, air quality, cultural resources,
in FY 2009 and construction completed Command. This system of records will
transportation systems, alternatives,
in August 2010. Due to traffic changes, secondary and cumulative impacts, rely on selected information collected
vessel delays began being experienced socioeconomic impacts, environmental from other authorized personnel and
into and out of the port as traffic was justice (effect on minorities and low- financial systems of records to manage
limited to one-way as larger ships income groups) (Executive Order the development of its Acquisition
transited the channel. The Alabama 12898), and protection of children Workforce, Cyber Security, and
State Port Authority (ASPA) requested (Executive Order 13045). Information Dominance workforce.
that the Corps consider widening a c. The Corps will serve as the lead DATES: Comments will be accepted on or
portion of the authorized channel to Federal agency in the preparation of the before January 22, 2016. This proposed
allow two-way traffic to reduce delays. DSEIS. It is anticipated that the action will be effective the day
Subsequently, the Corps initiated an following agencies will be invited and following the end of the comment
LRR to consider widening a portion of will accept cooperating agency status for period unless comments are received
the upper bay channel. The design the preparation of the DSEIS: U.S. which result in a contrary
agreement for the LRR was executed on Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. determination.
August 14, 2012. After initial analysis Fish and Wildlife Service, National ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
and coordination with the ASPA and its Marine Fisheries Service, Department of identified by docket number and title,
users, the design agreement for the LRR Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal by any of the following methods:
was amended on April 14, 2014 to Emergency Management Agency, U.S. * Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://
account for a change in location for the Department of Transportation, Alabama www.regulations.gov. Follow the
proposed widening to include an Department of Environmental instructions for submitting comments.
approximate 5-mile section of the lower Management, Alabama Department of * Mail: Department of Defense, Office
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
bay channel up to the authorized width Conservation and Natural Resources, of the Deputy Chief Management
of 550 feet and to widen an approximate Alabama State Port Authority, Alabama Officer, Directorate of Oversight and
2-mile section of the bar channel to its Secretary of State, and Alabama State Compliance, Regulatory and Audit
authorized width of 700 feet (all work Historic Preservation Office. Matters Office, 9010 Defense Pentagon,
within the existing project 4. The scoping meeting will be held Washington, DC 20301–9010.
authorization). On June 12, 2014, the on (see DATES and ADDRESSES). Actual Instructions: All submissions received
ASPA requested that the Corps time(s) and place(s) for subsequent must include the agency name and
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Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:21:37
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:21:37
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent. | |
| Dates | The scoping meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. | |
| Contact | Questions about the DSEIS should be | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 79868 |
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