81 FR 40346 - Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Herring River Restoration Project, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 119 (June 21, 2016)
National Park Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 119 (June 21, 2016)
| Page Range | 40346-40347 | |
| FR Document | 2016-14570 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 21, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 40346-40347] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-14570] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS-NER-CACO-21002; PPWONRADE PMP00IE05.YP0000] Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Herring River Restoration Project, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Herring River Restoration Project in Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. The FEIS provides a systematic analysis of alternative approaches to restore the Herring River estuary to a more productive and natural condition after a century of diking and draining. DATES: The NPS will execute a Record of Decision not sooner than 30 days after the date of publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency. ADDRESSES: Electronic versions of the complete document are available online at http://www.nps.gov/caco/ and http://parkplanning.nps.gov/herring_river. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George E. Price, Jr., Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02267; telephone (508) 771-2144. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Herring River Restoration Project is a joint project of the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Town of Wellfleet, the Town of Truro, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The purpose of this project is to restore self-sustaining coastal habitats on a large portion of the 1,100-acre Herring River estuary in Wellfleet and Truro, Massachusetts, where wetland resources and natural ecosystem functions have been severely damaged by 100 years of tidal restriction and salt marsh drainage. The goal is to balance tidal restoration objectives with flood control by allowing the highest tide range practicable while also ensuring flood proofing and protection of vulnerable properties. The Herring River is the largest estuary on outer Cape Cod, encompassing more than 1,100 acres of degraded wetlands in a complex network of five valleys: The Herring River, Mill Creek, Pole Dike Creek, Bound Brook, and Duck Harbor. The Chequessett Neck Road dike was built in 1908 at the mouth of the Herring River to restrict natural tidal flows. Ditches were constructed to drain the normally saturated flood plain soil. The once extensive salt marshes have been transformed into stands of invasive plants, shrubby thickets, and forests. The old salt marsh peat, deprived of the tides, has decomposed and compressed, sinking the surface of the flood plain as much as three feet. The decomposition of peat has released sulfuric acid that kills fish and other aquatic life, and low summertime dissolved oxygen has also harmed aquatic life. The FEIS analyzes three action alternatives and the no action alternative, as described below: Alternative A would leave in place the current tide control structure at Chequessett Neck Road and continue management of the estuary without restoration. Alternative B would employ an adaptive management strategy to restore tides in the lower reach of the Herring River up to a maximum high tide of approximately six feet. At this tide level flood mitigation of sensitive properties can be achieved without a secondary dike at Mill Creek. Alternative C would employ an adaptive management strategy to restore tides up to the maximum Chequessett Neck Road dike capacity (10 foot vertical tide gate opening) with a new dike at Mill Creek that blocks all tidal influence. This alternative would maximize restoration in all sub-basins except Mill Creek. Mill Creek would remain unrestored, but no new flood proofing measures would be needed in Mill Creek. Alternative D would employ an adaptive management strategy to restore tides up to the maximum Chequessett Neck Road dike capacity (10 foot vertical tide gate opening) with a new dike at Mill Creek and Pole Dike Creek. Mill Creek and Pole Dike Creek tides would be controlled by these secondary structures to the maximum levels that can be achieved after flood proofing several low-lying properties. Tidal restoration would be maximized in all other sub-basins. For Alternatives B and D, two options are considered for mitigating project impacts to the Chequessett Yacht & Country Club (CYCC) golf course, a private golf course in Mill Creek: (1) Raise low-lying fairways a minimum of two feet above proposed inundation levels, or (2) relocate low-lying fairways to an undeveloped upland area owned by CYCC. Under all Action Alternatives, there is the potential for the restoration of natural tidal flow to result in impacts to private properties. Any such impacts would be addressed through mitigation measures such as raising or relocating affected buildings, driveways or wells, building berms to protect structures, and/or limiting water levels across entire sub-basins. The cost of these impact mitigation measures will be borne by the Project. Water surface [[Page 40347]] elevations within any sub-basin will not be increased until the necessary impact mitigation is in place. Alternative D, with the option to raise existing low-lying fairways a minimum of two feet above proposed inundation levels, has been identified as the NPS Preferred Alternative. This alternative best fulfills the restoration objectives of the project while mitigating adverse impacts to developed properties. In response to agency and public comment, several aspects of the alternatives have been updated in chapter 2 of the FEIS. Key updates include adding a tide control structure at the Pole Dike Creek Road and refining options for preventing tidal flow impacts to High Toss Road. Also, design details have progressed on other key project components, including the proposed new Chequessett Neck Road dike and Mill Creek dikes. Relevant updates have been added to the alternatives description, including information about staging area locations and canoe/kayak access. Updates have also been made to key parts of Chapters 3 and 4, including a revised vegetation analysis that allows improved estimates of impacts to special status species habitat, updated information about newly-listed federal species (Northern Long- eared Bat and Red Knot), and dismissal of changes to FEMA flood insurance maps. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. Dated: June 2, 2016. Michael A. Caldwell, Regional Director, National Park Service, Northeast Region. [FR Doc. 2016-14570 Filed 6-20-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-WV-P
![40346 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 119 / Tuesday, June 21, 2016 / Notices
with Mr. Fischer. You will receive a ACTION: Notice of Availability. sinking the surface of the flood plain as
reply during normal hours. much as three feet. The decomposition
SUMMARY: The National Park Service of peat has released sulfuric acid that
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
(NPS) announces the availability of a kills fish and other aquatic life, and low
closure affects public lands including
Final Environmental Impact Statement summertime dissolved oxygen has also
and surrounding Skinny Dipper Hot
(FEIS) for the Herring River Restoration harmed aquatic life.
Springs, located approximately 4 miles
Project in Cape Cod National Seashore, The FEIS analyzes three action
east of Banks, Idaho. The affected public
Massachusetts. The FEIS provides a alternatives and the no action
lands are:
systematic analysis of alternative alternative, as described below:
all public land north of Idaho State approaches to restore the Herring River Alternative A would leave in place
Highway 17, also known as the Banks- estuary to a more productive and the current tide control structure at
Lowman Highway, in Lot 3; Section 25, T. 9 natural condition after a century of Chequessett Neck Road and continue
N., R. 3 E., Boise Meridian, Boise County,
Idaho, containing approximately 41.58 acres.
diking and draining. management of the estuary without
DATES: The NPS will execute a Record restoration.
The closure is necessary to allow the of Decision not sooner than 30 days Alternative B would employ an
BLM to rehabilitate and restore natural after the date of publication of the NOA adaptive management strategy to restore
conditions damaged by unauthorized in the Federal Register by the tides in the lower reach of the Herring
use and development around the hot Environmental Protection Agency. River up to a maximum high tide of
springs. approximately six feet. At this tide level
ADDRESSES: Electronic versions of the
The BLM will post closure signs at flood mitigation of sensitive properties
complete document are available online
main access points to the closed area can be achieved without a secondary
at http://www.nps.gov/caco/ and http://
and the area used for parking located dike at Mill Creek.
parkplanning.nps.gov/herring_river.
adjacent to the highway. This closure Alternative C would employ an
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
order will be posted in the Boise District adaptive management strategy to restore
BLM office. Maps of the affected area George E. Price, Jr., Superintendent, tides up to the maximum Chequessett
and other documents associated with Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Neck Road dike capacity (10 foot
this closure are available at 3948 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA vertical tide gate opening) with a new
Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 02267; telephone (508) 771–2144. dike at Mill Creek that blocks all tidal
83705 and online at http:// SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The influence. This alternative would
www.blm.gov/id. Herring River Restoration Project is a maximize restoration in all sub-basins
Exemptions: The following persons joint project of the Cape Cod National except Mill Creek. Mill Creek would
are exempt from this order: Federal, Seashore, the Town of Wellfleet, the remain unrestored, but no new flood
State, and local officers and employees Town of Truro, the Massachusetts proofing measures would be needed in
in the performance of their official Division of Ecological Restoration, the Mill Creek.
duties; members of organized rescue or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alternative D would employ an
fire-fighting forces in the performance of National Oceanic and Atmospheric adaptive management strategy to restore
their official duties; and persons with Administration, and the Natural tides up to the maximum Chequessett
written authorization from the BLM’s Resource Conservation Service. The Neck Road dike capacity (10 foot
Four Rivers Field Office. purpose of this project is to restore self- vertical tide gate opening) with a new
Enforcement: Any person who sustaining coastal habitats on a large dike at Mill Creek and Pole Dike Creek.
violates this closure may be tried before portion of the 1,100-acre Herring River Mill Creek and Pole Dike Creek tides
a United States Magistrate and fined in estuary in Wellfleet and Truro, would be controlled by these secondary
accordance with 18 U.S.C. 3571, Massachusetts, where wetland resources structures to the maximum levels that
imprisoned no more than 12 months and natural ecosystem functions have can be achieved after flood proofing
under 43 U.S.C. 1733(a) and 43 CFR been severely damaged by 100 years of several low-lying properties. Tidal
8560.0–7, or both. In accordance with tidal restriction and salt marsh drainage. restoration would be maximized in all
43 CFR 8365.1–7, State or local officials The goal is to balance tidal restoration other sub-basins.
may also impose penalties for violations objectives with flood control by For Alternatives B and D, two options
of Idaho law. allowing the highest tide range are considered for mitigating project
practicable while also ensuring flood impacts to the Chequessett Yacht &
Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1.
proofing and protection of vulnerable Country Club (CYCC) golf course, a
Tate Fischer, properties. private golf course in Mill Creek: (1)
BLM Four Rivers Field Manager. The Herring River is the largest Raise low-lying fairways a minimum of
[FR Doc. 2016–14575 Filed 6–20–16; 8:45 am] estuary on outer Cape Cod, two feet above proposed inundation
BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
encompassing more than 1,100 acres of levels, or (2) relocate low-lying fairways
degraded wetlands in a complex to an undeveloped upland area owned
network of five valleys: The Herring by CYCC.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR River, Mill Creek, Pole Dike Creek, Under all Action Alternatives, there is
Bound Brook, and Duck Harbor. The the potential for the restoration of
National Park Service Chequessett Neck Road dike was built natural tidal flow to result in impacts to
in 1908 at the mouth of the Herring private properties. Any such impacts
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[NPS–NER–CACO–21002; PPWONRADE River to restrict natural tidal flows. would be addressed through mitigation
PMP00IE05.YP0000] Ditches were constructed to drain the measures such as raising or relocating
Final Environmental Impact Statement normally saturated flood plain soil. The affected buildings, driveways or wells,
for the Herring River Restoration once extensive salt marshes have been building berms to protect structures,
Project, Cape Cod National Seashore, transformed into stands of invasive and/or limiting water levels across
Massachusetts plants, shrubby thickets, and forests. entire sub-basins. The cost of these
The old salt marsh peat, deprived of the impact mitigation measures will be
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. tides, has decomposed and compressed, borne by the Project. Water surface
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 119 / Tuesday, June 21, 2016 / Notices 40347
elevations within any sub-basin will not 029, Probable Economic Effect of requirements set out in section 103(a) of
be increased until the necessary impact Certain Modifications to the U.S.-Chile the Act is that the President obtain
mitigation is in place. FTA Rules of Origin. advice regarding the proposed action
Alternative D, with the option to raise DATES: July 11, 2016: Deadline for filing from the U.S. International Trade
existing low-lying fairways a minimum written submissions. Commission.
of two feet above proposed inundation August 24, 2016: Transmittal of In the request letter, the USTR asked
levels, has been identified as the NPS Commission report to USTR. that the Commission provide advice on
Preferred Alternative. This alternative ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, the probable economic effect of the
best fulfills the restoration objectives of including the Commission’s hearing modifications on U.S. trade under the
the project while mitigating adverse rooms, are located in the United States FTA, total U.S. trade, and on domestic
impacts to developed properties. International Trade Commission producers of the affected articles. He
In response to agency and public Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, asked that the Commission provide its
comment, several aspects of the DC. All written submissions should be advice at the earliest possible date but
alternatives have been updated in addressed to the Secretary, United not later than three months of receipt of
chapter 2 of the FEIS. Key updates States International Trade Commission, the request. He also asked that the
include adding a tide control structure 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC Commission issue, as soon as possible
at the Pole Dike Creek Road and refining 20436. The public record for this thereafter, a public version of its report
options for preventing tidal flow investigation may be viewed on the with any confidential business
impacts to High Toss Road. Also, design Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS) information deleted. The products
details have progressed on other key at https://www.usitc.gov/secretary/ identified in the proposal are certain
project components, including the edis.htm. woven fabrics of artificial filament yarn
proposed new Chequessett Neck Road provided for in subheadings 5408.22–
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
dike and Mill Creek dikes. Relevant 5408.23 of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff
Project leader Laura Rodriguez (202– Schedule. The request letter and the
updates have been added to the
205–3499 or laura.rodriguez@usitc.gov) proposed modification are available on
alternatives description, including for information specific to this
information about staging area locations the Commission’s Web site at https://
investigation. For information on the www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/
and canoe/kayak access. Updates have legal aspects of this investigation,
also been made to key parts of Chapters what_we_are_working_on.htm. As
contact William Gearhart of the requested, the Commission will provide
3 and 4, including a revised vegetation Commission’s Office of the General
analysis that allows improved estimates its advice to USTR by August 24, 2016.
Counsel (202–205–3091 or Written Submissions: No public
of impacts to special status species william.gearhart@usitc.gov). The media
habitat, updated information about hearing is planned. However, interested
should contact Margaret O’Laughlin, parties are invited to file written
newly-listed federal species (Northern Office of External Relations (202–205–
Long-eared Bat and Red Knot), and submissions. All written submissions
1819 or margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov). should be addressed to the Secretary,
dismissal of changes to FEMA flood Hearing-impaired individuals may
insurance maps. and should be received not later than
obtain information on this matter by 5:15 p.m., July 11, 2016. All written
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. contacting the Commission’s TDD submissions must conform with the
Dated: June 2, 2016. terminal at 202–205–1810. General provisions of section 201.8 of the
Michael A. Caldwell, information concerning the Commission Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Regional Director, National Park Service,
may also be obtained by accessing its Procedure (19 CFR 201.8). Section 201.8
Northeast Region. Internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). and the Commission’s Handbook on
[FR Doc. 2016–14570 Filed 6–20–16; 8:45 am]
Persons with mobility impairments who Filing Procedures require that interested
will need special assistance in gaining parties file documents electronically on
BILLING CODE 4310–WV–P
access to the Commission should or before the filing deadline and submit
contact the Office of the Secretary at eight (8) true paper copies by 12:00 p.m.
202–205–2000. eastern time on the next business day.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the event that confidential treatment
COMMISSION
Background: In his request letter of a document is requested, interested
[Investigation No. U.S.-Chile FTA–103–029] (received May 24, 2016), the USTR parties must file, at the same time as the
stated that U.S. negotiators have eight paper copies, at least four (4)
Probable Economic Effect of Certain recently reached agreement in principle additional true paper copies in which
Modifications to the U.S.-Chile FTA with representatives of the government the confidential information must be
Rules of Origin of Chile on modifications to the FTA deleted (see the following paragraph for
AGENCY: United States International rules of origin. He said that the further information regarding
Trade Commission. proposed modifications are the result of confidential business information).
ACTION: Institution of investigation and determinations that U.S. and Chilean Persons with questions regarding
notice of opportunity to provide written producers are unable to produce rayon electronic filing should contact the
comments. filament yarns in commercial quantities Office of the Secretary, Docket Services
in a timely manner. The USTR noted Division (202–205–1802).
SUMMARY: Following receipt on May 24, that section 202(o)(2)(B)(i) of the Act Confidential Business Information:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
2016, of a request from the U.S. Trade authorizes the President, subject to the Any submissions that contain
Representative (USTR), under authority consultation and layover requirements confidential business information must
delegated by the President and pursuant of section 103(a) of the Act, to proclaim also conform with the requirements of
to section 103(a) of the United States- such modifications to the rules of origin section 201.6 of the Commission’s Rules
Chile Free Trade Agreement provisions as are necessary to of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR
Implementation Act (the Act) (19 U.S.C. implement an agreement with Chile 201.6). Section 201.6 of the rules
3805 note), the Commission instituted pursuant to Article 3.20.5 of the requires that the cover of the document
investigation No. U.S.-Chile FTA–103– Agreement. He noted that one of the and the individual pages be clearly
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Document Created: 2016-06-21 01:30:40
Document Modified: 2016-06-21 01:30:40
| 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 Availability. | |
| Dates | The NPS will execute a Record of Decision not sooner than 30 days after the date of publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency. | |
| Contact | George E. Price, Jr., Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02267; telephone (508) 771-2144. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 40346 |
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