81 FR 42337 - The Release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Figure Eight Island Shoreline Management Project, on Figure Eight Island, New Hanover County, NC
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 125 (June 29, 2016)
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 125 (June 29, 2016)
| Page Range | 42337-42338 | |
| FR Document | 2016-15310 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 29, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 42337-42338] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-15310] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers The Release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Figure Eight Island Shoreline Management Project, on Figure Eight Island, New Hanover County, NC AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Wilmington District, Wilmington Regulatory Field Office has received a permit application for Department of the Army authorization, pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, from Figure Eight Beach Homeowners' Association Inc. (HOA) to install a terminal groin structure along Rich Inlet and to conduct a supplemental beach nourishment on approximately 4,500 linear feet of oceanfront beach and 1,400 linear feet of back barrier shoreline to protect residential homes and infrastructures along the central and northern sections of Figure Eight Island. The terminal groin structure will be placed perpendicular on the northern tip of the island along the shoulder of Rich Inlet; and the proposed source of the material for the nourishment will be dredged from an area within Nixon Channel, a back barrier channel, that has been previously used for past beach nourishment projects. In case the quantity of material from Nixon Channel is not sufficient, material pumped from (3) nearby upland disposal islands will be used to supplement the nourishment needs. The majority of the material will be disposed within the fillet area, or down shore, of the groin. Pending storm events and shoreline changes, proposed maintenance, or periodic nourishment, of the beach is once every five years, or potentially 6 separate events over the 30-year study period. Nixon Channel and the upland disposal islands are the proposed material sources for the periodic maintenance, or renourishment, events. DATES: Written comments on the FEIS must be received at (see ADDRESSES below) no later than 5 p.m. on August 1, 2016. Next Action: No less than 30 days from the release date of the FEIS, the COE will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD), which will reflect an issuance or denial of the permit request for the applicant's preferred alternative. The preferred alternative is described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. A public notice will be released upon completion and signature of the ROD. ADDRESSES: Copies of comments and questions regarding the FEIS may be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, Regulatory Division. ATTN: File Number 2006-41158, 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403. Copies of the FEIS can be reviewed on the Corps homepage at, http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPermitProgram/MajorProjects.aspx, under Figure Eight Island Terminal Groin: Corps ID #SAW-2006-41158. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action and FEIS and/or to requests receive a CD or written copies of the FEIS can be directed to Mr. Mickey Sugg, Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, telephone: (910) 251-4811 or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Project Purpose and Need. Over the past several decades, the Figure Eight Beach HOA has taken action to address the continuing oceanfront erosion problems associated with Rich Inlet and Nixon Channel erosion hot-spot on the estuarine side of the island. Past actions to protect the shorelines have provided some protection, however they are seeking a longer term solution to handle shoreline erosion in order to protect the island's $907,352,900 (based on the 2012 reappraisal) assessed property tax value. The HOAs stated needs of the project continue to be the following: (1) Reduce erosion along approximately 2.3 miles of oceanfront and 0.34 mile of back barrier shorelines, (2) Provide reasonable short-term protection to residential structures to any unpredicted shoreline change over the next five years, (3) Provide long-term protection to homes and infrastructure over the next 30 years, (4) Maintain the tax value of homes, properties, and infrastructure, (5) Use beach compatible material, (6) Maintain navigation conditions within Rich Inlet and Nixon Channel, (7) Maintain recreational resources, and (8) Balance the needs of the human environment with the protection of existing natural resources. 2. Proposed Action. Within the Town's preferred alternative, known as Alternative 5D, the installation of the terminal groin is the main component in the protection of the oceanfront shoreline. The proposed structure would be located just north of the existing homes along the southern [[Page 42338]] shoulder of Rich Inlet. Its total length would be approximately 1,500 feet, which approximately 505 feet would project seaward of the 2007 mean high water shoreline. The landward 995-foot anchor section would extend across the island and terminate near the Nixon Channel Shoreline. This section would be constructed of 14,000 to 18,000 square feet of sheet pile with the last approximate 100 feet of the anchor portion wrapped with rock. Although engineering design plans are not finalized, basic construction design of the seaward 505-foot part of the structure will be in the form of a typical rubble (rock) mound feature supported by a 1.5-foot thick stone foundation blanket. Crest height or elevation of this section is estimated to be +6.0 feet NAVD for the first 400 feet and would slope to a top elevation of +3.0 feet NAVD on the seaward end. Approximately 16,000 tons of stone would be used to construct the terminal groin. The concept design of the structure is intended to allow littoral sand transport to move over, around, and through the groin once the accretion fillet has completely filled in. Construction of the terminal groin would be kept within a corridor varying in width from 50 feet to 200 feet. Within this corridor, a 40- 70 foot wide trench would be excavated to a depth of -2.5 feet NAVD in order to construct the foundation of the landward section. The approximate 6,000 cubic yards of excavated material would be replaced on and around the structure once it's in place. Material used to build the groin would be barged down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), through Nixon Channel, and either offloaded onto a temporary loading dock or directly onto shore. It would then be transported, via dump trucks, within the designated corridor to the construction site. Material used for nourishment would be dredged, using a hydraulic cutterhead plant, from a designated borrow site within Nixon Channel, which has been previously used for beach fill needs. The proposed dredging footprint in the channel area is approximately 30 acres in size and the target depth of dredging is -11.4 feet NAVD. Approximately 294,500 cubic yards would be required for both the oceanfront (237,500 cubic yards) and the Nixon Channel shoreline (57,000 cubic yards) fill areas under the 2006 and 2012 shoreline study conditions. Beach compatible material from (3) upland disposal islands would serve as a contingency sediment source. Engineer modeling results have shown that periodic nourishment would be required approximately once every five years to maintain the beach and Nixon Channel shorelines. The combined 5-year estimated maintenance needs for both areas are 320,000 cubic yards of material under the 2006 condition and 255,000 cubic yards of material under 2012 condition, equivalent to approximately 58,000 and 45,000 cubic yards per year respectively. This material would come from the designated Nixon Channel borrow site and the (3) upland disposal areas. 3. Alternatives. Several alternatives have been identified and evaluated through the scoping process, and further detailed description of all alternatives is disclosed in Section 3.0 of the FEIS. 4. Scoping Process. To date, a public scoping meeting was held on March 1, 2007; several Project Delivery Team (PDT) meetings have been held, which were comprised of local, state, and federal government officials, local residents and nonprofit organizations; the Draft EIS was released for public comments on May 18, 2012; a Public Hearing was conducted on June 7, 2012; a Supplemental EIS was released for public comments on July 10, 2015; and a second Public Hearing was held on September 2, 2015. The COE is currently consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service Protected Resources Division under the Endangered Species Act; with U.S. Fish and Wildlife under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and have concluded consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Conservation Division under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Additionally, the FEIS assesses the potential water quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, and is coordinated with the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM) to insure consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act. The COE has coordinated closely with DCM in the development of the FEIS to ensure the process complies with the requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), as well as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FEIS has been designed to consolidate both NEPA and SEPA processes to eliminate duplications. Dated: June 22, 2016. Scott McLendon, Regulatory Division Chief, Wilmington District. [FR Doc. 2016-15310 Filed 6-28-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2016 / Notices 42337
necessary on no more than 10,000,000 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE preferred alternative is described in the
public assistance beneficiaries. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
Department of the Army, Corps of below. A public notice will be released
2. The DMDC computer database file
Engineers upon completion and signature of the
contains approximately 4.85 million
ROD.
records of active duty and retired The Release of the Final Environmental
military members, including the Reserve ADDRESSES: Copies of comments and
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Figure
and Guard, and approximately 3.68 Eight Island Shoreline Management questions regarding the FEIS may be
million records of active and retired Project, on Figure Eight Island, New addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of
non-postal Federal civilian employees. Hanover County, NC Engineers, Wilmington District,
Employee or retiree records may include Regulatory Division. ATTN: File
information on benefits payable to AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Number 2006–41158, 69 Darlington
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403. Copies
employee or retiree dependents and/or
ACTION: Notice of availability. of the FEIS can be reviewed on the
survivors. Corps homepage at, http://
3. DMDC will match the SSN on the SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/
SPAA file by computer against the Engineers (COE), Wilmington District, RegulatoryPermitProgram/
DMDC database. Matching records, Wilmington Regulatory Field Office has MajorProjects.aspx, under Figure Eight
‘‘hits’’ based on SSNs, will produce data received a permit application for Island Terminal Groin: Corps ID #SAW–
elements of the individual’s name; SSN; Department of the Army authorization, 2006–41158.
active or retired; if active, military pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
service or employing agency, and Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers Questions about the proposed action
current work or home address, and such and Harbors Act, from Figure Eight and FEIS and/or to requests receive a
other data as considered necessary. Beach Homeowners’ Association Inc. CD or written copies of the FEIS can be
(HOA) to install a terminal groin directed to Mr. Mickey Sugg,
F. INCLUSIVE DATES OF THE structure along Rich Inlet and to Wilmington Regulatory Field Office,
MATCHING PROGRAM: This computer conduct a supplemental beach telephone: (910) 251–4811 or
matching program is subject to public nourishment on approximately 4,500 mickey.t.sugg@usace.army.mil.
comment and review by Congress and linear feet of oceanfront beach and 1,400 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
the Office of Management and Budget linear feet of back barrier shoreline to 1. Project Purpose and Need. Over the
(OMB). If the mandatory 30 day period protect residential homes and past several decades, the Figure Eight
for comment has expired and no infrastructures along the central and Beach HOA has taken action to address
comments are received and if no northern sections of Figure Eight Island. the continuing oceanfront erosion
objections are raised by either Congress The terminal groin structure will be problems associated with Rich Inlet and
or the OMB within 40 days of being placed perpendicular on the northern Nixon Channel erosion hot-spot on the
notified of the proposed match, the tip of the island along the shoulder of estuarine side of the island. Past actions
computer matching program becomes Rich Inlet; and the proposed source of to protect the shorelines have provided
effective and the respective agencies the material for the nourishment will be some protection, however they are
may begin the exchange at a mutually dredged from an area within Nixon seeking a longer term solution to handle
agreeable time and thereafter on a Channel, a back barrier channel, that shoreline erosion in order to protect the
quarterly basis. By agreement between has been previously used for past beach island’s $907,352,900 (based on the
HHS and DoD, the matching program nourishment projects. In case the 2012 reappraisal) assessed property tax
will be in effect for 18 months with an quantity of material from Nixon value. The HOAs stated needs of the
option to renew for 12 additional Channel is not sufficient, material project continue to be the following: (1)
months unless one of the parties to the pumped from (3) nearby upland Reduce erosion along approximately 2.3
disposal islands will be used to miles of oceanfront and 0.34 mile of
agreement advises the other by written
supplement the nourishment needs. The back barrier shorelines, (2) Provide
request to terminate or modify the
majority of the material will be disposed reasonable short-term protection to
agreement.
within the fillet area, or down shore, of residential structures to any
G. ADDRESS FOR RECEIPT OF the groin. Pending storm events and unpredicted shoreline change over the
PUBLIC COMMENTS OR INQUIRIES: shoreline changes, proposed next five years, (3) Provide long-term
Department of Defense, Office of the maintenance, or periodic nourishment, protection to homes and infrastructure
Deputy Chief Management Officer, of the beach is once every five years, or over the next 30 years, (4) Maintain the
Directorate for Oversight and potentially 6 separate events over the tax value of homes, properties, and
Compliance, 4800 Mark Center Drive, 30-year study period. Nixon Channel infrastructure, (5) Use beach compatible
Mailbox #24, Alexandria, VA 22350– and the upland disposal islands are the material, (6) Maintain navigation
1700. proposed material sources for the conditions within Rich Inlet and Nixon
[FR Doc. 2016–15405 Filed 6–28–16; 8:45 am] periodic maintenance, or Channel, (7) Maintain recreational
renourishment, events. resources, and (8) Balance the needs of
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DATES: Written comments on the FEIS the human environment with the
must be received at (see ADDRESSES protection of existing natural resources.
below) no later than 5 p.m. on August 2. Proposed Action. Within the
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
1, 2016. Town’s preferred alternative, known as
Next Action: No less than 30 days Alternative 5D, the installation of the
from the release date of the FEIS, the terminal groin is the main component in
COE will prepare a Record of Decision the protection of the oceanfront
(ROD), which will reflect an issuance or shoreline. The proposed structure
denial of the permit request for the would be located just north of the
applicant’s preferred alternative. The existing homes along the southern
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![42338 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2016 / Notices
shoulder of Rich Inlet. Its total length be required approximately once every DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
would be approximately 1,500 feet, five years to maintain the beach and
which approximately 505 feet would Nixon Channel shorelines. The Department of the Navy
project seaward of the 2007 mean high combined 5-year estimated maintenance
water shoreline. The landward 995-foot needs for both areas are 320,000 cubic Notice of Public Meeting on the
anchor section would extend across the yards of material under the 2006 Environmental Assessment
island and terminate near the Nixon condition and 255,000 cubic yards of Addressing the Consolidation and
Channel Shoreline. This section would material under 2012 condition, Renovation at Marine Corps Forces
be constructed of 14,000 to 18,000 equivalent to approximately 58,000 and Reserve Center Brooklyn, New York
square feet of sheet pile with the last 45,000 cubic yards per year AGENCY: Department of the Navy,
approximate 100 feet of the anchor respectively. This material would come Department of Defense.
portion wrapped with rock. Although from the designated Nixon Channel ACTION: Notice.
engineering design plans are not borrow site and the (3) upland disposal
finalized, basic construction design of areas. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
the seaward 505-foot part of the Environmental Policy Act of 1969
structure will be in the form of a typical 3. Alternatives. Several alternatives
have been identified and evaluated (NEPA) (42 United States Code [U.S.C.]
rubble (rock) mound feature supported Sections 4321–4370h); the Council on
by a 1.5-foot thick stone foundation through the scoping process, and further
detailed description of all alternatives is Environmental Quality (CEQ)
blanket. Crest height or elevation of this regulations for implementing the
section is estimated to be +6.0 feet disclosed in Section 3.0 of the FEIS.
procedural provisions of NEPA (Title 40
NAVD for the first 400 feet and would 4. Scoping Process. To date, a public Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts
slope to a top elevation of +3.0 feet scoping meeting was held on March 1, 1500–1508); Department of the Navy
NAVD on the seaward end. 2007; several Project Delivery Team (DoN) Procedures for Implementing
Approximately 16,000 tons of stone (PDT) meetings have been held, which NEPA (32 CFR part 775); and Marine
would be used to construct the terminal were comprised of local, state, and Corps Order P5090.2A, the United
groin. The concept design of the federal government officials, local States Marine Corps Forces Reserve
structure is intended to allow littoral residents and nonprofit organizations; (MARFORRES) has prepared an
sand transport to move over, around, the Draft EIS was released for public Environmental Assessment (EA)
and through the groin once the accretion comments on May 18, 2012; a Public assessing the potential environmental
fillet has completely filled in. Hearing was conducted on June 7, 2012; impacts from the consolidation of
Construction of the terminal groin a Supplemental EIS was released for approximately 55 full-time active duty
would be kept within a corridor varying public comments on July 10, 2015; and and 549 reserve staff and their
in width from 50 feet to 200 feet. Within a second Public Hearing was held on equipment from the Armed Forces
this corridor, a 40–70 foot wide trench September 2, 2015. Reserve Center Farmingdale and Marine
would be excavated to a depth of ¥2.5
The COE is currently consulting with Forces Reserve Center Garden City to
feet NAVD in order to construct the
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Marine Corps Reserve Center Brooklyn.
foundation of the landward section. The
the National Marine Fisheries Service Additionally, MARFORRES would
approximate 6,000 cubic yards of
excavated material would be replaced Protected Resources Division under the implement several associated facility
on and around the structure once it’s in Endangered Species Act; with U.S. Fish and infrastructure improvements at
place. Material used to build the groin and Wildlife under the Fish and MCRC Brooklyn, including a new utility
would be barged down the Atlantic Wildlife Coordination Act, and have corridor. Based on the EA analysis we
Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), through concluded consultation with the are proposing to issue a Finding of No
Nixon Channel, and either offloaded National Marine Fisheries Service Significant Impact (FONSI) determining
onto a temporary loading dock or Habitat Conservation Division under the that an Environmental Impact Statement
directly onto shore. It would then be Magnuson-Stevens Act. Additionally, (EIS) is not required.
transported, via dump trucks, within the the FEIS assesses the potential water With the filing of the EA, the DON is
designated corridor to the construction quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 initiating a 30-day public comment
site. of the Clean Water Act, and is period and has scheduled a public open
Material used for nourishment would coordinated with the North Carolina house to receive written comments on
be dredged, using a hydraulic Division of Coastal Management (DCM) the EA. Federal, state, and local
cutterhead plant, from a designated to insure consistency with the Coastal agencies and interested individuals are
borrow site within Nixon Channel, Zone Management Act. The COE has invited to attend the open house. This
which has been previously used for coordinated closely with DCM in the notice announces the date and location
beach fill needs. The proposed dredging development of the FEIS to ensure the of the open house, and supplementary
footprint in the channel area is process complies with the requirements information about the environmental
approximately 30 acres in size and the of the State Environmental Policy Act planning effort.
target depth of dredging is ¥11.4 feet (SEPA), as well as the National DATES: The EA public 30-day review
NAVD. Approximately 294,500 cubic Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The period begins June 20, 2016.
yards would be required for both the FEIS has been designed to consolidate MARFORRES will hold an open house
oceanfront (237,500 cubic yards) and both NEPA and SEPA processes to for the public to learn about the project
the Nixon Channel shoreline (57,000 eliminate duplications. and ask questions on Wednesday, June
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
cubic yards) fill areas under the 2006 Dated: June 22, 2016.
29, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at
and 2012 shoreline study conditions. the Aviator Sports Club on Floyd
Scott McLendon, Bennett Field.
Beach compatible material from (3)
upland disposal islands would serve as Regulatory Division Chief, Wilmington The DON will consider all comments
a contingency sediment source. District. received on the EA when preparing the
Engineer modeling results have [FR Doc. 2016–15310 Filed 6–28–16; 8:45 am] Final EA. The DON expects to issue the
shown that periodic nourishment would BILLING CODE 3720–58–P Final EA in August 2016, at which time
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Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:42:38
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:42:38
| 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. | |
| Contact | Questions about the proposed action and FEIS and/or to requests receive a CD or written copies of the FEIS can be directed to Mr. Mickey Sugg, Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, telephone: (910) 251-4811 or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 42337 |
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