81 FR 44599 - Intent To Prepare an Integrated Feasibility/Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Tinian Harbor Modifications Project, Island of Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 131 (July 8, 2016)
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 131 (July 8, 2016)
| Page Range | 44599-44600 | |
| FR Document | 2016-16188 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 44599-44600] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-16188] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare an Integrated Feasibility/Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Tinian Harbor Modifications Project, Island of Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), DoD. ACTION: Notice of Intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the section 102(2) (C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Municipality of Tinian (Municipality)/Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) gives notice that an Integrated Feasibility/Environmental Impact Statement (F/EIS) is being prepared for the Proposed Tinian Harbor Modifications Project, Island of Tinian, CNMI. This project is authorized under section 209 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87-874) and will consider the implementation of navigation improvements at Tinian Harbor. DATES: In order to be considered in the Draft F/EIS, comments and suggestions should be received within 30 days after the last public scoping meeting. Two public scoping meetings will be held in Saipan and Tinian in mid/late July 2016. A separate notice will be published for meeting times and places. ADDRESSES: Mail written comments concerning this notice to: Mr. Milton Yoshimoto, Project Manager, Civil and Public Works Branch, Honolulu District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Civil and Public Works Branch, Bldg 230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858. Comment letters should include the commenter's physical mailing address and the project title in the subject line. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Milton Yoshimoto, Civil and Public Works Branch, Honolulu District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bldg 230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858, (808) 835-4034, Email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with NEPA, the Corps intends to prepare an F/EIS report. The primary Federal actions under consideration are: (1) Navigation improvement measures that expand the turning basin; (2) surge reduction measures by constructing protective structures at both harbors; and (3) dredging harbor sediments to allow larger vessels access to the harbor. The F/EIS reports shall meet the requirements of NEPA, including all applicable federal regulations implementing those statutes. Evaluation will examine the costs and benefits of this project, as well as the environmental impacts of modifying the maintained dimensions of the existing harbor. The purpose of this effort is to conduct a study to assess the technical, environmental and economic feasibility in the implementation of navigation improvement at Tinian Harbor. Project Site and Background Information: Tinian Harbor is the sole commercial harbor servicing the island of Tinian, CNMI and is owned and maintained by the CPA. Due to its isolation, the harbor is extremely important for the continual flow and transit of goods and materials for the small island community. The CNMI is threatened annually by typhoons and tropical storms which has resulted in the deterioration of the protective breakwater and harbor facilities. Failure of the breakwater would result in complete closure of the harbor, requiring costly air transport as the only remaining option to deliver essential commodities to the island. The project will focus on the repair/reconfiguration of the breakwater and an incremental analysis of the harbor depth to assure safe and efficient operation of commercial vessels. Proposed Action(s): The study reports will assess the technical, environmental and economic feasibility in the implementation of navigation improvement. These include: (1) Navigation improvement measures that expand the federal turning basin; (2) surge reduction measures by constructing protective structures; and (3) expand and deepen the harbor basin and entrance channel to accommodate larger vessels by dredging. Issues: Potentially significant issues associated with the project may include: aesthetics/visual impacts, air quality emissions, biological resource impacts, environmental justice, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, noise, traffic and transportation, and cumulative impacts from past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects. Scoping Process: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking participation and input of all interested federal, state, and local agencies, Native American groups, and other concerned private organizations or individuals on the scope of the F/EIS through this public notice. The purpose of the public scoping meeting is to solicit comments regarding the potential impacts, environmental issues, and alternatives associated with the proposed action to be considered in the study report. The meeting place, date, and time will be advertised in advance in local newspapers, and meeting announcement letters will be sent to interested parties. The draft F/EIS is expected to be available for public review and comment in the summer of 2017 and a public meeting will be held after its publication. [[Page 44600]] Dated: July 1, 2016. Christopher W. Crary, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer. [FR Doc. 2016-16188 Filed 7-7-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 131 / Friday, July 8, 2016 / Notices 44599
sites, which would be expected ACTION: Notice of Intent. in the implementation of navigation
regardless of the alternative selected. improvement at Tinian Harbor.
Operation of the East Campus SUMMARY: Pursuant to the section 102(2) Project Site and Background
Integration Program would be expected (C) of the National Environmental Information: Tinian Harbor is the sole
to result in long-term, negligible to Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; the U.S. commercial harbor servicing the island
moderate impacts on land use, noise, air Army Corps of Engineers and the of Tinian, CNMI and is owned and
quality, geological resources, water Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana maintained by the CPA. Due to its
resources, biological resources, Islands (CNMI), Municipality of Tinian isolation, the harbor is extremely
infrastructure, sustainability, hazardous (Municipality)/Commonwealth Ports important for the continual flow and
materials and waste, and socioeconomic Authority (CPA) gives notice that an transit of goods and materials for the
resources. Major impacts on Integrated Feasibility/Environmental small island community. The CNMI is
transportation (levels of service) would Impact Statement (F/EIS) is being threatened annually by typhoons and
occur during operation; however, traffic prepared for the Proposed Tinian tropical storms which has resulted in
impacts are considered major under the Harbor Modifications Project, Island of the deterioration of the protective
existing conditions as levels of service Tinian, CNMI. This project is authorized breakwater and harbor facilities. Failure
are already degraded. under section 209 of the Rivers and of the breakwater would result in
Best Management Practices and Harbors Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87–874) complete closure of the harbor,
Mitigation Measures: The Proposed and will consider the implementation of requiring costly air transport as the only
Action has the potential to result in navigation improvements at Tinian remaining option to deliver essential
adverse environmental impacts. The Harbor. commodities to the island. The project
Proposed Action includes best will focus on the repair/reconfiguration
DATES: In order to be considered in the
management practices, mitigation of the breakwater and an incremental
Draft F/EIS, comments and suggestions
measures, and design concepts to avoid analysis of the harbor depth to assure
should be received within 30 days after
adverse impacts to the extent safe and efficient operation of
the last public scoping meeting. Two
practicable. Unavoidable impacts would commercial vessels.
public scoping meetings will be held in Proposed Action(s): The study reports
be minimized or compensated for to the Saipan and Tinian in mid/late July
extent practicable. In accordance with will assess the technical, environmental
2016. A separate notice will be and economic feasibility in the
Council on Environmental Quality published for meeting times and places.
regulations, mitigation measures are implementation of navigation
ADDRESSES: Mail written comments improvement. These include: (1)
considered for adverse environmental
impacts. concerning this notice to: Mr. Milton Navigation improvement measures that
Copies of the Draft EIS are available Yoshimoto, Project Manager, Civil and expand the federal turning basin; (2)
for public review at local repositories Public Works Branch, Honolulu District, surge reduction measures by
and by request (see ADDRESSES). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Civil and constructing protective structures; and
DoD invites public and agency input on Public Works Branch, Bldg 230, Fort (3) expand and deepen the harbor basin
the Draft EIS. Please submit comments Shafter, Hawaii 96858. Comment letters and entrance channel to accommodate
and materials during the 45-day public should include the commenter’s larger vessels by dredging.
review period to allow sufficient time physical mailing address and the project Issues: Potentially significant issues
for consideration in development of the title in the subject line. associated with the project may include:
Final EIS (see DATES). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. aesthetics/visual impacts, air quality
The DoD will consider all comments Milton Yoshimoto, Civil and Public emissions, biological resource impacts,
received and then prepare the Final EIS. Works Branch, Honolulu District, U.S. environmental justice, hazards and
As with the Draft EIS, DoD will Army Corps of Engineers, Bldg 230, Fort hazardous materials, hydrology and
announce the availability of the Final Shafter, Hawaii 96858, (808) 835–4034, water quality, noise, traffic and
EIS and once again give you an Email: milton.t.yoshimoto@ transportation, and cumulative impacts
opportunity for review and comment. usace.army.mil. from past, present, and reasonably
foreseeable future projects.
Dated: July 5, 2016. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In Scoping Process: The U.S. Army
Aaron Siegel, accordance with NEPA, the Corps Corps of Engineers is seeking
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison intends to prepare an F/EIS report. The participation and input of all interested
Officer, Department of Defense. primary Federal actions under federal, state, and local agencies, Native
[FR Doc. 2016–16175 Filed 7–7–16; 8:45 am] consideration are: (1) Navigation American groups, and other concerned
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P improvement measures that expand the private organizations or individuals on
turning basin; (2) surge reduction the scope of the F/EIS through this
measures by constructing protective public notice. The purpose of the public
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE structures at both harbors; and (3) scoping meeting is to solicit comments
dredging harbor sediments to allow regarding the potential impacts,
Department of the Army, Corps of larger vessels access to the harbor. The environmental issues, and alternatives
Engineers F/EIS reports shall meet the associated with the proposed action to
requirements of NEPA, including all be considered in the study report. The
Intent To Prepare an Integrated
applicable federal regulations meeting place, date, and time will be
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Feasibility/Environmental Impact
implementing those statutes. advertised in advance in local
Statement for the Proposed Tinian
Evaluation will examine the costs and newspapers, and meeting
Harbor Modifications Project, Island of
benefits of this project, as well as the announcement letters will be sent to
Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern
environmental impacts of modifying the interested parties. The draft F/EIS is
Mariana Islands
maintained dimensions of the existing expected to be available for public
AGENCY:Department of the Army, U.S. harbor. The purpose of this effort is to review and comment in the summer of
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), conduct a study to assess the technical, 2017 and a public meeting will be held
DoD. environmental and economic feasibility after its publication.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:00 Jul 07, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM 08JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_44730/page/1.svg)
![44600 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 131 / Friday, July 8, 2016 / Notices
Dated: July 1, 2016. intends to prepare an F/EIS report. The private organizations or individuals on
Christopher W. Crary, primary Federal actions under the scope of the F/EIS through this
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District consideration are: (1) Navigation public notice. The purpose of the public
Engineer. improvement measures that expand the scoping meeting is to solicit comments
[FR Doc. 2016–16188 Filed 7–7–16; 8:45 am] federal turning basin; (2) surge regarding the potential impacts,
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P reduction measures by constructing environmental issues, and alternatives
protective structures at both harbors; associated with the proposed action to
and (3) expand and deepen the harbor be considered in the study report. The
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE basin and entrance channel to meeting place, date, and time will be
accommodate larger vessels by advertised in advance in local
Department of the Army, Corps of dredging. The F/EIS reports shall meet newspapers, and meeting
Engineers the requirements of NEPA, including all announcement letters will be sent to
applicable federal regulations interested parties. The draft F/EIS report
Intent To Prepare an Integrated implementing those statutes. is expected to be available for public
Feasibility/Environmental Impact Evaluation will examine the costs and review and comment in the summer of
Statement for the Proposed Rota benefits of this project, as well as the 2017 and a public meeting will be held
Harbor Modifications Project, Island of environmental impacts of modifying the after its publication.
Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern maintained dimensions of the existing
Mariana Islands Dated: July 1, 2016.
Federal project within its authorized
limits. The purpose of this effort is to Christopher W. Crary,
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
conduct a study to assess the technical, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer.
DoD. environmental, and economic feasibility
in the implementation of navigation [FR Doc. 2016–16189 Filed 7–7–16; 8:45 am]
ACTION: Notice of intent.
improvement at Rota Harbor. BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the section 102(2) Project Site and Background
(C) of National Environmental Policy Information: Since its construction in
Act (NEPA) of 1969; the U.S. Army 1985, users of the Rota West Harbor DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Corps of Engineers and the have experienced problems with
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana navigation within the entrance channel [Docket No.: ED–2016–ICCD–0081]
Islands (CMNI), Municipality of Rota and with vessels docked at the piers
Agency Information Collection
(Municipality)/Commonwealth Ports attributable to adverse wave conditions
Activities; Comment Request; Program
Authority (CPA) gives notice that an and the current harbor configuration. As
for the International Assessment of
Integrated Feasibility/Environmental recently as late 2013, there have been
Adult Competencies (PIAAC) 2017
Impact Statement (F/EIS) report is being periods when the harbor has shut down
and cargo flown to the island at a National Supplement
prepared for the Proposed Rota Harbor
Modifications Project, Island of Rota, considerable cost to the island residents. AGENCY: National Center for Education
CNMI. This project is authorized under The project will evaluate wave action Statistics (NCES), Department of
section 209 of the Rivers and Harbors within the harbor and identify Education (ED).
Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87–874) and will modifications to general navigations ACTION: Notice.
consider the implementation of features to improve operating
navigation improvements at Rota inefficiency and safe navigation and SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Harbor. address the need to expand the harbor Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
DATES: In order to be considered in the
basin to accommodate larger vessels. U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is
Proposed Action(s): The study reports proposing a reinstatement of a
Draft F/EIS, comments and suggestions
will assess the technical, environmental previously approved information
should be received within 30 days after
and economic feasibility in the collection.
the last public scoping meeting. Two
implementation of navigation
public scoping meetings will be held in DATES: Interested persons are invited to
improvement. These include: (1)
Saipan and Rota in mid/late July 2016. submit comments on or before
Navigation improvement measures that
A separate notice will be published for September 6, 2016.
expand the federal turning basin; (2)
meeting times and places. ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
surge reduction measures by
ADDRESSES: Mail written comments documents related to the information
constructing protective structures; and
concerning this notice to: Mr. Milton (3) dredging harbor sediments to allow collection listed in this notice, please
Yoshimoto, Project Manager, Civil and larger vessels access to the harbor. use http://www.regulations.gov by
Public Works Branch, Honolulu District, Issues: Potentially significant issues searching the Docket ID number ED–
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bldg. associated with the project may include: 2016–ICCD–0081. Comments submitted
230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858. aesthetics/visual impacts, air quality in response to this notice should be
Comment letters should include the emissions, biological resource impacts, submitted electronically through the
commenter’s physical mailing address environmental justice, hazards and Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://
and the project title in the subject line. hazardous materials, hydrology and www.regulations.gov by selecting the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. water quality, noise, traffic and Docket ID number or via postal mail,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Milton Yoshimoto, Project Manager, transportation, and cumulative impacts commercial delivery, or hand delivery.
Civil and Public Works Branch, from past, present and reasonably Please note that comments submitted by
Honolulu District, U.S. Army Corps of foreseeable future projects. fax or email and those submitted after
Engineers, Bldg. 230, Fort Shafter, Scoping Process: The U.S. Army the comment period will not be
Hawaii 96858, (808) 835–4034, E-Mail: Corps of Engineers is seeking accepted. Written requests for
milton.t.yoshimoto@usace.army.mil. participation and input of all interested information or comments submitted by
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In federal, state, and local agencies, Native postal mail or delivery should be
accordance with NEPA, the Corps American groups, and other concerned addressed to the Director of the
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:00 Jul 07, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM 08JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_44730/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2016-07-08 00:18:02
Document Modified: 2016-07-08 00:18:02
| 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 | In order to be considered in the Draft F/EIS, comments and suggestions should be received within 30 days after the last public scoping meeting. Two public scoping meetings will be held in Saipan and Tinian in mid/late July 2016. A separate notice will be published for meeting times and places. | |
| Contact | Mr. Milton Yoshimoto, Civil and Public Works Branch, Honolulu District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bldg 230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858, (808) 835-4034, Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 44599 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR