81 FR 72787 - Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Jasper Ocean Terminal in Jasper County, South Carolina

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 204 (October 21, 2016)

Page Range		72787-72788
FR Document		2016-25519

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Charleston District intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the potential social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed construction and operation of a marine container terminal by the Jasper Ocean Terminal (JOT) Joint Venture, a partnership between the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA). In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is the lead Federal agency responsible for the preparation of the EIS. Information included in the EIS will serve as the basis for the Corps' evaluation of the proposed marine container terminal pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The EIS will assess the potential effects of the proposed project and a range of reasonable project alternatives on impacts to navigable waters and other waters of the United States. The EIS will also provide information for Federal, State, and local agencies having other jurisdictional responsibility.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 204 (Friday, October 21, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72787-72788]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25519]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Jasper Ocean Terminal in Jasper County, South Carolina

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Charleston District 
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess 
the potential social, economic, and environmental effects of the 
proposed construction and operation of a marine container terminal by 
the Jasper Ocean Terminal (JOT) Joint Venture, a partnership between 
the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and the South Carolina Ports 
Authority (SCPA). In accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), the Corps is the lead Federal agency responsible for the 
preparation of the EIS. Information included in the EIS will serve as 
the basis for the Corps' evaluation of the proposed marine container 
terminal pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) and 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The EIS will assess the 
potential effects of the proposed project and a range of reasonable 
project alternatives on impacts to navigable waters and other waters of 
the United States. The EIS will also provide information for Federal, 
State, and local agencies having other jurisdictional responsibility.

DATES: Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting has not been 
scheduled; however, a local public notice will be issued by the 
Charleston District, and a meeting announcement will be published in 
local newspapers once the date and location for the scoping meeting has 
been determined. Individuals and organizations that are interested in 
the proposed JOT or whose interests may be affected by the proposed 
work are encouraged to attend the scoping meeting to submit oral and/or 
written comments to the Charleston District.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about the proposed project or the NEPA process, please 
contact Mr. Nat Ball, the Corps Project Manager, by telephone: 843-329-
8044 or toll-free 1-866-329-8187, or by mail: Mr. Nat Ball, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, 69-A Hagood Avenue, Charleston, South Carolina 
29403.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps is evaluating a proposal from the 
JOT Joint Venture in accordance with Section 404 of the CWA, Section 10 
of the RHA, and NEPA. Based on the available information, the Corps has 
determined that the proposed JOT has the potential to significantly 
affect the quality of the human and natural environment, and therefore 
warrants the preparation of an EIS. Additional information about the 
proposed project and the NEPA process is available on the project Web 
site at: www.JasperOceanTerminalEIS.com.
    1. Description of the Proposed Project. According to the JOT Joint 
Venture, the Ports of Charleston and Savannah are expected to 
experience limitations and inefficiencies as a result of the forecasted 
growth in demand for containerized cargo within the region served by 
the two existing ports over the next 35 years. As a result, the JOT 
Joint Venture has proposed to construct and operate a state of the art 
marine container terminal on an approximately 1,500-acre site in Jasper 
County, South

[[Page 72788]]

Carolina. The proposed JOT would be located across the Savannah River 
from Elba Island, Georgia, and would increase the region's capacity to 
efficiently handle the forecasted cargo.
    The proposed JOT would include a pile supported wharf designed to 
accommodate Neo-Panamax containerships, a container storage yard, an 
intermodal rail yard, gate facilities to process entering and existing 
over the road truck traffic, administrative buildings, and equipment 
service facilities. The proposed JOT would also include elements common 
to other types of industrial sites, such as a water tower, underground 
utilities, electrical substations, backup generators, high-mast 
lighting, stormwater management facilities, perimeter fencing, and 
parking areas for employees and other personal vehicles.
    Proposed transportation and utility improvements that would serve 
the proposed JOT include a 4-lane divided highway to connect the JOT to 
U.S. Highway 17, a double track rail corridor to connect the JOT's 
intermodal rail yard to existing CSX Transportation and Norfolk 
Southern rail lines, a new rail bridge across the Savannah River, and 
utility lines and intermediary facilities to connect to existing 
services (water, sewer, electricity, etc). Likewise, navigation 
improvements associated with the proposed JOT include new work and 
maintenance dredging of berths, an access channel, and a turning basin 
to provide vessel access to the terminal, and shoreline stabilization, 
bulkhead, and wharf construction adjacent to the existing Savannah 
Harbor federal navigation channel.
    According to the JOT Joint Venture, a separate feasibility study 
will evaluate the costs and benefits of modifications to the existing 
Savannah Harbor Federal navigation channel. Should this feasibility 
study or the Corps' analysis of the proposed JOT determine that 
modifications to the federal navigation channel are required to operate 
the proposed marine container terminal, potential impacts to the human 
and natural environment (e.g., aquatic resources) associated with any 
navigational improvements will be evaluated and included in the EIS for 
the proposed JOT.
    2. Alternatives. A range of reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
action will be identified, and fully evaluated in the EIS, including: 
The No-Action Alternative, the applicant's proposed alternative, and 
alternatives that may result in avoidance and minimization of impacts; 
however, this list in not exclusive and additional alternatives may be 
considered for inclusion.
    3. Scoping and Public Involvement Process. A scoping meeting will 
be conducted to gather information on the scope of the project and the 
alternatives to be addressed in the EIS. Additional public and agency 
involvement will be sought through the implementation of a public 
involvement plan and agency coordination.
    4. Significant issues. Issues and potential impacts associated with 
the proposed JOT that are likely to be given detailed analysis in the 
EIS include, but are not necessarily limited to: Existing and proposed 
transportation infrastructure (roadways and railways), waters of the 
United States, air quality, noise, light, Environmental Justice, visual 
resources/aesthetics, general environmental concerns, cultural 
resources, fish and wildlife values, protected species, flood hazards, 
floodplain values, land use, recreation, water quality, hazardous 
materials and solid waste, socioeconomics, safety, and in general, the 
needs and welfare of the people.
    5. Additional Review and Consultation. Additional review and 
consultation, which will be incorporated into the preparation of the 
EIS, will include, but will not necessarily be limited to, Section 14 
of the RHA; Section 401 of the CWA; Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 
consultation requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act; the Endangered Species Act; Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act; National Historic Preservation Act; and the South 
Carolina Coastal Zone Management Act.
    6. Availability of the Draft EIS. At this time, the Corps expects 
the Draft EIS to be made available to the public in late fall/winter 
2020. A Public Hearing will be held during the public comment period 
for the Draft EIS.

Matthew W. Luzzatto,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District.
[FR Doc. 2016-25519 Filed 10-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P

72788 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices

Carolina. The proposed JOT would be 3. Scoping and Public Involvement DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
located across the Savannah River from Process. A scoping meeting will be
Elba Island, Georgia, and would conducted to gather information on the Department of the Army, U.S. Army
increase the region’s capacity to scope of the project and the alternatives Corps of Engineers
efficiently handle the forecasted cargo. to be addressed in the EIS. Additional
The proposed JOT would include a public and agency involvement will be DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
pile supported wharf designed to sought through the implementation of a
accommodate Neo-Panamax public involvement plan and agency Bureau of Reclamation
containerships, a container storage yard,
coordination. Notice of Availability of the Final
an intermodal rail yard, gate facilities to
process entering and existing over the 4. Significant issues. Issues and Environmental Impact Statement for
road truck traffic, administrative potential impacts associated with the the Lower Yellowstone Intake
buildings, and equipment service proposed JOT that are likely to be given Diversion Dam Fish Passage Project,
facilities. The proposed JOT would also detailed analysis in the EIS include, but Dawson County, Montana
include elements common to other are not necessarily limited to: Existing
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
types of industrial sites, such as a water and proposed transportation Army Corps of Engineers, DoD; Bureau
tower, underground utilities, electrical infrastructure (roadways and railways), of Reclamation, Interior.
substations, backup generators, high- waters of the United States, air quality,
mast lighting, stormwater management ACTION: Notice.
noise, light, Environmental Justice,
facilities, perimeter fencing, and parking visual resources/aesthetics, general SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of
areas for employees and other personal environmental concerns, cultural Engineers (Corps) and Reclamation, as
vehicles. resources, fish and wildlife values, joint lead agencies, have prepared and
Proposed transportation and utility
protected species, flood hazards, made available the Lower Yellowstone
improvements that would serve the
floodplain values, land use, recreation, Intake Diversion Dam Fish Passage
proposed JOT include a 4-lane divided
water quality, hazardous materials and Project Final Environmental Impact
highway to connect the JOT to U.S.
solid waste, socioeconomics, safety, and Statement (Final EIS). The Final EIS
Highway 17, a double track rail corridor
in general, the needs and welfare of the analyzes and discloses potential effects
to connect the JOT’s intermodal rail
people. associated with the proposed Federal
yard to existing CSX Transportation and
action to improve passage for
Norfolk Southern rail lines, a new rail 5. Additional Review and
bridge across the Savannah River, and endangered pallid sturgeon and other
Consultation. Additional review and native fish at Intake Diversion Dam in
utility lines and intermediary facilities consultation, which will be
to connect to existing services (water, the lower Yellowstone River while
incorporated into the preparation of the continuing the effective and viable
sewer, electricity, etc). Likewise, EIS, will include, but will not
navigation improvements associated operation of the Lower Yellowstone
necessarily be limited to, Section 14 of Project.
with the proposed JOT include new the RHA; Section 401 of the CWA;
work and maintenance dredging of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) DATES: The Corps and Reclamation will
berths, an access channel, and a turning not issue a final decision on the
consultation requirements of the
basin to provide vessel access to the proposed action until at least 30 days
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
terminal, and shoreline stabilization, after the date that the Environmental
bulkhead, and wharf construction Conservation and Management Act; the
Protection Agency publishes notice of
adjacent to the existing Savannah Endangered Species Act; Fish and availability of the Final EIS. After the
Harbor federal navigation channel. Wildlife Coordination Act; National Final EIS has been available for 30 days,
According to the JOT Joint Venture, a Historic Preservation Act; and the South the Corps and Reclamation may
separate feasibility study will evaluate Carolina Coastal Zone Management Act. complete a Record of Decision. The
the costs and benefits of modifications 6. Availability of the Draft EIS. At this Record of Decision will state the action
to the existing Savannah Harbor Federal time, the Corps expects the Draft EIS to that the Corps and Reclamation select
navigation channel. Should this be made available to the public in late for implementation and will discuss
feasibility study or the Corps’ analysis fall/winter 2020. A Public Hearing will factors considered in the decision.
of the proposed JOT determine that be held during the public comment ADDRESSES: The Final EIS may be
modifications to the federal navigation period for the Draft EIS. viewed on Reclamation’s Web site at
channel are required to operate the www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/
proposed marine container terminal, Matthew W. Luzzatto, loweryellowstone. Send requests for
potential impacts to the human and Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Corps of copies of the Final EIS to U.S. Army
natural environment (e.g., aquatic Engineers, Charleston District. Corps of Engineers Omaha District,
resources) associated with any [FR Doc. 2016–25519 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am] ATTN: CENWO–PM–AA, 1616 Capitol
navigational improvements will be BILLING CODE 3720–58–P Ave. Omaha, NE 68102; or email to
evaluated and included in the EIS for cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. See
the proposed JOT. the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
2. Alternatives. A range of reasonable
for locations where copies of the Final
alternatives to the proposed action will
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

EIS are available for public review.
be identified, and fully evaluated in the
EIS, including: The No-Action FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Alternative, the applicant’s proposed Tiffany Vanosdall, U.S. Army Corps of
alternative, and alternatives that may Engineers, 1616 Capitol Ave. Omaha,
result in avoidance and minimization of NE 68102, or tiffany.k.vanosdall@
impacts; however, this list in not usace.army.mil.
exclusive and additional alternatives SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps
may be considered for inclusion. and Reclamation are issuing this notice

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Document Created: 2018-02-13 16:35:46
Document Modified: 2018-02-13 16:35:46

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		Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting has not been scheduled; however, a local public notice will be issued by the Charleston District, and a meeting announcement will be published in local newspapers once the date and location for the scoping meeting has been determined. Individuals and organizations that are interested in the proposed JOT or whose interests may be affected by the proposed work are encouraged to attend the scoping meeting to submit oral and/or written comments to the Charleston District.
Contact		For further information and/or questions about the proposed project or the NEPA process, please contact Mr. Nat Ball, the Corps Project Manager, by telephone: 843-329- 8044 or toll-free 1-866-329-8187, or by mail: Mr. Nat Ball, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 69-A Hagood Avenue, Charleston, South Carolina 29403.
FR Citation		81 FR 72787

81 FR 72787 - Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Jasper Ocean Terminal in Jasper County, South Carolina

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEDepartment of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 204 (October 21, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers