81_FR_94599 81 FR 94352 - Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Matagorda Ship Channel, TX, Feasibility Study

81 FR 94352 - Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Matagorda Ship Channel, TX, Feasibility Study

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 247 (December 23, 2016)

Page Range94352-94353
FR Document2016-30986

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (DIFR-EIS) to assess the social, economic and environmental effects of widening and deepening the Matagorda Ship Channel (MSC) in Calhoun and Matagorda counties, Texas. The DIFR-EIS will evaluate potential impacts of a range of alternatives, including the No Action alternative, structural and non-structural alternatives which address proposed navigation improvements in the study area. The DIFR-EIS will also present an assessment of impacts associated with the placement of dredged material, including potential new upland, confined placement areas, beneficial use of dredged material sites, and at Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites (ODMDS). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as the lead Federal agency for designation of an ODMDS under Section 102 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, will utilize this assessment and public comments on the DIFR-EIS to evaluate the potential designation of a new ODMDS. The non-Federal sponsor for the study is the Calhoun Port Authority.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 94352-94353]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30986]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Matagorda Ship Channel, TX, Feasibility Study

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a 
Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement 
(DIFR-EIS) to assess the social, economic and environmental effects of 
widening and deepening the Matagorda Ship Channel (MSC) in Calhoun and 
Matagorda counties, Texas. The DIFR-EIS will evaluate potential impacts 
of a range of alternatives, including the No Action alternative, 
structural and non-structural alternatives which address proposed 
navigation improvements in the study area. The DIFR-EIS will also 
present an assessment of impacts associated with the placement of 
dredged material, including potential new upland, confined placement 
areas, beneficial use of dredged material sites, and at Ocean Dredged 
Material Disposal Sites (ODMDS). The U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, as the lead Federal agency for designation of an ODMDS under 
Section 102 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 
1972, will utilize this assessment and public comments on the DIFR-EIS 
to evaluate the potential designation of a new ODMDS. The non-Federal 
sponsor for the study is the Calhoun Port Authority.

DATES: Comments on the scope of the DIFR-EIS will be accepted through 
February 13, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments may be sent to: [email protected] or to USACE, Galveston District, (Attn: RPEC 
Coastal Section), P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553-1229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Galveston District Public Affairs 
Office at 409-766-3004 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Authority. The study is authorized under Section 216 of the 1970 
Rivers and Harbor Act, Public Law 91-611, 91st Congress, H.R. 19877, 
dated 31 December 1970.
    2. Proposed Action. The study will evaluate a range of alternatives 
for deepening and widening the MSC from offshore in the Gulf of Mexico 
(Gulf) through the Point Comfort turning basin. Modifications to the 
existing 26-mile long navigation channel are needed to reduce 
transportation costs and increase operational efficiencies of maritime 
commerce movement through the channel. The existing MSC is comprised of 
an entrance channel about 4 miles long from the Gulf through a man-made 
cut across Matagorda Peninsula. The bayside channel is about 22 miles 
long across Matagorda and Lavaca Bays to Point Comfort with a turning 
basin at Point Comfort. Offshore and through the Matagorda Peninsula, 
the channel has a 300-foot bottom width and is maintained at a depth of 
40 feet mean lower low water (MLLW). Generally, in Matagorda and Lavaca 
Bays, the channel has a 200-foot wide bottom width and is authorized to 
a project depth of 38 feet MLLW. In addition to No Action, specific 
alternatives to be evaluated are expected to include nonstructural 
measures, structural alternatives to modify the bayside channels of the 
MSC at depths ranging from -38 feet to -50 feet MLLW and at widths 
ranging from 200 feet to 400 feet, and alternatives to modify and 
extend the Entrance Channel to depths ranging from -40 feet to -55 fee 
MLLW and at widths ranging from 300 feet to 600 feet. The DIFR-EIS will 
also evaluate the impacts and potential benefits of a dredged material 
management plan (DMMP) for the material that would generated by 
construction and operation of the modified channel.
    3. Scoping. A scoping meeting will be held on January 24, 2017 at 
the Bauer Civic Center, 2300 Highway 35 North, Port Lavaca, TX 77979, 
from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. USACE requests public scoping comments to: (a) 
Identify the affected public and agency concerns; (b) identify the 
scope of significant issues to be addressed in the DIFR-EIS; (c) 
identify the critical problems, needs, and significant resources that 
should be considered in the DIFR-EIS; and (d) identify reasonable 
measures and alternatives that should be considered in the DIFR-EIS. 
Scoping comments are requested to be postmarked by February 13, 2017.
    4. Coordination. Further coordination with environmental agencies 
will be conducted under the National

[[Page 94353]]

Environmental Policy Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the 
Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the National Historic and 
Preservation Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act and 
the Coastal Zone Management Act under the Texas Coastal Management 
Program, among others.
    5. Availability of DIFR-EIS. The DIFR-EIS is currently scheduled 
for release for public review and comment in April 2018.

    Dated: December 14, 2016.
 Lars N. Zetterstrom,
 Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2016-30986 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P



                                                  94352                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Notices

                                                  that cause creek flows to back up and                   Council on Environmental Quality                         1. Authority. The study is authorized
                                                  rise would be widened to increase                       regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508).                 under Section 216 of the 1970 Rivers
                                                  channel conveyance and thus reduce                                                                            and Harbor Act, Public Law 91–611,
                                                                                                          John C. Morrow,
                                                  water surface elevation. Included in this                                                                     91st Congress, H.R. 19877, dated 31
                                                  widening is a proposed project element                  Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers                December 1970.
                                                                                                          District Engineer.                                       2. Proposed Action. The study will
                                                  to align the channel with a CalTrans
                                                  project to increase flow capacity at                    [FR Doc. 2016–30985 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am]          evaluate a range of alternatives for
                                                  Highway 101 and adjacent frontage                       BILLING CODE 3720–58–P                                deepening and widening the MSC from
                                                  roads. Impacts from these activities will                                                                     offshore in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf)
                                                  be evaluated in the FS/EIS.                                                                                   through the Point Comfort turning
                                                     c. Alternative 3 includes constructing               DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                 basin. Modifications to the existing 26-
                                                  floodwalls along the channel. This                                                                            mile long navigation channel are needed
                                                                                                          Department of the Army; Corps of
                                                  Alternative would consider the addition                                                                       to reduce transportation costs and
                                                                                                          Engineers
                                                  of floodwalls in Reach 2 as a stand-                                                                          increase operational efficiencies of
                                                  alone measure and in combination with                   Intent To Prepare a Draft                             maritime commerce movement through
                                                  the bridge replacement and channel                      Environmental Impact Statement for                    the channel. The existing MSC is
                                                  widening in Alternative 2.                              the Matagorda Ship Channel, TX,                       comprised of an entrance channel about
                                                     d. Alternative 4 would consider the                  Feasibility Study                                     4 miles long from the Gulf through a
                                                  addition of a bypass culvert as a stand-                                                                      man-made cut across Matagorda
                                                  alone measure and in combination with                   AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.                  Peninsula. The bayside channel is about
                                                  the bridge replacement and channel                      Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.                         22 miles long across Matagorda and
                                                  widening in Alternative 2. This                         ACTION: Notice of Intent.                             Lavaca Bays to Point Comfort with a
                                                  alternative may include floodwalls,                                                                           turning basin at Point Comfort. Offshore
                                                  though at a reduced scale compared to                   SUMMARY:   The U.S. Army Corps of                     and through the Matagorda Peninsula,
                                                  Alternative 3. This alternative includes                Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a                the channel has a 300-foot bottom width
                                                  a new bypass inlet located a few                        Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and               and is maintained at a depth of 40 feet
                                                  hundred feet upstream from University                   Environmental Impact Statement (DIFR–                 mean lower low water (MLLW).
                                                  Avenue that would divert high flows to                  EIS) to assess the social, economic and               Generally, in Matagorda and Lavaca
                                                  a culvert beneath Woodland Avenue or                    environmental effects of widening and                 Bays, the channel has a 200-foot wide
                                                  a street in Palo Alto. A box culvert                    deepening the Matagorda Ship Channel                  bottom width and is authorized to a
                                                  would follow a roadway in the                           (MSC) in Calhoun and Matagorda                        project depth of 38 feet MLLW. In
                                                  downstream direction for approximately                  counties, Texas. The DIFR–EIS will                    addition to No Action, specific
                                                  1.0 to 1.5 miles to an outlet structure                 evaluate potential impacts of a range of              alternatives to be evaluated are expected
                                                  where high flows would be returned to                   alternatives, including the No Action                 to include nonstructural measures,
                                                  the creek.                                              alternative, structural and non-                      structural alternatives to modify the
                                                     4. Environmental Considerations. In                  structural alternatives which address                 bayside channels of the MSC at depths
                                                  all cases, environmental considerations                 proposed navigation improvements in                   ranging from –38 feet to –50 feet MLLW
                                                  will include riparian habitat, aquatic                  the study area. The DIFR–EIS will also                and at widths ranging from 200 feet to
                                                  habitat, sediment budget, fish passage,                 present an assessment of impacts                      400 feet, and alternatives to modify and
                                                  recreation, public access, aesthetics,                  associated with the placement of                      extend the Entrance Channel to depths
                                                  cultural resources, and environmental                   dredged material, including potential                 ranging from –40 feet to –55 fee MLLW
                                                  justice as well as other potential                      new upland, confined placement areas,                 and at widths ranging from 300 feet to
                                                  environmental issues of concern.                        beneficial use of dredged material sites,             600 feet. The DIFR–EIS will also
                                                     5. Scoping Process. The USACE and                    and at Ocean Dredged Material Disposal                evaluate the impacts and potential
                                                  SFCJPA are seeking input from                           Sites (ODMDS). The U.S. Environmental                 benefits of a dredged material
                                                  interested federal, state, and local                    Protection Agency, as the lead Federal                management plan (DMMP) for the
                                                  agencies, Native American                               agency for designation of an ODMDS                    material that would generated by
                                                  representatives, and other interested                   under Section 102 of the Marine                       construction and operation of the
                                                  private organizations and parties                       Protection, Research and Sanctuaries                  modified channel.
                                                  through provision of this notice and                    Act of 1972, will utilize this assessment                3. Scoping. A scoping meeting will be
                                                  holding of a scoping meeting. The                       and public comments on the DIFR–EIS                   held on January 24, 2017 at the Bauer
                                                  purpose of this meeting is to solicit                   to evaluate the potential designation of              Civic Center, 2300 Highway 35 North,
                                                  input regarding the environmental                       a new ODMDS. The non-Federal                          Port Lavaca, TX 77979, from 5:30 to 7:30
                                                  issues of concern and the alternatives                  sponsor for the study is the Calhoun                  p.m. USACE requests public scoping
                                                  that should be discussed in the                         Port Authority.                                       comments to: (a) Identify the affected
                                                  integrated FS/EIS. The public scoping                   DATES: Comments on the scope of the                   public and agency concerns; (b) identify
                                                  meeting will be held on January 18,                     DIFR–EIS will be accepted through                     the scope of significant issues to be
                                                  2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Laurel School                  February 13, 2017.                                    addressed in the DIFR–EIS; (c) identify
                                                  Upper Campus, 275 Elliott Drive in                      ADDRESSES: Scoping comments may be
                                                                                                                                                                the critical problems, needs, and
                                                  Menlo Park, CA.                                         sent to: MSC-Feasibility@usace.army.mil               significant resources that should be
                                                     6. Availability of integrated FS/EIS.                                                                      considered in the DIFR–EIS; and (d)
                                                                                                          or to USACE, Galveston District, (Attn:
                                                  The public will have an additional                                                                            identify reasonable measures and
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                                                                                                          RPEC Coastal Section), P.O. Box 1229,
                                                  opportunity in the NEPA process to                                                                            alternatives that should be considered
                                                                                                          Galveston, TX 77553–1229.
                                                  comment on the proposed alternatives                                                                          in the DIFR–EIS. Scoping comments are
                                                  after the draft integrated FS/EIS is                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                                                                                requested to be postmarked by February
                                                  released to the public in 2017. It is being             Galveston District Public Affairs Office              13, 2017.
                                                  issued pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of                 at 409–766–3004 or swgpao@                               4. Coordination. Further coordination
                                                  the National Environmental Policy Act                   usace.army.mil.                                       with environmental agencies will be
                                                  (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            conducted under the National


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Notices                                          94353

                                                  Environmental Policy Act, the Fish and                  lending institutions holding student                  information that they wish to make
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                                                  release for public review and comment                   Chair of the House Committee on                       person listed under FOR FURTHER
                                                  in April 2018.                                          Oversight and Government Reform, and                  INFORMATION CONTACT.
                                                    Dated: December 14, 2016.                             the Administrator of the Office of                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  Lars N. Zetterstrom,                                    Information and Regulatory Affairs,                   Cassandra Cufee-Graves, Director, Office
                                                  Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding.                         Office of Management and Budget                       of Human Resources, Learning and
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–30986 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am]            (OMB), on December 15, 2016. This                     Development Division. Telephone: (202)
                                                                                                          altered system of records will become                 453–5588.
                                                  BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
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Document Created: 2016-12-23 12:30:00
Document Modified: 2016-12-23 12:30:00
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Intent.
DatesComments on the scope of the DIFR-EIS will be accepted through February 13, 2017.
ContactGalveston District Public Affairs Office at 409-766-3004 or [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 94352 

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