82 FR 39417 - Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Coos Bay Channel Modification Project
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 159 (August 18, 2017)
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 159 (August 18, 2017)
| Page Range | 39417-39418 | |
| FR Document | 2017-17483 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 39417-39418] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-17483] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Coos Bay Channel Modification Project AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential environmental effects of approving the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay's (OIPCB) proposed Coos Bay Channel Modification Project. The OIPCB proposes to widen and deepen the Coos Bay Federal Navigation Project from the ocean to river mile (RM) 8.2 to improve navigation efficiency, reduce shipping transportation costs and facilitate the shipping industry's transition to larger, more efficient vessels. DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on or before October 3, 2017. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (PM-E), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946, or at the project Web site: http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/coast/coos-bay/channel-modification. All comments should include ``Coos Bay Channel Modification Project EIS'' in the subject line. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action and draft EIS can be addressed to: Dr. Ann Hodgson, by mail, telephone (503) 808-4663, or by email at coosbaychannelmodEIS@usace.army.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Previous Withdrawn Action. The Corps published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS and Feasibility Study for a previous proposal to modify the Coos Bay Federal Navigation Project on January 11, 2008 (73 FR 2013). The channel modification described in 2008 was proposed under the authority of Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986; however, the proposal was withdrawn and a draft EIS was not prepared. 2. Proposed Action. The OIPCB is requesting approval to construct the Coos Bay Channel Modification Project. If approved, the OIPCB would construct the project without any federal cost sharing (i.e., the OIPCB would pay 100 percent of the cost of construction). The proposed project requires Department of the Army authorization under: Section 204 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, as amended (33 U.S.C. 2232); Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 408, commonly referred to as Section 408), Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403); Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344); and Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1413). Section 204 authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, to grant approval to non-federal entities to design and construct improvements to Corps navigation projects. This section also provides that the Secretary shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of those improvements if the Secretary determines the improvements are economically justified, environmentally acceptable and certifies the project was constructed in accordance with applicable permits and engineering and design standards. Section 408 authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to grant permission for the alteration or occupation or use of Corps Civil Works projects (e.g., a federal navigation project) if the Secretary determines that the activity will not be injurious to the public interest and will not impair the usefulness of the project. Section 10, Section 404, and Section 103 authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to issue permits to authorize work in navigable waters of the U.S., to authorize the discharge of dredged of fill material into waters of the U.S., and to authorize the transport of dredged material for the purpose of dumping it into ocean waters, respectively. The Corps, as the lead agency for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has determined the above-listed actions require the preparation of an EIS. The following state and federal agencies may participate as cooperating agencies for the preparation of the EIS: The Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. In addition, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, and the Coquille Indian Tribe may participate as cooperating entities on the preparation of the EIS. 3. Project Site and Background. The project site is in Coos Bay, located on the southern coast of Oregon. The Coos Bay Federal Navigation Project was originally authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of March 1879. The Coos Bay Federal Navigation Project includes two entrance jetties, the two navigation channels, two turning basins, and pile dikes. The current channel configuration from the ocean entrance to the navigation channel is -47 feet deep, the channel transitions to -37 feet deep between RM 0 to RM 1, then maintains -37 feet deep from RM 1 to RM 15.0. The main channel has a nominal width of 300 feet wide from the ocean inlet to RM 9.2. At RM 9.2, the channel widens to 400 feet and continues at that width to RM 15.0; from RM 15.0 through RM 17.0, the channel decreases to -22 feet deep and 150 feet wide. Advanced [[Page 39418]] maintenance dredging and allowable overdepth dredging (standard practice on deep draft navigation channels) results in a depth approximately five feet deeper than the authorized depth. The secondary channel, known as the Charleston Channel, is not included in the proposed project. 4. Project Description. The OIPCB proposes to deepen and widen the navigation channel from the ocean to approximately RM 8.2. The project would require the dredging and disposal of approximately 18 million cubic yards of material (sand and rock) to deepen and widen the navigation channel. The proposed navigation channel configuration would be -45 feet deep with a nominal width of 450 feet wide. The entrance to the navigation channel at the ocean would have a nominal width of 1,280 feet and an authorized depth of 57 feet MLLW at its offshore entrance. The channel width would transition to a width of 450 feet at RM 1; this narrowing is continuous from the offshore entrance until RM 1. Upstream of RM 1, the proposed channel would have a nominal width of 450 feet and an authorized depth of 45 feet MLLW. The proposed project design would also accommodate advance maintenance dredging and allowable overdepth dredging of approximately five feet deeper than the proposed depths. The modified channel would have a vessel-turning basin extending from RM 7.3 to RM 7.8. At its full width, the proposed vessel-turning basin is 1,400-feet-long and 1,100-feet-wide, with an authorized depth of 37 feet MLLW. The portion of the channel that intersects this turning basin will have an authorized depth of 45 feet MLLW. The Port proposes to dispose of this dredged material at a newly proposed Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site located approximately two miles offshore of the navigation channel entrance. The proposed disposal site would have an area of approximately 1,850 acres in water depths ranging from -140 to -320 feet deep. The channel modification project would include improvements to the North Jetty to alleviate impacts from the entrance channel widening, deepening, and lengthening, and to retard erosion at Log-Spiral Bay, by placing rock at the jetty toe and by increasing the size of the rock along the jetty head. The channel modification would also include the relocation and expansion of aids to navigation by relocating and installing new fixed and floating channel and range markers. The Corps will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of these improvements if the Secretary determines the improvements are economically justified, environmentally acceptable and certifies the project was constructed in accordance with applicable permits and engineering and design standards. 5. Alternatives. The draft EIS will evaluate a range of reasonable alternatives. Alternatives may include, but are not limited to, no action, alternative channel widths and depths, and alternative dredged material disposal locations. 6. Other Environmental Reviews and Consultations. Other environmental reviews and consultations for the proposed project may include, but is not limited to, Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, Section 305 of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. 7. Scoping Process and Public Comments. The Corps will conduct public scoping (40 CFR 1501.7) to determine the scope of issues (40 CFR 1508.25) to be addressed in the draft EIS and to identify the significant issues related to the proposed project. All interested parties including individuals; organizations; local, state, and federal agencies; and tribes and tribal governments are invited to participate in the scoping process for the draft EIS, which will analyze numerous issues in depth. These issues include, but are not limited to: Navigation, socioeconomics, fish and wildlife, water quality, safety, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, and cultural and historic resources. Scoping comments also will be used to develop possible project alternatives. Additional project information is available online at: www.nwp.usace.army.mil/coast/coos-bay/channel-modification. All parties are invited to participate in the scoping process to determine the range of issues and alternatives to be addressed. A public scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, from 3-7:30 p.m. at the Coos Bay Public Library, 525 Anderson Ave., Coos Bay, OR 97420. The Corps expects the Draft EIS to be made available to the public in March 2018. John D. Cunningham, Major, Corps of Engineers Deputy District Commander. [FR Doc. 2017-17483 Filed 8-17-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Notices 39417
subcontract for ammunition or navigation efficiency, reduce shipping economically justified, environmentally
explosives. transportation costs and facilitate the acceptable and certifies the project was
3. DFARS 252.223–7003, Changes in shipping industry’s transition to larger, constructed in accordance with
Place of Performance—Ammunition more efficient vessels. applicable permits and engineering and
and Explosives. Paragraph (a) requires DATES: Interested parties are invited to design standards.
the offeror to identify, in the Place of submit written comments on or before Section 408 authorizes the Secretary
Performance provision of the October 3, 2017. of the Army, acting through the Chief of
solicitation, the place of performance of ADDRESSES: Submit written comments Engineers, to grant permission for the
all ammunition and explosives work to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, alteration or occupation or use of Corps
covered by the Safety Precautions for Portland District (PM–E), P.O. Box 2946, Civil Works projects (e.g., a federal
Ammunition and Explosives clause of Portland, OR 97208–2946, or at the navigation project) if the Secretary
the solicitation. Paragraphs (b) and (c) project Web site: http://www.nwp.usace. determines that the activity will not be
require the offeror or contractor to army.mil/coast/coos-bay/channel- injurious to the public interest and will
obtain written permission from the modification. All comments should not impair the usefulness of the project.
contracting officer before changing the include ‘‘Coos Bay Channel Section 10, Section 404, and Section
place of performance after the date set Modification Project EIS’’ in the subject 103 authorizes the Secretary of the
for receipt of offers or after contract line. Army, acting through the Chief of
award. Engineers, to issue permits to authorize
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
4. DFARS 252.223–7007, work in navigable waters of the U.S., to
Questions about the proposed action authorize the discharge of dredged of fill
Safeguarding Sensitive Conventional and draft EIS can be addressed to: Dr.
Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives. material into waters of the U.S., and to
Ann Hodgson, by mail, telephone (503) authorize the transport of dredged
Paragraph (e) requires the contractor to 808–4663, or by email at coosbay
notify the cognizant Defense Security material for the purpose of dumping it
channelmodEIS@usace.army.mil. into ocean waters, respectively.
Service field office within 10 days after
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The Corps, as the lead agency for
award of any subcontract involving
Previous Withdrawn Action. The Corps compliance with the National
sensitive conventional arms,
published a Notice of Intent to prepare Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has
ammunition, and explosives within the
an EIS and Feasibility Study for a determined the above-listed actions
scope of DoD 5100.76–M.
5. DFARS 252.223–7004, Drug-Free previous proposal to modify the Coos require the preparation of an EIS. The
Work Force. The clause requires that Bay Federal Navigation Project on following state and federal agencies may
certain contractors maintain records January 11, 2008 (73 FR 2013). The participate as cooperating agencies for
necessary to demonstrate reasonable channel modification described in 2008 the preparation of the EIS: The Bureau
efforts to eliminate the unlawful use by was proposed under the authority of of Land Management, U.S. Fish and
contractor employees of controlled Section 203 of the Water Resources Wildlife Service, National Marine
substances. DoD does not regularly Development Act of 1986; however, the Fisheries Service, U.S. Environmental
collect any information with regard to proposal was withdrawn and a draft EIS Protection Agency, Federal Aviation
this clause. was not prepared. Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard,
2. Proposed Action. The OIPCB is Oregon Department of Fish and
Jennifer L. Hawes, requesting approval to construct the Wildlife, Oregon Department of Land
Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations Coos Bay Channel Modification Project. Conservation and Development, Oregon
System. If approved, the OIPCB would construct Department of Environmental Quality.
[FR Doc. 2017–17515 Filed 8–17–17; 8:45 am] the project without any federal cost In addition, the Confederated Tribes of
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P sharing (i.e., the OIPCB would pay 100 the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw,
percent of the cost of construction). The Confederated Tribes of the Siletz
proposed project requires Department of Indians, and the Coquille Indian Tribe
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE the Army authorization under: Section may participate as cooperating entities
204 of the Water Resources on the preparation of the EIS.
Department of the Army; Corps of Development Act of 1986, as amended 3. Project Site and Background. The
Engineers (33 U.S.C. 2232); Section 14 of the project site is in Coos Bay, located on
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 the southern coast of Oregon. The Coos
Intent To Prepare a Draft U.S.C. 408, commonly referred to as Bay Federal Navigation Project was
Environmental Impact Statement for Section 408), Section 10 of the Rivers originally authorized by the Rivers and
the Coos Bay Channel Modification and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403); Harbors Act of March 1879. The Coos
Project Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 Bay Federal Navigation Project includes
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. U.S.C. 1344); and Section 103 of the two entrance jetties, the two navigation
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. Marine Protection, Research, and channels, two turning basins, and pile
ACTION: Notice of intent. Sanctuaries Act of 1972, as amended (33 dikes. The current channel
U.S.C. 1413). configuration from the ocean entrance to
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Section 204 authorizes the Secretary the navigation channel is ¥47 feet deep,
Engineers, Portland District intends to of the Army, acting through the the channel transitions to ¥37 feet deep
prepare an Environmental Impact Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil between RM 0 to RM 1, then maintains
Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential Works, to grant approval to non-federal ¥37 feet deep from RM 1 to RM 15.0.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
environmental effects of approving the entities to design and construct The main channel has a nominal width
Oregon International Port of Coos Bay’s improvements to Corps navigation of 300 feet wide from the ocean inlet to
(OIPCB) proposed Coos Bay Channel projects. This section also provides that RM 9.2. At RM 9.2, the channel widens
Modification Project. The OIPCB the Secretary shall be responsible for the to 400 feet and continues at that width
proposes to widen and deepen the Coos operation and maintenance of those to RM 15.0; from RM 15.0 through RM
Bay Federal Navigation Project from the improvements if the Secretary 17.0, the channel decreases to ¥22 feet
ocean to river mile (RM) 8.2 to improve determines the improvements are deep and 150 feet wide. Advanced
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![39418 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2017 / Notices
maintenance dredging and allowable the Secretary determines the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
overdepth dredging (standard practice improvements are economically
[Docket No. ED–2017–ICCD–0084]
on deep draft navigation channels) justified, environmentally acceptable
results in a depth approximately five and certifies the project was constructed Agency Information Collection
feet deeper than the authorized depth. in accordance with applicable permits Activities; Submission to the Office of
The secondary channel, known as the and engineering and design standards. Management and Budget for Review
Charleston Channel, is not included in and Approval; Comment Request;
5. Alternatives. The draft EIS will
the proposed project. Request for Title IV Reimbursement or
evaluate a range of reasonable
4. Project Description. The OIPCB alternatives. Alternatives may include, Heightened Cash Monitoring 2 (HCM2)
proposes to deepen and widen the but are not limited to, no action,
navigation channel from the ocean to AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA),
alternative channel widths and depths, Department of Education (ED).
approximately RM 8.2. The project
and alternative dredged material ACTION: Notice.
would require the dredging and disposal
of approximately 18 million cubic yards disposal locations.
6. Other Environmental Reviews and SUMMARY: In accordance with the
of material (sand and rock) to deepen
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
and widen the navigation channel. The Consultations. Other environmental
proposing an extension of an existing
proposed navigation channel reviews and consultations for the
information collection.
configuration would be ¥45 feet deep proposed project may include, but is not
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
with a nominal width of 450 feet wide. limited to, Section 401 of the Clean
The entrance to the navigation channel submit comments on or before
Water Act, Section 7 of the Endangered
at the ocean would have a nominal September 18, 2017.
Species Act, Section 305 of the
width of 1,280 feet and an authorized ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
depth of 57 feet MLLW at its offshore documents related to the information
Conservation and Management Act,
entrance. The channel width would collection listed in this notice, please
Section 307 of the Coastal Zone
transition to a width of 450 feet at RM use http://www.regulations.gov by
Management Act, and Section 106 of the searching the Docket ID number ED–
1; this narrowing is continuous from the National Historic Preservation Act.
offshore entrance until RM 1. Upstream 2017–ICCD–0084. Comments submitted
of RM 1, the proposed channel would 7. Scoping Process and Public in response to this notice should be
have a nominal width of 450 feet and an Comments. The Corps will conduct submitted electronically through the
authorized depth of 45 feet MLLW. The public scoping (40 CFR 1501.7) to Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://
proposed project design would also determine the scope of issues (40 CFR www.regulations.gov by selecting the
accommodate advance maintenance 1508.25) to be addressed in the draft EIS Docket ID number or via postal mail,
dredging and allowable overdepth and to identify the significant issues commercial delivery, or hand delivery.
dredging of approximately five feet related to the proposed project. All Please note that comments submitted by
deeper than the proposed depths. The interested parties including individuals; fax or email and those submitted after
modified channel would have a vessel- organizations; local, state, and federal the comment period will not be
turning basin extending from RM 7.3 to agencies; and tribes and tribal accepted. Written requests for
RM 7.8. At its full width, the proposed governments are invited to participate information or comments submitted by
vessel-turning basin is 1,400-feet-long in the scoping process for the draft EIS, postal mail or delivery should be
and 1,100-feet-wide, with an authorized which will analyze numerous issues in addressed to the Director of the
depth of 37 feet MLLW. The portion of depth. These issues include, but are not Information Collection Clearance
the channel that intersects this turning Division, U.S. Department of Education,
limited to: Navigation, socioeconomics,
basin will have an authorized depth of 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room
fish and wildlife, water quality, safety,
45 feet MLLW. The Port proposes to 224–84, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
shoreline erosion and accretion,
dispose of this dredged material at a FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
recreation, and cultural and historic
newly proposed Ocean Dredged specific questions related to collection
resources. Scoping comments also will
Material Disposal Site located activities, please contact Jo-Anne
be used to develop possible project
approximately two miles offshore of the Cheatom, 202–377–3730.
alternatives. Additional project
navigation channel entrance. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
information is available online at:
proposed disposal site would have an Department of Education (ED), in
www.nwp.usace.army.mil/coast/coos-
area of approximately 1,850 acres in accordance with the Paperwork
water depths ranging from ¥140 to bay/channel-modification. All parties Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
¥320 feet deep. The channel are invited to participate in the scoping 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
modification project would include process to determine the range of issues public and Federal agencies with an
improvements to the North Jetty to and alternatives to be addressed. A opportunity to comment on proposed,
alleviate impacts from the entrance public scoping meeting will be held on revised, and continuing collections of
channel widening, deepening, and Wednesday, September 13, 2017, from information. This helps the Department
lengthening, and to retard erosion at 3–7:30 p.m. at the Coos Bay Public assess the impact of its information
Log-Spiral Bay, by placing rock at the Library, 525 Anderson Ave., Coos Bay, collection requirements and minimize
jetty toe and by increasing the size of OR 97420. The Corps expects the Draft the public’s reporting burden. It also
the rock along the jetty head. The EIS to be made available to the public helps the public understand the
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
channel modification would also in March 2018. Department’s information collection
include the relocation and expansion of requirements and provide the requested
John D. Cunningham,
aids to navigation by relocating and data in the desired format. ED is
installing new fixed and floating Major, Corps of Engineers Deputy District soliciting comments on the proposed
channel and range markers. The Corps Commander. information collection request (ICR) that
will be responsible for the operation and [FR Doc. 2017–17483 Filed 8–17–17; 8:45 am] is described below. The Department of
maintenance of these improvements if BILLING CODE 3720–58–P Education is especially interested in
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Document Created: 2017-08-18 07:40:23
Document Modified: 2017-08-18 07:40:23
| 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 | Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on or before October 3, 2017. | |
| Contact | Questions about the proposed action | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 39417 |
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