82 FR 42548 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Integrated Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower Columbia River Federal Navigation Channel Maintenance Plan
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 173 (September 8, 2017)
Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 173 (September 8, 2017)
| Page Range | 42548-42549 | |
| FR Document | 2017-18988 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 173 (Friday, September 8, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 42548-42549] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-18988] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Notice of Intent To Prepare an Integrated Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower Columbia River Federal Navigation Channel Maintenance Plan AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an integrated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Federal Navigation Channel (FNC) Maintenance Plan, hereafter referred to as the Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to ensure the continued maintenance of the 43-foot deep Lower Columbia River FNC for the next 20 years. The Port of Longview, Port of Kalama, Port of Woodland, Port of Vancouver, and the Port of Portland (collectively the Sponsor Ports) are non-federal sponsors of the project, who will have Oregon and Washington State permitting requirements to execute on the Plan. The Corps will serve as the lead federal agency for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Sponsor Ports will serve as cooperating agencies for purposes of NEPA. The Washington ports' activities in support of the proposed project will be subject to environmental review under chapter 43.21C Revised Code of Washington (RCW), the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The Washington Sponsor Ports will be co-lead agencies under SEPA, and the Port of Longview will serve as the nominal SEPA lead agency for purposes of SEPA compliance. To satisfy the requirements of NEPA and SEPA, the Corps and Sponsor Ports will be jointly preparing an integrated EIS for the Plan. DATES: Written comments for consideration in the development of the scope of the joint NEPA/SEPA EIS are due to the addresses below no later than Thursday, November 16, 2017. Comments may also be made at the public scoping meetings listed in this notice. Additional information related to the public scoping process will be provided through advertisements placed in regional newspapers of general circulation, Public Notice, and on the project Web site at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/lcrchannelmaintenance. ADDRESSES: Mailed comments may be sent to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, P.O. Box 2946, Attn: CENWP-PM-E, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946. Email comments to: [email protected]. All written comments and materials received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding the Plan, the EIS, or special accommodations for scoping process participation, please contact Kate Wells, Environmental Resources Specialist; Attn: CENWP-PM-E, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946; (503) 808-4664; [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Project Background. The Lower Columbia River FNC project includes a main channel that is 43 feet deep and generally 600 feet wide, and extends upstream of the Mouth of Columbia River, River Mile (RM) 3 to Vancouver, WA, RM 105.5. The FNC also extends into lower Oregon Slough and includes vessel turning basins at Astoria in Oregon and Longview, Kalama, and Vancouver in Washington. The FNC is maintained using a combination of dredging and hydraulic control works (pile dikes). Advanced maintenance dredging is currently approved up to 5 feet below authorized depth (-48 feet) and up to 100 feet outside the authorized channel width. For the past several years, dredging 6 to 8 million cubic yards of localized sand shoals has been required annually to provide reliable service for deep-draft navigation. The Corps' policy requires all federally maintained navigation projects to demonstrate that there is sufficient dredged material placement capacity for a minimum of 20 years. An updated Plan for the Lower Columbia River FNC is needed now because the existing dredged material placement network is nearing capacity and, if insufficient capacity exists, navigation maintenance dredging may be negatively affected. Non-federal project sponsors for the Lower Columbia River FNC include the Port of Portland individually and as representative of the Port of St. Helens in Oregon, and the Port of Longview, the Port of Kalama, the Port of Woodland, and the Port of Vancouver in Washington. These ports are stakeholders in the channel depth maintenance of the Columbia River. Maintenance of the channel depth is necessary for the ports' and other channel users' continued industrial economic development and trade promotion. In 2015, the Lower Columbia River FNC was used to transport nearly 55 million tons of cargo valued at $22 billion. Vessels drafting the full authorized channel depth of 43 feet carried approximately 11 million tons of export shipments worth nearly $3 billion in 2015. Tonnage amounts refer to Corps Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center (WCSC) data for the Columbia & Lower Willamette Rivers below Vancouver, WA, and Portland, OR, Waterway as processed by the Corps Channel Portfolio Tool (CPT). Cargo values are estimated by the CPT based on the WCSC tonnage amounts multiplied by national average commodity unit price ($ per ton) data derived from USA Trade Online (https://usatrade.census.gov/). Proposed Project. The Corps will develop the subject Plan in accordance with the procedures for a dredged material management plan in Engineering Regulation 1105-2-100, which governs Corps project formulation, evaluation, and implementation. As a dredged material management plan, it will ensure warranted and environmentally acceptable maintenance of the 43-foot Lower Columbia River FNC for the next 20 years. Specifically, the Plan will be designed to facilitate efficient management of dredged material, accounting for variability of shoaling processes, to provide a reliable channel for deep-draft navigation. The Plan will describe the results of investigations and analyses used to make determinations as to current and forecasted dredging needs and material placement capacity, potential additional [[Page 42549]] placement sites, measures to reduce the need to dredge and avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures as needed. As the non-federal sponsors of the Plan, the Sponsor Ports are required to obtain permits for the dredged material placement sites. To satisfy the requirements of NEPA and SEPA, the Corps and Sponsor Ports will be jointly preparing an integrated EIS for the Plan. Alternatives. The Plan will be developed in accordance with Corps policy to accomplish channel maintenance, including dredged material placement, in the least costly manner that is consistent with sound engineering practice and meets all federal environmental laws. In addition to the No Action Alternative, in which case existing channel maintenance practices will continue in the absence of the Plan, dredged material management alternatives to be considered include: Management of existing sites to extend or expand capacity; various combinations of new sites involving different placement methods, locations and periods of use; measures to reduce dredging requirements, including hydraulic control works and changes to maintenance dimensions. Potential beneficial uses of dredged material (such as fish and wildlife habitat creation and ecosystem restoration) will be assessed. Additional alternatives could be developed during the scoping and evaluation process. Scoping Process/Public Involvement. The Corps and Sponsor Ports invite all affected federal, state, and local agencies, affected Native American Tribes, and other interested parties to participate in the NEPA and SEPA process during development of the Plan and EIS. The purpose of the public scoping process is to provide information to the public, narrow the scope of analysis to significant environmental issues, and serve as a mechanism to solicit agency and public input on alternatives and issues of concern, and ensure full and open participation in scoping of the Draft EIS. A series of public scoping meetings is scheduled for October 2017. The specific dates, times, and locations of the meetings are provided below. Public Scoping Meetings:Monday, October 2, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Cowlitz County Event Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, Washington. Thursday, October 5, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Marshall Community Center, 1009 East McLoughlin Boulevard, Vancouver, Washington. Friday, October 6, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Charles Jordan Community Center, 9009 North Foss Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Monday, October 16, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Meriwether Place, 1070 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, Oregon. Tuesday, October 17, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Columbia River Maritime Museum Barbey Maritime Center, 1792 Marine Drive, Astoria, Oregon. Thursday, October 19, 2017, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Norse Hall, 444 State Route 4, Puget Island, Cathlamet, Washington. Upon completion of the scoping process, the Draft Plan/Draft EIS will be developed. The DEIS will then be circulated for public review and comment. The Corps and Sponsor Ports expect to release the Draft EIS for public review and comment in 2018. The Corps will issue a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register announcing the release of the Draft EIS for public comment. The Sponsor Ports will publish a Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS for public comment in accordance with SEPA regulations. Documents and other important information related to the Plan/EIS will be available for review on the Corps' project Web site. Aaron L. Dorf, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Commander. [FR Doc. 2017-18988 Filed 9-7-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![42548 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 173 / Friday, September 8, 2017 / Notices
c. Water management operating (RCW), the Washington State navigation. The Corps’ policy requires
criteria defined during development of Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The all federally maintained navigation
the COP will be incorporated into the Washington Sponsor Ports will be co- projects to demonstrate that there is
2012 WCAs, ENP, and ENP to South lead agencies under SEPA, and the Port sufficient dredged material placement
Dade Conveyance system Water Control of Longview will serve as the nominal capacity for a minimum of 20 years. An
Plan following completion of NEPA. SEPA lead agency for purposes of SEPA updated Plan for the Lower Columbia
d. A scoping letter will be used to compliance. To satisfy the requirements River FNC is needed now because the
invite comments from Federal, State, of NEPA and SEPA, the Corps and existing dredged material placement
and local agencies, affected Indian Sponsor Ports will be jointly preparing network is nearing capacity and, if
tribes, and other interested private an integrated EIS for the Plan. insufficient capacity exists, navigation
organizations and individuals. DATES: Written comments for maintenance dredging may be
e. All alternative plans will be consideration in the development of the negatively affected. Non-federal project
reviewed under provisions of scope of the joint NEPA/SEPA EIS are sponsors for the Lower Columbia River
appropriate laws and regulations, due to the addresses below no later than FNC include the Port of Portland
including the Endangered Species Act, Thursday, November 16, 2017. individually and as representative of the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Comments may also be made at the Port of St. Helens in Oregon, and the
Clean Water Act, and Farmland public scoping meetings listed in this Port of Longview, the Port of Kalama,
Protection Policy Act. notice. Additional information related the Port of Woodland, and the Port of
f. The Draft Environmental Impact to the public scoping process will be Vancouver in Washington. These ports
Assessment is expected to be available provided through advertisements placed are stakeholders in the channel depth
for public review in 2019. in regional newspapers of general maintenance of the Columbia River.
Dated: August 22, 2017. circulation, Public Notice, and on the Maintenance of the channel depth is
Gina Paduano Ralph, project Web site at necessary for the ports’ and other
Chief, Environmental Branch. www.nwp.usace.army.mil/lcrchannel channel users’ continued industrial
maintenance. economic development and trade
[FR Doc. 2017–19065 Filed 9–7–17; 8:45 am]
ADDRESSES: Mailed comments may be promotion. In 2015, the Lower
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
sent to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Columbia River FNC was used to
Portland District, P.O. Box 2946, Attn: transport nearly 55 million tons of cargo
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CENWP–PM–E, Portland, Oregon valued at $22 billion. Vessels drafting
97208–2946. Email comments to: the full authorized channel depth of 43
Department of the Army, U.S. Army ColumbiaNavChannel@usace.army.mil. feet carried approximately 11 million
Corps of Engineers All written comments and materials tons of export shipments worth nearly
received, including names and $3 billion in 2015. Tonnage amounts
Notice of Intent To Prepare an addresses, will become part of the refer to Corps Waterborne Commerce
Integrated Environmental Impact administrative record and may be Statistics Center (WCSC) data for the
Statement for the Lower Columbia released to the public. Columbia & Lower Willamette Rivers
River Federal Navigation Channel FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For below Vancouver, WA, and Portland,
Maintenance Plan questions regarding the Plan, the EIS, or OR, Waterway as processed by the
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. special accommodations for scoping Corps Channel Portfolio Tool (CPT).
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. process participation, please contact Cargo values are estimated by the CPT
Kate Wells, Environmental Resources based on the WCSC tonnage amounts
ACTION: Notice of intent.
Specialist; Attn: CENWP–PM–E, P.O. multiplied by national average
SUMMARY: The Portland District, U.S. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208– commodity unit price ($ per ton) data
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 2946; (503) 808–4664; derived from USA Trade Online
intends to prepare an integrated ColumbiaNavChannel@usace.army.mil. (https://usatrade.census.gov/).
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Project. The Corps will
and Federal Navigation Channel (FNC) Project Background. The Lower develop the subject Plan in accordance
Maintenance Plan, hereafter referred to Columbia River FNC project includes a with the procedures for a dredged
as the Plan. The purpose of this Plan is main channel that is 43 feet deep and material management plan in
to ensure the continued maintenance of generally 600 feet wide, and extends Engineering Regulation 1105–2–100,
the 43-foot deep Lower Columbia River upstream of the Mouth of Columbia which governs Corps project
FNC for the next 20 years. The Port of River, River Mile (RM) 3 to Vancouver, formulation, evaluation, and
Longview, Port of Kalama, Port of WA, RM 105.5. The FNC also extends implementation. As a dredged material
Woodland, Port of Vancouver, and the into lower Oregon Slough and includes management plan, it will ensure
Port of Portland (collectively the vessel turning basins at Astoria in warranted and environmentally
Sponsor Ports) are non-federal sponsors Oregon and Longview, Kalama, and acceptable maintenance of the 43-foot
of the project, who will have Oregon Vancouver in Washington. The FNC is Lower Columbia River FNC for the next
and Washington State permitting maintained using a combination of 20 years. Specifically, the Plan will be
requirements to execute on the Plan. dredging and hydraulic control works designed to facilitate efficient
The Corps will serve as the lead federal (pile dikes). Advanced maintenance management of dredged material,
agency for purposes of the National dredging is currently approved up to 5 accounting for variability of shoaling
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The feet below authorized depth (¥48 feet) processes, to provide a reliable channel
Sponsor Ports will serve as cooperating and up to 100 feet outside the for deep-draft navigation. The Plan will
agencies for purposes of NEPA. The authorized channel width. For the past describe the results of investigations
Washington ports’ activities in support several years, dredging 6 to 8 million and analyses used to make
of the proposed project will be subject cubic yards of localized sand shoals has determinations as to current and
to environmental review under chapter been required annually to provide forecasted dredging needs and material
43.21C Revised Code of Washington reliable service for deep-draft placement capacity, potential additional
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 173 / Friday, September 8, 2017 / Notices 42549
placement sites, measures to reduce the Center, 9009 North Foss Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, 202–586–
need to dredge and avoidance, Portland, Oregon. 5000.
minimization, and mitigation measures • Monday, October 16, 2017, 4:00 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
as needed. As the non-federal sponsors p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Meriwether Place, accordance with section 252(c)(1)(A)(i)
of the Plan, the Sponsor Ports are 1070 Columbia Boulevard, St. Helens, of the Energy Policy and Conservation
required to obtain permits for the Oregon. Act (42 U.S.C. 6272(c)(1)(A)(i)) (EPCA),
dredged material placement sites. To • Tuesday, October 17, 2017, 4:00 the following notice of meetings is
satisfy the requirements of NEPA and p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Columbia River provided:
SEPA, the Corps and Sponsor Ports will Maritime Museum Barbey Maritime A meeting of the Industry Advisory
be jointly preparing an integrated EIS Center, 1792 Marine Drive, Astoria, Board (IAB) to the International Energy
for the Plan. Oregon. Agency (IEA) will be held at the Centre
Alternatives. The Plan will be • Thursday, October 19, 2017, 4:00 de Conférence Ministériel of the French
developed in accordance with Corps p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Norse Hall, 444 State Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, 27
policy to accomplish channel Route 4, Puget Island, Cathlamet, Rue de la Convention, 75015 Paris,
maintenance, including dredged Washington. France, commencing at 9:30 a.m. on
material placement, in the least costly Upon completion of the scoping September 13, 2017. The purpose of this
manner that is consistent with sound process, the Draft Plan/Draft EIS will be notice is to permit attendance by
engineering practice and meets all developed. The DEIS will then be representatives of U.S. company
federal environmental laws. In addition circulated for public review and members of the IAB at a meeting of the
to the No Action Alternative, in which comment. The Corps and Sponsor Ports IEA’s Standing Group on Emergency
case existing channel maintenance expect to release the Draft EIS for public Questions (SEQ), which is scheduled to
practices will continue in the absence of review and comment in 2018. The Corps be held at the same location and time.
the Plan, dredged material management will issue a Notice of Availability in the The IAB will also hold a preparatory
alternatives to be considered include: Federal Register announcing the release meeting among company
Management of existing sites to extend of the Draft EIS for public comment. The representatives at the same location at
or expand capacity; various Sponsor Ports will publish a Notice of 8:30 a.m. on September 13. The agenda
combinations of new sites involving Availability of the Draft EIS for public for this preparatory meeting is to review
different placement methods, locations comment in accordance with SEPA the agenda for the SEQ meeting.
and periods of use; measures to reduce regulations. Documents and other The agenda of the SEQ meeting is
dredging requirements, including important information related to the under the control of the SEQ. It is
hydraulic control works and changes to Plan/EIS will be available for review on expected that the SEQ will adopt the
maintenance dimensions. Potential the Corps’ project Web site. following agenda:
beneficial uses of dredged material Draft Agenda of the 152nd Meeting of
(such as fish and wildlife habitat Aaron L. Dorf, the SEQ to be held at the Centre de
creation and ecosystem restoration) will Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Conférence Ministériel of the French
be assessed. Additional alternatives Commander. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, 27
could be developed during the scoping [FR Doc. 2017–18988 Filed 9–7–17; 8:45 am] Rue de la Convention, 75015 Paris,
and evaluation process. BILLING CODE 3720–58–P France, 13 September 2017, beginning at
Scoping Process/Public Involvement. 9:30 a.m.
The Corps and Sponsor Ports invite all
affected federal, state, and local Closed SEQ Session—IEA Member
agencies, affected Native American DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Countries Only
Tribes, and other interested parties to 1. Adoption of the Agenda
participate in the NEPA and SEPA International Energy Agency Meetings 2. Approval of the Summary Record of
process during development of the Plan AGENCY: Department of Energy. the 151st Meeting
and EIS. The purpose of the public ACTION: Notice of meetings. 3. Status of Compliance with IEP
scoping process is to provide Agreement Stockholding
information to the public, narrow the SUMMARY: The Industry Advisory Board Obligations
scope of analysis to significant (IAB) to the International Energy 4. Preparations for the IEA Ministerial
environmental issues, and serve as a Agency (IEA) will meet on September 5. Stockholding Methodology Issues
mechanism to solicit agency and public 13, 2017, at the Conference Centre of the Open SEQ Session—Open to
input on alternatives and issues of French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 27, Association Countries
concern, and ensure full and open Rue de la Convention, 75015 Paris,
participation in scoping of the Draft EIS. 6. Update on Study into Legal Systems
France, in connection with a joint
A series of public scoping meetings is of Emergency Policy
meeting of the IEA’s Standing Group on 7. Proposal for Update of 2013 Cost-
scheduled for October 2017. The Emergency Questions (SEQ) and the benefit of Stockholding Study
specific dates, times, and locations of IEA’s Standing Group on the Oil Market 8. Industry Advisory Board Update
the meetings are provided below. (SOM) on September 14, 2017, in 9. Mid-term Review of Indonesia
Public Scoping Meetings: connection with a meeting of the SEQ 10. Proposal for Energy Security Study
• Monday, October 2, 2017, 4:00 p.m. on that day. for ASEAN +6
to 7:00 p.m., Cowlitz County Event DATES: September 13, 14, 2017. 11. Update on Preparations for ERE9
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, 12. Mid-term Review of the United
Washington. ADDRESSES: 27, Rue de la Convention,
75015 Paris, France. Kingdom
• Thursday, October 5, 2017, 4:00 13. Outreach
p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Marshall Community FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: —Recent APERC meeting
Center, 1009 East McLoughlin Thomas Reilly, Assistant General —Recent JOGMEC training for China
Boulevard, Vancouver, Washington. Counsel for International and National —Overview of recent activities
• Friday, October 6, 2017, 4:00 p.m. Security Programs, Department of 14. Update on Cyber Security &
to 7:00 p.m., Charles Jordan Community Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue Digitalization
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Document Created: 2018-10-24 14:09:36
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 14:09:36
| 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 | Written comments for consideration in the development of the | |
| Contact | For questions regarding the Plan, the EIS, or special accommodations for scoping process participation, please contact Kate Wells, Environmental Resources Specialist; Attn: CENWP-PM-E, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946; (503) 808-4664; [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 42548 |
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