Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for a Permit Application for the Proposed San Pedro Waterfront Project at the Port of Los Angeles, in Los Angeles County, California, 76999-77000 [E6-21897]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 246 / Friday, December 22, 2006 / Notices
exception of the rulemaking provisions of 5
U.S.C. 553(a)(1).
Sincerely,
Philip J. Martello,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the
Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 06–9839 Filed 12–19–06; 2:51 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report for a
Permit Application for the Proposed
San Pedro Waterfront Project at the
Port of Los Angeles, in Los Angeles
County, California
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Los Angeles District, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) is considering an
application for Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers
and Harbors Act permits authorizing
dredge and fill activities to create three
new harbors (North Harbor, Downtown
Harbor, and 7th Street Harbor) along the
San Pedro Waterfront, construct pilesupported structures to provide
additional areas for land-side use, and
construct a waterfront promenade and
Outer Harbor cruise ship terminal. The
reason for the new NOI is the scope of
the previous project, titled From Bridge
to Breakwater San Pedro Waterfront and
Promenade, was reduced, a new permit
application was submitted, and the
proposed project has been modified to
focus on infrastructure improvements,
cruise program expansion, and to
increase public access to the waterfront.
The primary Federal concern is the
dredging and discharging of fill material
within waters of the United States and
potential significant impacts resulting
from such dredging and discharges to
the environment. Therefore, in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Corps is requiring the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
prior to consideration of any permit
action. The Corps may ultimately make
a determination to permit or deny the
above project, or permit or deny
modified versions of the above project.
Pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the
Port of Los Angeles will serve as Lead
Agency in preparing an Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) for its consideration
of development approvals within its
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:45 Dec 21, 2006
Jkt 211001
jurisdiction. The Corps and the Port of
Los Angeles have agreed to jointly
prepare a Draft EIS/EIR in order to
optimize efficiency and avoid
duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is
intended to be sufficient in scope to
address the Federal, state, and local
requirements and environmental issues
concerning the proposed activities and
permit approvals.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Comments and questions regarding
scoping of the Draft EIS/EIR may be
addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Los Angeles District,
Regulatory Branch, ATTN: File Number
2005–01271–SDM, P.O. Box 532711,
Los Angeles, California 90053–2325, or
spencer.d.macneil@usace.army.mil.
Comments or questions can also be sent
to Jan Green Rebstock, Port of Los
Angeles, Environmental Management
Division, 425 S. Palos Verdes St., San
Pedro, CA 90731, or
ceqacomments@portla.org. Dr. Spencer
D. MacNeil can be reached at 805–585–
2149, and Jan Green Rebstock can be
reached at 310–732–3949.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Project
Site: The proposed project is located in
the southern end of the City of Los
Angeles along the west side of the Port
of Los Angeles’ Main Channel, from the
Vincent Thomas Bridge to Berths 49–50.
The proposed dredge activities would
take place at Berths 87–89, 86, and the
foot of 7th Street. In addition, the
proposed construction of a waterfront
promenade would affect mudflat at
Berth 78; impacts to this mudflat would
be mitigated.
2. Proposed Action: The project
applicant, the Port of Los Angeles,
proposes to perform modifications to
the existing shorefront, including water
cutouts of approximately 9.21 acres to
increase the net water area (up to 4.98
acres) to provide for a variety of
waterfront uses, including berthing for
visiting tall ships, leisure craft, tugboats,
and other recreational, commercial, and
port-related uses, without impeding the
public’s right to free navigation; and
utilize and increase the value of deep
water in the Outer Harbor and Main
Channel to accommodate existing and
projected growth in the cruise ship
industry. Specifically, the proposed
action includes approximately 463,000
square feet (sf) and 808,000 cubic yards
(cy) of excavation and dredging (of
which approximately 401,000 sf and
605,000 cy of new water area and
volume will be added below the mean
high tide line), with approximately
70,000 sf of rock slope protection. The
project would also involve installation
of 618 new piles and 910 linear feet of
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
76999
sheet pile bulkheads, and construction
of approximately 211,000 square feet of
new wharf structures, decks, piers, and
floating docks. Additionally, the project
would remove or demolish
approximately 990 linear feet of existing
retention dikes (or bulkheads) and
approximately 96,800 square feet (2.22
acres) of wharf structures, decks, piers,
and docks. In total, the proposed action
would create or uncover approximately
497,800 sf (11.43 acres) of open water,
and cover approximately 281,000 sf
(6.45 acres) of existing water, for a net
increase of approximately 216,800 sf
(4.98 acres) of open water area within
the harbor.
Due to the creation of the new
harbors, the project is anticipated to
create a total of approximately 808,000
cubic yards of dredge material. Disposal
of clean dredge material is planned for
LA–2 or LA–3 offshore disposal, with
upland disposal of contaminated
sediments. Ocean disposal would also
require authorization pursuant to
Section 103 of the Marine Protection,
Research, and Sanctuaries Act. Should
other approved in-harbor disposal sites
become available, they will also be
considered.
3. Issues: There are several potential
environmental issues that will be
addressed in the Draft EIS/EIR.
Additional issues may be identified
during the scoping process. Issues
initially identified as potentially
significant include:
1. Aesthetic and visual impacts from
construction and operation;
2. Air quality impacts from
construction, operation, increased
vehicle and cruise ship emissions, and
contributions to global warming and
greenhouse gases;
3. Biological impacts to marine and
terrestrial plants and wildlife;
4. Cultural resources, both historic
buildings and structures and historic
and prehistoric archaeology;
5. Geological issues, including
dredging and stabilization of fill areas in
an area of known seismic activity;
6. Hazards and hazardous materials
related to existing and former activities
that have contaminated soil and
groundwater in the Port, or pose
hazardous risks related to ongoing
operations, and hazards and risk of
upset due to terrorism;
7. Hydrology and water quality from
disturbance of sediment, increased
cruise operations, and runoff from
development;
8. Noise from construction, existing
and future operations, and increased
traffic;
E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM
22DEN1
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
77000
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 246 / Friday, December 22, 2006 / Notices
9. Public services related to provision
of fire, police, emergency response, and
other public service agencies;
10. Recreation related to impacting
existing recreation, and the beneficial
impact of providing new recreational
opportunities;
11. Traffic and transportation,
including marine navigation and ground
transportation;
12. Utilities and services as a result of
an increased demand for such services;
and
13. Cumulative impacts from past,
present, and foreseeable future projects.
4. Alternatives: Several alternatives
are being considered for the proposed
action. The Draft EIS/EIR will include a
coequal analysis of the project
alternatives considered. Alternatives
being considered for the proposed
project include an alternative
development scenario, which includes
one proposed cruise ship berth in the
Outer Harbor, modifications to parking
areas and transportation corridors, and
optional locations for the Red Car
Museum and maintenance facility; a No
Project/No Action Alternative that
would not implement any of the project
elements; and a No Federal Action
Baseline Alternative that would involve
building the project without the water
cuts and construction of the Outer
Harbor Cruise Terminal, which require
Corps permits. These alternatives will
be further formulated and developed
during the scoping process. Additional
alternatives that may be developed
during scoping will also be considered
in the Draft EIS/EIR.
5. Scoping Process: A Notice of Intent
for the original project design, titled
From Bridge to Breakwater San Pedro
Waterfront and Promenade, was
published in the Federal Register on
August 8, 2005. Three public meetings
were held to obtain public comments.
The Corps permit application reflecting
the new project design has since been
submitted. A new public meeting will
be held to receive public comment and
assess public concerns regarding the
appropriate scope and preparation of
the Draft EIS/EIR for the modified
project. Participation in the public
meeting by federal, state, and local
agencies and other interested
organizations and persons is
encouraged.
The Corps of Engineers will also be
consulting with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service under the Endangered
Species Act and Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act, and with the National
Marine Fisheries Service under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.
Additionally, the EIS/EIR will assess the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:45 Dec 21, 2006
Jkt 211001
consistency of the proposed action with
the Coastal Zone Management Act and
potential water quality impacts
pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean
Water Act. The public scoping meeting
for the NOP/NOI will be held on
January 23, 2007 at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel in San Pedro, located at 601 South
Palos Verdes Street. Written comments
will be accepted until February 28,
2007.
6. Availability of the Draft EIS: The
Draft EIS/EIR is expected to be
published and circulated in late Fall
2007, and a public meeting will be held
after its publication.
Dated: December 13, 2006.
David J. Castanon,
Chief, Regulatory Branch, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E6–21897 Filed 12–21–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710–KF–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Postsecondary Education;
Overview Information; Fund for the
Improvement of Postsecondary
Education—Special Focus
Competition: Program for North
American Mobility in Higher Education
Notice Inviting Applications for New
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.116N
DATES: Applications Available:
December 22, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: April 13, 2007.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: July 14, 2007.
Eligible Applicants: Institutions of
higher education (IHEs) or combinations
of IHEs and other public and private
nonprofit institutions and agencies.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$21,989,000 for the Fund for the
Improvement of Postsecondary
Education for FY 2007, of which we
intend to use an estimated $300,000 for
this competition. The actual level of
funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications to allow enough
time to complete the grant process if
Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $25,000–
30,000 for the first year only.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$30,000 for the first year only. $200,000
for four-year duration of grant.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $215,000 for a single budget
period of 12 months. The Assistant
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Secretary for Postsecondary Education
may change the maximum amount
through a notice published in the
Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 10.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: To provide
grants or enter into cooperative
agreements to improve postsecondary
education opportunities by focusing on
problem areas or improvement
approaches in postsecondary education.
Priority: Under this competition, we
are particularly interested in
applications that address the following
priority.
Invitational Priority: For FY 2007 this
priority is an invitational priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not
give an application that meets this
invitational priority a competitive or
absolute preference over other
applications.
This priority is designed to support
the formation of educational consortia
of American, Canadian, and Mexican
institutions to encourage cooperation in
the coordination of curricula, the
exchange of students, and the opening
of educational opportunities among the
United States, Canada, and Mexico. The
invitational priority is issued in
cooperation with Canada and Mexico.
These awards support only the
participation of U.S. institutions and
students in these consortia of American,
Canadian, and Mexican institutions.
Canadian and Mexican institutions
participating in any consortium
proposal responding to the invitational
priority may apply, respectively, to
Human Resources and Social
Development Canada (HRSDC) or the
Mexican Secretariat for Public
Education (SEP), for additional funding
under separate but parallel Canadian
and Mexican competitions.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138–
1138d.
Applicable Regulations: The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 84,
85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$21,989,000 for the Fund for the
Improvement of Postsecondary
Education for FY 2007, of which we
E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM
22DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 246 (Friday, December 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76999-77000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21897]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement/Environmental Impact Report for a Permit Application for the
Proposed San Pedro Waterfront Project at the Port of Los Angeles, in
Los Angeles County, California
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is considering an
application for Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of
the Rivers and Harbors Act permits authorizing dredge and fill
activities to create three new harbors (North Harbor, Downtown Harbor,
and 7th Street Harbor) along the San Pedro Waterfront, construct pile-
supported structures to provide additional areas for land-side use, and
construct a waterfront promenade and Outer Harbor cruise ship terminal.
The reason for the new NOI is the scope of the previous project, titled
From Bridge to Breakwater San Pedro Waterfront and Promenade, was
reduced, a new permit application was submitted, and the proposed
project has been modified to focus on infrastructure improvements,
cruise program expansion, and to increase public access to the
waterfront.
The primary Federal concern is the dredging and discharging of fill
material within waters of the United States and potential significant
impacts resulting from such dredging and discharges to the environment.
Therefore, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Corps is requiring the preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) prior to consideration of any permit action. The
Corps may ultimately make a determination to permit or deny the above
project, or permit or deny modified versions of the above project.
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the
Port of Los Angeles will serve as Lead Agency in preparing an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its consideration of development
approvals within its jurisdiction. The Corps and the Port of Los
Angeles have agreed to jointly prepare a Draft EIS/EIR in order to
optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is
intended to be sufficient in scope to address the Federal, state, and
local requirements and environmental issues concerning the proposed
activities and permit approvals.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments and questions regarding
scoping of the Draft EIS/EIR may be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Branch, ATTN: File Number
2005-01271-SDM, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, California 90053-2325, or
spencer.d.macneil@usace.army.mil. Comments or questions can also be
sent to Jan Green Rebstock, Port of Los Angeles, Environmental
Management Division, 425 S. Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731, or
ceqacomments@portla.org. Dr. Spencer D. MacNeil can be reached at 805-
585-2149, and Jan Green Rebstock can be reached at 310-732-3949.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Project Site: The proposed project is
located in the southern end of the City of Los Angeles along the west
side of the Port of Los Angeles' Main Channel, from the Vincent Thomas
Bridge to Berths 49-50. The proposed dredge activities would take place
at Berths 87-89, 86, and the foot of 7th Street. In addition, the
proposed construction of a waterfront promenade would affect mudflat at
Berth 78; impacts to this mudflat would be mitigated.
2. Proposed Action: The project applicant, the Port of Los Angeles,
proposes to perform modifications to the existing shorefront, including
water cutouts of approximately 9.21 acres to increase the net water
area (up to 4.98 acres) to provide for a variety of waterfront uses,
including berthing for visiting tall ships, leisure craft, tugboats,
and other recreational, commercial, and port-related uses, without
impeding the public's right to free navigation; and utilize and
increase the value of deep water in the Outer Harbor and Main Channel
to accommodate existing and projected growth in the cruise ship
industry. Specifically, the proposed action includes approximately
463,000 square feet (sf) and 808,000 cubic yards (cy) of excavation and
dredging (of which approximately 401,000 sf and 605,000 cy of new water
area and volume will be added below the mean high tide line), with
approximately 70,000 sf of rock slope protection. The project would
also involve installation of 618 new piles and 910 linear feet of sheet
pile bulkheads, and construction of approximately 211,000 square feet
of new wharf structures, decks, piers, and floating docks.
Additionally, the project would remove or demolish approximately 990
linear feet of existing retention dikes (or bulkheads) and
approximately 96,800 square feet (2.22 acres) of wharf structures,
decks, piers, and docks. In total, the proposed action would create or
uncover approximately 497,800 sf (11.43 acres) of open water, and cover
approximately 281,000 sf (6.45 acres) of existing water, for a net
increase of approximately 216,800 sf (4.98 acres) of open water area
within the harbor.
Due to the creation of the new harbors, the project is anticipated
to create a total of approximately 808,000 cubic yards of dredge
material. Disposal of clean dredge material is planned for LA-2 or LA-3
offshore disposal, with upland disposal of contaminated sediments.
Ocean disposal would also require authorization pursuant to Section 103
of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. Should other
approved in-harbor disposal sites become available, they will also be
considered.
3. Issues: There are several potential environmental issues that
will be addressed in the Draft EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be
identified during the scoping process. Issues initially identified as
potentially significant include:
1. Aesthetic and visual impacts from construction and operation;
2. Air quality impacts from construction, operation, increased
vehicle and cruise ship emissions, and contributions to global warming
and greenhouse gases;
3. Biological impacts to marine and terrestrial plants and
wildlife;
4. Cultural resources, both historic buildings and structures and
historic and prehistoric archaeology;
5. Geological issues, including dredging and stabilization of fill
areas in an area of known seismic activity;
6. Hazards and hazardous materials related to existing and former
activities that have contaminated soil and groundwater in the Port, or
pose hazardous risks related to ongoing operations, and hazards and
risk of upset due to terrorism;
7. Hydrology and water quality from disturbance of sediment,
increased cruise operations, and runoff from development;
8. Noise from construction, existing and future operations, and
increased traffic;
[[Page 77000]]
9. Public services related to provision of fire, police, emergency
response, and other public service agencies;
10. Recreation related to impacting existing recreation, and the
beneficial impact of providing new recreational opportunities;
11. Traffic and transportation, including marine navigation and
ground transportation;
12. Utilities and services as a result of an increased demand for
such services; and
13. Cumulative impacts from past, present, and foreseeable future
projects.
4. Alternatives: Several alternatives are being considered for the
proposed action. The Draft EIS/EIR will include a coequal analysis of
the project alternatives considered. Alternatives being considered for
the proposed project include an alternative development scenario, which
includes one proposed cruise ship berth in the Outer Harbor,
modifications to parking areas and transportation corridors, and
optional locations for the Red Car Museum and maintenance facility; a
No Project/No Action Alternative that would not implement any of the
project elements; and a No Federal Action Baseline Alternative that
would involve building the project without the water cuts and
construction of the Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal, which require Corps
permits. These alternatives will be further formulated and developed
during the scoping process. Additional alternatives that may be
developed during scoping will also be considered in the Draft EIS/EIR.
5. Scoping Process: A Notice of Intent for the original project
design, titled From Bridge to Breakwater San Pedro Waterfront and
Promenade, was published in the Federal Register on August 8, 2005.
Three public meetings were held to obtain public comments. The Corps
permit application reflecting the new project design has since been
submitted. A new public meeting will be held to receive public comment
and assess public concerns regarding the appropriate scope and
preparation of the Draft EIS/EIR for the modified project.
Participation in the public meeting by federal, state, and local
agencies and other interested organizations and persons is encouraged.
The Corps of Engineers will also be consulting with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act and Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the National Marine Fisheries
Service under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. Additionally, the EIS/EIR will assess the consistency of the
proposed action with the Coastal Zone Management Act and potential
water quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
The public scoping meeting for the NOP/NOI will be held on January 23,
2007 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Pedro, located at 601 South Palos
Verdes Street. Written comments will be accepted until February 28,
2007.
6. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS/EIR is expected to
be published and circulated in late Fall 2007, and a public meeting
will be held after its publication.
Dated: December 13, 2006.
David J. Castanon,
Chief, Regulatory Branch, Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E6-21897 Filed 12-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-KF-P
