Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Permit Application for Widening of Bayou Casotte and Lower Sound Channels of the Pascagoula Harbor Channel, in the Port of Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi, 57979-57980 [2011-23994]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 181 / Monday, September 19, 2011 / Notices
Pursuant to the provisions of
section 10 of Public Law 92–463, the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice
is hereby given that a closed meeting of
the Department of Defense Wage
Committee will be held on Tuesday,
October 18, 2011, at 10 a.m. at 1400 Key
Boulevard, Level A, Room A101,
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209.
Under the provisions of section 10(d)
of Public Law 92–463, the Department
of Defense has determined that the
meetings meet the criteria to close
meetings to the public because the
matters to be considered are related to
internal rules and practices of the
Department of Defense and the detailed
wage data to be considered were
obtained from officials of private
establishments with a guarantee that the
data will be held in confidence.
However, members of the public who
may wish to do so are invited to submit
material in writing to the chairman
concerning matters believed to be
deserving of the Committee’s attention.
Additional information concerning
the meetings may be obtained by writing
to the Chairman, Department of Defense
Wage Committee, 4000 Defense
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301–4000.
SUMMARY:
Dated: September 13, 2011.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer,
Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2011–23920 Filed 9–16–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Air University Board of Visitors
Meeting
Bao-Anh Trinh,
DAF, Air Force Federal Register Liaison
Officer.
Notice of Meeting of the Air
University Board of Visitors.
ACTION:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[FR Doc. 2011–23925 Filed 9–16–11; 8:45 am]
Under the provisions of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act of
1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended),
the Government in the Sunshine Act of
1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and
41 CFR 102–3.150, the Department of
Defense announces that the Air
University Board of Visitors’ meeting
will take place on Tuesday, 4 October
2011, from 1:30 p.m. to approximately
2:30 p.m. The meeting will be a
conference call meeting. Please contact
Mrs. Diana Bunch, Designated Federal
Officer, at (334) 953–4547, for further
information to access the conference
call. The purpose and agenda of this
meeting is to provide independent
advice and recommendations on matters
pertaining to the strategic positioning of
Air University’s educational mission.
SUMMARY:
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Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552b, as
amended, and 41 CFR 102–3.155 all
sessions of the Air University Board of
Visitors’ meeting will be open to the
public. Any member of the public
wishing to provide input to the Air
University Board of Visitors should
submit a written statement in
accordance with 41 CFR 102–3.140(c)
and section 10(a)(3) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act and the
procedures described in this paragraph.
Written statements can be submitted to
the Designated Federal Officer at the
address detailed below at any time.
Statements being submitted in response
to the agenda mentioned in this notice
must be received by the Designated
Federal Officer at the address listed
below at least five calendar days prior
to the meeting which is the subject of
this notice. Written statements received
after this date may not be provided to
or considered by the Air University
Board of Visitors until its next meeting.
The Designated Federal Officer will
review all timely submissions with the
Air University Board of Visitors’ Board
Chairperson and ensure they are
provided to members of the Board
before the meeting that is the subject of
this notice. Additionally, any member of
the public wishing to attend this
meeting should contact either person
listed below at least five calendar days
prior to the meeting for information on
base entry passes.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs.
Diana Bunch, Designated Federal
Officer, Air University Headquarters, 55
LeMay Plaza South, Maxwell Air Force
Base, Alabama 36112–6335, telephone
(334) 953–4547.
BILLING CODE 5001–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Intent to Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for a Permit
Application for Widening of Bayou
Casotte and Lower Sound Channels of
the Pascagoula Harbor Channel, in the
Port of Pascagoula, Jackson County,
Mississippi
AGENCY:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
DOD.
ACTION:
Notice of Intent.
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) Mobile District
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
57979
Regulatory Division announces its
intent to prepare an EIS to assess the
potential environmental impacts
associated with widening the existing
Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte
Federal Channel segment of Pascagoula
Harbor (the Project). The proposed
Project is a 100-foot-widening of the
Lower Sound and Bayou Casotte Legs of
the Pascagoula Harbor Channel, as well
as limited widening of the northern
portion of the Horn Island Pass Channel
to facilitate the transition between the
two channel segments. The Corps is
considering the Jackson County Port
Authority/Port of Pascagoula (Port)
application for a Department of the
Army permit under Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act, Section 10 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and
Section 103 of the Marine Protection,
Research, and Sanctuaries Act. A joint
public notice for the Section 10 permit
(SAM–2011–00389–PAH) was issued by
the Corps on April 15, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action
and Draft EIS can be answered by Mr.
Philip A. Hegji, Corps Project Manager,
at (251) 690–3222. Comments shall be
addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Mobile District, Regulatory
Division, ATTN: File Number SAM–
2011–00389–PAH, at P.O. Box 2288,
Mobile, Alabama 36628–0001, or street
address, 109 St. Joseph Street, Mobile,
Alabama 36602.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background. The EIS will assess
the impacts associated with dredging
approximately 38,137 feet (7.22 miles)
of the existing Pascagoula Lower Sound/
Bayou Casotte Federal Channel segment
to widen the channel 100 feet parallel
to the existing channel centerline, to the
existing depth of ¥42 feet mean lower
low water, as well as the beneficial use
and placement of the dredged material.
The proposed project would be
developed over approximately the next
2 to 3 years.
The EIS discussed in this notice
would support the regulatory process
for this specific permit application and
Project. The Corps Planning Division is
also preparing a separate EIS and
Feasibility Study under the Corps
Planning Process to evaluate whether
there is a Federal interest in modifying
the existing federally authorized
navigation channel (Federal Navigation
Channel) leading to Bayou Casotte (i.e.,
Pascagoula channel widening from the
Horn Island Pass to the entrance of the
Bayou Casotte Harbor) and maintenance
of the channel.
The primary Federal involvement in
this EIS for the Regulatory Division is an
E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM
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57980
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 181 / Monday, September 19, 2011 / Notices
application for a permit to dredge or
excavate adjacent to a Federal
Navigation Channel in or affecting
navigable waters of the United States,
and potential impacts on the human
environment from such activities, as
well as the disposal of material in the
littoral disposal area, which could be
suitable for beneficial use. Also
included in the evaluation is the
placement of dredged material within
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) designated Pascagoula
Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site
(ODMDS) and the designated Littoral
Zone Placement Area located east and
south of the barrier island. It is
anticipated that the excavated area
would become part of the Federal
Navigation Channel in the future, if the
Corps adopts maintenance of the
widened area, pending approval of the
Corps Planning documents described
above. No wetland impacts are known
to exist at the proposed dredge disposal
site. In accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Corps is requiring the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
prior to rendering a final decision on the
Port’s permit application, based on
potentially significant impacts to water
quality, cultural resources, endangered
or threatened species, or sediment
transport. The Corps may ultimately
make a determination to approve the
permit, approve the permit with
conditions, or deny the permit for the
above project.
This effort will also support nonfederal construction of the project and,
in concert with the parallel Planning
Division EIS, the potential federal
maintenance under the authority of
Section 204(b) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986.
Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as
amended), the Corps will serve as Lead
Agency for the Preparation of an EIS.
The Draft EIS is intended to be
sufficient in scope to address both the
Federal and the state and local
requirements and environmental issues
concerning the proposed activities and
permit approvals. The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) has expressed
interest in acting as a cooperating
agency in the preparation of the EIS.
2. Project Purpose and Need. The
overall project purpose is to widen the
existing Federal Navigation Channel,
including excavation, as needed, to
reconfigure the site to alleviate the
current transit restrictions and increase
travel efficiencies for vessel transit,
improve safety conditions for vessel
operations, improve conditions for port
operations, and improve habitat
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15:46 Sep 16, 2011
Jkt 223001
conditions through the beneficial use of
dredged material.
3. Issues. There are several potential
environmental issues that will be
addressed in the EIS. Additional issues
may be identified during the scoping
process. Issues initially identified as
potentially significant include:
a. Impacts to traffic, including marine
navigation and ground transportation;
b. Potential impacts to endangered
and threatened species;
c. Air quality;
d. Water quality;
e. Socioeconomic effects;
f. Cumulative impacts; and
g. Placement of dredged materials.
4. Alternatives. Alternatives initially
being considered for the proposed
improvement project include the
following:
a. No Project/No Action. .This
alternative would not implement any of
the elements presented in the project
description.
b. Widening 100 feet on the West Side.
This alternative is the proposed Project
to widen the Federal Channel segment
approximately 100 feet parallel to the
existing channel centerline, to the
existing depth of ¥42 feet mean lower
low water. The width may be increased
as necessary to allow adequate transit
for navigation in transition zones. The
improved channel would be 7.22 miles
long and result in excavation of
approximately 3.4 to 3.8 million cubic
yards of dredged material.
c. Widening of 50 feet on Either Side
of the Channel Centerline. This
alternative includes a proposal to widen
the Federal Channel segment,
approximately 50 feet on either side of
the existing channel centerline, to the
existing depth of ¥42 feet mean lower
low water. The width may be increased
as necessary to allow adequate
transition for navigation. The improved
channel would be similar in length and
dredged material quantities to the
proposed Project (widening 100 feet on
the West Side).
5. Scoping Process. As part of the
Corps Planning Division EIS, a public
scoping meeting was conducted for the
proposed Bayou Casotte and Lower
Sound Channels Widening of the
Pascagoula Harbor Channel. The
meeting was held to receive public
comments and assess public concerns
regarding the appropriate scope and
preparation of the Draft EIS.
Participation in the public meeting by
Federal, State, and local agencies and
other interested organizations and
persons was encouraged. This meeting
was conducted in English, and was held
on Thursday, February 25, 2010 from
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., located at the
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Pascagoula Public Library, 3214
Pascagoula Street, Pascagoula, MS
39567.
A comment period was held for the
Regulatory Division on the permit
application, which was noticed April
15, 2011. The comment period was held
from April 15, 2011 to May 16, 2011.
The Corps will be accepting written
comments on this Notice of Intent to
prepare an EIS, and they will be taken
into consideration during development
of the document. We encourage any
additional comments from interested
public, agencies, and local officials.
Written and e-mailed comments to the
Corps will be received until October 20,
2011. Written comments should be sent
to the address below:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile
District, Regulatory Division, c/o Philip
A. Hegji, 109 St. Joseph Street, Mobile,
Alabama 36628–0001, e-mail:
Philip.A.Hegji@usace.army.mil.
6. Availability of the Draft EIS. The
Corps expects the Draft EIS to be made
available to the public in late spring
2012. A public hearing will be held
during the public comment period for
the Draft EIS.
Dated: September 9, 2011.
Craig J. Litteken,
Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. 2011–23994 Filed 9–16–11; 8:45 am]
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DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES
SAFETY BOARD
Senior Executive Service Performance
Review Board
Defense Nuclear Facilities
Safety Board.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
membership of the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Senior
Executive Service (SES) Performance
Review Board (PRB).
DATES: Effective Date: September 19,
2011.
SUMMARY:
Send comments concerning
this notice to: Defense Nuclear Facilities
Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue, NW.,
Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004–2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Deborah Biscieglia by telephone at (202)
694–7041 or by e-mail at
debbieb@dnfsb.gov.
ADDRESSES:
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 181 (Monday, September 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57979-57980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a
Permit Application for Widening of Bayou Casotte and Lower Sound
Channels of the Pascagoula Harbor Channel, in the Port of Pascagoula,
Jackson County, Mississippi
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Mobile District
Regulatory Division announces its intent to prepare an EIS to assess
the potential environmental impacts associated with widening the
existing Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte Federal Channel segment
of Pascagoula Harbor (the Project). The proposed Project is a 100-foot-
widening of the Lower Sound and Bayou Casotte Legs of the Pascagoula
Harbor Channel, as well as limited widening of the northern portion of
the Horn Island Pass Channel to facilitate the transition between the
two channel segments. The Corps is considering the Jackson County Port
Authority/Port of Pascagoula (Port) application for a Department of the
Army permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 10 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and Section 103 of the Marine
Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. A joint public notice for
the Section 10 permit (SAM-2011-00389-PAH) was issued by the Corps on
April 15, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and Draft EIS can be answered by Mr. Philip A. Hegji, Corps Project
Manager, at (251) 690-3222. Comments shall be addressed to: U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, Regulatory Division, ATTN: File
Number SAM-2011-00389-PAH, at P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, Alabama 36628-
0001, or street address, 109 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, Alabama 36602.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background. The EIS will assess the impacts associated with
dredging approximately 38,137 feet (7.22 miles) of the existing
Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte Federal Channel segment to widen
the channel 100 feet parallel to the existing channel centerline, to
the existing depth of -42 feet mean lower low water, as well as the
beneficial use and placement of the dredged material. The proposed
project would be developed over approximately the next 2 to 3 years.
The EIS discussed in this notice would support the regulatory
process for this specific permit application and Project. The Corps
Planning Division is also preparing a separate EIS and Feasibility
Study under the Corps Planning Process to evaluate whether there is a
Federal interest in modifying the existing federally authorized
navigation channel (Federal Navigation Channel) leading to Bayou
Casotte (i.e., Pascagoula channel widening from the Horn Island Pass to
the entrance of the Bayou Casotte Harbor) and maintenance of the
channel.
The primary Federal involvement in this EIS for the Regulatory
Division is an
[[Page 57980]]
application for a permit to dredge or excavate adjacent to a Federal
Navigation Channel in or affecting navigable waters of the United
States, and potential impacts on the human environment from such
activities, as well as the disposal of material in the littoral
disposal area, which could be suitable for beneficial use. Also
included in the evaluation is the placement of dredged material within
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Pascagoula
Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site (ODMDS) and the designated
Littoral Zone Placement Area located east and south of the barrier
island. It is anticipated that the excavated area would become part of
the Federal Navigation Channel in the future, if the Corps adopts
maintenance of the widened area, pending approval of the Corps Planning
documents described above. No wetland impacts are known to exist at the
proposed dredge disposal site. In accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is requiring the preparation
of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to rendering a final
decision on the Port's permit application, based on potentially
significant impacts to water quality, cultural resources, endangered or
threatened species, or sediment transport. The Corps may ultimately
make a determination to approve the permit, approve the permit with
conditions, or deny the permit for the above project.
This effort will also support non-federal construction of the
project and, in concert with the parallel Planning Division EIS, the
potential federal maintenance under the authority of Section 204(b) of
the Water Resources Development Act of 1986.
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as
amended), the Corps will serve as Lead Agency for the Preparation of an
EIS. The Draft EIS is intended to be sufficient in scope to address
both the Federal and the state and local requirements and environmental
issues concerning the proposed activities and permit approvals. The
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has expressed interest in
acting as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS.
2. Project Purpose and Need. The overall project purpose is to
widen the existing Federal Navigation Channel, including excavation, as
needed, to reconfigure the site to alleviate the current transit
restrictions and increase travel efficiencies for vessel transit,
improve safety conditions for vessel operations, improve conditions for
port operations, and improve habitat conditions through the beneficial
use of dredged material.
3. Issues. There are several potential environmental issues that
will be addressed in the EIS. Additional issues may be identified
during the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially
significant include:
a. Impacts to traffic, including marine navigation and ground
transportation;
b. Potential impacts to endangered and threatened species;
c. Air quality;
d. Water quality;
e. Socioeconomic effects;
f. Cumulative impacts; and
g. Placement of dredged materials.
4. Alternatives. Alternatives initially being considered for the
proposed improvement project include the following:
a. No Project/No Action. .This alternative would not implement any
of the elements presented in the project description.
b. Widening 100 feet on the West Side. This alternative is the
proposed Project to widen the Federal Channel segment approximately 100
feet parallel to the existing channel centerline, to the existing depth
of -42 feet mean lower low water. The width may be increased as
necessary to allow adequate transit for navigation in transition zones.
The improved channel would be 7.22 miles long and result in excavation
of approximately 3.4 to 3.8 million cubic yards of dredged material.
c. Widening of 50 feet on Either Side of the Channel Centerline.
This alternative includes a proposal to widen the Federal Channel
segment, approximately 50 feet on either side of the existing channel
centerline, to the existing depth of -42 feet mean lower low water. The
width may be increased as necessary to allow adequate transition for
navigation. The improved channel would be similar in length and dredged
material quantities to the proposed Project (widening 100 feet on the
West Side).
5. Scoping Process. As part of the Corps Planning Division EIS, a
public scoping meeting was conducted for the proposed Bayou Casotte and
Lower Sound Channels Widening of the Pascagoula Harbor Channel. The
meeting was held to receive public comments and assess public concerns
regarding the appropriate scope and preparation of the Draft EIS.
Participation in the public meeting by Federal, State, and local
agencies and other interested organizations and persons was encouraged.
This meeting was conducted in English, and was held on Thursday,
February 25, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., located at the
Pascagoula Public Library, 3214 Pascagoula Street, Pascagoula, MS
39567.
A comment period was held for the Regulatory Division on the permit
application, which was noticed April 15, 2011. The comment period was
held from April 15, 2011 to May 16, 2011.
The Corps will be accepting written comments on this Notice of
Intent to prepare an EIS, and they will be taken into consideration
during development of the document. We encourage any additional
comments from interested public, agencies, and local officials. Written
and e-mailed comments to the Corps will be received until October 20,
2011. Written comments should be sent to the address below:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, Regulatory Division,
c/o Philip A. Hegji, 109 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, Alabama 36628-0001,
e-mail: Philip.A.Hegji@usace.army.mil.
6. Availability of the Draft EIS. The Corps expects the Draft EIS
to be made available to the public in late spring 2012. A public
hearing will be held during the public comment period for the Draft
EIS.
Dated: September 9, 2011.
Craig J. Litteken,
Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-23994 Filed 9-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
