Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the Charleston Peninsula Coastal Flood Risk Management Study, Charleston County, South Carolina, 15470-15471 [2021-05929]
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15470
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 54 / Tuesday, March 23, 2021 / Notices
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
DoD Clearance Officer: Ms. Angela
James. Requests for copies of the
information collection proposal should
be sent to Ms. James at whs.mcalex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-informationcollections@mail.mil.
Jennifer D. Johnson,
Regulatory Control Officer, Defense
Acquisition Regulations System.
[FR Doc. 2021–06010 Filed 3–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Integrated Feasibility Report and
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Charleston Peninsula Coastal
Flood Risk Management Study,
Charleston County, South Carolina
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Department of
Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to the requirements
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by
the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), Charleston District,
announces its intent to conduct public
scoping and solicit public comments to
gather information to prepare a draft
Integrated Feasibility Report and
Environmental Impact Statement (IFR/
EIS). In April 2020, USACE released a
draft Integrated Feasibility Report/
Environmental Assessment (IFR/EA)
with a draft mitigated Finding of No
Significant Impacts (FONSI) for the
Charleston Peninsula Coastal Flood Risk
Management Study. After further agency
analysis, review of comments received
on the Draft IFR/EA, and continued
refinement of the study, USACE
concluded that an IFR/EIS with a
Record of Decision (ROD) would fulfill
NEPA compliance for the study.
Comments received during the draft
IFR/EA public comment period will be
considered as part of the scoping
process for the IFR/EIS, and do not need
be resubmitted.
DATES: USACE requests comments
concerning the scope of the alternatives
and identification of relevant
information, studies, and analyses. All
comments must be received by April 22,
2021. The draft IFR/EIS is scheduled to
be released for a minimum 45-day
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:45 Mar 22, 2021
Jkt 253001
public review in late summer of 2021.
The final IFR/EIS is scheduled to be
released in the summer of 2022. The
ROD will be signed no sooner than 30
days after the release of the IFR/EIS.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Charleston District, ATTN: Planning
and Environmental Branch, 69A Hagood
Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403. Send
comments via email to Chs-PeninsulaStudy@usace.army.mil. Submit
comments online at the website:
www.sac.usace.army.mil/
charlestonpeninsulastudy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Parrish, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, 69A Hagood Avenue,
Charleston, SC 29403, (843) 329–8050,
or Chs-Peninsula-Study@
usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USACE is
issuing this notice pursuant to section
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended,
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; and, the Council
on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ)
regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of NEPA, 43 CFR
parts 1500 through 1508. USACE is
exercising its discretion to employ the
1978 CEQ NEPA regulations to this
ongoing NEPA process pursuant to
CEQ’s Update to the Regulations
Implementing the Procedural Provisions
of the National Environmental Policy
Act, Final Rule, 85 FR 43304, at 43339–
43340 (July 16, 2020).
Background: In April 2020, USACE
released a draft IFR/EA with a draft
mitigated FONSI for the Charleston
Peninsula Coastal Flood Risk
Management Study. After further agency
analysis, review of comments received
on the draft IFR/EA, and continued
refinement of the study, USACE
concluded that NEPA compliance for
the study should instead be completed
by transitioning to an EIS with a ROD.
Portions of the draft EA which remain
pertinent and current will be integrated
into the draft IFR/EIS, as appropriate.
The IFR/EIS culminating in a ROD will
enable the agency to develop a more
comprehensive and detailed analysis of
the study alternatives, cultural, visual,
and natural resource impacts (among
others), and mitigation proposals, as
well as provide enhanced and
additional opportunity for resource
agency and public input to the process.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action: The Charleston Peninsula,
South Carolina, is a highly urbanized,
relatively flat, low-lying coastal
community. It is the historic core and
urban center of the City of Charleston.
The low elevation and tidal connections
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
to the Charleston Harbor, and Ashley
and Cooper Rivers, put the Charleston
Peninsula at particular risk of flooding
from coastal storms and render it more
vulnerable to sea level rise and climate
change. The purpose of this proposed
action is to reduce risk to human health
and safety and reduce economic
damages resulting from coastal storm
surge inundation on the Charleston
Peninsula.
Preliminary Proposed Action and
Alternatives: As described in the draft
IFR/EA, multiple types of management
measures (including structural,
nonstructural, and natural or naturebased) were identified to achieve study
objectives, take advantage of identified
opportunities, and avoid constraints.
Management measures were subjected
to an initial evaluation assessment and
combined into the initial range of
alternatives. These were screened
against the study’s objectives and the
four evaluation criteria of the Economic
and Environmental Principles and
Guidelines for Water and Land Related
Resources Implementation Studies,
resulting in two action alternatives, in
addition to the No Action Alternative.
Alternative 2 consists of construction of
a storm surge wall along the perimeter
or nearshore of the peninsula, and
nonstructural measures in select areas of
the peninsula. Alternative 3 included
the measures in Alternative 2 as well as
an additional structural measure, the
wave attenuator. Since the public
release of the draft IFR/EA, Alternative
3 was further refined using modeling
and analysis to reduce uncertainty
associated with the wave attenuator.
This analysis showed that the wave
attenuator does not produce additional
(incremental) inundation reduction
benefits beyond the measures in
Alternative 2. Therefore, Alternative 3 is
not being carried forward into the final
array of alternatives for the IFR/EIS. The
final array is expected to include the No
Action Alternative and an optimized
Alternative 2, now known as the
proposed action.
Brief Summary of Expected Impacts:
Under this proposed action, the storm
surge wall would be strategically
aligned to avoid and minimize impacts
to existing wetland habitat and cultural
resources (substantial avoidance and
minimization of wetlands has already
taken place as part of the refinement of
the proposed action following release of
the draft IFR/EA). The wall would be
strategically located to allow for
continued operation of all ports,
marinas, and the Coast Guard Station.
The wall would tie into high ground as
appropriate, including the existing
Battery Wall. Nonstructural measures
E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM
23MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 54 / Tuesday, March 23, 2021 / Notices
would be applied in areas of the
peninsula where it is not feasible to
construct the storm surge wall. In
addition to the storm surge wall and
associated access and flow gates, pump
stations could be necessary to alleviate
interior flooding induced by the wall.
Where possible, designs would be
modified to adhere to the visual
aesthetic of the city.
The draft IFR/EIS will update and
expand upon the effects analyzed in the
draft IFR/EA which included, but were
not limited to, positive and negative
impacts to the cultural resources and
historic properties, wetlands, visual
aesthetics, aquatic and terrestrial
resources, water quality, geology, air
quality and noise, coastal
hydrodynamics, hydrology and
hydraulics, recreation, transportation,
utilities, socioeconomics, and
environmental justice.
Anticipated Permits, Authorizations,
Consultations, or Coordination: USACE
anticipates that the following will be
required for this proposed action:
• Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
Report (already initiated).
• Consultation under Section 106 and
Section 110(f) of the National Historic
Preservation Act (already initiated).
• Consultations under MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, Endangered Species
Act, and Marine Mammal Protection
Act.
• Clean Water Act: Section 401 Water
Quality Certification, Section 404(b)1
analysis.
• Coastal Zone Management Act
consistency determination.
Public Scoping Process: During the
development of the draft IFR/EA,
USACE engaged Federal, State, and
local agencies, stakeholders, and the
public through various meetings and the
NEPA public comment period. On
January 31, 2019, a project information
meeting was held where the public was
informed on the results of the first two
planning iterations and input was
solicited both in person and via an
online form. USACE also solicited
public comments on the draft IFR/EA
during the public review period, April
20–June 20, 2020. Comments relevant to
scoping that were received in response
to the draft IFR/EA public comment
period will be considered as part of the
scoping process for the IFR/EIS, and do
not need to be resubmitted. However, all
are welcome to submit to USACE
updated, additional, or superseding
comments relevant to scoping in
response to this NOI.
Information regarding the upcoming
public scoping meeting, including date
and time, is published on the study’s
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:45 Mar 22, 2021
Jkt 253001
website at: www.sac.usace.army.mil/
charlestonpeninsulastudy.
Request for Identification of Potential
Alternatives, Information, and Analyses
Relevant to the Proposed Action:
USACE requests assistance with
identifying any new potential
alternatives to the Proposed Action to be
considered. Complete submittals of
proposed alternatives would include the
purpose of the suggested alternative.
USACE also requests assistance with
identifying any new potential impacts of
the Proposed Action, identifying the
activity and the potential impact that
should be analyzed. Information
interested parties possess which would
assist in the analysis of resources issues
is also appreciated. As noted above,
USACE will consider input received on
the draft IFR/EA pertinent to the
scoping of potential alternatives and
impacts. This information will be used
in the determination of the scope of
issues for analysis in the EIS.
Special Assistance for Public Meeting.
The scoping meeting will be virtual.
People needing special assistance to
attend and/or participate in the meeting
should contact U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Charleston District, ATTN:
Planning and Environmental Branch,
69A Hagood Avenue, Charleston, SC
29403 or via email to Chs-PeninsulaStudy@usace.army.mil. To allow
sufficient time to process special
requests, please contact no later than
one week before the public meeting.
Public Disclosure Statement. If you
wish to comment, you may use the
online form or mail or email your
comments as indicated under the
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or any other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made available to the public at any
time. While you can request in your
comment for us to withhold your
personal identifying information from
public review, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so.
Jason E. Kelly,
Project Management Professional.
[FR Doc. 2021–05929 Filed 3–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
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15471
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2020–SCC–0183]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Application for the U.S. Presidential
Scholars Program
Office of Communication and
Outreach (OCO), Department of
Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing an extension of a currently
approved information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before April 22,
2021.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should
be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/
do/PRAMain. Find this information
collection request by selecting
‘‘Department of Education’’ under
‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then check
‘‘Only Show ICR for Public Comment’’
checkbox. Comments may also be sent
to ICDocketmgr@ed.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Simone Olson,
202–205–8719.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM
23MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15470-15471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05929]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report
and Environmental Impact Statement for the Charleston Peninsula Coastal
Flood Risk Management Study, Charleston County, South Carolina
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Department of Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), Charleston District, announces its intent to conduct public
scoping and solicit public comments to gather information to prepare a
draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement
(IFR/EIS). In April 2020, USACE released a draft Integrated Feasibility
Report/Environmental Assessment (IFR/EA) with a draft mitigated Finding
of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) for the Charleston Peninsula Coastal
Flood Risk Management Study. After further agency analysis, review of
comments received on the Draft IFR/EA, and continued refinement of the
study, USACE concluded that an IFR/EIS with a Record of Decision (ROD)
would fulfill NEPA compliance for the study. Comments received during
the draft IFR/EA public comment period will be considered as part of
the scoping process for the IFR/EIS, and do not need be resubmitted.
DATES: USACE requests comments concerning the scope of the alternatives
and identification of relevant information, studies, and analyses. All
comments must be received by April 22, 2021. The draft IFR/EIS is
scheduled to be released for a minimum 45-day public review in late
summer of 2021. The final IFR/EIS is scheduled to be released in the
summer of 2022. The ROD will be signed no sooner than 30 days after the
release of the IFR/EIS.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Charleston District, ATTN: Planning and Environmental Branch, 69A
Hagood Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403. Send comments via email to [email protected]. Submit comments online at the website:
www.sac.usace.army.mil/charlestonpeninsulastudy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Parrish, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, 69A Hagood Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403, (843) 329-8050, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USACE is issuing this notice pursuant to
section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; and, the Council on
Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of NEPA, 43 CFR parts 1500 through 1508. USACE is
exercising its discretion to employ the 1978 CEQ NEPA regulations to
this ongoing NEPA process pursuant to CEQ's Update to the Regulations
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental
Policy Act, Final Rule, 85 FR 43304, at 43339-43340 (July 16, 2020).
Background: In April 2020, USACE released a draft IFR/EA with a
draft mitigated FONSI for the Charleston Peninsula Coastal Flood Risk
Management Study. After further agency analysis, review of comments
received on the draft IFR/EA, and continued refinement of the study,
USACE concluded that NEPA compliance for the study should instead be
completed by transitioning to an EIS with a ROD. Portions of the draft
EA which remain pertinent and current will be integrated into the draft
IFR/EIS, as appropriate. The IFR/EIS culminating in a ROD will enable
the agency to develop a more comprehensive and detailed analysis of the
study alternatives, cultural, visual, and natural resource impacts
(among others), and mitigation proposals, as well as provide enhanced
and additional opportunity for resource agency and public input to the
process.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action: The Charleston Peninsula,
South Carolina, is a highly urbanized, relatively flat, low-lying
coastal community. It is the historic core and urban center of the City
of Charleston. The low elevation and tidal connections to the
Charleston Harbor, and Ashley and Cooper Rivers, put the Charleston
Peninsula at particular risk of flooding from coastal storms and render
it more vulnerable to sea level rise and climate change. The purpose of
this proposed action is to reduce risk to human health and safety and
reduce economic damages resulting from coastal storm surge inundation
on the Charleston Peninsula.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives: As described in the
draft IFR/EA, multiple types of management measures (including
structural, nonstructural, and natural or nature-based) were identified
to achieve study objectives, take advantage of identified
opportunities, and avoid constraints. Management measures were
subjected to an initial evaluation assessment and combined into the
initial range of alternatives. These were screened against the study's
objectives and the four evaluation criteria of the Economic and
Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Land Related
Resources Implementation Studies, resulting in two action alternatives,
in addition to the No Action Alternative. Alternative 2 consists of
construction of a storm surge wall along the perimeter or nearshore of
the peninsula, and nonstructural measures in select areas of the
peninsula. Alternative 3 included the measures in Alternative 2 as well
as an additional structural measure, the wave attenuator. Since the
public release of the draft IFR/EA, Alternative 3 was further refined
using modeling and analysis to reduce uncertainty associated with the
wave attenuator. This analysis showed that the wave attenuator does not
produce additional (incremental) inundation reduction benefits beyond
the measures in Alternative 2. Therefore, Alternative 3 is not being
carried forward into the final array of alternatives for the IFR/EIS.
The final array is expected to include the No Action Alternative and an
optimized Alternative 2, now known as the proposed action.
Brief Summary of Expected Impacts: Under this proposed action, the
storm surge wall would be strategically aligned to avoid and minimize
impacts to existing wetland habitat and cultural resources (substantial
avoidance and minimization of wetlands has already taken place as part
of the refinement of the proposed action following release of the draft
IFR/EA). The wall would be strategically located to allow for continued
operation of all ports, marinas, and the Coast Guard Station. The wall
would tie into high ground as appropriate, including the existing
Battery Wall. Nonstructural measures
[[Page 15471]]
would be applied in areas of the peninsula where it is not feasible to
construct the storm surge wall. In addition to the storm surge wall and
associated access and flow gates, pump stations could be necessary to
alleviate interior flooding induced by the wall. Where possible,
designs would be modified to adhere to the visual aesthetic of the
city.
The draft IFR/EIS will update and expand upon the effects analyzed
in the draft IFR/EA which included, but were not limited to, positive
and negative impacts to the cultural resources and historic properties,
wetlands, visual aesthetics, aquatic and terrestrial resources, water
quality, geology, air quality and noise, coastal hydrodynamics,
hydrology and hydraulics, recreation, transportation, utilities,
socioeconomics, and environmental justice.
Anticipated Permits, Authorizations, Consultations, or
Coordination: USACE anticipates that the following will be required for
this proposed action:
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report (already
initiated).
Consultation under Section 106 and Section 110(f) of the
National Historic Preservation Act (already initiated).
Consultations under Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act, Endangered Species Act, and Marine Mammal
Protection Act.
Clean Water Act: Section 401 Water Quality Certification,
Section 404(b)1 analysis.
Coastal Zone Management Act consistency determination.
Public Scoping Process: During the development of the draft IFR/EA,
USACE engaged Federal, State, and local agencies, stakeholders, and the
public through various meetings and the NEPA public comment period. On
January 31, 2019, a project information meeting was held where the
public was informed on the results of the first two planning iterations
and input was solicited both in person and via an online form. USACE
also solicited public comments on the draft IFR/EA during the public
review period, April 20-June 20, 2020. Comments relevant to scoping
that were received in response to the draft IFR/EA public comment
period will be considered as part of the scoping process for the IFR/
EIS, and do not need to be resubmitted. However, all are welcome to
submit to USACE updated, additional, or superseding comments relevant
to scoping in response to this NOI.
Information regarding the upcoming public scoping meeting,
including date and time, is published on the study's website at:
www.sac.usace.army.mil/charlestonpeninsulastudy.
Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information,
and Analyses Relevant to the Proposed Action: USACE requests assistance
with identifying any new potential alternatives to the Proposed Action
to be considered. Complete submittals of proposed alternatives would
include the purpose of the suggested alternative. USACE also requests
assistance with identifying any new potential impacts of the Proposed
Action, identifying the activity and the potential impact that should
be analyzed. Information interested parties possess which would assist
in the analysis of resources issues is also appreciated. As noted
above, USACE will consider input received on the draft IFR/EA pertinent
to the scoping of potential alternatives and impacts. This information
will be used in the determination of the scope of issues for analysis
in the EIS.
Special Assistance for Public Meeting. The scoping meeting will be
virtual. People needing special assistance to attend and/or participate
in the meeting should contact U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston
District, ATTN: Planning and Environmental Branch, 69A Hagood Avenue,
Charleston, SC 29403 or via email to [email protected]. To allow sufficient time to process special
requests, please contact no later than one week before the public
meeting.
Public Disclosure Statement. If you wish to comment, you may use
the online form or mail or email your comments as indicated under the
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or any other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made available to the
public at any time. While you can request in your comment for us to
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Jason E. Kelly,
Project Management Professional.
[FR Doc. 2021-05929 Filed 3-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
