Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Sparrows Point Container Terminal, Patapsco River, Baltimore County, Maryland, 87414-87415 [2023-27650]
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khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
87414
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2023 / Notices
Identify as Hispanic or Latino/Latina;
OMB Control Number: 0704–RPSS.
Needs and Uses: Over the last several
years, the Department of Defense (DoD)
has been concerned about the force’s
ethnic composition due to
underrepresentation of Hispanic
servicemembers in the senior grades
across the Services. The National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2022 (NDAA FY22), Section 572,
also requires a study focused on the
recruitment, retention, and promotion of
servicemembers identifying as Hispanic.
To address these items covered by the
NDAA FY22, OUSD (P&R) Office for
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI)
has contracted with CNA to conduct a
study to identify and address gaps in
DoD’s understanding of the recruitment,
retention, and career progression of
Hispanic servicemembers; evaluate past
efforts and initiatives by DoD and the
Services aimed at increasing Hispanic
representation; and identify key lessons
learned or best practices that should
inform future initiatives. As part of this
study, CNA will conduct Servicespecific in-person and virtual focus
groups with Active Duty
Servicemembers in the Marine Corps,
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space
Force. The voluntary focus groups will
inquire about focus group participants’
opinions and experiences based on their
military careers. The purpose of the
focus groups is to better understand the
challenges that Servicemembers face in
recruiting, retention, and promotion,
especially for those who identify as
Hispanic or Latino/Latina.
Additionally, Florida International
University (FIU), a subcontractor to
CNA on this study, will conduct a
survey among eligible members of the
general Hispanic population who are
registered to vote in the United States,
analyze the survey data, and produce a
report detailing findings and
recommendations for ODEI. The intent
of the survey is to examine factors that
influence the U.S. Hispanic
population’s perceptions of military
service in the U.S. Armed Services and
to identify the root causes for the
notable disparity in the recruitment,
retention, and promotion of
Servicemembers who identify as
Hispanic. Participation in the survey
will be voluntary.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Recruiting, Retaining, and Promoting
Servicemembers who Identify as
Hispanic or Latino/Latina:
Number of Respondents: 650.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Annual Responses: 650.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:41 Dec 15, 2023
Jkt 262001
Average Burden per Response: 90
minutes.
Annual Burden Hours: 975.
Recruiting, Retaining, and Promoting
Servicemembers who Identify as
Hispanic or Latino/Latina (general
population):
Number of Respondents: 1,500.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Annual Responses: 1,500.
Average Burden per Response: 15
minutes.
Annual Burden Hours: 375.
Total:
Number of Respondents: 2,150.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Annual Responses: 2,150.
Average Burden per Response: 38
minutes.
Annual Burden Hours: 1,350.
Frequency: As required.
Dated: December 13, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2023–27721 Filed 12–15–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Sparrows Point Container
Terminal, Patapsco River, Baltimore
County, Maryland
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Baltimore District (Corps),
has received an application for a
Department of the Army (DA) permit
(Corps number NAB–2023–61200) for
the Sparrows Point Container Terminal
project from Tradepoint TiL Terminal,
LLC, a joint venture between Tradepoint
Atlantic and Terminal Investments
Limited to construct a new container
terminal in the Port of Baltimore. The
Corps, as the lead agency under the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), has determined the proposed
project may significantly affect the
quality of the human environment and
intends to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS). The Corps
action will be to issue, issue with
modifications, or deny a DA permit for
the proposed project. The EIS will
assess the potential social, economic,
and environmental impacts of the
proposed project. The Corps is
requesting public/agency comments
SUMMARY:
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Frm 00030
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
regarding the scope of the EIS and
issues that should be evaluated in the
document.
A public scoping meeting is
scheduled for Tuesday, January 23,
2024, beginning at 5:30 p.m. to 7:30
p.m. A virtual public scoping meeting is
scheduled for Thursday, January 25,
2024, beginning at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
See paragraph 6 in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for additional
details.
DATES:
Written comments
regarding the proposed EIS scope
should be submitted to: U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District,
Attn: Ms. Maria Teresi, 2 Hopkins Plaza,
Baltimore, MD 21201. Individuals who
would like to provide comments
electronically should submit comments
by email to: NAB-SPCT@usace.army.mil
The meeting address is the Sollers Point
Multi-Purpose Center, 323 Sollers Point
Road, Dundalk, MD 21222.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information about this project or to be
included on the mailing list for future
updates and meeting announcements,
contact Ms. Maria Teresi, USACE, by
telephone at (410) 962–4252, email at
NAB-SPCT@usace.army.mil or mail at
the mailing address provided above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps
intends to prepare an EIS for the
proposed Sparrows Point Container
Terminal (SPCT) project. The nonFederal sponsor for the study is
Tradepoint TiL Terminal, LLC (TTT).
The proposed project requires
authorization from the Corps under
section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33
U.S.C. 1344) for the discharge of
dredged or fill material into waters of
the United States, section 10 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33
U.S.C. 403) for the construction of any
structure in or over navigable waters of
the United States, section 408 of the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33
U.S.C. 408) for taking possession of, use
of, or injury to harbor or river
improvements, and section 103 of the
Marine Protection, Research and
Sanctuaries Act (33 U.S.C. 1413) for
ocean disposal of dredged material. All
comments received during the public
scoping period will be considered by
the Corps during preparation of the EIS.
1. Proposed Action. The project
subject to review in an EIS involves
construction of the proposed Sparrows
Point Container Terminal which would
consist of a +/¥3,000 foot-long wharf
with cranes, a container yard, gate
complex, Intermodal/Rail Yard and
various support structures. To provide
vessel access to the wharf, the project
ADDRESSES:
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khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2023 / Notices
includes dredging and placement of an
anticipated 3.5–4.5 million cubic yards
of dredged material for the required
widening and deepening of the existing
access channel and turning basin. The
project dredging includes widening and
deepening an existing access channel/
turning basin, and connection into the
Brewerton Federal Navigation channel.
The proposed project plan also includes
the construction of an offshore Dredged
Material Containment Facility (DMCF)
in the Patapsco River on the west side
of Coke Point to provide placement
capacity for dredged material. An
offshore DMCF to provide capacity for
the total anticipated dredged material
volume would permanently fill
approximately 100 acres of tidal waters
of the United States. As part of the EIS
process, the Corps will consider
minimization measures for dredging and
a combination of alternatives for
dredged material placement.
The project includes a proposed
compensatory mitigation plan. The
compensatory mitigation plan is under
development and will be completed as
part of the development of the EIS.
2. Location. The project site is located
within the Tradepoint Atlantic
development on the Coke Point
peninsula in the Patapsco River,
Sparrows Point, Baltimore County,
Maryland. [Latitude: 39.211222° and
Longitude: ¥76.490349°]
3. Project Purpose. To develop
Sparrows Point Container Terminal
(SPCT), a new container terminal and
associated facilities that would be
located on the Coke Point Peninsula
within the Patapsco River in Baltimore,
Maryland.
4. Alternatives. The EIS will evaluate
an array of alternatives for dredging,
dredged material disposal, and
construction. Alternatives may include,
but are not limited to, no action
alternative, dredged material placement
options including upland disposal
onsite, upland disposal offsite,
beneficial and innovative reuse of
dredge material, and offshore ocean
placement. In order to accommodate the
anticipated volume of dredged material,
these options may be evaluated alone or
on combination.
Specifically, alternatives may be
combined to reduce the footprint of the
offshore DMCF. These options include
(1) a DMCF in the existing on-site High
Head Reservoir; (2) use of existing
offsite upland DMCFs; (3) ocean
disposal of dredged material; (4) a
nearshore DMCF; and/or (5) beneficial
reuse.
Mitigation measures could include,
but are not limited to, avoidance and
minimization, enhancement,
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17:41 Dec 15, 2023
Jkt 262001
restoration, or establishment of
wetlands.
5. Scoping Process. The scoping
period will continue for 60 days from
the date of this Notice of Intent. During
the scoping period, the Corps invites
federal, state, and local agencies, Native
American Tribes, other interested
parties, and the general public to
participate in the scoping process. The
purpose of the scoping process is to
provide information to the public, serve
as a mechanism to solicit agency and
public input on alternatives, identify
significant issues to be analyzed in the
EIS, and ensure full and open
participation in scoping for the draft
EIS. Scoping comments may be
submitted by conventional mail or
email. All comments must include the
Corps number NAB–2023–61200. To be
accepted, email comments must
originate from the author’s email
account. All comments received will
become part of the administrative record
and are subject to public release under
the Freedom of Information Act
including any personally identifiable
information such as names, phone
numbers, and addresses. Additional
information on the project and scoping
process are available on the Corps’
website at this link: https://www.nab.
usace.army.mil/SPCT/
6. Scoping Meetings. The Corps will
conduct public scoping meetings during
the scoping period in which agencies,
organizations, and members of the
general public are invited to present
comments or suggestions with regard to
the range of actions, alternatives, and
potential impacts to be considered in
the EIS. The Corps has scheduled two
public scoping meetings, one in-person
and one virtual as described below: (a)
In-person: Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at
5:30 p.m. Display material and staff will
be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. with
a presentation following at 6 p.m. at the
Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center; 323
Sollers Point Rd, Dundalk, MD 21222;
and (b) Virtual: Thursday, January 25,
2024, beginning at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Access the virtual scoping meeting at
this link: https://bit.ly/
SparrowsPoint2024
7. Availability of the Draft EIS. The
draft EIS is estimated to be available for
public review and comment in January
2025. At that time, a public review
period will be provided for public
review and comment on the draft EIS.
8. Analyses and Consultation. The EIS
will be integrated with analyses and
consultation required by the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors
Act, section 401 and section 404 of the
Clean Water Act, section 7 of the
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
87415
Endangered Species Act, section 103 of
the of the Marine Protection, Research
and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), the Clean
Air Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act, section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act,
Prime and Unique Farmlands, and the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act. All
appropriate documentation (i.e., section
7, section 106 coordination letters, and
public and agency comments) will be
obtained and included as part of the
EIS. As part of the EIS process,
recommendations will be based on an
evaluation of the probable impact of the
proposed activity on the public interest.
The decision will reflect the national
concern for the protection and
utilization of important resources. The
benefit, which may reasonably be
expected to accrue from the proposal,
will be balanced against its reasonably
foreseeable detriments. All factors that
may be relevant to the proposal will be
considered, among these are wetlands;
fish and wildlife resources; cultural
resources; land use; water and air
quality; hazardous, toxic, and
radioactive substances; threatened and
endangered species; regional geology;
aesthetics; environmental justice;
navigation; cumulative impacts; and the
general needs and welfare of the public.
Reinhard W. Koenig,
Programs Director, North Atlantic Division,
US Army Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2023–27650 Filed 12–15–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
[Docket ID: USN–2023–HQ–0016]
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
Department of the Navy,
Department of Defense (DoD).
ACTION: 30-Day information collection
notice.
AGENCY:
The DoD has submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for clearance the following
proposal for collection of information
under the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
comments received by January 17, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 241 (Monday, December 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87414-87415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27650]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Sparrows Point Container Terminal, Patapsco River, Baltimore
County, Maryland
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (Corps),
has received an application for a Department of the Army (DA) permit
(Corps number NAB-2023-61200) for the Sparrows Point Container Terminal
project from Tradepoint TiL Terminal, LLC, a joint venture between
Tradepoint Atlantic and Terminal Investments Limited to construct a new
container terminal in the Port of Baltimore. The Corps, as the lead
agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has
determined the proposed project may significantly affect the quality of
the human environment and intends to prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS). The Corps action will be to issue, issue with
modifications, or deny a DA permit for the proposed project. The EIS
will assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts
of the proposed project. The Corps is requesting public/agency comments
regarding the scope of the EIS and issues that should be evaluated in
the document.
DATES: A public scoping meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23,
2024, beginning at 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A virtual public scoping
meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2024, beginning at 11:30
a.m. to 1 p.m. See paragraph 6 in the Supplementary Information section
for additional details.
ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the proposed EIS scope should be
submitted to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Attn:
Ms. Maria Teresi, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201. Individuals who
would like to provide comments electronically should submit comments by
email to: [email protected] The meeting address is the Sollers
Point Multi-Purpose Center, 323 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk, MD 21222.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this project or
to be included on the mailing list for future updates and meeting
announcements, contact Ms. Maria Teresi, USACE, by telephone at (410)
962-4252, email at [email protected] or mail at the mailing
address provided above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps intends to prepare an EIS for the
proposed Sparrows Point Container Terminal (SPCT) project. The non-
Federal sponsor for the study is Tradepoint TiL Terminal, LLC (TTT).
The proposed project requires authorization from the Corps under
section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) for the discharge
of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, section
10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) for the
construction of any structure in or over navigable waters of the United
States, section 408 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C.
408) for taking possession of, use of, or injury to harbor or river
improvements, and section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and
Sanctuaries Act (33 U.S.C. 1413) for ocean disposal of dredged
material. All comments received during the public scoping period will
be considered by the Corps during preparation of the EIS.
1. Proposed Action. The project subject to review in an EIS
involves construction of the proposed Sparrows Point Container Terminal
which would consist of a +/-3,000 foot-long wharf with cranes, a
container yard, gate complex, Intermodal/Rail Yard and various support
structures. To provide vessel access to the wharf, the project
[[Page 87415]]
includes dredging and placement of an anticipated 3.5-4.5 million cubic
yards of dredged material for the required widening and deepening of
the existing access channel and turning basin. The project dredging
includes widening and deepening an existing access channel/turning
basin, and connection into the Brewerton Federal Navigation channel.
The proposed project plan also includes the construction of an offshore
Dredged Material Containment Facility (DMCF) in the Patapsco River on
the west side of Coke Point to provide placement capacity for dredged
material. An offshore DMCF to provide capacity for the total
anticipated dredged material volume would permanently fill
approximately 100 acres of tidal waters of the United States. As part
of the EIS process, the Corps will consider minimization measures for
dredging and a combination of alternatives for dredged material
placement.
The project includes a proposed compensatory mitigation plan. The
compensatory mitigation plan is under development and will be completed
as part of the development of the EIS.
2. Location. The project site is located within the Tradepoint
Atlantic development on the Coke Point peninsula in the Patapsco River,
Sparrows Point, Baltimore County, Maryland. [Latitude: 39.211222[deg]
and Longitude: -76.490349[deg]]
3. Project Purpose. To develop Sparrows Point Container Terminal
(SPCT), a new container terminal and associated facilities that would
be located on the Coke Point Peninsula within the Patapsco River in
Baltimore, Maryland.
4. Alternatives. The EIS will evaluate an array of alternatives for
dredging, dredged material disposal, and construction. Alternatives may
include, but are not limited to, no action alternative, dredged
material placement options including upland disposal onsite, upland
disposal offsite, beneficial and innovative reuse of dredge material,
and offshore ocean placement. In order to accommodate the anticipated
volume of dredged material, these options may be evaluated alone or on
combination.
Specifically, alternatives may be combined to reduce the footprint
of the offshore DMCF. These options include (1) a DMCF in the existing
on-site High Head Reservoir; (2) use of existing offsite upland DMCFs;
(3) ocean disposal of dredged material; (4) a nearshore DMCF; and/or
(5) beneficial reuse.
Mitigation measures could include, but are not limited to,
avoidance and minimization, enhancement, restoration, or establishment
of wetlands.
5. Scoping Process. The scoping period will continue for 60 days
from the date of this Notice of Intent. During the scoping period, the
Corps invites federal, state, and local agencies, Native American
Tribes, other interested parties, and the general public to participate
in the scoping process. The purpose of the scoping process is to
provide information to the public, serve as a mechanism to solicit
agency and public input on alternatives, identify significant issues to
be analyzed in the EIS, and ensure full and open participation in
scoping for the draft EIS. Scoping comments may be submitted by
conventional mail or email. All comments must include the Corps number
NAB-2023-61200. To be accepted, email comments must originate from the
author's email account. All comments received will become part of the
administrative record and are subject to public release under the
Freedom of Information Act including any personally identifiable
information such as names, phone numbers, and addresses. Additional
information on the project and scoping process are available on the
Corps' website at this link: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/SPCT/
6. Scoping Meetings. The Corps will conduct public scoping meetings
during the scoping period in which agencies, organizations, and members
of the general public are invited to present comments or suggestions
with regard to the range of actions, alternatives, and potential
impacts to be considered in the EIS. The Corps has scheduled two public
scoping meetings, one in-person and one virtual as described below: (a)
In-person: Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. Display material and
staff will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a presentation
following at 6 p.m. at the Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center; 323
Sollers Point Rd, Dundalk, MD 21222; and (b) Virtual: Thursday, January
25, 2024, beginning at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Access the virtual scoping
meeting at this link: https://bit.ly/SparrowsPoint2024
7. Availability of the Draft EIS. The draft EIS is estimated to be
available for public review and comment in January 2025. At that time,
a public review period will be provided for public review and comment
on the draft EIS.
8. Analyses and Consultation. The EIS will be integrated with
analyses and consultation required by the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA), section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, section 401 and
section 404 of the Clean Water Act, section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act, section 103 of the of the Marine Protection, Research and
Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act, section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act, Prime and Unique Farmlands, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act. All appropriate documentation (i.e.,
section 7, section 106 coordination letters, and public and agency
comments) will be obtained and included as part of the EIS. As part of
the EIS process, recommendations will be based on an evaluation of the
probable impact of the proposed activity on the public interest. The
decision will reflect the national concern for the protection and
utilization of important resources. The benefit, which may reasonably
be expected to accrue from the proposal, will be balanced against its
reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors that may be relevant to
the proposal will be considered, among these are wetlands; fish and
wildlife resources; cultural resources; land use; water and air
quality; hazardous, toxic, and radioactive substances; threatened and
endangered species; regional geology; aesthetics; environmental
justice; navigation; cumulative impacts; and the general needs and
welfare of the public.
Reinhard W. Koenig,
Programs Director, North Atlantic Division, US Army Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2023-27650 Filed 12-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
