Army Department June 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Regulatory Division), in coordination with the Port of Los Angeles, has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Berths 136-147 [TraPac] Container Terminal Project. The Port of Los Angeles requires authorization pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the River and Harbor Act to expand and modernize the container terminal at Berths 136-147 [TraPac], including: Expanding, redeveloping, and constructing container terminal facilities and a new on-dock rail facility; constructing 500 space parking lot for union workers; wharf work including dredging 295,000 cubic yards, renovating 2,900 feet of existing wharf, and constructing 705 feet of new wharf; installing five new gantry cranes to replace six existing gantry cranes; relocating the existing PHL Pier A switcher yard to Rear Berth 200; widening Harry Bridges Boulevard and constructing a new 30-acre landscaped buffer area between ``C'' Street and Harry Bridges Boulevard; and filling the 10- acre Northwest Slip, constructing backlands facilities on the fill, and constructing a new 400-foot wharf along the edge of the fill. In addition, the Port of Los Angeles is considering transporting and discharging at ocean disposal sites excess clean material generated by the dredging activities, which would require authorization pursuant to Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.

In accordance with 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), announcement is made of the forthcoming meeting. Name of Committee: Inland Waterways Users Board (Board). Date: July 31, 2007. Location: Holiday Inn Louisville-Downtown, 120 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202, (502) 582-2241. Time: Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting is scheduled to adjourn at 1 p.m. Agenda: The Board will hear briefings on the status of both the funding for inland navigation projects and studies, and the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and be provided updates of various inland waterways projects.

The Army announces the availability of the Final PCMS Transformation EIS evaluating the environmental effects of implementing restationing actions of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 and other Army transformation programs at the PCMS training area in Las Animas County in southeastern Colorado. The Final EIS also documents the U.S. Army's evaluation of environmental effects of withdrawal of public land and mineral rights under Public Law 104-201.

Congress has appropriated limited funds to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to implement the Estuary Habitat Restoration Program as authorized in Section 104 of the Estuary Restoration Act of 2000, Title I of the Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-457) (accessible at https://era.noaa.gov/pdfs/acts835.pdf). On behalf of the Estuary Habitat Restoration Council (Council), the Corps is soliciting proposals for estuary habitat restoration projects. This document describes project criteria and evaluation criteria the Council will use to determine which projects to recommend. Recommended projects must provide ecosystem benefits, have scientific merit, be technically feasible, and be cost-effective. Proposals selected for Estuary Habitat Restoration Program funding will be implemented in accordance with a cost-share agreement with the Corps. This is not a grants program.

In accordance with 37 CFR 404.6, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of U.S. Patent No. US 7,222,903 B2 entitled ``Spreader Bar Apparatus'' issued May 29, 2007. This patent has been assigned to the United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army.

The Department of the Army announces the availability of a ROD which summarizes the decision for implementing realignment actions as directed by the BRAC Commission at Fort Lee, Virginia and related actions at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia.