Army Department November 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(e) and 37 CFR 404.7 (a)(I)(i), announcement is made of the intent to grant an exclusive, royalty-bearing, revocable license to A Live-Attenuated Rift Valley fever virus as a licensed human vaccine to The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, with its principal place of business at 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555.

The Corps of Engineers (Corps), Nashville District, will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) relating to proposed dam powerhouse rehabilitations and possible operational changes at the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Corps is studying the possible impacts of modifying existing equipment. Due to improvements in technology, rehabilitating the equipment could make it possible to produce more power from the same amount of water discharged. Changes in equipment and operational procedures could also cause higher tailwater heights and velocities, but as there is a limited amount of water they could be for shorter duration. In addition, alterations to flow regimes are being considered to provide minimum flows when hydropower releases are shut off. If improvements are successful, other dams may eventually be considered for similar changes. This study was begun in 2003 and a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on September 25, 2003; however, due to funding constraints work ceased before a Draft EIS could be completed. The proposed rehabilitation of the powerhouse and generating units is not related to the dam seepage repairs that are ongoing at Center Hill and Wolf Creek Dams.

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 following Federal advisory committee meeting will take place: Name of Committee: Board of Visitors, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Date: December 12 and 13, 2007. Time of Meeting: Approximately 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Please allow extra time for gate security for both days. Location: Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and Presidio of Monterey (DLIFLC & POM), Building 614, Conference Room, Monterey, CA 93944. Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose of the meeting is to provide a general orientation to DLIFLC mission and functional areas. In addition, the meeting will involve administrative matters. Agenda: SummaryDecember 12The board will be briefed on DLIFLC mission and functional areas. December 13Board administrative details to include parent committee introduction, board purpose, operating procedures review, and oath. DLIFLC functional areas will be discussed. Public's Accessibility to the Meeting: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR 102-3.140 through 102-3.165, and the availability of space, this meeting is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come basis. No member of the public attending open meetings will be allowed to present questions from the floor or speak to any issue under consideration by the Board. Although open to the public, gate access is required no later than five days prior to the meeting. Contact the Committee's Designated Federal Officer, below, for gate access procedures. Committee's Designated Federal Officer or Point of Contact: Dr. Robert Savukinas, ATFL-APO-AR, Monterey, CA 93944, Robert.Savukinas@us.army.mil, (831) 242-5828.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Regulatory Division), in coordination with the Port of Long Angeles, has completed a Final 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.

The Department of the Army announces the availability of a ROD which summarizes the decision for implementing realignment actions as directed by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission and Department of Defense (DoD) EUL actions at Fort Meade, Maryland.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Omaha District has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to analyze the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of enlarging the currently permitted Rueter-Hess Reservoir in Parker, CO. The Draft SEIS was published in the Federal Register on July 27, 2007 (72 FR 41300). The Final SEIS includes responses to comments received on the Draft SEIS. The current project was authorized in February 2004 with Department of the Army Permit No. 199980472 (Section 404 Permit). The basic purpose of the Proposed Action would allow the reservoir to serve as a regional water management facility for multiple water providers in northern Douglas County; enable them to meet peak demands; greatly enhance water management in the region; and help extend the yield of the Denver Basin aquifers, a non-renewable water source and the primary source of water for the South Metro area. Expansion of the reservoir would result in direct impacts to an additional 0.21 acres of wetlands and 4 miles of intermittent stream channel (in addition to the 6.7 acres of wetlands and 5 miles of other waters of the U.S. permitted as part of the 16,200-acre-foot [AF] reservoir). This action requires authorization from the Corps under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Permittee and Applicant is the Parker Water and Sanitation District (PWSD). The Final SEIS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Corps' regulations for NEPA implementation (33 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 230 and 325, Appendices B and C). The Corps, Omaha District, Regulatory Branch is the lead federal agency responsible for the Final SEIS and information contained in the SEIS serves as the basis for a decision regarding issuance of a Section 404 Permit modification. It also provides information for local and state agencies having jurisdictional responsibility for affected resources.

The meeting originally scheduled for Friday, November 16, 2007, that was published in the Federal Register on October 25, 2007 (72 FR 60662) has been postponed. The meeting has tentatively been rescheduled for Friday, December 7, 2007 at West Point, NY.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Wilmington District, Regulatory Division has been reviewing the request for Department of the Army authorization, pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, from Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Phosphate Division (PCS) for the continuation of its phosphate mining operation near Aurora, Beaufort County, NC. PCS proposes to expand its existing open pit phosphate mining operation into a 3,412 acre tract immediately adjacent to the current mine. This expansion would impact 2,408 acres of waters of the U.S. including wetlands adjacent to the Pamlico River and South Creek. The Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for this action was published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 20, 2006 (71 FR 61962).

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Sacramento District, will prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Corps authorization actions for the proposed Great Salt Lake Minerals Solar Evaporation Ponds Expansion project. The overall project purpose is to expand extraction capability for potassium at the Great Salt Lake Mineral Corporation's facilities. The proposed expansion would add approximately 33,000 acres of solar evaporative ponds, impacting approximately 30,713.75 acres of waters of the United States, and reducing the need to import raw potassium from other sources. The DEIS will address impacts such as wildlife habitat, water quality, Great Salt Lake water elevations, wetlands, hydrology, cultural resources, transportation, endangered species and industry.