Engineers Corps September 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District has prepared a Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration Project in Dorchester County, on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Approximately 90 to 95 million cubic yards of material, primarily dredged during maintenance of the Chesapeake Bay approach channels to Baltimore Harbor, would be placed behind dikes at James Island. Material placed at Barren Island would be from authorized maintenance dredging of Federal navigation channels in the Honga River. After placement, the material would be shaped and planted to provide 2,144 acres of island habitat at James and Barren Islands as well as protect existing island ecosystem habitat, including critical submerged aquatic vegetation. A Record of Decision may be signed no earlier than 30 days after the EPA Notice of Availability for the Final document.

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 San Pedro Waterfront Project, encompassing approximately 400 acres of land and water primarily along the west side of the Main Channel westward to Harbor Boulevard from the Vincent Thomas Bridge southward to Inner Cabrillo Beach in the Port of Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles requires authorization pursuant to section 404 of the Clean Water Act, section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, and section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, to implement various regulated activities in and over waters of the U.S. associated with redeveloping San Pedro Waterfront, which would include the following elements:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is amending the existing regulations for a restricted area at Blount Island Command, located on Marine Corps Support FacilityBlount Island, Jacksonville, Florida. Blount Island Command is responsible for managing the United States Marine Corps Prepositioning Programs. Due to the importance of this mission, the current restricted area in this section must be extended due to Department of Defense (DoD) directives that require the implementation of specified force protection measures by all DoD components. This amendment to the existing regulation is necessary to protect U.S government personnel, equipment, and facilities from potential terrorist attack by providing stand-off corridors encompassing the waters immediately contiguous to Marine Corps Support FacilityBlount Island.

Section 2031 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-114) directs the Secretary of the Army to revise the Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation Studies (P&G), which the Water Resources Council issued on March 10, 1983. The Army Corps of Engineers (``Corps'') proposes to craft the revision in phases. The first phase would address the basic principles of water resources planning (``Principles'') and the next phase or phases would provide more detailed implementing guidance. This notice includes a copy of the proposed Principles (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION), which would replace the first two pages of the P&G. The proposed Principles may also be found at: https:// www.usace.army.mil/cw/hot_topics/ht_2008/pandg_rev.htm.

The South Folsom Property Owners Group proposes to implement a large-scale, mixed-use, mixed-density master planned community with residential, commercial, office, public/quasi-public uses, open space, and parks. The proposed project consists of approximately 1,464 acres of residential development, 523 acres of mixed-use and commercial development, 109 acres of parks, and 1,053 acres of open space. The majority of the 1,053 acres of open space would be located in the western portion of the project site. This area includes Alder Creek, numerous cultural resources sites, and the highest concentration of oak woodland habitat within the project site. The proposed Folsom South of 50 Specific Plan includes development of up to 10,045 mixed-density residential homes and approximately 7.4 million square feet of retail and office uses within an area south of Highway 50 that would be annexed to the City of Folsom. The proposed project would provide five elementary schools, one joint middle school/ high school, and a campus for the Sacramento County Day School. It is anticipated that construction would begin in 2010. The initiation and duration of construction would depend on market conditions and receipt of environmental permits and clearances; full build-out would likely be completed within 20 years from construction commencement. The project site is approximately 3,502 acres and contains 82.89 acres of waters of the United States. The proposed project would directly affect approximately 21.28 acres of waters of the United States, including vernal pools and other wetlands. These acreages do not include indirect impacts from the proposed action or impacts anticipated to result from off-site infrastructure that may be determined to be required as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The EIS will be prepared as a joint document with the City of Folsom. The City is the local agency responsible for preparing an Environmental Impact Report in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps (Corps) of Engineers intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for protection of 18-Miles of coastal shoreline in Flagler County, FL. The project is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (lead Federal agency) and City of Flagler Beach (non-Federal sponsor and cooperating agency).

In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project (Atlantic Coast Project). The SEIS evaluated new borrow sources to provide sand for routine periodic beach nourishment of Ocean City, MD, for the years 2010-2044. Existing borrow sources in state waters are anticipated to be exhausted after about 2010. Between 6,800,000 and 15,000,000 cubic yards of sand would be needed through 2044, depending on future storm frequency and intensity. Three offshore shoals in Federal waters are proposed as sand sources: Weaver, Isle of Wight, and ``A.'' Sand may also be dredged from Shoal ``B,'' also known as Bass Grounds or First Lump, in the future, but only if its value as a fishing ground declines substantially. Guidelines to minimize long-term impacts to the offshore shoals were formulated in coordination with resource agency personnel and academic experts. Dredging would be conducted in accordance with these guidelines. Specific dredging plans would be developed in coordination with resource agencies prior to each beach nourishment cycle.