Department of Defense March 11, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District (USACE) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of a project proposed by the Mississippi State Port Authority (MSPA). As part of the NEPA process, the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) will be a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has expressed interest in acting as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS. The proposed project as described in the application filed on March 17, 2010, proposed filling approximately 700 acres of open-water benthic habitat. Since submittal of the application, the proposed project footprint has been modified by the MSPA to reduce the overall potential fill required for implementation and to not include any impacts to the Gulfport Harbor Federal Navigation Channel or Turning Basin. The currently proposed project involves filling of up to 400 acres of open-water bottom in the Mississippi Sound, the construction of wharfs, bulkheads, terminal facilities, container storage areas, intermodal container transfer facilities, dredging and dredged material disposal and infrastructure, and construction of a breakwater of approximately 4,000 linear feet. The proposed expanded port facility will be elevated 25 feet above sea level to provide protection against future tropical storm surge events. The EIS will evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed project, connected actions, and alternatives. The EIS will also assist the USACE in deciding whether to issue a Department of the Army permit. The purpose of this Notice of Intent (NOI) is to inform and educate the public of the proposed project; invite public participation in the EIS process; announce the plans for a public scoping meeting; solicit public comments for consideration in establishing the scope and content of the EIS; and provide notice of potential impacts to open-water benthic habitats.

DoD is proposing to issue a rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to require contractors to display the DoD fraud hotline poster in common work areas.