Army Department June 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Forth Worth District (USACE) has received an application for a Department of the Army permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) from the Angelina & Neches River Authority (ANRA) to construct Lake Columbia. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA0 of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the USACE has determined that issuance of such a permit may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment and, therefore, requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The USACE intends to prepare an EIS to assess the environmental, social, and economic effects of issuances of a Department of the Army permit under Section 404 of the CWA for discharges of dredged and fill material into waters of the United States (U.S.) associated with the construction of the proposed water supply reservoir. In the EIS, the USACE will assess potential impacts associated with a range of alternatives.

The Corps of Engineers is proposing regulations to establish a restricted area around the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, South Carolina including areas within the Broad River, the Beaufort River, Battery Creek, Archers Creek, Ballast Creek and Ribbon Creek in the vicinity of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. The MCRD restricted area will surround Parris Island and Horse Island and the causeways in between. The purpose of these regulations is to provide effective security in the vicinity of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

In accordance with 37 CFR Part 404.6, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of U.S. Patent No. US 6,901,608 B2 entitled ``Method and Apparatus for Making Body Heating and Cooling Garments'' issued June 7, 2005. This patent has been assigned to the United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army.

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 Draft General Reevaluation Report (GRR) and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project (PIERP) to evaluate the vertical and/or lateral expansion of the PIERP, design modifications to the existing project, the addition of recreational/ educational opportunities to the existing project, and the potential to accept dredged material from additional channels not specified in the 1996 EIS for the existing project. The preferred alternative includes a northern lateral expansion consisting of approximately 575 acres, of which 60% will be wetland habitat and 40% upland habitat; construction of a 5-ft vertical raising of the existing upland Cells 2 and 6 at the PIERP; amending the existing project authorization and Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) to include the placement of dredged material from the southern approach channels to the Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D) Canal and other small Federal navigation projects; incorporation of design modifications required for the completion of the existing project, and development of recreational and educational enhancements for the PIERP. The Corps is making the Draft integrated GRR/SEIS available to the public for a 45- day review and comment period.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District (Corps), will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Corps authorization actions for the proposed River Islands project. The overall project purpose is to construct a large-scale, mixed-use project consisting of residential development, a commercial complex, and which may include open space and recreational amenities, located in San Joaquin County or the south delta area. The DEIS will address impacts such as major changes in the operation and maintenance of a Federal flood control project, navigation, hydrology, water quality, wetlands, endangered species, agricultural resources, transportation, cultural resources, and air quality.

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://restoration.nos.noaa.gov/pdfs/act s835.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.