Army Department December 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army announces the availability of an FEIS which evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of new USAMRIID facilities and the decommissioning and demolition and/or re-use of existing USAMRIID facilities at Fort Detrick.

The U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska, intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to evaluate the feasibility of a small boat harbor and, in collaboration with other agencies, opportunities for economic development and air transportation capability for the community of Little Diomede Island, AK. Ignaluk on Little Diomede Island, population 170, is a coastal community on the west side of Little Diomede Island, approximately 135 miles northwest of Nome. The community of Wales on the mainland is 27 miles from Little Diomede Island. Big Diomede Island, Russia, is 2 miles west of Little Diomede Island. The community of Ignaluk is a small and very remote community in the Bering Sea. Transportation to Little Diomede is by air or sea. Due to the normal severe weather and sea conditions, any method of travel can be risky. A landing strip constructed on sea ice in the winter provides fixed-wing airplane access approximately 3 months of the year. Helicopters and boats are used during summer. High waves and rocky shores often make landing by boat difficult. A constant wind blows 15 knots with gusts up to 80 knots. Cloudy skies and fog are prevalent in the summer. There is no scheduled cargo ship schedule, and only barges and landing craft come close to the island; few actually land. There is weekly mail delivery by helicopter. Transportation of goods and services is expensive and medical evacuation is very difficult. The lack of access is a barrier to the economic future of the community and could force relocation of the entire community to the mainland. The draft EIS would also study any multi-use value of the airport and boat harbor projects for coastal storm damage reduction. The DEIS will determine whether Federal action is warranted and will define alternative actions for Congressional consideration.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is considering an application for Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act permits authorizing dredge and fill activities to create three new harbors (North Harbor, Downtown Harbor, and 7th Street Harbor) along the San Pedro Waterfront, construct pile- supported structures to provide additional areas for land-side use, and construct a waterfront promenade and Outer Harbor cruise ship terminal. The reason for the new NOI is the scope of the previous project, titled From Bridge to Breakwater San Pedro Waterfront and Promenade, was reduced, a new permit application was submitted, and the proposed project has been modified to focus on infrastructure improvements, cruise program expansion, and to increase public access to the waterfront. The primary Federal concern is the dredging and discharging of fill material within waters of the United States and potential significant impacts resulting from such dredging and discharges to the environment. Therefore, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps is requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to consideration of any permit action. The Corps may ultimately make a determination to permit or deny the above project, or permit or deny modified versions of the above project. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Port of Los Angeles will serve as Lead Agency in preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its consideration of development approvals within its jurisdiction. The Corps and the Port of Los Angeles have agreed to jointly prepare a Draft EIS/EIR in order to optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is intended to be sufficient in scope to address the Federal, state, and local requirements and environmental issues concerning the proposed activities and permit approvals.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with Bonneville Power Administration and the Bureau of Reclamation (together referred to as ``Lead Federal Agencies''), has released a draft of the Systemwide Programmatic Agreement (PA) under the National Historic Preservation Act. 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.; 36 CFR 800.14(b). The Lead Federal Agencies (Corps, BPA, and Reclamation) have released the draft PA for the management of historic properties affected by the multipurpose operations of fourteen dam/reservoir Projects of the Federal Columbia River Power System (Libby, Albeni Falls, Chief Joseph, McNary, John Day, the Dalles, Bonneville, Dworshak, Lower Granite, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, Ice Harbor, Grand Coulee, and Hungry Horse) on the Columbia or Snake rivers in the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana pursuant to section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District (Corps) intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Mississippi RiverGulf Outlet, Louisiana, Navigation ProjectBank Stabilization. In 2006, Congress authorized the Corps to provide foreshore bank protection in the form of revetment and/or rock to protect endangered wetlands and provide erosion protection for hurricane protection projects along the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet (MRGO) channel. The expenditure of funds will be limited to those activities necessary for the protection of existing wetlands, navigation, and flood and storm damage reduction projects along the MRGO channel. Funds shall not be expended on any project that would otherwise preclude or foreclose any final disposition of the navigation channel. The DEIS will analyze potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of implementing bank stabilization features along the MRGO and associated areas of Lake Borgne. The study area, located in the vicinity of St. Bernard Parish, LA, encompasses the entire navigation channel from Breton Sound to the Port of New Orleans, St. Bernard and Orleans Parishes, LA.

The Department of the Army is proposing to alter a system of records notice in its existing inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Department of the Army is removing its regulations concerning the biological Defense Safety Program and its requirements because it is now superseded through consolidation with other Army safety regulations into Army Regulation (AR) 385-10, Army Safety Program and does not affect the general public.

In accordance with Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), announcement is made of the following committee meeting: Name of Committee: Board of Visitors, United States Military Academy. Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2007. Place of Meeting: Veterans Affairs Conference room, Room 418, Senate Russell Building, Washington, DC. Start Time of Meeting: Approximately 9 a.m.