Engineers Corps – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) 2014, as amended, requires the Secretary of the Army annually submit to the Congress a report (Annual Report) that identifies feasibility reports, proposed feasibility studies submitted by non-Federal interests, proposed modifications to authorized water resources development projects or feasibility studies, and proposed modifications to environmental infrastructure program authorities that meet certain criteria. The Annual Report is to be based, in part, upon requests for proposals submitted by non-Federal interests.

The annual public meeting of the Federal Interagency Steering Committee on Multimedia Environmental Modeling (ISCMEM) will convene to discuss some of the latest developments in environmental modeling applications, tools and frameworks, as well as new operational initiatives for FY 2015 among the participating agencies. The meeting this year will emphasize environmental modeling challenges in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and receiving waters.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) received a complete Department of the Army permit application from Tsakopoulos Investments (applicant) to fill 39.81 acres of waters of the United States to construct the proposed Excelsior Estates Project in Sacramento County, CA, in June 2010. The Corps, as the lead agency responsible for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), determined that the proposed project may result in significant impacts to the environment, and that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. The applicant proposes to construct a mixed-use community including residential, commercial, office, schools, parks and open space land uses. The residential component of the proposed community would include approximately 4,400 single- and multi-family units, varying in density. The proposed project would also involve 57 acres of commercial and office uses, as well as two elementary schools and a combined middle school and high school on 102 acres. A proposed community park would be constructed on 20 acres and three neighborhood parks would be constructed on 31 acres. The proposed project would also involve the preservation of 123 acres on the eastern portion of the site, containing Morrison Creek and adjacent wetlands. The applicant also proposes to construct approximately 30 acres of drainageways and greenbelts. Finally, the proposed project would involve the construction of on-site and off-site infrastructure, consisting of roads and utility lines, including road extensions along Keifer Boulevard, Excelsior Road and the Jackson Highway. The project site is approximately 862 acres and contains 39.81 acres of waters of the U.S. In addition, the site also contains 13.61 acres of isolated, intrastate waters that are not subject to Corps jurisdiction, which may contain suitable habitat for Federally listed threatened and/or endangered species. The proposed project would involve the discharge of fill material into approximately 28.77 acres of waters of the United States, and the preservation of 11.04 acres of waters of the U.S. The proposed project would also involve the placement of fill material into 13.61 acres of isolated waters. The proposed project may also have indirect impacts on other waters of the U.S.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is amending its regulations by modifying two existing danger zones that are located adjacent to the rifle range and pistol range at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The amendments include reformatting the regulations for clarity, modifying the boundaries of both danger zones, and modifying the hours of range operations from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. These amendments will enhance the ability of the U.S. Marine Corps to provide for the safe operation of the existing rifle and pistol ranges.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division (Corps) has made a Final General Conformity Determination (GCD) and executed a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/ EIR) and a Section 404 Permit under the Clean Water Act for the Newhall Ranch Resource Management and Development Plan, Santa Clarita, California. This Notice serves as the Public Notice/Notice of Availability for the Final EIS/EIR ROD and the Final GCD. The Record of Decision for the Final EIS/EIR was signed on 31 August 2011. In June 2010, the Corps, in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), completed and published a joint Final EIS/EIR and Draft GCD, pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act. The identified least environmentally damaging practicable alternative (LEDPA) in the ROD includes permanent impacts to 47.9 acres of waters of the United States, including 5.1 acres of wetlands, associated with discharges of fill material for bank protection to protect land development projects along water courses (including buried soil cement, buried gunite, grouted riprap, ungrouted riprap, and gunite lining); drainage facilities such as storm drains or outlets and partially lined open channels; grade control structures; bridges and drainage crossings; building pads; and water quality control facilities (sedimentation control, flood control, debris, and water quality basins). The LEDPA also includes temporary impacts to 35.3 acres of waters of the United States, including 11.8 acres of wetlands, associated with the construction of bank protection to protect land development projects along water courses (including buried soil cement, buried gunite, grouted riprap, ungrouted riprap, and gunite lining); utility crossings; activities associated with construction of a Water Reclamation Plant adjacent to the Santa Clara River and required bank protection; water quality control facilities (sedimentation control, flood debris, and water quality basins); regular and ongoing maintenance of all flood, drainage, and water quality protection structures and facilities on the RMDP site (such activities would include periodic inspection of structures and monitoring of vegetation growth and sediment buildup to ensure that the integrity of the structures is maintained and that planned conveyance capacity is present, routine repairs and maintenance of bridges and bank protection, and emergency maintenance activities); and temporary haul routes for grading equipment and geotechnical survey activities. As a Federal agency, the Corps prepared the Final GCD in compliance with Section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act and for the issuance of a Corps Section 404 Permit for the discharges of fill material into waters of the United States. Direct and indirect air emissions for all pollutants related to the Federal action are not below specified de minimis Federal thresholds (40 CFR 93.153(b)). On 31 August 2011, the Corps completed its environmental review and finalized the GCD, executed the ROD, and issued a provisional Section 404 Standard Individual Permit for the LEDPA. The Corps considered and responded to all comments received in finalizing the EIS/EIR, Final GCD, ROD, and issuing the provisional permit. The public can request copies of the Final General Conformity Determination document or the ROD from the Corps at the address listed below. In addition, copies of the Final General Conformity Determination document are available for review during the next 30 days at the following libraries: County of Los Angeles Newhall Branch, Castaic Branch, Sylmar Branch, Valencia Branch, and the County of Ventura Fillmore Branch.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Wilmington District, Wilmington Regulatory Division is issuing this notice to advise the public that a State of North Carolina funded Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been prepared describing proposed improvements to the transportation system starting at Military Cutoff Road in New Hanover County to north of Hampstead along US 17, Pender County, NC (TIP Projects U-4751 and R-3300).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Mobile District Regulatory Division announces its intent to prepare an EIS to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with widening the existing Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte Federal Channel segment of Pascagoula Harbor (the Project). The proposed Project is a 100-foot- widening of the Lower Sound and Bayou Casotte Legs of the Pascagoula Harbor Channel, as well as limited widening of the northern portion of the Horn Island Pass Channel to facilitate the transition between the two channel segments. The Corps is considering the Jackson County Port Authority/Port of Pascagoula (Port) application for a Department of the Army permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. A joint public notice for the Section 10 permit (SAM-2011-00389-PAH) was issued by the Corps on April 15, 2011.

In 2008, the Cordova Hills Ownership Group (applicant) submitted a Department of the Army permit application for the proposed Cordova Hills project. On June 18, 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District (Corps) determined that the proposed project may result in significant impacts to the environment, and that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is necessary. A revised permit application was submitted by the applicant on March 15, 2011. The applicant proposes to implement a large-scale, mixed-use, mixed-density master planned community with an integrated university, neighborhood and regional commercial and residential uses and associated infrastructure. The proposed project consists of approximately: 1,000 acres of residential uses ranging from one dwelling unit per acre to 40 dwelling units per acres; 1,380,000 square feet of retail and commercial uses; 240 acres of private university campus; 635 acres of recreation areas, parks, natural avoided areas and open space corridors; 538 acres for on-site wetland and habitat avoidance, and; 18 miles of off-street/multi-use trails. The project site is approximately 2,688 acres and contains 89.106 acres of waters of the United States. The proposed project would involve the discharge of fill material into approximately 39.630 acres of waters of the United States, including vernal pools, seasonal wetlands, seeps, intermittent drainages, and stock ponds. The proposed project may also have have indirect impacts on other waters of the U.S.

This announces the availability of the Proposed Report of the Chief of Engineers and the Final Joint Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (FEIS/R) which analyzes the potential environmental effects associated with the proposed action and alternatives for providing shoreline protection to approximately 3,412 feet ([ft], 1,040 meters [m]) of the San Clemente shoreline from coastal storms. Maintaining the beach is needed to prevent the beach erosion that results from winter storms and to prevent damage to adjacent commuter and national defense rail line that runs along the beach through the City. In addition, the loss of sand at the beach would have an impact on City beachfront structures and beach recreation, which contributes to the local economy, and would reduce the ecological functioning of the sand beach/littoral zone.

The District Commander of the Omaha District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has reviewed the ``Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Mechanical and Artificial Creation and Maintenance of Emergent Sandbar Habitat (ESH) on the Riverine Segments of the Upper Missouri River'' and has made the decision to proceed with the implementation of an Adaptive Management Implementation Process (AMIP) (preferred alternative) with a construction ceiling of acres associated with Alternative 3.5. Specific details of the decision are captured in the Record of Decision (ROD) for this action. The ROD explains that the Corps will create and maintain ESH acres in the Fort Peck, Garrison, Fort Randall and Gavins Point River Segments, and the Lewis and Clark Lake Segment for the benefit of the Interior Population of the least tern (least tern) and the northern Great Plains piping plover (piping plover). The maximum potential acres of ESH to be created is approximately 4,370 acres total, with the following estimated maximum acres by reach: Fort Peck River, 565. Garrison River, 1,327. Fort Randall River, 212. Lewis & Clark Lake, 354. Gavins Point River, 1,913. The AMIP alternative best supports the needs of the birds while providing flexibility in program implementation that will help minimize environmental impacts as well as costs.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as amended) (33 U.S.C. 408), and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), for the proposed Southport Sacramento River Early Implementation Project (EIP), sponsored by the West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (WSAFCA). Figures of the project area can be viewed at https:// www.cityofwestsacramento.org/city/flood. WSAFCA is planning the Southport Sacramento River EIP to implement flood-risk reduction measures along the Sacramento River South Levee in the City of West Sacramento, Yolo County, CA. The project reach extends along the right bank of the Sacramento River south of the barge canal, downstream approximately 6.4 miles to the South Cross Levee, protecting the Southport community of West Sacramento. The 3.3-square mile study area encompasses the area of levee improvement along the river corridor and the potential soil borrow sites. In order to implement the project, the sponsor must acquire permission from USACE to alter the Federal project under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (as amended) (33 U.S.C. 408 or, Section 408). USACE also has authority under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) over activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill material to waters of the United States, which are known to be in the project area. The project would bring the levee up to standard with Federal and state flood protection criteria, as well as providing opportunities for ecosystem restoration and public recreation. USACE, acting as the federal lead agency under NEPA, and WSAFCA, acting as the state lead agency under the CEQA in coordination with the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, have determined that an EIS/EIR should be prepared to describe alternatives, potential environmental effects, and mitigation measures.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Charleston District, intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Study (Post-45 study). The purpose of this DEIS and feasibility study is to investigate modification of the existing Charleston Harbor project in the interest of navigation improvements.

In the May 20, 2011 issue of the Federal Register (76 FR 98:29218-29219), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published its intent to prepare a DEIS to identify and analyze the potential impacts associated with the proposed Foothills West Transportation Access Project (Foothills Project). In that notice, the Corps stated the scoping comment period was to end on July 5, 2011. Instructions for submitting comments are provided in the May 20, 2011, Federal Register notice. In response to several requests, the Corps has decided to extend the initial scoping comment period to July 26, 2011.

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 on Coastal Engineering Research. Date of Meeting: July 26-28, 2011. Place: Crowne Jewel Ballroom, Sheraton At The Falls, 300 Third Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303. Time: 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (July 26, 2011); 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (July 27, 2011); 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (July 28, 2011).

In accordance with 37 CFR 404.7(a) (1) (i), announcement is made of a prospective partially exclusive license of the following U.S. Patent Application 12/365,698 Filed February 04, 2009 (published on Aug. 5, 2010 with Pub. No. US 2010/0193398 A1) to Hummingbird Scientific, Inc for achieving commercial sales of a reusable sample holding device permitting ready loading of very small wet samples for use with high resolution imaging systems of various types, to include those requiring a vacuum environment.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District (Corps), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Kennecott Utah Copper Tailings Expansion Project, an expansion of an active commercial mining operation near Magna, Salt Lake County, UT. Kennecott Utah Copper LLC (KUC) has applied for a Department of the Army (DA) permit to fill approximately 721 acres of waters of the United States, including wetlands, to construct the project. The basic project purpose is surface mining. The overall project purpose is to increase tailings storage capacity for future mine life extensions.

The National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) is used to delineate wetlands for purposes of the Clean Water Act and the Wetland Conservation Provisions of the Food Security Act. Other applications of the list include wetland restoration, establishment, and enhancement projects. To update the NWPL, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), as part of an interagency effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is announcing the availability of the draft National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) and its web address to solicit public comments. The public will now be provided the opportunity to comment and vote on the wetland indicator status ratings of the plants, species nomenclature changes and the revisions to the definition of indicator status ratings contained in the NWPL.

The Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare an SEIS to identify and analyze the potential impacts associated with the proposed Chuitna Coal Project. It is anticipated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Native Village of Tyonek (NVT), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) will participate as cooperating agencies in the SEIS development process. The USACE will be evaluating a permit application for work under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The SEIS will be used as a basis for the Corps' permit decision and to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The SEIS will also address issues related to the Alaska Surface Coal Mining Control and Reclamation Act (ASCMCRA) permit, which governs all aspects of the mining operation and infrastructure.

Reference the Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, Volume 75, number 220, pages 69983-5. This notice contains corrections and clarifications to this November 16, 2010 notice, extends the public comment period and identifies additional locations for the GLMRIS public scoping meetings. The corrections are typographical errors found in the ``Scoping and Involvement'' section of the November 16, 2010 notice (75 FR 69983). Among the clarifications is information related to the timeframe of on- line registration for those wanting to make an oral comment at a public meeting, as well as the benefit of registering on-line. The registration process is found in the ``Scoping and Involvement'' section of the November 16, 2010 notice (75 FR 69983). For convenience, the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the November 16, 2010 notice (75 FR 69983) has been reprinted with corrections, clarifications, and new text announcing the locations where USACE will host scoping meetings and the extension of the public scoping period.

The Corps of Engineers is proposing to amend its regulations to establish a restricted area in the Menominee River, at the Marinette Marine Corporation Shipyard, Marinette, Wisconsin, to provide adequate protection during the construction and launching of Littoral Combat Ships. The regulations are necessary to provide adequate protection of U.S. Navy combatant vessels, its materials, equipment to be installed therein, and crew, while located at the property of Marinette Marine Corporation.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is making available to the public all work products of the Chetco River Gravel Mining Executive and Technical Teams. These work products consist of meeting agendas, meeting minutes, reports, and other documents related to the proposed Chetco River Gravel Mining Regional General Permit and the evaluation of commercial gravel mining activities in other river systems within the state of Oregon. These work products (and additional information concerning the proposed regional general permit) can be viewed at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/regulatory/publicnotice.asp under the heading ``Chetco River gravel mining.'' The Corps is soliciting comments from the public on these documents. The Corps will consider these comments in the evaluation of whether to issue the Chetco River Gravel Mining Regional General Permit.

The Little Rock District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is withdrawing its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Pine Mountain Dam & Lake Project, AR. The original Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the Federal Register on September 25, 2009 (74 FR 48934). The River Valley Regional Water District, sponsor of the study, has recently requested the study be suspended until a later date (to be determined).

The Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), intends to prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) to the MsCIP Comprehensive Plan and Integrated Programmatic EIS, prepared in June 2009, which evaluated comprehensive water resource improvements associated with hurricane and storm damage risk reduction, shoreline erosion, salt water intrusion and fish and wildlife preservation in three coastal counties of Mississippi. As described in the Comprehensive Plan, the SEIS will address potential impacts associated with the comprehensive restoration of the Mississippi barrier islands. These actions are related to the consequences of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 and will be used as a basis for ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).