Engineers Corps July 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, announces the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and the public comment period for the Calhoun Port Authority's (CPA) proposed Matagorda Ship Channel (MSC) Improvement Project.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is amending its restricted area regulations to enlarge an existing restricted area in the Banana River and to establish a new restricted area in the Atlantic Ocean for the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), located on Patrick Air Force Base (AFB), Florida. We are also removing an existing restricted area in the Banana River at CCAFS. CCAFS Command, located at Patrick AFB, Florida, is responding to Department of Defense (DoD) security assessments which have identified a need for CCAFS to have the capability to secure their shoreline. The enhancement of these capabilities is necessary to counter postulated threats to CCAFS.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is proposing to take two actions concerning Nationwide Permit (NWP) 21, which authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States for surface coal mining activities. First, the Corps proposes to modify NWP 21 to prohibit its use to authorize discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States for surface coal mining activities in the Appalachian region of the following states: Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia until it expires on March 18, 2012. The proposed modification would enhance environmental protection of aquatic resources by requiring surface coal mining projects in the affected region to obtain individual permit coverage under the Clean Water Act (CWA), which includes increased public and agency involvement in the permit review process, including an opportunity for public comment on individual projects. The application of NWP 21 to surface coal mining activities in the rest of the United States would not be affected by this proposed modification.

In Accordance with 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), announcement is made of the forthcoming meeting.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing to establish a new danger zone in the waters adjacent to the existing small arms range (SAR) on Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) located in San Diego, California. The proposed regulation would prohibit any activity by the public within the danger zone. The new danger zone is necessary to bring the existing SAR into compliance with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command MIL-HDBK 10-27/3B by preventing any SAR ricochet rounds from posing a hazard to passing water traffic.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announces its intention to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study the feasibility of expanding the existing moorage capacity for vessels at Whittier, AK. This study will be performed through partnership of USACE and the City of Whittier. The existing moorage at Whittier is at maximum capacity, resulting in overcrowded and unsafe conditions for harbor users. Additionally, the City will be unable to meet the growing moorage demands of commercial, charter, recreation, and subsistence