Engineers Corps – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL) has applied to the St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers (Corps) for a permit to conduct work below the ordinary high water mark of the Mississippi River, a navigable water of the U.S., and to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. to facilitate the construction and operation of a 300 megawatt (MW) baseload coal-fired electric generating unit, referred to as NED 3, near Cassville in Grant County, WI. Specifically, the WPL is proposing an atmospheric circulating fluidized bed boiler and steam turbine generator unit at a site adjacent to the existing Nelson Dewey Generating Station (NED) Units 1 and 2 on the Mississippi River at River Mile 607.7. In addition to the new power generating unit, the following associated facilities would be constructed and operated: A new lateral collector well to supply cooling water; additional barge unloading capacity including three additional barge moorings in the Mississippi River, a new barge unloading tower foundation, and a temporary equipment barge unloading ramp; a new storm water detention pond and pipe outfall structure; 1.7-mile-long off-site parallel industrial railroad tracks, including a sheet pile retaining wall, adjacent to the existing BNSF railroad mainline tracks; new railroad bridges over two creeks for the off-site parallel industrial railroad tracks; and two new coal pile runoff ponds to replace the existing coal pile runoff pond adjacent to the railroad tracks. The project would require the discharge of dredged or fill material into the Mississippi River and two creeks that are tributaries to the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is a navigable water of the U.S. The discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. requires a permit issued by the Corps under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Construction work conducted below the ordinary high water mark of a navigable water of the U.S. requires a permit issued by the Corps under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. The final environmental impact statement will be used as a basis for the permit decision and to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

In accordance with section 105(h) of the Estuary Restoration Act of 2000, (Title I, Pub. L. 106-457), announcement is made of the forthcoming meeting of the Estuary Habitat Restoration Council. The meeting is open to the public.

The notice of availability of Supplement I of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the request for Department of the Army authorization, pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbor Act, from Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Phosphate Division (PCS) for the continuation of its phosphate mining operation near Aurora, Beaufort County, NC published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 (72 FR 62634), required comments be submitted by December 21, 2007. The comment period has been extended until December 31, 2007.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Wilmington District, Wilmington Regulatory Field Office has received a request for Department of the Army authorization, pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, from the Town of North Topsail Beach to nourish approximately 11.1 miles of beachfront to protect residential homes and town infrastructures, to reposition the New River Inlet channel, and to implement an inlet management plan to control the positioning of the new inlet channel, and to conduct periodic renourishment events. The new channel will be centrally located and the proposal will be to maintain that position, which essentially will be located perpendicular to the adjacent shorelines of North Topsail Beach and Onslow Beach. The proposed source of the material for the nourishment will be dredged from an offshore borrow area and from the repositioning of the inlet. The projected amount of material needed to nourish the oceanfront shoreline is approximately 3.21 million cubic yards. The placement of beach fill along the Town's shoreline would result in the initial widening of the beach by 50 to 100 feet. The widened beach would be maintained through a program of periodic beach nourishment events with the material extracted from the New River Inlet; and if necessary, supplemental materials from the offshore borrow area. All work will be accomplished using a hydraulic dredge. The proposed project construction will be conducted in a five phase approach to correspond with the Town's anticipated annual generation of funds. The ocean shoreline of the Town of North Topsail Beach encompasses approximately 11.1 miles along the northern end of Topsail Island. Of the 11.1 miles, approximately 7.25-miles of the shoreline in the project area, with the exception of two small areas, is located within the Coastal Barrier Resource System (CBRS), which prohibits the expenditure of Federal funds that would encourage development. The channel through New River Inlet has been maintained by the COE for commercial and recreational boating interest for over 55 years. The COE is authorized to maintain the channel in the inlet to a depth of 6 feet mean low water (mlw) over a width of 90 feet.

The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps (Corps) of Engineers intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for expansion, including widening and deepening of existing channels and turning basins in Lake Worth Inlet (Palm Beach Harbor). The project is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (lead Federal agency) and Port of Palm Beach District (non- Federal sponsor and cooperating agency).

The Corps of Engineers (Corps), Nashville District, will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) relating to proposed dam powerhouse rehabilitations and possible operational changes at the Wolf Creek, Center Hill, and Dale Hollow Dams in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Corps is studying the possible impacts of modifying existing equipment. Due to improvements in technology, rehabilitating the equipment could make it possible to produce more power from the same amount of water discharged. Changes in equipment and operational procedures could also cause higher tailwater heights and velocities, but as there is a limited amount of water they could be for shorter duration. In addition, alterations to flow regimes are being considered to provide minimum flows when hydropower releases are shut off. If improvements are successful, other dams may eventually be considered for similar changes. This study was begun in 2003 and a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on September 25, 2003; however, due to funding constraints work ceased before a Draft EIS could be completed. The proposed rehabilitation of the powerhouse and generating units is not related to the dam seepage repairs that are ongoing at Center Hill and Wolf Creek Dams.

The Corps of Engineers is issuing a final rule establishing a restricted area within Kuluk Bay, Adak, Alaska. The purpose of this restricted area is to ensure the security and safety of the Sea Based Radar, its crew, and other vessels transiting the area. The restricted area is within an established moorage restriction area for the U.S. Navy. The restricted area will be marked on navigation charts to ensure security and safety for the public.

The Corps of Engineers is amending its regulations to modify an existing danger zone, in waters of the United States in the vicinity of Bloodsworth Island, Maryland. The amendment reflects the current operational and safety procedures at the Bloodsworth Island Range and highlights a change in the enforcement authority from the Commander, Naval Base Norfolk, Virginia to the Commander, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The regulations are necessary to safeguard United States Navy vessels and United States Government facilities/ installations from sabotage and other subversive acts, accidents, or incidents of a similar nature. These regulations are also necessary to protect the public from potentially hazardous conditions which may exist as a result from use of the areas by the United States Navy.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Mobile District, intends to prepare an update of the water control manuals for the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) River Basin. Concurrent with that revision, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Draft EIS will address updated operating criteria and guidelines for managing the water storage and release actions of agency water managers and associated environmental impacts.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Sacramento District, will prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Corps authorization actions for the proposed Great Salt Lake Minerals Solar Evaporation Ponds Expansion project. The overall project purpose is to expand extraction capability for potassium at the Great Salt Lake Mineral Corporation's facilities. The proposed expansion would add approximately 33,000 acres of solar evaporative ponds, impacting approximately 30,713.75 acres of waters of the United States, and reducing the need to import raw potassium from other sources. The DEIS will address impacts such as wildlife habitat, water quality, Great Salt Lake water elevations, wetlands, hydrology, cultural resources, transportation, endangered species and industry.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed transportation improvements between Interstate 79 (I-79) and the Mon/Fayette Expressway (Turnpike 43), known locally as a Southern Beltway Transportation Project, in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

In Accordance with 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), announcement is made of the forthcoming meeting. Name of Committee: Inland Waterways Users Board (Board). Date: November 2, 2007. Location: Holiday InnQuincy, 201 S. Third Street, Quincy, IL 62301, (217) 222-2666. Time: Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting is scheduled to adjourn at 1 p.m. Agenda: The Board will hear briefings on the status of both the funding for inland navigation projects and studies, and the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and be provided updates of various inland waterways projects.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the potential social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed construction of a coal-fired electrical generating station with associated facilities, a rail line extension and transmission corridor by the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper), in the vicinity of the Bostic Landing on the Great Pee Dee River, in Florence County, South Carolina. The EIS will assess potential effects of a range of alternatives, including an alternative proposed in the Federal permit application.

The Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior and the State of Florida have established the interim goals for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan through the Interim Goals Agreement as required by section 385.38(d) of the Programmatic Regulations for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Interim goals are a mean by which restoration success of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan may be evaluated at specific points by agency managers, the State of Florida, the Congress throughout the overall planning and implementation process. This intergovernmental Agreement establishing the interim goals was signed on April 27, 2007.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register of August 24, 2007, for a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the Carryover Storage and San Vicente Dam Raise Project. The document contained incorrect dates.

The Corps of Engineers, Nashville District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Cooperating Agency), and the Tennessee Valley Authority (Cooperating Agency) have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS is necessary to provide National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance to address changes that could include, but are not limited to water quality, aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial habitat, recreation, water supply, flood storage, economics, hydropower production, and safety as a result of operating Center Hill Lake significantly below normal pool elevations for extended periods of time.

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 Homer, AK. This study will be performed through partnership of USACE, the City of Homer, and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The existing moorage condition at Homer 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, Government, recreation, and subsistence vessels in the near future. The EIS will address potential environmental impacts of the construction, operation, and maintenance of the new and existing harbor. USACE will hold public scoping meetings in Homer, AK.

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: Coastal Engineering Research Board (CERB). Date of Meeting: September 6-7, 2007. Place: Hilton Alexandria Old Town, 1767 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (September 6, 2007). 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (September 7, 2007).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Jacksonville District, previously published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an integrated Project Implementation Report/Environmental Impact Statement (PIR/EIS) for the Water Conservation Area 3 Decompartmentalization and Sheet-flow Enhancement Project (DECOMP), Part 1 on December 4, 2003 (68 FR 67841). Following publication of the NOI, the scope of this initial part of DECOMP was altered to focus specifically on the alternatives to reduce barriers to sheet-flow within WCA 3A. Modification of eastern Tamiami Trail, south of WCA 3, will be considered in future efforts. The project's collaborator, intent, authorization, plan formulation process, and issues to be addressed remain as described in the original NOI.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is proposing to amend its regulations to establish a restricted area in the waters of Puget Sound adjacent to the Manchester Fuel Depot near Manchester, Kitsap County, Washington. The Corps is also proposing to amend the existing regulations that established the restricted areas in the waters of Sinclair Inlet, Puget Sound adjacent to Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington. The proposed amendments will enable the affected units of the United States military to enhance safety and security around active military establishments. The regulations are necessary to safeguard military vessels and United States government facilities from sabotage and other subversive acts, accidents, or incidents of similar nature. The regulations are also necessary to protect the public from potentially hazardous conditions that may exist as a result of military use of the area.

The Corps of Engineers is proposing to establish a restricted area within Kuluk Bay, Adak, Alaska. The purpose of this restricted area is to ensure the security and safety of the Sea Based Radar, its crew, and other vessels transiting the area. The proposed restricted area is within an established moorage restriction area for the U.S. Navy. The restricted area will be marked on navigation charts as a restricted area to insure security and safety for the public.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate approximately a 2-mile reach of the San Jacinto River located in Riverside County in the City of San Jacinto, CA. The focus will be on watershed improvements by developing alternatives for ecosystem restoration and incorporating conjunctive uses for groundwater recharge, water quality and water conservation from a mile up from Main Street to a mile past the end of San Jacinto Street. The restoration project will focus on revitalization of the riparian vegetation community; establish environmental corridor to benefit wildlife and sensitive species; increasing recharge of the San Jacinto groundwater basins; and restoring the habitat for the endangered San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat. The San Jacinto River is located about 20 miles southeast of the City of Riverside and is entirely within Riverside County, CA.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is proposing to establish ten restricted areas at Naval Support Activity (NSA), Panama City (PC), Florida. NSA, Panama City, and its major tenant command, the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), have been recognized as one of the lead research, development, test and evaluation laboratories of the U.S. Navy. In addition, the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) relocated from the Washington Navy Yard to NSA PC and now hosts a consolidated training for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, the Navy's satellite dive schools, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. As such, a large majority of military dive training is now concentrated at NSA, PC. The proposed restricted areas in Panama City waters meet strict military training parameters that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Military training in and around St. Andrews Bay has existed in harmony with local boat traffic and development since 1945. NSA, PC requests to formalize these ongoing activities within the waters of St. Andrews Bay in efforts to maximize public safety and to preserve current military training vital to the Global War on Terror and to all service military readiness.

In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project (Atlantic Coast Project) evaluating new borrow sources to provide sand for routine periodic beach nourishment of Ocean City, MD for the years 2010-2044. Existing borrow sources in state waters are anticipated to be exhausted in about 2010. Between 6,800,000 and 15,000,000 cubic yards of sand would be needed through 2044, depending on future storm frequency and intensity. Three offshore shoals in Federal waters are proposed as sand sources: Weaver, Isle of Wight, and ``A.'' Sand may also be dredged from Shoal ``B,'' also known as Bass Grounds or First Lump, in the future, but only if its value as a fishing ground declines substantially. Guidelines to minimize long-term impacts to the offshore shoals were formulated in coordination with resource agency personnel and academic experts. Dredging would be conducted in accordance with these guidelines. Specific dredging plans would be developed in coordination with resource agencies prior to each beach nourishment cycle. We are making the Draft SEIS available to the public for a 45-day review and comment period.