Army Department – 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.

The Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) expects receipt of an application in January 2006 from the State of Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Port Administration (MPA) for a Section 10/404 individual permit for the construction of a disposal site for dredged material in the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, at Masonville, Baltimore City, MD. Based on preliminary discussions with the MPA, the Corps has determined that an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required for this proposed project. The applicant's stated purpose of the proposed project is to provide a disposal site to accommodate dredged material generated by dredging projects occurring over the next 5 to 10 years in the Baltimore Harbor area. The EIS will focus on the 5-10 year dredging needs within Baltimore Harbor and upland containment and beneficial use of dredged materials from the Port of Baltimore channel system in the Patapsco River and its tributaries. As part of this study, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, an EIS will be prepared to document the plan formulation process and recommendations of this study.

This notice of intent (NOI) for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)Louisiana, Caminada Headland and Shell Island Restoration Feasibility Study (LCA Caminada-Shell Island Study) supersedes the notices of intent for the Barrier Shoreline Restoration in Lafourche, Jefferson, and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana, a Component of the Louisiana Coastal Area, LouisianaEcosystem Restoration, Barrier Island Restoration, Marsh Creation, and River Diversion, Barataria Basin Feasibility Study (Barrier Shoreline Restoration Study); and the Wetland Restoration and/or Creation in the Barataria Basin, Louisiana, a Component of the Louisiana Coastal Area, LouisianaEcosystem Restoration, Barrier Island Restoration, Marsh Creation, and River Diversion, Barataria Basin Feasibility Study (LCA Wetland Restoration Study). This notice of intent addresses the Caminada Headland and Shell Island reaches of the Barataria barrier shoreline that is presently addressed in the NOI for the Barrier Shoreline Restoration Study and also addresses the Chenier Unit marsh creation feature that is presently addressed in the NOI for the Wetland Restoration Study.

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 Harbor Act, from the Town of North Topsail Beach to nourish approximately 7.25 miles of beachfront to protect residential homes and town infrastructures, and to implement an inlet management plan with the New River Inlet to control the positioning of the inlet channel. The new channel will be centrally 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 offshore borrow area(s) and from the repositioning of the inlet. 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 undefined periodic beach nourishment events with the material extracted primarily from the New River Inlet. The ocean shoreline in the Town of North Topsail Beach encompasses approximately 11.1 miles along the northern end of Topsail Island. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is developing a Federal shoreline protection plan for parts of North Topsail Beach. This Federal plan will only cover 3.85 miles of the southern part of the beach. The remaining 7.25-miles of North Topsail Beach, 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. Therefore, the Town is pursuing to develop this non-Federal shoreline protection plan that will preserve existing development and infrastructure along the 7.25 miles of shoreline. 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.

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 Integrated Feasibility Report & Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the flood damage reduction project for the Town of Bloomsburg, in Columbia County, PA. The integrated report investigates the potential environmental effects of an array of alternative plans based on reducing flood damages in Bloomsburg. The preferred alternative includes 16,555 linear feet of levee/floodwall systems with fourteen drainage structures, and nine closure structures, six of which incorporate limited road raisings. We are making the integrated report and EIS available to the public for a 45-day review and comment period.

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: June 7-9, 2005. Place: William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center, 555 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. Times:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to maintenance dredge the federal navigation channels landward of Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor, MA. Maintenance dredging of the navigation channels landward of Spectacle Island is needed to remove shoals and restore the navigation channels to their authorized depths. Ships are currently experiencing tidal delays and potential damage from grounding. Material dredged from the federal channels will either be disposed at the Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site (if the material is suitable for ocean disposal) or, if the material is not suitable for ocean disposal, in confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cell(s). Major navigation channel improvements (depending) were made in 1999 through 2001 in the Reserved Channel, the Mystic River, Inner Confluence and the Chelsa River. A final EIS was prepared for this previous navigation improvement project in June of 1995 in which the use of CAD cells in the Mystic River, Inner Confluence, and Chelsea River were investigated. CAD cells not used during the construction of the previous navigation improvement project will be investigated for acceptability during the preparation of this SEIS.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District have developed the six guidance memoranda required by the programmatic regulations for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan for approval by the Secretary of the Army. The public is invited to review and comment on the final draft of the guidance memoranda prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District.

The United States Army Intelligence and Security Command has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the potential environmental consequences of constructing a new U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command Information Dominance Center (IDC) building addition at a previously developed site on Fort Belvoir, VA. This Environmental Assessment has been prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing the NEPA; Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 6050.1; Environmental Effects in the United States of DoD Actions; and instructions implementing NEPA. The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) has identified a requirement to construct a building addition to accommodate its IDC. Construction and operation of the IDC facility conforms to Fort Belvoir's current Master Planning strategy. HQ INSCOM and Fort Belvoir have thoroughly reviewed the Proposed Action, Action Alternatives, a No Action Alternative to the Proposed Action, and environmental consequences associated with each. Based on this review and consideration of all relevant factors, HQ INSCOM and Fort Belvoir have determined and concluded that the Proposed Action will not have direct, indirect, or cumulatively significant impacts on the surrounding human environment. An Environmental Impact Statement, therefore, is not required and will not be prepared. HQ INSCOM and Fort Belvoir will consider public comment and concerns prior to making a final determination to proceed with the proposed action. INSCOM evaluated six alternatives to meet requirements for an expanded IDC facility. These alternatives included: a no action alternative (status quo); renovation of existing HQ INSCOM facilities; renovation of other government facilities; lease of off-post facilities in the general vicinity of Fort Belvoir; construction of new facilities on Fort Belvoir; and construction of an addition to existing HQ INSCOM facilities on Fort Belvoir. Several possible locations were considered in this evaluation, with each alternative being evaluated for mission support and economic, environmental, and security considerations. It is anticipated that construction will begin in Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. Project completion is anticipated in FY2010.

The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), as the Department of Defense (DOD) Traffic Manager for the Household Goods and Personal Property Program, is announcing the publication of the Families First Business Rules for review and comment. This announcement is being made to afford the public an opportunity to review and comment on the business rules changes before commencing Families First. The business rules will be posted to the SDDC Web site located at https://www.sddc.army.mil, under Families First. The site offers industry access to updates on the business rules and information on the various Phases of the program.

In accordance with 37 CFR 404.6 and 404.7, announcement is made of the availability for licensing of U.S. Patent Application No. 10/987,533 entitled ``Prophylactic and Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies,'' filed November 12, 2004. Foreign rights are also available (PCT/US04/38480). The United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, has rights in this invention.

The Department of the Army is publishing our rule concerning motor vehicle traffic supervision. The regulation prescribes policies and procedures on motor vehicle traffic supervision on military installations in the continental United States and overseas areas, including registration of privately owned vehicles; granting, suspending, or revoking the privilege to operate a privately owned vehicle on a military installation; administration of the vehicle registration program; driver improvement programs; police traffic supervision; and off-installation traffic activities.