Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers January 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) the Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District, has prepared a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the San Acacia to Bosque del Apache Project, Socorro County, New Mexico.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 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 Village of Bald Head Island (VBHI) to develop and implement a shoreline protection plan that includes the installation of a terminal groin structure on the east side of the Wilmington Harbor Bald Head Shoal Entrance Channel (a federally-maintained navigation channel of the Cape Fear River) at the ``Point'' of Bald Head Island.

Information included in the Federal Register Notice published on June 19, 2013, 78 FR 36753, has changed. The notice published on June 19, 2013 stated: ``A draft of the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study will be available for public review and comment in early 2014 and a final report is due to Congress in January 2015.'' As the study advanced, it has been determined that formal public review and comment period of a draft of the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study report document will not occur in early 2014 as previously stated. However, in order to prepare a report in the legislatively set time frame for completion of 24 months and to embrace the extensive geographic area impacted by Hurricane Sandy, as well as to promote public involvement throughout, various mechanisms to provide information to the public and solicit input have been established. The Study's public Web site, launched in May 2013, has allowed for public input on resiliency and other key aspects of the Study, and offers interested stakeholders the opportunity to receive updates on the Study as they become available. In addition, a Federal Register notice was published on October 4, 2013 requesting peer reviewed data relevant to the Comprehensive Study. Submissions were accepted through December 31, 2013, to allow for adequate time to review and consider for incorporation. This input, as well as input gathered from public engagements, is being used in development of the Comprehensive Study. In addition, the Comprehensive Study has sought to engage technical subject matter experts across all levels of government, academia, NGO's, and the private sector, on a national and international basis. PL 113-2 specifically requires the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study to be conducted in coordination with other federal agencies, and state, local, and tribal officials to ensure consistency with other plans to be developed. While the Study is not a Decision Document, it has been scoped as a foundation and catalyst for further evaluation of coastal flood risk. Subsequent federal agency decision documents would likely include a public comment period required for screening feasible alternatives in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.