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

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to address the proposed Springfield Supplemental Water Supply Project (previously referred to as the Proposed Water Supply Reservoir Hunter Lake) in Sangamon County, IL. The Corps, working in conjunction with the City of Springfield, Office of Public Utilities, also known as the City Water, Light & Power (City), prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 [42 U.S.C. 4321 et. seq.] that evaluated a range of alternatives to provide supplemental water supply to meet a projected deficit in water availability. A final EIS was prepared and published in November of 2000. The Final EIS (EIS No. 000402) was published in the Federal Register on November 24, 2000; however, no Record of Decision was issued. The City has conducted an updated water demand analysis that demonstrates a sustained need for additional water supply to meet current and future demands. In accordance with Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations specified in 40 CFR 1502.9, the Corps in conjunction with the City are initiating the preparation of an EIS supplement.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is publishing the names of water resources projects that have been automatically deauthorized under the provisions of Sec. 1001(a), Public Law 99-662, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 579a(a).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is publishing the names of water resources projects that have been automatically deauthorized under the provisions of Sec. 1001(b)(2), Public Law 99-662, as amended, 33 U.S.C 579a(b)(2).

The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is beginning preparation of a National Environmental Policy Act assessment for the Western Everglades Restoration Project (WERP). The Everglades ecosystem, including Lake Okeechobee, encompasses a system of diverse wetland landscapes that are hydrologically and ecologically connected across more than 200 miles from north to south and across 18,000 square miles of southern Florida. In 2000, the U.S. Congress authorized the Federal government, in partnership with the State of Florida, to embark upon a multi-decade, multi-billion dollar Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) to further protect and restore the remaining Everglades ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region. CERP involves modification of the existing network of drainage canals and levees that make up the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project. One of the next steps for implementation of CERP is to identify opportunities within the tributary areas of Water Conservation Area (WCA) 3A to restore natural areas within the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation and adjacent portions of Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP) and the Miccosukee Indian Reservation. Encompassing approximately 440,000 acres located primarily in eastern Hendry County, WCA 3A tributary areas include the C-139, Feeder Canal and L-28 Gap Basins as well as the C-139 Annex and L-28 Interceptor. These areas are collectively called the Western Basins as they are located along the western edge of the Everglades and were historic flow ways. Both water supply and water quality of storm water runoff are challenges facing the Western Basins.

The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is beginning preparation of a National Environmental Policy Act assessment for the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project (LOWP). The Everglades ecosystem, including Lake Okeechobee, encompasses a system of diverse wetland landscapes that are hydrologically and ecologically connected across more than 200 miles from north to south and across 18,000 square miles of southern Florida. In 2000, the U.S. Congress authorized the Federal government, in partnership with the State of Florida, to embark upon a multi-decade, multi-billion dollar Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) to further protect and restore the remaining Everglades ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region. CERP involves modification of the existing network of drainage canals and levees that make up the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project. One of the next steps for implementation of CERP is to identify opportunities to restore the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of flows into Lake Okeechobee. The LOW Project preliminary project area, where placement of features will be considered, covers a large portion of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed north of the lake. Water inflows into Lake Okeechobee greatly exceed outflow capacity, thus many times there is too much water within Lake Okeechobee that needs to be released in order to ensure integrity of the Herbert Hoover Dike. At other times, there may be too little water within Lake Okeechobee. Lake levels that are too high or too low, and inappropriate recession and ascension rates, can adversely affect native vegetation, and fish and wildlife species that depend upon the lake for foraging and reproduction. The volume and frequency of undesirable freshwater releases to the east and west lowers salinity in the estuaries, severely impacting oysters, sea grasses, and fish. Additionally, high nutrient levels adversely affect in-lake water quality, estuary habitat, and habitat throughout the Greater Everglades. The objectives of the LOW Project are to improve the quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water entering Lake Okeechobee, provide for better management of lake water levels, reduce damaging releases to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries downstream of the lake and improve system-wide operational flexibility.

Pursuant to the section 102(2) (C) of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CMNI), Municipality of Rota (Municipality)/Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) gives notice that an Integrated Feasibility/Environmental Impact Statement (F/EIS) report is being prepared for the Proposed Rota Harbor Modifications Project, Island of Rota, CNMI. This project is authorized under section 209 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87-874) and will consider the implementation of navigation improvements at Rota Harbor.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Wilmington District, Wilmington Regulatory Field Office has received a permit application 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 Figure Eight Beach Homeowners' Association Inc. (HOA) to install a terminal groin structure along Rich Inlet and to conduct a supplemental beach nourishment on approximately 4,500 linear feet of oceanfront beach and 1,400 linear feet of back barrier shoreline to protect residential homes and infrastructures along the central and northern sections of Figure Eight Island. The terminal groin structure will be placed perpendicular on the northern tip of the island along the shoulder of Rich Inlet; and the proposed source of the material for the nourishment will be dredged from an area within Nixon Channel, a back barrier channel, that has been previously used for past beach nourishment projects. In case the quantity of material from Nixon Channel is not sufficient, material pumped from (3) nearby upland disposal islands will be used to supplement the nourishment needs. The majority of the material will be disposed within the fillet area, or down shore, of the groin. Pending storm events and shoreline changes, proposed maintenance, or periodic nourishment, of the beach is once every five years, or potentially 6 separate events over the 30-year study period. Nixon Channel and the upland disposal islands are the proposed material sources for the periodic maintenance, or renourishment, events.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), on November 1, 2007 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Sacramento District, initiated the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process to evaluate the effects of the proposed expansion of solar evaporation ponds in the Great Salt Lake, Box Elder County, Utah and to assist the Corps in deciding whether to approve Great Salt Lake Mineral Corporation's application under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. On December 23, 2015, the applicant for the proposed project withdrew their application for a Department of the Army Permit. Therefore, the Corps is terminating the EIS process, and is issuing this Notice of Intent to withdraw the November 1, 2007 Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in cooperation with Navajo County Flood Control District, announces the availability of a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report (Draft IFR) including Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Little Colorado River at Winslow Flood Risk Management Study, Navajo County, AZ for review and comment. The study evaluates alternatives to reduce the risk of damages and to reduce the life, safety, and health risks caused by flooding of the Little Colorado River (LCR) to the City of Winslow, surrounding community, and public and private infrastructure. A Notice of Intent to prepare the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on February 27, 2009 (74 FR 8918).

The Department of the Army is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Inland Waterways Users Board (Board). This meeting is open to the public. For additional information about the Board, please visit the committee's Web site at https:// www.iwr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/ InlandWaterwaysUsersBoard.aspx.

On March 17, 2014, Brookfield Sunset LLC (applicant) submitted a Department of the Army (DA) permit application for the discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States (WOUS) associated with the construction of the proposed Amoruso Ranch project. On December 22, 2014, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District (Corps) determined that the proposed discharge of fill material into WOUS may result in significant impacts to the environment, and that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is necessary. A revised DA permit application was submitted by the applicant on October 30, 2014. The applicant proposes to implement a large-scale, mixed-use, mixed density, master planned community. The proposed project consists of approximately 347 acres designated for residential use that would contain 2,827 dwelling units (in a mix of low, medium and high density), 51 acres for a village center and community commercial uses, 12 acres for public/quasi-public space containing a fire station and school, 161 acres of parks and natural avoided areas of open space reserve and/or preserve, and 82 acres of associated infrastructure containing roads and other public transportation corridors. Approximately 17 acres of the adjacent Al Johnson Wildlife Area property would be used to construct a 325-foot long drainage ditch. No other off-site improvements are included in the proposed project. A segment of the future Placer Parkway would be constructed by others on 49 acres of the site and is not part of this permit application. The proposed project site is approximately 674 acres and contains approximately 38.86 acres of WOUS, including: Vernal pools; seasonal wetlands; University Creek; and, grasslands. The proposed project would involve the discharge of fill material into approximately 18.64 acres of WOUS, including vernal pools, seasonal wetlands, and open water pond. The proposed project may also result in indirect impacts to WOUS, including wetlands.

Pursuant to the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to prepare a Feasibility Study with an integrated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate environmental impacts from reasonable project alternatives and to determine the potential for significant impacts related to reduce future flood risk in ways that support the long[hyphen]term resilience and sustainability of the coastal ecosystem and surrounding communities due to sea level rise, local subsidence and storms, and to reduce the economic costs and risks associated with large[hyphen]scale flood and storm events in the City of Norfolk, Virginia.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, Regulatory Division is notifying interested parties that it has terminated the process to develop a Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and has withdrawn the Section 404 Clean Water Act permit application for the proposed `Lake Columbia Regional Water Supply Reservoir Project' submitted in 2005 by an independent governmental agency known as the Angelina & Neches River Authority (ANRA). The original Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on Friday, June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37094).

Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), on behalf of the Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), plans to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate environmental impacts from reasonable project alternatives and to determine the potential for significant impacts related to the proposed ANC Southern Expansion Project and Associated Roadway Realignment. If the ANC and the USACE determine that there is a potential for a significant environmental impact, the USACE will issue a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Federal Register.

The Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the City of Long Beach intend to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, Los Angeles County, California. The components of the EIS/EIR will be contained in an Integrated Feasibility Report (IFR) that also includes a Feasibility Report.

The Department of the Army is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Chief of Engineers, Environmental Advisory Board (EAB). This meeting is open to the public. For additional information about the EAB, please visit the committee's Web site at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/ Environmental/EnvironmentalAdvisoryBoard.aspx.

The U.S. Air Force has requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) disestablish the existing danger zone located in the Bering Sea near Shemya Island, Alaska. The danger zone was established on September 28, 1971. The purpose of the danger zone was to protect persons and property from dangers encountered in the area associated with the launching of weather rockets. The facility has not been used for this activity since the mid-1980s. As a result of the discontinued use of this area, the Air Force has requested the danger zone be disestablished. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of Federal Register, we are publishing the restricted area disestablishment as a direct final rule without prior proposal because we view this as a non- controversial adjustment to our restricted area regulations and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this approval in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this rule and it will go into effect. If we receive adverse comment, we will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. We will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is publishing a Final Deauthorization Report of water resources development projects and separable elements that have been identified for deauthorization in accordance with section 6001(d) of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, Public Law 113-121, 128 STAT. 1346-1347 (WRRDA 2014). The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works transmitted the Final Deauthorization Report to Congress on February 26, 2016. An electronic copy of the complete report is available at: https:// www.usace.army.mil/Portals/2/docs/civilworks/budget/ final_deauth_report_23feb2016.pdf.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) San Francisco District, the Port of Stockton, and the Contra Costa County Water Agency are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to evaluate the efficiency of the movement of goods along the existing deep-draft navigation route extending from the San Francisco Bay to the Port of Stockton. This Notice of Intent (NOI) represents a supplemental notice to the March 12, 2008, NOI released for the San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Study. This supplemental NOI also provides an update to the description of the study and discusses current phasing of the project. Because of the amount of time that has passed since 2008, this supplemental NOI is being released to notify the public that work will begin on an EIS/EIR, which is anticipated to be issued for public review in 2016. This NOI also re-opens the public scoping period. The 2008 NOI discussed the project as a single navigation improvement study/project, proposing to deepen the John F. Baldwin channel from the West Richmond Channel to New York Slough Channel to a maximum depth of -45 feet mean lower low water (MLLW) and the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel to a maximum depth of -40 feet MLLW. The forthcoming EIS/EIR proposes to reevaluate the unconstructed portions of the original project described in the 1965 Chief of Engineers Report (House Document 89-208) and authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-298), which will be referred to in the EIS/EIR as Phase I (or the proposed project). Additional study authority exists for the entire channel from San Francisco Bay to Stockton, provided by the 2014 United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Committee Resolution and specifying ``navigation, ecosystem restoration, flood risk reduction, and other water related resource purposes.'' This additional study authority will be discussed programmatically in the EIS/EIR. The study area for the overall project consists of two reaches: The Western Reach and Eastern Reach. The Western Reach extends from Central San Francisco Bay to Avon and includes the West Richmond Channel, Pinole Shoal Channel, and Bulls Head Reach portion of the Suisun Bay Channel. The Eastern Reach extends from Avon to the Port of Stockton and includes the remaining portions of the Suisun Bay Channel (east of Avon), New York Slough Channel, and the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel. The Western Reach is authorized to a depth of -45 feet mean lower low water (MLLW), but is currently maintained to -35 feet MLLW. Additional deepening of the Eastern Reach requires separate Congressional authorization for construction. The forthcoming EIS/EIR for which this NOI is prepared proposes to separate the overall project into two separate phases (Phase I and Phase II) under a navigation improvement programmatic analysis. Under the programmatic analysis, two reaches and two phases are identified. Phase I of the study is a single purpose navigation improvement project to evaluate incremental deepening to a maximum depth of -40 feet MLLW in the Western Reach. Phase II is a subsequent multipurpose navigation and ecosystem restoration study that would evaluate deepening the Eastern Reach to a maximum depth of -40 feet MLLW. Phase II will also revisit if further deepening of Western Reach up to its authorized depth of -45 feet MLLW is warranted. The Eastern Reach is maintained at its authorized depth of -35 feet MLLW, and any additional deepening in this reach will require a new project authorization through a subsequent Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The EIS/EIR will include both a project-level feasibility analysis for implementation of Phase I and a programmatic-level analysis for Phase II. Analysis of Phase II will be conducted using only existing information (i.e., additional studies or data collection will not be conducted). Additional project-level feasibility analysis of Phase II will require execution of a separate Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement with the local sponsor and pending receipt of federal study funds.

In accordance with 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i), announcement is made of a prospective exclusive license of the following U.S. Patent Application 11/407,216 Filed April 20, 2006 to Byung J. Kim for use of the Digital Optical Method (DOM\TM\) to quantify the opacity of fluids from digital photos.

The Department of the Army is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Inland Waterways Users Board (Board). This meeting is open to the public. For additional information about the Board, please visit the committee's Web site at https:// www.iwr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/ InlandWaterwaysUsersBoard.aspx.

The Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to identify and analyze the potential impacts associated with the development of the Alpine C and Nanushuk reservoirs, including construction and operation of the proposed project. The Corps 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 EIS will be used to support the permit decision in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is providing notification of public meetings to obtain comment on the Draft EIS noted above to facilitate compliance with, in part, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is providing notification of Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Section 810 Hearings related to the preliminary ANILCA 810 Findings contained in the above Draft EIS. Section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act requires the BLM to evaluate the effects of plans presented in this Draft EIS on subsistence activities in the area of the proposed action and its alternatives, and to hold public hearings if it finds that any alternative may significantly restrict subsistence activities. The analysis of environmental consequences indicates the proposed action may significantly restrict subsistence in some portions of the proposed project area. Therefore, the BLM is holding public hearings on potential subsistence impacts in conjunction with the public meetings discussed below. BLM's preliminary ANILCA 810 Findings are contained in Appendix N of the Draft EIS.

The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to support a cost-shared feasibility study with the Port of Long Beach, California, for navigation improvements to existing navigation channels within the Port. The purpose of the feasibility study is to provide safe, reliable, and efficient waterborne transportation improvements to the Port of Long Beach. The EIS will analyze potential impacts of the recommended plan and a range of alternatives for navigation improvements. Alternatives will include both structural and non-structural measures.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) has been completed and is available for review and comment.