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Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Construction of a Containerized Cargo Terminal, on Shoal Point, Adjacent to the Texas City Channel, Texas City, Galveston County, TX

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: August 31, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 170)]
[Notices]
[Page 52995-52996]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au00-51]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for Construction of a Containerized Cargo Terminal, on Shoal Point,
Adjacent to the Texas City Channel, Texas City, Galveston County, TX

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District intends
to prepare a DEIS to access the social, economic and environmental
effects of the proposed multi-phased construction of a container
terminal. The DEIS will access potential impacts on a range of
alternatives, including the preferred alternative. The Federal action
is consideration of a Department of Army Permit application for work
under

[[Page 52996]]

Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and section 404 of the
Clean Water Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or
questions about the proposed action and DEIS, please contact Ms. Sharon
Manzella Tirpak, Project Manager, by letter at U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, Texas 77553, by telephone at (409)
766-3136, or by e-mail at Sharon.tirpak@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Galveston District intends to prepare a
DEIS on the proposed container terminal which would be located on Shoal
Point, adjacent to the Texas City Ship Channel, Texas City, Galveston
County, Texas. The City of Texas City (Texas City) proposes this
project.
    1. Description of the Proposed Project: Texas City is proposing the
construction and operation of a container port facility located on
Shoal Point, adjacent to the Texas City Channel and Galveston Bay. The
project site is a dredge material disposal area for the Texas City
Channel and the Port of Texas City. The Shoal Point project would be
built in three phases, ultimately consisting of 400 acres of container
yard, six berths, a new turning basin, a land side access corridor and
the deepening of the existing Texas City Channel from 40 to 45 feet. An
estimated 8 million cubic yards of new dredged material would be
generated during Phase I. Potential total build-out of Phases II and
III would include an additional 3.2 million cubic yards of new dredged
material. Approximately 1.2 acres of emergent marsh, 10.3 acres of high
marsh, 3.6 acres of fresh water wetlands and 92.4 acres of open water
habitat would be impacted by the proposed project, during Phase I.
Potential total build-out of Phases II and III may impact an additional
74 acres of open water habitat.
    2. Scoping and Public Involvement Process: A scoping meeting to
gather information on the subjects to be studied in detail in the DEIS
will be conducted on October 3, 2000, at 7:00 PM, at the Charles Doyle
Convention Center, 2010 5th Avenue North (21st Street and Phoenix
Lane), Texas City, Texas. An informal open house, allowing for review
of the proposed project and questions and answers, will be conducted
between 5:00 and 7:00 PM, prior to the scoping meeting.
    3. Significant Issues: Issues associated with the proposed
facilities to be given significant analysis in the DEIS are likely to
include, but may not be limited to, the potential impacts of the
proposed dredging, the beneficial uses of dredged material, placement
of fill, impact of air quality during construction and operation of the
facility and surface transportation facilities, and of induced
developments on: wetland resources; upland and aquatic biotic
communities; water quality, fish and wildlife values including
threatened and endangered species; air quality; land forms and geologic
resources; community cohesion; environmental justice; roadway traffic;
socioeconomic environment; archaeological and cultural resources;
recreation and recreational resources; public infrastructure and
services; energy supply and natural resources; hazardous waste and
materials; land use; aesthetics; public health and safety; navigation;
flood plain values; shoreline erosion and accretion; and the needs and
welfare of the people.
    4. Technical Review and Consultation: Several State and Federal
Agencies will be invited to provide technical review of the DEIS. Those
agencies include: the Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine
Fisheries Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United
States Coast Guard, Federal Highways Administration, Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission, Texas General Land Office and the
Texas Department of Transportation.
    5. Additional Review and Consultation: Additional review and
consultation that will be incorporated into the preparation of this
DEIS will include: Compliance with the Texas Coastal Management
Program; protection of cultural resources under section 106 of the
Historic Preservation Act; protection of navigation under the Rivers
and Harbors Act of 1899; protection of water quality under section 401
of the Clean Water Act; and protection of endangered and threatened
species under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
    6. Availability of the DEIS: The Draft Environmental Impact
Statement is projected to be available in September 2001. A Public
Hearing will be conducted following the release of the DEIS.

Nicholas J. Buechler,
Col., EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 00-22219 Filed 8-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-52-P

 
 

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