Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for Packery Channel-North Padre Island Storm Damage Reduction and
Environmental Restoration Project, Corpus Christi, Texas, as Cited in
the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, Section 556
[Federal Register: May 8, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 89)]
[Notices]
[Page 23238-23239]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08my01-47]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for Packery Channel-North Padre Island Storm Damage Reduction and
Environmental Restoration Project, Corpus Christi, Texas, as Cited in
the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, Section 556
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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[[Page 23239]]
SUMMARY: The proposed action to be addressed in the DEIS is to evaluate
the environmental acceptability of the project design. The project is
located along the south-central Texas Coast on the southern portion of
Mustang Island. It will provide storm damage reduction and
environmental restoration by creating an opening between the Gulf of
Mexico and Corpus Christi Bay, and placing excavated material in front
of the Padre Island Seawall. The project channel will extend from the
Gulf of Mexico through a jettied entrance and a channel through Mustang
Island, east and adjacent to John F. Kennedy Causeway, therein to the
existing Packery Channel, joining the main channel of the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway in the vicinity of mile 553.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and DEIS can be answered by: Mr. Carl Anderson, (409) 766-3914, Project
Manager, Project Management Branch, or Mr. John C. Baker, (409) 766-
3037, Environmental Lead, Environment Section, Planning and
Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, Texas 77553-1229.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The study process began with the Water
Resources Development Act of 1999, Section 556, providing contingent
authorization to construct the North Padre Island Storm Damage
Reduction and Environmental Restoration Project, Texas, if the
Secretary of the Army determined that the locally preferred plan (LPP)
was technically sound and environmentally acceptable.
2. A ``No Action'' alternative will be evaluated and presented for
comparison purposes in evaluating the various construction
alternatives.
3. Scoping: The scoping process will involve Federal, State, and
local agencies, and other interested persons and organizations. A
series of scoping workshops will be conducted to discuss various issues
associated with the channel improvements and placement of dredged
material. Separate Scoping Notices will be issued for the various
workshops. Issues to be considered in this process include beneficial
uses of dredged material, changes in bay salinity and circulation,
water and sediment quality, erosion along the channel, and threatened
and endangered species impacts.
Any person or organization wishing to provide information on issues
or concerns should contact the Corps of Engineers at the above address.
4. Coordination: Further coordination with environmental agencies
will be conducted under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,
Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation
Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
(Essential Fish Habitat), and the Coastal Zone Management Act (Texas
Coastal Management Program).
5. DEIS Preparation: It is estimated that the DEIS will be
available to the public for review and comment in November 2001.
Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-11466 Filed 5-7-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-52-M