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Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Whittier Harbor Navigation Improvements Feasibility Study

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[Federal Register: July 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 127)]
[Notices]
[Page 31934-31935]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06jy09-35]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Whittier
Harbor Navigation Improvements Feasibility Study

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announces its
intention to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study
the feasibility of expanding the existing moorage capacity for vessels
at Whittier, AK. This study will be performed through partnership of
USACE and the City of Whittier. The existing moorage at Whittier is at
maximum capacity, resulting in overcrowded and unsafe conditions for
harbor users. Additionally, the City will be unable to meet the growing
moorage demands of commercial, charter, recreation, and subsistence
vessels in the near future. The EIS will address potential
environmental impacts of the construction, operation, and maintenance
of the new and existing harbor. USACE has held scoping meetings in
Whittier and Anchorage, AK, in an effort to better define the issues
associated with Whittier Harbor. Scoping will be ongoing throughout the
feasibility study process.

DATES: Letters to interested parties will be mailed in July 2009, to
solicit public comment on the feasibility study. Accompanying the
letter will be a summary of comments received as a result of scoping
meetings held on February 19, 2009 in Whittier, AK and May 7, 2009 in
Anchorage, AK. Subsequent meetings will be held as necessary and
advertised in local newspapers.

ADDRESSES: Please direct comments or suggestions on the scope of the
EIS to: Mr. Michael Salyer, NEPA Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Alaska District, EN-CW-ER, P.O Box 6898, Elmendorf AFB, AK
99506-0898; Phone: 907-753-2690; Fax: (907) 753-2625, e-mail
michael.9.salyer@usace.army.mil (please use ``NOI Comments on Whittier
Harbor'' for the subject).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information or questions
concerning the proposed project, contact: Mr. Bruce Sexauer, Plan
Formulator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, EN-CW-PF,
P.O. Box 6898, Elmendorf AFB, AK 99506-0898; Phone: 907-753-5619; Fax:
(907) 753-2625; e-mail: Bruce.R.Sexauer@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The City of Whittier was incorporated in 1969. Whittier
Harbor was constructed in 1970 and was expanded to its existing
configuration in 1980. The harbor accommodates a large array of
commercial, charter, government, recreation, and subsistence vessels.
    This project was authorized by general language in section 5007 of
Public Law 119-114, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.
    Purpose and Need for Agency Action: The existing Whittier Harbor is
utilized beyond its capacity. The town of Whittier needs to expand the
existing

[[Page 31935]]

harbor to a more efficient and safe harbor for navigation and moorage.
The harbor is not able to appropriately accommodate the needs of larger
commercial fishing vessels. Overcrowding of large vessels often results
in increased damages to the vessels and docks. Overcrowding is also a
problem for smaller commercial fishing, charter, and recreational
vessels that use Whittier Harbor. The turning radius within the harbor
is inadequate for these larger vessels. Inadequate boat launching
facilities are causing significant upland congestion and delays to all
harbor users.
    Operators of larger vessels have expressed that they would be
interested in using Whittier Harbor on a longer term basis if it were
not as crowded and if suitable moorage were available. Many of these
operators are known to travel as far as the Pacific Northwest for
moorage. If suitable moorage were available in Whittier, they could
save the costs of the trip back to the northwestern harbors in the
continental US or other Alaska harbors. There are opportunities to save
operating costs, and avoid opportunity costs of time for crews of these
vessels by providing protected moorage at Whittier.
    This EIS will assess the potential environmental impacts of
constructing, operating, maintaining an expanded and/or new harbor as
well as other reasonable alternatives. The EIS will aid decision making
on the Whittier Harbor study by evaluating the environmental impacts of
the range of reasonable alternatives, as well as providing a means for
public input into the decision making process. USACE is committed to
ensuring that the public has ample opportunity to participate in this review.
    Preliminary Alternatives: Consistent with NEPA implementation
requirements, this EIS will assess the range of reasonable alternatives
regarding constructing, operating, and maintaining the proposed
Whittier Harbor project. The following types of alternatives have been
identified and are subject to modification in response to comments
received during the public scoping process.
    Structural Alternatives: This set of alternatives will investigate
and describe harbor construction alternatives for various fleet sizes.
Rubble mound breakwaters would be necessary for wave protection.
Significant dredging would be required for the mooring basin and
entrance channel and the alternatives may require maintenance dredging.
    Nonstructural Alternatives: Nonstructural alternatives have not yet
been identified at this stage of the study process.
    No Action Alternative: Under the ``no action'' alternative, the
Whittier Harbor would continue the ``status quo'' and over time become
more crowded and safety issues would elevate.
    USACE would appreciate comments regarding whether there are
additional alternatives for the Whittier Harbor that should be considered.
    Identification of Environmental and Other Issues: USACE intends to
address the following environmental issues when assessing the potential
environmental impacts of the alternatives in this EIS. Additional
issues may be identified as a result of the scoping process. USACE
invites comment from Federal agencies; State, local, and tribal
governments; and the general public on these and any other issues that
should be considered in the EIS:
    • Potential impacts on health from the Whittier Harbor
project include potential impacts to workers during the construction of
the facilities.
    • Potential impacts to surface water, tidelands and fauna
include turbidity from construction activities.
    • Potential impacts on air quality from emissions and from
noise during harbor construction and operations.
    • Potential cumulative impacts of the past, present, and
reasonably foreseeable future actions include impacts resulting from
harbor construction.
    • Potential impacts to historically significant properties,
if present, and on access to traditional use areas.
    • Potential impacts on local, regional, or national resources
from materials and utilities required for construction and operation.
    • Potential impacts on ecological resources, including
threatened and endangered species and water quality.
    • Potential impacts on local employment, income, population,
housing, and public services from harbor construction and operations.
    NEPA Process: The EIS for the proposed project will be prepared
pursuant to the NEPA of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Council on
Environmental Quality NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and
USACE's NEPA Implementing Procedures (33 CFR parts 230 and 325).
Following the publication of this Notice of Intent, USACE will continue
the scoping process, prepare and distribute the draft EIS for public
review, hold public hearings to solicit public comment on the draft
EIS, and publish a final EIS. Not less than 30 days after the
publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of
Availability of the final EIS, USACE may issue a Record of Decision
(ROD) documenting its decision concerning the proposed action.
    EIS Schedule: The draft EIS is scheduled to be published no sooner
than June 2010. A 45-day comment period on the draft EIS is planned,
which will include public meetings to receive comments. Availability of
the draft EIS, the dates of the public comment period, and information
about the public hearings will be announced in the Federal Register and
in the local news media.
    The final EIS for the Whittier Harbor project is scheduled for no
sooner than January 2011. A ROD would be issued no sooner than 30 days
after the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency notice of availability
of the final EIS is published in the Federal Register.

    Dated: June 22, 2009.
Patricia S. Opheen,
Chief, Engineering Division.
[FR Doc. E9-15834 Filed 7-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P

 
 

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