Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Northwest Aggregate; Replacement of Existing Barge Loading Facility, East Passage of Puget Sound, etc., WA

Federal Register: May 7, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 88)

Notices

Page 25217

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr07my10-58

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Northwest

Aggregates' Previously Authorized Replacement of an Existing Barge

Loading Facility in East Passage of Puget Sound on the Southeast

Shoreline of Maury Island, King County, WA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Seattle District is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the environmental effects of replacing an existing dock and resuming sand and gravel mining operations. The Corps issued a permit to Northwest

Aggregates for the dock replacement project on June 2, 2008, under

Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean

Water Act. Construction of the new dock began in December 2008 and approximately 49% of the construction was completed as of January 2009.

The Corps has been directed by the U.S. District Court to complete an

EIS on the project. The EIS will include additional analysis of potential impacts of the project on the marine environment, including

Chinook salmon, Southern Resident Killer whales, and forage fish, additional analysis and evaluation of the no action and off-site alternatives, and additional analysis of cumulative impacts associated with the permit project.

DATES: Scoping meetings for this project will be held on (see

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section).

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting locations are (see SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments on the scope of the

EIS or requests for information should be addressed to Mrs. Olivia

Romano, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle

Regulatory Branch, 4735 E. Marginal Way South, Seattle, Washington 98134; (206) 764-6960 or via e-mail to olivia.h.romano@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS process begins with the publication of this Notice of Intent. The scoping period will continue for 30 days after publication of this Notice of Intent and will close on June 7, 2010. During the scoping period the Corps invites Federal agencies,

State and local governments, Native American Tribes, and the public to participate in the scoping process either by providing written comments or by attending the public scoping meetings scheduled for at the time and location indicated. 1. May 17 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Seattle, Washington. An open house will be held as part of the meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Following a presentation on the project the open house will continue from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Located at Federal Center South, 4735 East

Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA. 2. May 18 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Vashon Island, Washington. An open house will be held as part of the meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Following a presentation on the project the open house will continue from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Located at Vashon High School Commons, 20120 Vashon Highway, SW, Vashon Island, WA.

Written comments will be considered in the preparation of the Draft

EIS. Comments postmarked or received by e-mail after the specified date will be considered to the extent feasible.

The purpose of the scoping meeting is to assist the Corps in defining issues, public concerns, alternatives, and the depth to which they will be evaluated in the EIS. The Corps has prepared a scoping announcement to familiarize agencies, the public and interested organizations with the Northwest Aggregates dock replacement project and potential environmental issues including completed construction work, the remaining construct work, and the operation of the dock.

Copies of the scoping announcement will be available at the public meeting or can be requested by contacting the Corps Seattle District as described above. Corps' representatives will answer scope-related questions and accept comments.

The EIS will be prepared according to the Corps' procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4232(2)(c), and consistent with the Corps' policy to facilitate public understanding and review of agency proposals. As part of the EIS process a full range of reasonable alternatives will be evaluated. Development of the Draft EIS will begin after the close of the public scoping period. The Draft EIS is expected to be available for public review in the Fall 2010.

Michelle Walker,

Chief, Regulatory Branch, Seattle District.

FR Doc. 2010-10802 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 3720-58-P