Environmental statements; availability, etc.: Jackson, Clarke County, AL; Tombigbee River public port facilities,

[Federal Register: March 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 43)]

[Notices]

[Page 10651-10652]

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

[DOCID:fr05mr99-42]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Jackson Port Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Proposed Public Port Facilities on the Tombigbee River at the City of Jackson, in Clarke County, Alabama

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: This Notice of Availability announces the public release of the Draft (EIS) for the Proposed Public Port Facilities on the Tombigbee River at the City of Jackson, in Clarke County, Alabama. This Draft EIS has been prepared and released for public review and comment in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (40 Code of Federal Regulation, parts 1500-1508). The comment period begins March 5, 1999 and extends to April 19, 1999. The actions proposed and analyzed in the EIS include the construction of a spur canal and port facilities off the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River Federal navigation channel in Jackson, Alabama. The Federal construction of the spur canal would facilitate construction of a public port facility by the City of Jackson pursuant to authorization by a Department of the Army permit. It identifies existing environmental conditions at the City of Jackson's proposed port site and analyzes the impacts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed construction of a Federal spur canal at the site, as well as the City of Jackson's proposed phased port development under a Department of the Army permit application. The potential impacts analyzed in the Draft EIS include impacts to water resources, ecological resources, cultural resources, and sociological resources. The principal objective of the EIS is to provide a complete, objective appraisal of the positive and negative impacts of the proposed overall port development action (including both Federal and non-Federal components), and mitigation alternatives.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverley Stout, Jackson Port EIS Project Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, CESAM-PD-EI, Post Office Box 2288, Mobile AL 36602-0001, phone number (334) 694-4637, facsimile number (334) 694-3815, or e-mail address (Beverley.H.Statut@sam. usace.army.mil).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the EIS is to provide sufficient information to support a decision by the Mobile District Engineer for construction of Federal navigation facilities which would provide for development of a public port on the Tombigbee River, at Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama; and to support a decision by the District Engineer on issuance of a Section 10 and Section 404 permit to the City of Jackson Industrial Development board for construction of the ancillary port development facilities adjacent to the Federal navigation facilities. The proposed alternatives are divided into two Federal project alternatives (FP-A and FP-B) and three City of Jackson Alternatives. There are also three no action alternatives. The purpose of both of the Federal project alternatives is to expand the existing barge slop to a 300-foot-wide by 1000-foot-long spur canal to provide navigation facilities to support a public port facility at Jackson, Alabama. This would include suitable disposal areas to accommodate construction and future maintenance dredging. Alternative FP-A has a total development area of 140.0 acres and alternative FP-B has a total development area of 121.6 acres. The total wetland development areas for alternatives FP-A and FP-B are 18.3 acres and 10.1 acres, respectively. The City of Jackson plans to completely develop the Jackson Port through three proposed Jackson Port phases. The purpose of the City of Jackson's proposed port development is to provide ancillary port infrastructure to accommodate berthing, docking and terminal facilities, and transloading/temporary storage areas for industrial users requiring port-related facilities. The port-related facilities would be adjacent to the Federal spur canal. The City of Jackson project would also accommodate disposal of materials associated with construction and future maintenance of the vessel berthing areas. The three Jackson Port phases would involve continuing development and expansion to the Federal projects. Jackson Port Phase 1, Jackson Port Phase 2, and Jackson Port Phase 3 have total development areas of 206.4 acres, 235.0 acres, and 343.5 acres, respectively. The total wetland development areas for these phases are 70.0 acres, 94.2 acres, and 189.1 acres, respectively. The three no action alternatives are No Federal Project/No City Project (No Action Alternative (1); No Federal Project/City Project constructed (No Action Alternative (2); and Federal Project constructed/No City Project (No Action Alternative (3). No Action Alternative 1

[[Page 10652]]

could develop 76.9 acres of available expansion area under an existing Department of the Army permit which includes 1.0 acre of wetlands; No Action Alternative 2 would develop 125.8 acres which includes 3.3 acres of wetlands; and No Action Alternative 3 would include the development of one of the Federal project alternatives.

The scope of the Federal project is defined by Public Law 99-591 and House Report 99-831. A Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS was published in the Federal Register on August 16, 1991. A scoping meeting was held at City Hall in Jackson, Alabama on September 16, 1991. Executive Orders requiring analyses of proposed Federal actions were followed.

Draft EIS Availability: To receive a copy of the Draft EIS, contact U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, CESAM-PD-EI, Post Office Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36602-0001. A copy of the Draft EIS will also be available for public review at the Jackson public library.

Comment Period: The public comment period for the Draft EIS begins March 5, 1999 with the release of this Notice of Availability, and extends to April 19, 1999. Written comments may be submitted to the Corps of Engineers by mail, facsimile, or electronic mail. To become part of the formal record, all written comments must be postmarked, faxed, or e-mailed no later than April 19, 1999. Comments should be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, CESAM-PD- EI, Post Office Box 2288, Mobile AL 36602-0001. The facsimile number is: (334) 695-3815 and the e-mail address is: Beverley.H.Stout@sam.usace.army.mil. In addition to this Notice of Availability, a press release will be prepared, announcements will be mailed to affected State and Federal agencies and special interest groups, information fliers will be distributed announcing the release of the Draft EIS and inviting the public to participate in a public meeting, and the public meeting will be advertised twice in a local newspaper. The public meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on April 6, 1999 at Jackson City Hall, 400 Commerce Street, Jackson, Alabama, 36545. Written or oral comments may be presented at this time. Following the receipt of public comments, a Final EIS will be prepared and issued which will consider the comments received. Curtis M. Flakes, Chief, Planning and Environmental Division.

[FR Doc. 99-5271Filed3-4-99; 8:45 am]

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