[Federal Register: July 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 139)]
[Notices]               
[Page 41340-41341]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy08-66]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

 
Notice of Availability of a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement/ Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIS/SEIR) for the 
Port of Los Angeles Channel Deepening Project, Los Angeles, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (USACE) 
and the Los Angeles Harbor Department (Port) have prepared a joint 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Report (SEIS/SEIR) for the Port of Los Angeles Channel Deepening 
Project, Los Angeles, California. This Draft SEIS/SEIR describes the 
affected resources and evaluates the potential impacts to those 
resources as a result of the Proposed Action and alternatives. The 
purpose of the Proposed Action is to dispose of approximately 3.0 
million cubic yards of dredge material required to complete the Channel 
Deepening Project and to beneficially reuse the dredge material within 
the Port of Los Angeles.
    Three Alternatives have been analyzed in the Draft SEIS/SEIR, 
including No Action. Alternative 1, Port Development and Environmental 
Enhancement was developed with a focus on using dredge material for 
port development and environmental enhancement and would involve use 
and development of the following disposal sites: Berths 243-245, the 
Northwest Slip, CSWH Expansion, the Eelgrass Habitat Area, and LA-2. 
Alternative 2, Environmental Enhancement and Ocean Disposal was 
developed with a focus on environmental enhancement related uses of the 
remaining material and does not include any disposal options associated 
with port development. Under Alternative 2, dredge material would be 
disposed at the CSWH Expansion, Eelgrass Habitat Area, LA-2 and the 
Anchorage Road Soil Storage Site. Under Alternative 3, the No Action 
Alternative, no further dredging would take place and the Channel 
Deepening Project would not be completed.
    This Notice also serves as the Public Notice/Notice of Availability 
for the Section 404 Permit under Clean Water Act (CWA). A preliminary 
application has been received for a Department of the Army permit for 
the activity described herein. The Corps is considering an application 
submitted by the Port for a permit, in accordance with Section 404 of 
the CWA and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, to complete 
dredging activities outside of the Federal Channel and placement of the 
dredge material in waters of the United States in the Port of Los 
Angeles.
    This SEIS/SEIR would be used by the Corps as part of their 
application review process. The Corps and the Port independently 
determined under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), respectively, that there 
are potential significant environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed action, and an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Environmental Impact Report are required.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, CESPL-
PD-RN, c/o Joy Jaiswal, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Joy Jaiswal, Chief, Ecosystem 
Planning Section, at (213) 452-3851 or e-mail at 
Jyotsna.I.Jaiswal@usace.army.mil. Additional Information: This Draft 
SEIS/SEIR has been filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
to be published in the Federal Register and is available for a forty-
five (45) day public review period. The public review period for the 
Draft SEIS/EIR will be from July 18, 2008 to September 1, 2008. Please 
forward your comments on the Draft SEIS/SEIR by mail, email, or fax to 
the contacts listed below by September 1, 2008.

Ms. Joy Jaiswal, Chief, Ecosystem Planning Section, Attn: Ms. Megan 
Wong, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, 
California 90053-2325, Fax: (213) 452-4204, 
Megan.T.Wong@usace.army.mil; or

Dr. Ralph Appy, Los Angeles Harbor Department (LAHD), 425 South Palos 
Verdes Street, San Pedro, CA 90731.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Authorization

    The Port of Los Angeles Channel Deepening Project was authorized 
for

[[Page 41341]]

construction by the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. 
Construction began in October 2002 and is currently continuing using 
previously approved disposal areas.

2. Background

    The City of Los Angeles Harbor Department (LAHD) administers the 
Port of Los Angeles. The Port comprises 45 kilometers (28 miles) of 
waterfront and 3,035 hectares (7,500 acres) of land and water. LAHD 
administers automobile, container, omni, lumber, cruise ship, liquid 
and dry bulk terminals, and commercial fishing facilities. For 
recreational activities the Port of Los Angeles provides slips for 
5,000 pleasure craft, sport fishing boats, and charter vessels. 
Community facilities include a water front youth center, a boat launch 
ramp, and a public swimming beach. Educational facilities include the 
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.
    This SEIS/SEIR is a supplement to the 2000 SEIS/SEIR that was 
prepared for the Channel Deepening Project, which was a supplement to 
the 1998 Channel Deepening Project EIR and the 1992 Deep Draft 
Navigation Improvements Project EIS/EIR the modifications required to 
complete disposal of dredged material from the authorized project. This 
SEIS/SEIR addresses impacts associated with providing additional 
disposal capacity of approximately 3 mcy required to complete the 
Channel Deepening Project. Additional disposal capacity is required to 
complete the deepening of the navigation channel and berthing areas to 
-53 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) at container terminals along the 
deepened channel and the removal of dredge material that was 
temporarily used as surcharge at the Southwest Slip. This project meets 
a public need for safe and efficient commercial navigation.

3. Hearing Process

    The Corps Los Angeles District and the Los Angeles Harbor 
Department (LAHD or Port) will jointly conduct a Public Hearing for the 
Port of Los Angeles Channel Deepening Project, Los Angeles, California 
Draft SEIS/SEIR on August 6, 2008 at 6:30 p.m., to receive public 
comment and assess public concerns regarding the Draft SEIS/SEIR (Corps 
File Number 2008-00662-AOA). Participation in the Public Hearing by 
Federal, State and local agencies and other interested organizations 
and persons are encouraged. This meeting is to be conducted in English 
and Spanish. Members of the public who wish to communicate and listen 
entirely in Spanish are encouraged to attend this meeting. The Public 
Hearing will be held at: Banning's Landing Community Center, 100 East 
Water Street, Wilmington, CA 90744.

4. Availability of the Draft SEIS/SEIR

    a. The Draft SEIS/SEIR for the Proposed Action is being distributed 
directly to agencies, organizations, and interested groups and persons 
for comment during the 45-day formal review period in accordance with 
Section 15087 of the State CEQA Guidelines and 40 CFR Section 1506.10 
of the CEQ NEPA Regulations. During the 45-day public review period, 
which begins on July 18, 2008 and ends on September 1, 2008, the Draft 
SEIS/SEIR is available for general public review at the following 
locations:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Environmental 
Resources Branch, 915 Wilshire Blvd., 14th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90053
Los Angeles Public Library, San Pedro Branch, 921 South Gaffey Street, 
San Pedro, CA 90731
Los Angeles Public Library, Central Branch, 630 West 5th Street, Los 
Angeles, CA 90071
Port of Los Angeles, Environmental Management Division, 425 South Palos 
Verdes Street, San Pedro, CA 90731
Los Angeles Public Library, Wilmington Branch, 1300 North Avalon 
Boulevard, Wilmington, CA 90744

    b. Participation of affected Federal, State, and local resource 
agencies, and concerned interest groups/individuals are encouraged on 
the Draft SEIS/SEIR during the public review period. Public 
participation will be especially important in receiving input on 
environmental analysis for the Proposed Action, and associated 
Alternatives in finalizing the SEIS/SEIR. Those wishing to provide 
comments relevant to the environmental or social impacts that should be 
included or considered in updating the environmental analysis can 
furnish this information by writing to the point of contact indicated 
above.
    c. The Final SEIS/SEIR document will incorporate public concerns in 
the analysis of impacts associated with the Proposed Action and 
associated project alternatives. The Final SEIS/SEIR will address the 
comments received on the Draft SEIS/SEIR. In compliance with NEPA, the 
Final SEIS/SEIR will be sent out for a 30-day public review period. 
Copies of the Final SEIS/SEIR will be furnished to all who commented on 
the Draft SEIS/SEIR and to anyone who requests a copy. The final step 
involves preparing and signing a Record of Decision (ROD) by lead 
Federal Agency for the Federal SEIS. The lead CEQA agency certifies the 
SEIR and adopts a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan. The ROD is 
a concise summary of the decisions made by the USACE from among the 
alternatives presented in the Final SEIS/SEIR. A certified SEIR 
indicates that the environmental document adequately assesses the 
environmental impacts of the proposed project with respect to CEQA. Any 
required permit would be issued concurrently or soon after the issuance 
of the ROD.

    Dated: July 9, 2008.
Anthony G. Reed,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Deputy District Commander.
 [FR Doc. E8-16458 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]

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