[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 208 (Friday, October 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63005-63006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8934]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Lower Willamette River Dredged Material Management Plan, Portland, OR

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and Public 
Law 102-484 Section 2834, as amended by Public Law 104-106 Section 
2867, the Department of the Army hereby gives notice of intent to 
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the subject 
Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP). The Portland District of the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be the lead agency in preparing the 
EIS.
    The EIS will consider Federal actions associated with the 
development of a DMMP for the Federal navigation channel in the city of 
Portland, Multnomah County, OR. The DMMP is a study conducted to 
develop a long-term (20-year) strategy for providing viable dredged 
material placement alternatives that would meet the needs of 
maintaining the Federal channel at Portland Harbor. The overall goal of 
the DMMP is to develop a long-term plan for continued maintenance of 
the federal navigation channel that supports commercial navigation 
within Portland Harbor and to conduct dredged material placement in the 
most economically and environmentally sound manner and to maximize the 
use of dredged material as a beneficial source.

DATES: Submit comments by November 27, 2001.

[[Page 63006]]


ADDRESSES: Mail comments to Ms. Carolyn Schneider, Portland District, 
Corps of Engineers, CENWP-PM-E, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald Erickson, Project Manager, 
Portland District, Corps of Engineers, telephone: (503) 808-4713, or 
Ms. Carolyn Schneider, Environmental Resource Specialist, Portland 
District, Corps of Engineers, telephone: (503) 808-4770.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal navigation channel is from 
Willamette River mile (WRM) 0 to 11.6. Historically, approximately 
500,000 to 750,000 cubic yards of silty sand and sandy silts have been 
dredged from the Lower Willamette River in three to five year 
intervals. The Corps has not performed maintenance dredging since 1997. 
Presently, sediment has accumulated in the Federal navigation channel 
to the point that portions of the channel are less than the 40 foot 
depth required for safe navigation. Additional sediment accumulation 
could increase the potential for safety hazards and adverse economic 
impacts.
    Proposed Action: In accordance with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
Regulation 1105-2-100, a DMMP is being prepared for the Federal 
navigation project to ensure that maintenance dredging activities are 
performed in an environmentally acceptable manner, use sound 
engineering techniques, are economically warranted, and that sufficient 
disposal facilities are available for at least the next 20 years. The 
Lower Willamette River DMMP will focus on management of material 
dredged from the federal navigation channel and will take into 
consideration non-Federal dredging projects permitted by the Portland 
District.
    Reasonable Alternatives: The Corps will consider both dredging and 
non-dredging measures, either separately or in combination. The EIS 
will evaluate alternatives that will consist of an array of disposal 
and beneficial use options. It is Corps of Engineers planning policy to 
consider all practicable and relevant alternative management 
procedures. Options for maintaining the Lower Willamette River Federal 
navigation channel that are being considered include the following: (1) 
Dredging and in-water placement of dredged material. Dredged material 
that satisfies Sediment Evaluation Framework (SEF) guidelines for 
unconfined aquatic disposal will be placed at in-water sites. The Corps 
has identified potential locations for in-water disposal of dredged 
material that are being assessed; (2) Dredging and upland disposal of 
dredged material. Material that doesn't meet the SEF guidelines for 
unconfined aquatic disposal will be placed upland. The Corps has 
identified potential locations for upland disposal of dredged material 
that are being assessed; (3) Beneficial uses of dredged material; (4) 
Non-dredging channel maintenance measures. Non-dredging channel 
maintenance measures will be considered that reduce dredging needs. 
They include, but are not limited to, hydraulic control structures, 
sediment control structures, sediment traps, upstream erosion control 
measures, and changes to the operation of upstream dams; (5) ``No 
Action''. This alternative consists of a continuation of the current 
maintenance dredging at the as-constructed channel dimensions and 
placing dredged material at the existing sites without modification.
    Scoping Process: The Corps of Engineers invites affected Federal, 
State, and local agencies, Native American tribes, and other interested 
organizations and individuals to participate in the development of the 
EIS. The Corps of Engineers anticipates conducting a public scoping 
meeting for this EIS in the fall of 2006. The exact date, time, and 
location of this meeting have not yet been determined. This information 
will be publicized once the meeting arrangements have been made. The 
Corps will provide notice to the public of additional opportunities for 
public input on the EIS during review periods for the draft and final 
EIS. The draft EIS is currently scheduled to be available for public 
review in June 2007. The final EIS is currently scheduled to be 
available in January 2008.

Thomas E. O'Donovan,
Colonel, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 06-8934 Filed 10-26-06; 8:45 am]
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