6226 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 28 / Tuesday, February 11, 1997 / Notices

government. As is the case for those

employees, the costs are borne by the

beneficiary who pays the entire

premium charge. Additionally, the

Department of Defense is permitted to

charge up to an additional ten percent

of the premium to cover administrative

expenses. The referenced final rule

indicated that the Department would

annually review the premium rates and

adjust these rates as necessary.

The CHCBP became effective October

1, 1994. Premiums for the CHCBP are

determined by enrollment category. The

CHCBP features two enrollment

categories, which are individual and

family. Initial quarterly premium rates

were established at Individual—$410;

and Family $891.

Initial CHCBP rates were based on the

1994 Mail Handlers Standard rates. The

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

quarterly premium rates for Mail

Handlers Standard increased in 1996

and $622 and $1,390 for Family

coverage. However, the Department

elected not to increase initial CHCBP

fiscal year 1995 premium rates for fiscal

year 1996 to allow for a full year of

operational data to be collected to

enable a thorough utilization review to

be conducted. Operational experience

during fiscal years 1995 and 1996

revealed that the initial premiums have

not been sufficient to cover expenses

incurred in paying CHCBP claims. As

such, the Department has had to

supplement premium funds with

Defense Health Program funding to

cover CHCBP expenses in fiscal year

1995 and 1996. Therefore, the

Department proposes to raise the

premiums for the CHCBP in fiscal year

1997 to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield—

High Option Level (maximum level

allowable under enacting legislation) to

keep pace with the costs incurred and

to reflect the similar increase in FEHBP

plans.

Dated: February 5, 1997.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 97–3243 Filed 2–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5000–04–M

Corps of Engineers; Department of the

Army

Intent To Prepare a Draft

Environmental Impact Statement

(DEIS) for Long-Term Dredged Material

Management at Grand Haven Harbor,

Michigan

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

DOD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, Detroit District, is evaluating

the environmental impacts of long-term

dredged material management

alternatives for Grand Haven Harbor,

Michigan. The Federal navigation

project at Grand Haven includes an

entrance protected by parallel piers and

revetments at the mouth of the Grand

River, a deep draft channel extending

upstream to Spring Lake, a deep-draft

turning basin, and a shallow-draft river

channel extending 14.5 miles further

upstream. A study has been undertaken

to identify a suitable disposal plan for

dredged material to be removed over the

next 20 years, to maintain the deep-draft

channel. The deep-draft portion of the

project consists of approximately 21⁄2

miles of channel, 300 feet wide, with

depths varying from 23 feet at the

entrance to 21 feet in the remainder of

the channel. Shoaled material dredged

from the outer harbor portion of the

navigation channel (Harbor entrance),

consisting primarily of sand, has

routinely been placed along adjacent

shoreline reaches. Silty sand dredged

from the inner deep-draft harbor was

placed at the Harbor Island Disposal

Facility which is now filled. A LongTerm Dredged Material Management

Plan is being developed for the harbor,

a Draft Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) is being prepared to evaluate

dredged material disposal alternatives

proposed as part of this plan. Disposal

alternatives under consideration include

open-water placement, upland

placement, and beneficial use of the

material. The no Federal action

alternative, which would allow the

navigation channel to shoal in, will also

be evaluated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions about the proposed EIS and

dredged material management plan

development can be directed to Mr. Les

E. Weigum, Chief, Environmental

Analysis Branch; Engineering &

Planning Division; U.S. Army Engineer

District, Detroit; P.O. Box 1027; Detroit,

Michigan 48231–1027. Telephone: 313–

226–6752.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Grand

Haven Harbor is located at the mouth of

the Grand River, on the eastern shore of

Lake Michigan, in Ottawa County,

Michigan, approximately 30 miles

northwest of Grand Rapids. The tricities of Grand Haven, Spring Lake and

Ferrysburg cluster around the mouth of

the Grand River. Project authority for

Grand Haven Harbors is from the River

and Harbor Act of 1866 and subsequent

acts.

Dredged material management for

Grand Haven Harbor historically has

consisted of two strategies: The outer

harbor material, which is primarily

sand, has been used to nourish adjacent

eroding beaches. Maintenance dredging

of this outer harbor, which includes the

entrance canal from Lake Michigan

through the breakwaters, is projected to

require management of 600,000 cubic

yards of dredged material over the next

20 years. It is proposed that this

material continue to be beneficially

used for nourishment of eroding

beaches in the harbor vicinity.

The inner harbor material, which is

sand with some silt, has historically

been placed at the Harbor Island

disposal facility located adjacent to the

Harbor. Operation practices extended

the life of the Harbor Island facility but

the facility is not at maximum capacity

and is being developed for recreational

use. Maintenance dredging of this inner

harbor portion is projected to require

management of 400,000 cubic yards of

dredged material over the next 20 years.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

Detroit District, is currently evaluating

the environmental impacts of long-term

dredged material management

alternatives for dredged material from

the harbor. An Environmental Impact

Statement will be prepared as a

component of a 20-year Dredged

Material Management Plan being

developed for Grand Haven Harbor.

Management alternatives for material

removed form the inner harbor to be

evaluated in the EIS include: placement

in open water of Lake Michigan, upland

placement, and beneficial use of

material. The no Federal action

alternative will also be considered. The

final 20-year management plan for

dredged material may consist of a

combination of alternatives and

beneficial use applications.

The site identified for open water

placement of material from the inner

harbor is located approximately one

mile off shore. The site is an area of

Lake Michigan bottomland,

approximately 1⁄2-mile by 1⁄2-mile,

located about 3⁄4 miles southwest, @

225° azimuth from the harbor south pier

light. The site has sufficient water depth

to prevent significant disturbance of the

dredged material by wind and storm

induced wave action in the lake.

Dredged material would be transported

directly from the dredging operation to

the open water site by floating plant,

hydraulic pipeline, or other similar

methods. The suitability of the dredged

material for open-water placement has

been determined in accordance with the

Great Lakes Dredged Material Testing

and Evaluation Manual (U.S.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 28 / Tuesday, February 11, 1997 / Notices 6227

Environmental Protection Agency and

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1995),

which presents testing and evaluation

guidance for proposed discharges of

dredged material into the waters of the

United States within the Great Lakes

Basin.

Specific upland disposal sites have

not yet been identified for material

placement but would include at least

one upland disposal site within close

vicinity to the channel, as well as

upland areas to be used for off loading

or dewatering facilities, for temporary

placement of material for re-use

scenarios.

Beneficial use applications to be

explored include, the reconstruction of

an eroded island in the Grand River, use

of the material for cover or as needed in

a landfill operation, use of material in

composting/soil mixing, for

construction fill, and other land

applications.

The final 20 year Dredged Material

Management Plan for removal of

dredged material from Grand Haven

Harbor will include the continued

practice of placement of material from

the outer harbor to nourish eroding

nearby beaches. The plan for 400,000

cubic yards of material to be removed

over 20 years from the inner harbor is

likely to include a combination of

dredged material disposal alternatives.

These disposal alternatives will be

dependent on a number of factors

including, the suitability of the material,

the re-use market, economics, and

overall environmental acceptability.

Significant issues to be analyzed in

the EIS include potential impacts on

wetlands, water quality, fish and

wildlife habitat, and cultural resources.

Social impacts, including impacts upon

recreation, aesthetics, and the local

economy, will also be considered.

The proposed dredged material

management plan alternatives will be

reviewed for compliance with the Fish

and Wildlife Act of 1956; the Fish and

Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958; the

National Historic Preservation Act of

1966; the National Environmental

Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; the Clean

Air Act of 1970; the Coastal Zone

Management Act of 1972; the

Endangered Species Act of 1973; the

Water Resources Development Act of

1976; the Clean Water Act of 1977;

Executive Order 11593, Protection and

Enhancement of the Cultural

Environment, May 1971; Executive

Order 11988, Flood Plain Management,

May 1977; Executive Order 11990,

Wetland Protection, May 1977; and

Corps of Engineers, Dept. of the Army,

33 CFR Part 230, Environmental

Quality: Policy and Procedure for

Implementing NEPA.

The proposed dredged material

management plan will be coordinated

with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, the Michigan Department of

Environmental Quality, the Michigan

Department of Natural Resources,

Michigan State Historic Preservation

Office, local and regional Indian tribes,

as well as other interested individuals

and organizations.

All are invited to participate in the

proposed project scoping and review,

including Federal, State, and local

agencies, Indian tribes, organizations

and individuals. Questions, concerns,

and comments may be directed to the

address given above. It is anticipated

that the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement would be made available in

late 1998 for a 45-day public review

period. If necessary, a public meeting

would be held in the Grand Haven

Harbor vicinity following release of the

Draft EIS.

Dated: January 28, 1997.

W. Scott Parker,

Acting District Engineer.

[FR Doc. 97–3305 Filed 2–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710–GA–M

Department of the Navy

Community Redevelopment Authority

and Available Surplus Buildings and

Land at Military Installations

Designated for Closure: Naval Reserve

Center, Perth Amboy, New Jersey

SUMMARY: This Notice provides

information regarding the

redevelopment authority that has been

established to plan the reuse of the

Naval Reserve Center, Perth Amboy,

New Jersey, the surplus property that is

located at that base closure site, and the

timely election by the redevelopment

authority to proceed under new

procedures set forth in the Base Closure

Community Redevelopment and

Homeless Assistance Act of 1994.

ADDRESSES: For further general

information, contact John J. Kane,

Deputy Division Director, Dept. of Navy,

Real Estate Operations, Naval Facilities

Engineering Command, 200 Stovall

Street, Alexandria, VA 22332–2300,

telephone (703) 325–0474, or Marian E.

Digiamarino, Special Assistant for Real

Estate, Base Closure Team, Northern

Division, Naval Facilities Engineering

Command, Lester, PA 19113–2090,

telephone (610) 595–0762. For more

detailed information regarding

particular properties identified in this

Notice (i.e. acreage, floorplan, sanitary

facilities, exact street address, etc.),

contact Ron Kohri, Activity Manager,

Base Closure Team, Northern Division,

Naval Facilities Engineering Command,

Lester, PA 19113–2090, telephone (610)

595–0519.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1993,

the Naval Reserve Center, Perth Amboy,

New Jersey, was designated for closure

pursuant to the Defense Base Closure

and Realignment Act of 1990, Public

Law 101–510, as amended. Pursuant to

this designation, the land and facilities

at this installation are declared surplus

to the federal government and available

for use by (a) non-Federal public

agencies pursuant to various statutes

which authorize conveyance of property

for public projects, and (b) homeless

provider groups.

Election to Proceed Under New

Statutory Procedures

Subsequently, the Base Closure

Community Redevelopment and

Homeless Assistance Act of 1994 (Pub.

L. 103–421) was signed into law.

Section 2 of this statute gives the

redevelopment authority at base closure

sites the option of proceeding under

new procedures with regard to the

manner in which the redevelopment

plan for the base is formulated and how

requests are made for future use of the

property by homeless assistance

providers. On December 23, 1994, the

Governor of New Jersey submitted a

timely request to proceed under the new

procedures. Accordingly, this notice

fulfills the Federal Register publication

requirement of Section 2(e)(3) of the

Base Closure Community

Redevelopment and Homeless

Assistance Act of 1994.

Also, pursuant to Section

2905(b)(7)(B) of the Defense Base

Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, as

amended by the Base Closure

Community Redevelopment and

Homeless Assistance Act of 1994, the

following information regarding the

redevelopment authority for and surplus

property at the Naval Reserve Center,

Perth Amboy, NJ is published in the

Federal Register.

Redevelopment Authority

The redevelopment authority for the

Naval Reserve Center, Perth Amboy,

New Jersey, for purposes of

implementing the provisions of the

Defense Base Closure and Realignment

Act of 1990, as amended, is the City of

Perth Amboy, acting by and through its

Mayor, Joseph Vas. For further

information contact the Office of the

Mayor, City of Perth Amboy, City Hall,

Perth Amboy, New Jersey 08861,

telephone number is (908) 826–0290.