[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6226-6227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3305]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
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.

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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 2\1/2\ 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 Long-Term 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 
tri-cities 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 deg. 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.

[[Page 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