### 23669 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2012 / Notices

**DATES :**  Questions or written comments about the proposed action and DEIS should be provided by May 21, 2012.

**ADDRESSES :**  Submit comments to Mr. Charles W. Seyle, US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, ATTN: PD, Post Office Box 889, Savannah, GA
31402 or email: CESASPD.SAS@usace.army.mil. This Notice of
Intent will be available on the internet

at: http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Mr. Charles W. Seyle at 912–652–6017.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Background. The AIWW between Savannah, Georgia, and Fernandina, Florida, was initially authorized by the Congress in 1882. The River and Harbor Act of 1937 provided for a 7-foot protected route around St. Andrew Sound, Georgia, and for a 12-foot channel between Beaufort, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. In 1938, a 12-foot channel was authorized between Savannah and Fernandina,
Florida. The widths of the AIWW were
to be 90 feet in land cuts and 150 feet in open waters. In addition to providing
for the 12-foot channel between Beaufort and Fernandina, Congress imposed upon local interests the responsibility to furnish all lands or easements necessary for the 7-foot St.
Andrews Sound channel and all necessary rights-of-way and dredged sediment disposal areas for new work and subsequent maintenance of the 12-
foot channel between Beaufort and
Fernandina. Work on the 12-foot
channel between Beaufort and Fernandina was completed in 1941.

Savannah District, US Army Corps of Engineers records provide historical dredging information between 1942 and 2011. These records show that many of
the 36 defined AIWW reaches from Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, and the Georgia-Florida border are naturally 12 feet deep or deeper and have not required dredging since construction of the waterway in the 1940s. Twenty of the reaches require periodic dredging, and of these, five require dredging every 1 to 5 years. The southernmost Georgia
reach is located near the U.S. Naval Submarine Base at Kings Bay, Georgia, and the Navy is responsible for maintaining this reach. Consequently, no Corps action will be analyzed in the
DEIS for that reach.

During previous dredging events along several reaches of the AIWW, dredged material that was primarily fine-grained silt was pumped onto unconfined saltmarsh disposal sites or into existing confined saltmarsh disposal sites. Material that was primarily coarse-grained sand was deposited in approved open-water disposal areas. State natural resource agencies have requested that the Corps discontinue placement of fine-grained dredged material on unconfined saltmarsh sites. The proposed DEIS
would examine unconfined sediment placement on saltmarsh sites and identify locations where it would no longer be used and where its use may still be the least damaging practicable disposal method. The DMMP proposes
to use a combination of new and existing disposal sites, open-water placement of sandy dredged material, and ODMDS for disposal of AIWW dredged material over the next 20 years.

The DEIS will examine a wide range
of environmental resource areas including, but not limited to, air quality, traffic, noise, biological resources, cultural resources, socio-economic resources, wetlands, land use, hazardous and toxic substances, and
cumulative environmental effects.

Significant issues to be analyzed in the DEIS will include potential impacts to water quality, marine and estuarine resources, wetlands, endangered species, cultural resources, commercial maritime interests, and recreational boating. Additional resources and conditions may be identified as a result of the scoping process initiated by this Notice of Intent (NOI).

All reasonable alternatives will be analyzed in the DEIS. The range of alternatives will include, but are not
limited to:

• No Action (status quo);

• Use existing confined dredged material containment areas;

• Use existing Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites;

• Establish new Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites;

• Construct new confined dredged
material containment areas.

The DMMP will identify disposal
alternatives for several of the critical reaches and the impacts of each of these alternatives will be analyzed in the
DEIS. As a result of information developed during the DEIS scoping process, other alternatives may be considered. The DEIS will analyze each alternative’s impact on the natural and cultural environments along the AIWW and the surrounding area. Mitigation
measures to avoid or reduce environmental impacts will also be
considered in the DEIS. The DEIS is presently scheduled for release in Summer 2012. However, this date may change. Notification of the availability of the document will be published in
the Federal Register and local

newspapers. Scoping Process: The Corps of Engineers invites tribal, federal, state and local agencies and the public to participate in the scoping process for preparation of the DEIS. The scoping process will help identify additional reasonable alternatives, potential environmental impacts, and key issues of concern to be analyzed in the DEIS.

Dated: April 13, 2012. William G. Bailey, Chief, Planning Division, Savannah District, US Army Corps of Engineers.

[FR Doc. 2012–9578 Filed 4–19–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3730–58–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers** 

**Public Hearing and Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental**  **Impact Statement for the Proposed Widening of the Pascagoula Lower**  **Sound/Bayou Casotte Channel, Jackson County, MS** 

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of availability.

**SUMMARY :**  On April 6, 2011, the Jackson County Port Authority (JCPA) submitted an application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Mobile District, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) for authorization to impact wetlands and other waters of the
United States associated with the proposed widening of the Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte Channel (the proposed project). The proposed project is located in the Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte, Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi (Latitude 30.365 ° North, Longitude

88.556 ° West). The Corps prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project. The proposed project is the dredging of approximately 38,200 feet (7.2 miles) of the existing Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte Channel segment to widen the channel from the Federally authorized width of 350 feet and depth of

¥ 42 feet mean lower low water (MLLW) (with 2 feet of allowable over-depth and 2 feet of advanced maintenance) to a width of 450 feet, parallel to the existing channel centerline and to the existing Federally authorized depth of

¥ 42 feet MLLW. The proposed project would include the placement of approximately 3.35


### 23670 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2012 / Notices

million cubic yards of dredged material resulting from the channel modification.

**DATES :**  The Corps will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the DEIS. The public hearing will be held May 10, 2012, 6 p.m., Grand Magnolia Ballroom, 3604 Magnolia Street, Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Written comments on the DEIS must be received no later than May 29, 2012.

Additional Information on how to
submit comments is included in the (**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**) section.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Written and emailed comments to the Corps will be received until May 29, 2012. Correspondence concerning this Public Hearing should refer to Public
Notice Number SAM–2011–00389–PAH and should be directed to the U.S. Army Engineer District, RD–C–M Attention: Mr. Philip Hegji, Post Office Box 2288, Mobile, Alabama 36628–0001, via email

at philip.a.hegji@usace.army.mil or by phone at (251) 690–3222. We encourage any additional comments from interested public, agencies and local
officials. For additional information about our Regulatory Program, please
visit our web site at: www.sam.usace.army.mil/rd/reg/.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Availability of the Draft EIS: The DEIS will be made available to the public April 13, 2012. The public hearing will be held May 10, 2012, during the 45-day public comment period for the DEIS.

On April 6, 2011, the Jackson County Port Authority (JCPA) submitted an application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Mobile District, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) for authorization to impact wetlands and other waters of the
United States associated with the proposed widening of the Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte Channel (the proposed project), Jackson County. The proposed project is located in the Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte, Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi (Latitude 30.365 ° North, Longitude

88.556 ° West).

The Corps prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project. The proposed project is the dredging of approximately 38,200 feet (7.2 miles) of the existing Pascagoula Lower Sound/Bayou Casotte Channel segment to widen the channel from the Federally authorized width of 350 feet and depth of

¥ 42 feet mean lower low water (MLLW) (with 2 feet of allowable over-depth and 2 feet of advanced maintenance) to a width of 450 feet, parallel to the existing channel centerline and to the existing Federally authorized depth of

¥ 42 feet MLLW. The proposed project would include the placement of approximately 3.35 million cubic yards of dredged material resulting from the channel modification.

The JCPA requested a Department of the Army (DOA) permit pursuant to
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries
Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, including a Section 404(b)(1) analysis to help ensure compliance. The Corps is the lead Federal agency for the preparation of this DEIS in compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
the President’s Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA. The National
Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Coast Guard are cooperating agencies for the preparation of the EIS. This application was advertised by 30-day Public Notice April 15, 2011.

On April 13, 2012, a copy of the DEIS will be available for public review. The DEIS is available to the public at: www.sam.usace.army.mil/rd/reg. Hardcopies of the DEIS are available upon request from Mr. Philip A. Hegji, Corps Project Manager (contact information below). This document is being circulated to resource agencies and interested members of the public for a 45-day comment period ending May

29, 2012.

A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 10, 2012, at the Grand Magnolia Ballroom at 3604 Magnolia Street, Pascagoula, Mississippi. The public hearing will be held to provide information about the proposed project and to receive public input and comments on the DEIS. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open communication on the issues surrounding the DEIS. In addition, participation by Federal, State, local agencies and other interested organizations is encouraged. Both oral and written statements will be accepted at the hearing. An informal open house will be held from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the Grand Magnolia Ballroom to allow the public the opportunity to become familiar with the proposed project prior to the start of the formal hearing. Displays of the proposed project and associated impacts will be available. Representatives from the JCPA will be present to answer questions concerning the project and Corps representatives will be available to answer questions concerning the Corps regulatory

process. The public hearing will be conducted in English. Those in need of language interpreters should contact the Corps’ Public Involvement consultant, Crouch Environmental Services at (713) 868– 1043, by Thursday, May 3, 2012.

Any comments received at the hearing will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposed project. All comments will be considered in the final EIS pursuant to NEPA. Comments are also used to help determine the overall public interest of the proposed project. All comments must be received or postmarked by May 29, 2012 (19 days following the public hearing).

Dated: April 5, 2012. Cindy J. House-Pearson, Chief, Regulatory Division.

[FR Doc. 2012–9627 Filed 4–19–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3720–58–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers** 

**Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental**  **Impact Report for the Encinitas and**
**Solana Beach Shoreline Protection Project, San Diego County, CA** 

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of Intent.

**SUMMARY :**  The Los Angeles District intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to support a cost-shared feasibility study with the Cities of Encinitas and Solana Beach, CA, for shoreline protection along the
coastline of these two cities. The purpose of the feasibility study is to evaluate alternatives for reducing
shoreline erosion. The EIS/EIR will analyze potential impacts of the recommended plan and a range of alternatives for shoreline protection.
Alternatives will include both structural
and non-structural measures.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may also submit your concerns in writing to the city or the Los Angeles District at the address below. Comments, suggestions, and requests to be placed on the mailing list for announcements should be sent to Larry Smith, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053–2325, or email

to lawrence.j.smith@usace.army.mil.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For further information contact Mr. Larry Smith, Project Environmental