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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87758-87759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27867]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Conduct Scoping Meeting for the Pier Wind Terminal Development Project 
at the Port of Long Beach, City of Long Beach and County of Los 
Angeles, California (SPL-2023-00720)

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to initiate the scoping process 
for preparation of a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Port of Long Beach (Port) 
Pier Wind Terminal Development Project.

DATES: Submit comments concerning this notice on or before February 6, 
2024. An in-person public scoping meeting will be held on January 10, 
2024, starting at 6 p.m. PST. An in-person open house will be held from 
5-6 p.m. PST.

ADDRESSES: The public scoping meeting will be held in the Bob Foster 
Civic Chambers, adjacent to the Port of Long Beach Administration 
Building, in the Long Beach Civic Center at 411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long 
Beach, California 90802. The open house will be held at the Port of 
Long Beach Administration Building, 415 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 
California 90802. Email written comments concerning this notice to: 
Lisa Mangione, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 
Regulatory Division, [email protected]. Comment emails 
should include the commenter's email, the project title, and the USACE 
file number (SPL-2023-00720) in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Mangione, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division, (805) 585-2150, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the USACE is 
requiring the preparation of an EIS prior to making a permit decision 
for the proposed Project. The USACE may ultimately make a determination 
to permit or deny the proposed Project or a modified version of the 
proposed Project. The primary Federal concerns are dredging, dredged 
material disposal, addition of permanent structures in and over 
navigable waters of the U.S. and transport of dredged material for the 
purpose of ocean disposal.
    Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Cal. 
Pub. Res. Code section 21000 et seq., the City of Long Beach Harbor 
Department (Port of Long Beach or Port) will serve as the CEQA Lead 
Agency in preparing the EIR for its consideration of development 
approvals within its jurisdiction. The USACE and Port have agreed to 
jointly prepare a Draft EIS/EIR to optimize efficiency and avoid 
duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is intended to be sufficient in scope to 
address the Federal, State, and local requirements and environmental 
issues concerning the proposed activities and permit approvals.
    1. Project Site and Background Information. The proposed Project 
site is located in the Southwest Long Beach Harbor Planning District 
(District 6) in the Outer Harbor, south of the Navy Mole and West 
Basin, east of the Port of Los Angeles Pier 400, north of the Federal 
breakwater, and west of the Main Channel within the Port of Long Beach. 
The site is located in the City of Long Beach and County of Los Angeles 
and adjacent to the communities of San Pedro and Wilmington. The 
purpose of the proposed Project is to develop a terminal at the Port 
for receiving, staging, and storing wind turbine generator (WTG) 
components (tower sections, nacelles, and blades), and foundation sub-
assemblies; performing final assembly of floating foundations, and 
integrating WTG components with the floating foundation to create 
floating offshore wind (OSW) turbine systems (proposed Project). The 
proposed Project would enable the State of California and Federal 
Government to address the global climate crisis and decarbonization of 
energy resources by supporting the establishment of wind farms off the 
west coast shores of the United States.
    2. Proposed Project. The Port, acting by and through its Board of 
Harbor Commissioners, proposes to construct a 400-acre terminal and 30-
acre transportation corridor for receiving, staging, and storing wind 
turbine generator (WTG) components, and foundation sub-assemblies, 
performing final assembly of floating foundations, and integrating WTG 
components with the floating foundation to create floating offshore 
wind (OSW) turbine systems. The terminal and transportation corridor 
would be located in the Southwest Harbor Planning District (District 6) 
at the Port of Long Beach just south of the Navy Mole, east of Port of 
Los Angeles Pier 400, north of the Federal breakwater, and west of the 
Main Channel. The proposed Project would construct new land at the Port 
that would best meet the land requirements for waterfront facilities 
necessary for efficient staging, integration, floating foundation 
assembly, and maintenance of large floating OSW turbine systems as 
specified in the California State Lands Commission 2023 AB 525 Port 
Readiness Plan. In-water construction activities would include 
approximately 50 million cubic yards (CY) of dredging (for fill 
material and surcharge), construction of rock revetment dikes, and 
construction of a terminal wharf, sinking basin, wet storage areas, and 
concrete piers adjacent to the transportation corridor. Onshore 
construction would include grading and compaction, surfacing, 
transportation corridor improvements, and installation of utilities and 
signage. It is estimated that construction activities would start in 
2027 and last a total of 9 years, construction completed in phases and 
operations starting in 2031. Overall construction is expected to be 
completed in 2035.
    3. Proposed Federal Action. Because construction of the proposed 
Project would result in a discharge of dredged and/or fill material 
into waters of the United States, would place structures in navigable 
waters of the United States, or consist of work in or affecting 
navigable waters of the United States, and would transport dredged or 
fill material by

[[Page 87759]]

vessel or other vehicle for the purpose of dumping the material into 
ocean waters, USACE authorization is required pursuant to section 404 
of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344; 33 CFR parts 323 and 330), 
section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 U.S.C. 403), and section 
103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 
U.S.C. 1413). Review of and decision on, the permit applications by the 
USACE constitutes the proposed Federal action (Proposed Federal 
Action).
    4. Issues. Potentially significant issues associated with the 
proposed Project may include: aesthetics/visual impacts, air quality 
and greenhouse gas emissions, biological resource impacts, cultural and 
tribal cultural resources, energy, geologic impacts related to 
seismicity, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water 
quality, land use and planning, noise, population and housing, public 
services, recreation, transportation, utilities and service systems, 
environmental justice, socioeconomics, and cumulative impacts from 
past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects.
    5. Alternatives. Multiple alternatives to the proposed Project are 
under consideration, including: No Federal Action (NEPA)/No Project 
(CEQA), 400-acre terminal with a standard construction schedule, 
smaller terminal, larger terminal, alternate locations in California, 
single-lift dike only, and utilization of Pier S. Additional 
alternatives that may be developed during scoping will also be 
considered in the Draft EIS/EIR.
    6. Scoping Process. The USACE and Port will jointly conduct two 
public scoping meetings to receive public comment regarding the 
appropriate scope and content of the Draft EIS/EIR. Participation by 
Federal, State, and local agencies, tribal nations, and other 
interested organizations and persons is encouraged. The scoping meeting 
will be recorded and posted on the Port's website (https://www.polb.com/ceqa). The scoping meeting will be conducted in English 
with interpretation for other languages provided upon request. If you 
require interpretation services to participate in the scoping meeting, 
please contact the Port of Long Beach Environmental Planning Division 
at (562) 283-7100 or via email at [email protected] at least three full 
working days (72 hours) prior to the public scoping meeting date to 
ensure that reasonable arrangements can be made to provide 
interpretation services. Americans with Disabilities Act: The Port of 
Long Beach provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If special accommodations are 
needed to participate in the public scoping meeting, please contact the 
Port of Long Beach Environmental Planning Division at (562) 283-7100 or 
via email at [email protected] at least three full working days (72 hours) 
prior to the scoping meeting date to ensure reasonable arrangements can 
be made.
    7. Electronic Access and Filing Addresses. Comments may be 
submitted by electronic mail (email) to: [email protected]. 
Electronic mail comments should include the commenter's physical or 
electronic mailing address, the project title, and the Corps file 
number (SPL-2023-00720).
    8. Availability for Public Comment. The Draft EIS/EIR is expected 
to be available for public review and comment in early 2025, and a 
public meeting will be held after its publication.

David R. Hibner,
Programs Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-27867 Filed 12-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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