Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 37 / Monday, February 26, 2007 / Notices 8359 

some water intakes and boat ramps may 

need to be extended for safe operation. 

3. Though not expected, the Corps 

recognizes that if seepage conditions 

worsen, or new information determines 

that the lake elevations should be 

significantly changed to ensure the 

public’s health, safety, and welfare; then 

the following resources could be 

significantly impacted: 

(1) The cold-water fisheries both in 

the lake and tailwater; 

(2) Water quality throughout the 

Caney Fork River and downstream in 

the Cumberland River; 

(3) Federally listed threatened and 

endangered species; 

(4) Designated uses of the waterway 

including fish and aquatic life, livestock 

watering and wildlife, irrigation; 

(5) And economics including electric 

power production, municipal and 

industrial water supply, recreation, 

navigation, flood damage reduction, and 

disruption to communities, jobs, and 

other related factors. 

4. Current Actions to Reduce Risk. 

Several actions have already been taken 

to reduce the risk. Prior to 2005, spring 

rains were captured in the reservoir to 

maximize downstream flood protection 

and hydropower generation. Beginning 

in March 2005, the pool was managed 

more aggressively to reduce inflow 

peaks and adhere more closely to the 

prescribed guide curves. In 2006, 

continuous surveillance was initiated at 

the dam. This involves providing 

patrols to monitor the dam, known 

seepage and trouble spots, and 

downstream areas. Currently, the Corps 

is conducting exploratory drilling to 

assess the limestone rock condition and 

key access points for future grouting 

activities. Additional coordination and 

exercises have been held with state and 

local emergency management agencies. 

These agencies will be provided flood 

inundation maps to help coordinate 

emergency evacuation planning. The 

Corps has improved its emergency 

notification procedures, increased 

instrumentation in, on, and around the 

dam, and conducted numerous public 

meetings to advise the public of 

problems with the dam. 

5. A DEIS will be undertaken to 

review current actions taken and to 

consider other possible alternatives to 

reduce stress on the dam. 

6. This notice serves to solicit 

comments from the public; Federal, 

State and local agencies and officials; 

Indian Tribes; and other interested 

parties in order to consider and evaluate 

impacts of these proposed activities. 

Any comments received by the agency 

will be considered in determining future 

operations. In the decision-making 

process, comments are used to assess 

impacts on public health and safety, 

endangered species, historic properties, 

water quality, water supply and 

conservation, economics, aesthetics, 

wetlands, flood hazards, floodplain 

values, land use, navigation, shore 

erosion and accretion, recreation, energy 

needs, food and fiber production, 

mineral needs, considerations of 

property ownership, general 

environmental effects, and in general, 

the needs and welfare of the people. 

7. Activities proposed that may 

require a review under the guidelines 

promulgated by the Administrator, 

Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA), under authority of Section 

404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act (40 

CFR part 230) include fill placement for 

water intake extensions, boat ramp 

extensions, and other mitigation actions. 

8. Other Federal, State, and local 

approvals that may be required for 

proposed work are as follows: 

a. Section 401 water quality 

certification from the Tennessee 

Department of Environment and 

Conservation. 

b. Coordination with the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service for the Endangered 

Species Act and Fish and Wildlife 

Coordination Act. 

c. Coordination with the Tennessee 

Wildlife Resources Agency. 

d. Coordination with the State 

Historic Preservation Officer and 

President’s Advisory Council on 

Historic Preservation. 

9. Significant issues to be analyzed in 

the DEIS include impacts to fisheries, 

tailwater mussel resources, water 

quality, flood control, recreation, 

navigation, water supply, electric power 

production, economics, and community 

development. The U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service has agreed to be a 

Cooperating Agency on the DEIS. A 

DEIS should be available in June 2007. 

10. Public Meetings: At present, no 

public meetings have been scheduled to 

scope for potential issues to be 

evaluated in the DEIS. Requests for 

public meetings should be directed to 

Mr. William Peoples, Chief, Public 

Affairs Office, U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Nashville District, Nashville, 

TN, 37202–1070. Mr. Peoples may be 

reached by telephone at (615) 736–7834. 

Brenda S. Bowen, 

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 07–853 Filed 2–23–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–GF–M 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army; Corps of 

Engineers 

Intent To Prepare a Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement 

(DEIS) for the Development of an Inlet 

Management Plan That Includes the 

Repositioning and Realignment of the 

Main Ebb Channel of Rich Inlet and To 

Use the Material To Nourish Figure 

Eight Island, North of Wilmington, New 

Hanover County, NC 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of intent. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (COE), Wilmington District, 

Wilmington Regulatory Field Office has 

received a request for Department of the 

Army authorization, pursuant to Section 

404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 

10 of the Rivers and Harbor Act, from 

Figure ‘‘8’’ Beach Homeowners 

Association to develop a management 

plan for Rich Inlet that would mitigate 

chronic erosion on the northern portion 

of Figure Eight Island so as to preserve 

the integrity of its infrastructure, 

provide protection to existing 

development, and ensure the continued 

use of the oceanfront beach along the 

northernmost three miles of its 

oceanfront shoreline. Figure Eight 

Island is an unincorporated privately 

developed island located on the 

southeast coast of North Carolina, 

approximately eight miles north of 

Wilmington. The island is bordered to 

the south by Mason Inlet and 

Wrightsville Beach; and to the north by 

Rich Inlet and Lea-Hutaff Island, an 

undeveloped, privately-owned island. 

The inlet management plan would 

involve the repositioning and 

realignment of the main ebb channel of 

Rich Inlet to a location closer to the 

north end of Figure Eight Island. The 

intended alignment is to be essentially 

perpendicular to the oceanfront 

shorelines of the adjacent islands. The 

new channel position would be 

periodically maintained with 

maintenance episodes dictated by 

natural shifts in the channel position 

that produce unfavorable shoreline 

responses on the north end of Figure 

Eight Island. While the main focus of 

the project is to relocate the main ebb 

bar channel, consideration will also be 

given to possible alterations in Nixon 

Channel and Green Channel to 

determine if such modification would 

enhance the stability of the new 

channel. Nixon Channel meanders along 

a southwesterly path on the landward 


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8360 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 37 / Monday, February 26, 2007 / Notices 

side of the north end of Figure Eight 

Island; connecting to the Atlantic 

Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) at a 

point approximately two miles west of 

the Rich Inlet throat. Green Channel 

meanders to the northeast on the 

landward side of Lea-Hutaff Island and 

intersects with the AIWW 

approximately 1.75 miles north of the 

Rich Inlet throat. 

Material dredged from the inlet and 

channels will be placed along the 

central and northern portions of Figure 

Eight Island and, if needed, along 

portions of Lea-Hutaff Island. The 

objective of the placement of beach fill 

along the Figure Eight Island’s shoreline 

is to keep the design fill density less 

than 50 cubic yards/foot, to avoid the 

placement of a permanent static 

vegetation line. This beach fill would be 

maintained through a program of 

periodic beach nourishment events with 

the material extracted from the dredging 

of Rich Inlet to maintain the inlet in an 

optimum location. 

DATES: A public scoping meeting for the 

Draft EIS will be held at Eaton 

Elementary School, located at 6701 

Gordon Road, on March 1, 2007 at 6 

p.m. Written comments will be received 

until March 29, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Copies of comments and 

questions regarding scoping for the Draft 

EIS may be addressed to: U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, 

Regulatory Division. ATTN: File 

Number 2006–41158–067, Post Office 

Box 1890, Wilmington, NC 28402–1890. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Questions about the proposed action 

and DEIS can be directed to Mr. Mickey 

Sugg, Wilmington Regulatory Field 

Office, telephone: (910) 251–4811. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Project Description. The Figure 

Eight Beach Homeowners Association 

proposes to develop an inlet 

management plan for Rich Inlet that will 

produce semi-permanent positive 

shoreline impacts on the extreme north 

end of Figure Eight Island. Through a 

variety of investigations, it has been 

determined that chronic erosion 

problems along the northern sections of 

Figure Eight Island have been directly 

linked to changes in the orientation and 

position of the main ebb channel 

through Rich Inlet. When the main ebb 

channel of the inlet is oriented toward 

the southeast or in the direction of 

Figure Eight Island, and positioned 

close to the north end of the island, the 

shoreline immediately south of the inlet 

tends to accrete. The accretion is 

associated with the wave sheltering 

(‘‘breakwater effect’’) provided by the 

south side of the ebb tide delta which 

also moves with the channel. During 

periods in which the main bar channel 

migrates to the north toward Lea-Hutaff 

Island and is oriented in a southeasterly 

direction, the north end of Figure Eight 

Island erodes. The northward movement 

of the main ebb channel is accompanied 

by the northward shift of the south side 

of the ebb tide delta away from the 

north end of Figure Eight Island, thus 

removing the ‘‘breakwater effect’’

afforded by the south side of the ebb 

tide delta. 

A geomorphic analysis of Rich Inlet 

will be performed utilizing historical 

aerial photographs of Rich Inlet and the 

adjacent shorelines. The geomorphic 

analysis will be used to develop 

alternative channel positions and 

alignments that will assist in 

determining the desired changes on the 

north end of Figure Eight Island. The 

analysis will also assist in identifying 

any positive and/or negative impacts 

associated with Lea-Hutaff Island. The 

position and alignment of the main ebb 

channel design and design alternatives 

will be evaluated to determine the 

potential effects on the adjacent 

shorelines and natural resources located 

within the study area. 

2. Proposed Action. The scope of 

activities for the formulation of the 

management plan for Rich Inlet will 

include the following engineering and 

geological investigations: (1) Detailed 

geomorphic studies of the inlet and its 

impacts on the shorelines of Figure 

Eight Island and Lea-Hataff Island; (2) 

numerical model simulations of various 

channel alternatives including possible 

modifications of Nixon and Green 

channels; (3) geotechnical investigations 

to determine sediment quality in the 

inlet and connecting channels; (4) 

compatibility analysis of the inlet 

material with the native beach material; 

and (5) and analysis of the physical 

impacts of the project on the inlet 

complex (including the adjacent 

marshes and connecting channels) and 

on Figure Eight Island and Lea-Hutaff 

Island. 

The Figure Eight Island beach fill 

design will consist of the disposal 

material from Rich Inlet channel along 

the island shoreline in a general 

template of a horizontal berm 

constructed to an elevation of +6.0 feet 

NAVD (National Geodetic Vertical 

Datum) with a 1V:15H seaward slope. 

The width of the berm, which would 

begin near the seaward toe of the 

existing dune system, will depend on 

the volume of material removed from 

Rich Inlet to construct the new channel 

and the slope the material assumed 

during placement. Another design 

objective is to keep the design fill 

density less than 50 cubic yards/foot, to 

avoid the placement of a permanent 

static vegetation line. The volume of 

material that would be removed to 

construct the new channel will depend 

on the final design of the channel but 

could range between 500,000 cubic 

yards and 2,000,000 cubic yards. Some 

of the channel material may be used to 

construct or maintain the dune system 

on portions of Figure Eight Island. 

Existing profiles will be analyzed to 

identify the range of natural beach and 

dune elevations, widths, and slopes. 

The beach fill design will include beach 

fill construction templates and 

equilibrium cross-sections to estimate 

the seaward limit of cross-shore 

spreading over the project life and the 

reduction in beach width due to 

changes in profile shape following 

construction. 

Beach planform performance will be 

evaluated based on the numerical 

modeling for the proposed projects. The 

numerical model evaluation of various 

channel alternatives will employ a 

process-based numerical model known 

as Delft3D developed by WL Delft 

Hydraulics (WL Delft Hydraulics, 2005). 

Delft3D is an advanced 2D/3D 

hydrodynamic model that can simulate 

water level changes, currents, wave 

transformation, sediment transport, and 

bathymetric (morphological) changes in 

coastal environments. The model 

evaluations will consider short-term 

changes (i.e., tidal cycles and storms) to 

the inlet’s flow pattern and morphology; 

as well as long-term (one to five years) 

changes in flow patterns and inlet 

morphology associated with various 

inlet channel alternatives. The model 

simulations will also be used to evaluate 

the importance of modifications of 

Nixon and/or Green Channels on the 

overall stability and associated impacts 

of the new channel. 

Comprehensive geotechnical 

investigations of the Rich Inlet system 

including the inlet throat, flood tidal 

delta, ebb tidal delta, and feeder 

channels Nixon and Green Channel will 

be used to identify and map sand 

quality and quantity to be placed on the 

shoreline of Figure Eight Island or 

elsewhere as the study dictates. The 

proposed sand search will be completed 

in two phases: (1) Research and 

planning, and (2) jet probes and 

vibrance collection and analysis. Sand 

resources in the study area will be 

evaluated for compatibility with native 

beach sand. This evaluation is necessary 

to determine the potential performance 

of sand on the beach since the 

performance is highly dependent on 

similar sediment characteristics 

including mean grain size, sorting, and 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 37 / Monday, February 26, 2007 / Notices 8361 

composition of borrow sands and native 

sands. 

The research and planning phase 

includes a comprehensive analysis of 

historical geophysical data, 

hydrographic survey data, and aerial 

photographs of the inlet to determine 

potential channel shall lag deposit sites 

and historic preferred channel 

alignment. The jet probe survey will 

provide preliminary qualitative 

information of the sediment contained 

in the feeder channels and the ebb tide 

delta of Rich inlet. Areas suspected of 

containing the best quality and quantity 

of sand resources within the preferred 

channel realignment corridor will be 

targeted for vibracore investigation. 

A magnetometer survey was 

performed on September 3, 2006 on the 

wreck site of the Wild Dayrell. The Wild 

Dayrell is a side-wheel steamer which 

ran aground near in the Rich Inlet 

complex on February 3, 1864. The 

location of the Wild Dayrell and its 

debris field will play a major role in 

options associated with the location of 

the new inlet channel. In addition, a 

cultural resource study of the final 

borrow area and channel design will be 

performed using a magnetometer survey 

controlled by differential global 

positioning. Cartographic and historical 

research will be conducted to collect 

available historical data. 

Natural resource studies and 

investigations which may be conducted 

in support of the plan formulation might 

include: (1) Identification and biological 

characterization of estuarine habitat 

types (salt march, shelfish, submerged 

aquatic vegetation) in a defined project 

area using aerial mapping and/or 

groundtruth investigations; (2) preproject monitoring of threatened and 

endangered species and their associated 

habitats as determined through 

coordination with project stakeholders; 

and (3) development and/or 

implementation of project monitoring 

and mitigation plans based on the 

project impact assessment. 

3. Issues. There are several potential 

environmental issues that will be 

addressed in the EIS. Additional issues 

may be identified during the scoping 

process. Issues initially identified as 

potentially significant include: 

a. Potential impacts to marine 

biological resources (benthic organisms, 

passageway for fish and other marine 

life) and Essential Fish Habitat, 

particularly within Green Channel. 

b. Potential impacts to threatened and 

endangered marine mammals, birds, 

fish, and plants. 

c. Potential impacts to water quality. 

d. Potential increase in erosion rates 

to adjacent Lea-Hutaff. 

e. Potential impacts to Navigation, 

commercial and recreational. 

f. Potential impacts to the long-termmanagement of Rich Inlet. 

g. Potential impacts to private and 

public property. 

h. Cumulative impacts of Inlet and 

Inlet channel relocations throughout 

North Carolina. 

i. Cumulative impacts for using inlets 

as sand source in nourishment projects. 

j. Potential impacts on public health 

and safety. 

k. Potential impacts to recreational 

and commercial fishing. 

l. The compatibility of the material for 

nourishment. 

m. Potential impacts to cultural 

resources, particularly the Wild Dayrell 

shipwreck. 

4. Alternatives. Several alternatives 

are being considered for the proposed 

project. These alternatives will be 

further formulated and developed 

during the scoping process, and an 

appropriate range of alternatives, 

including the no federal action 

alternative, will be considered in the 

EIS. 

5. Scoping Process. A public scoping 

meeting (see DATES) will be held to 

receive public comment and assess 

public concerns regarding the 

appropriate scope and preparation of 

the Draft EIS. Participation in the public 

meeting by federal, state, and local 

agencies and other interested 

organizations and persons is 

encouraged. 

The COE will also be consulting with 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under 

the Endangered Species Act and the 

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; 

with the National Marine Fisheries 

Service under the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act and Endangered Species Act; and 

with the North Carolina State Historic 

Preservation Office under the National 

Historic Preservation Act. Additionally, 

the EIS will assess the potential water 

quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 

of the Clean Water Act, and will be 

coordinated with the North Carolina 

Division of Coastal Management (DCM) 

to determine the project’s consistency 

with the Coastal Zone Management Act. 

The COE will closely work with DCM 

through the EIS to ensure the process 

complies with all State Environmental 

Policy Act (SEPA) requirements. It is the 

COE and DCM’s intentions to 

consolidate both NEPA and SEPA 

processes to eliminate duplications. 

6. Availability of the Draft EIS. The 

Draft EIS is expected to be published 

and circulated sometime in 2008, and a 

public hearing will be held after the 

publication of the Draft EIS. 

Dated: February 12, 2007. 

John E. Pulliam, Jr., 

Colonel, U.S. Army District Commander. 

[FR Doc. 07–848 Filed 2–23–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–GN–M 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army; Corps of 

Engineers 

Intent To Prepare Supplement III to the 

Final Environmental Impact Statement, 

New Orleans to Venice, LA, Hurricane 

Protection Project: Incorporation of 

Non-Federal Levees From Oakville to 

St. Jude, Plaquemines Parish, LA 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army of Corps of 

Engineers, New Orleans District, is 

initiating this study under the authority 

of Public Law 109–234, Title II, Chapter 

3, Flood Control and Coastal 

Emergencies, page 38 (120 STAT.454–

455), hereinafter ‘‘4th Supplemental’’, 

provides: ‘‘For an additional amount for 

‘Flood Control and Coastal 

Emergencies’, as authorized by section 5 

of the Act of August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. 

701n), for necessary expenses relating to 

the consequences of Hurricane Katrina 

and other hurricanes, $3,145,024,000, to 

remain available until expended: 

Provided, that the Secretary of the Army 

is directed to use the funds appropriated 

under this heading to modify, at full 

Federal expense, authorized projects in 

southeast Louisiana to provide 

hurricane and storm damage reduction 

and flood damage reduction in the 

greater New Orleans and surrounding 

areas; * * * $215,000,000 shall be used 

to replace or modify certain non-Federal 

levees in Plaquemines Parish to 

incorporate the levees into the existing 

New Orleans to Venice hurricane 

protection project; * * *.’’

The Flood Control and Coastal 

Emergencies Section of Title II, Chapter 

3 of the Joint Explanatory Statement of 

the Committee of Conference, page 115, 

states: ‘‘Funds totaling $3,145,024,000 

are recommended to continue repairs to 

flood and storm damage reduction 

projects. These projects are to be funded 

at full Federal expense. * * * 

Additionally, the Conferees include: 

* * * $215,000,000 for incorporation of 

non-Federal levees on the west bank of 

the Mississippi River in Plaquemines 

Parish in order to provide improved 

storm surge protection and to protect 

evaucations routes; * * *’’


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