[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 42 (Friday, March 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 13055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5116]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for an Expansion of the Existing Craney Island Dredged Material 
Management Area in Hampton Roads, Virginia

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: An Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared to evaluate 
environmental impacts, project alternatives, and other public interest 
review factors for proposed expansion of the Craney Island Dredged 
Material Management Area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and the DEIS may be directed to: Craig L. Seltzer, U.S. Army Engineer 
District (USAED), Norfolk, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-
1096, (757) 441-7390.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Proposed Action: The Corps of Engineers, along with the 
Commonwealth of Virginia through the Virginia Port Authority, is 
preparing a comprehensive feasibility investigation report and 
Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate project impacts, and the 
need for and interest in an expansion of the Craney Island Dredged 
Material Management Area (CIDMMA) located in Hampton Roads, Virginia. 
The proposed expansion would provide dredged material placement 
capacity and port facilities to support port commerce in Hampton Roads. 
This activity will require a State permit pursuant to Section 401 of 
the Clean Water Act (Public Law 95-217). A Section 404(b)(1) analysis 
will be completed and presented in the NEPA document.
    2. Alternatives: Alternatives to be investigated include, but will 
not be limited to various expansion configurations of the existing 
CIDDMA facility, ocean disposal of dredged material, island 
construction, overboard placement in Chesapeake Bay, other alternative 
upland sites, and the ``No Action'' alternative. Alternative 
construction and access methods which avoid or minimize wetland impacts 
will be investigated.
    3. Scoping Process: A NEPA Technical Review Committee has been 
formed and one meeting has been conducted with Federal, state, local 
agency and private interest group representatives. Alternatives have 
been discussed and continue to be developed by this group. The public 
scoping process may add to or subtract from the list of alternatives 
that have been discussed.
    4. Public Scoping Meeting: Because a number of pre-scoping meetings 
will be held with the Federal, state, and local representatives, no 
additional scoping meetings are anticipated at this time. Since there 
has been no opportunity for public input to this point, a public notice 
and the pertinent maps will be sent to the adjacent property owners, 
newspapers having circulation in the area, and individuals and 
organizations having previously asked to receive copies of Corps public 
notices. Written comments on the scope of the DEIS will be accepted 
from any interested agency, organization, or individual.
    5. DEIS Availability: It is estimated that the DEIS will be 
available to the public for review and comment in the fall of 2001.

Allan B. Carroll,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 01-5116 Filed 3-1-01; 8:45 am]
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