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

some water intakes and boat ramps may process, comments are used to assess DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE need to be extended for safe operation. impacts on public health and safety, 3. Though not expected, the Corps endangered species, historic properties, Department of the Army; Corps of recognizes that if seepage conditions water quality, water supply and Engineers worsen, or new information determines conservation, economics, aesthetics, Intent To Prepare a Draft that the lake elevations should be wetlands, flood hazards, floodplain significantly changed to ensure the Environmental Impact Statement values, land use, navigation, shore (DEIS) for the Development of an Inlet public’s health, safety, and welfare; then erosion and accretion, recreation, energy the following resources could be Management Plan That Includes the needs, food and fiber production, significantly impacted: Repositioning and Realignment of the (1) The cold-water fisheries both in mineral needs, considerations of Main Ebb Channel of Rich Inlet and To the lake and tailwater; property ownership, general Use the Material To Nourish Figure (2) Water quality throughout the environmental effects, and in general, Eight Island, North of Wilmington, New Caney Fork River and downstream in the needs and welfare of the people. Hanover County, NC the Cumberland River; 7. Activities proposed that may AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. (3) Federally listed threatened and require a review under the guidelines Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. endangered species; promulgated by the Administrator, (4) Designated uses of the waterway Environmental Protection Agency ACTION: Notice of intent. including fish and aquatic life, livestock (EPA), under authority of Section SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of watering and wildlife, irrigation; 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act (40 (5) And economics including electric Engineers (COE), Wilmington District, CFR part 230) include fill placement for power production, municipal and Wilmington Regulatory Field Office has water intake extensions, boat ramp industrial water supply, recreation, received a request for Department of the navigation, flood damage reduction, and extensions, and other mitigation actions. Army authorization, pursuant to Section disruption to communities, jobs, and 8. Other Federal, State, and local 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section other related factors. approvals that may be required for 10 of the Rivers and Harbor Act, from 4. Current Actions to Reduce Risk. proposed work are as follows: Figure ‘‘8’’ Beach Homeowners Association to develop a management Several actions have already been taken a. Section 401 water quality plan for Rich Inlet that would mitigate to reduce the risk. Prior to 2005, spring certification from the Tennessee rains were captured in the reservoir to chronic erosion on the northern portion Department of Environment and of Figure Eight Island so as to preserve maximize downstream flood protection Conservation. and hydropower generation. Beginning the integrity of its infrastructure, in March 2005, the pool was managed b. Coordination with the U.S. Fish provide protection to existing more aggressively to reduce inflow and Wildlife Service for the Endangered development, and ensure the continued peaks and adhere more closely to the Species Act and Fish and Wildlife use of the oceanfront beach along the prescribed guide curves. In 2006, Coordination Act. northernmost three miles of its continuous surveillance was initiated at c. Coordination with the Tennessee oceanfront shoreline. Figure Eight the dam. This involves providing Wildlife Resources Agency. Island is an unincorporated privately patrols to monitor the dam, known developed island located on the d. Coordination with the State seepage and trouble spots, and southeast coast of North Carolina, downstream areas. Currently, the Corps Historic Preservation Officer and approximately eight miles north of is conducting exploratory drilling to President’s Advisory Council on Wilmington. The island is bordered to assess the limestone rock condition and Historic Preservation. the south by Mason Inlet and key access points for future grouting 9. Significant issues to be analyzed in Wrightsville Beach; and to the north by activities. Additional coordination and the DEIS include impacts to fisheries, Rich Inlet and Lea-Hutaff Island, an exercises have been held with state and tailwater mussel resources, water undeveloped, privately-owned island. local emergency management agencies. quality, flood control, recreation, The inlet management plan would These agencies will be provided flood navigation, water supply, electric power involve the repositioning and inundation maps to help coordinate production, economics, and community realignment of the main ebb channel of emergency evacuation planning. The development. The U.S. Fish and Rich Inlet to a location closer to the Corps has improved its emergency Wildlife Service has agreed to be a north end of Figure Eight Island. The notification procedures, increased Cooperating Agency on the DEIS. A intended alignment is to be essentially instrumentation in, on, and around the DEIS should be available in June 2007. perpendicular to the oceanfront dam, and conducted numerous public shorelines of the adjacent islands. The 10. Public Meetings: At present, no meetings to advise the public of new channel position would be problems with the dam. public meetings have been scheduled to periodically maintained with 5. A DEIS will be undertaken to scope for potential issues to be maintenance episodes dictated by review current actions taken and to evaluated in the DEIS. Requests for natural shifts in the channel position consider other possible alternatives to public meetings should be directed to that produce unfavorable shoreline reduce stress on the dam. Mr. William Peoples, Chief, Public responses on the north end of Figure 6. This notice serves to solicit Affairs Office, U.S. Army Corps of Eight Island. While the main focus of comments from the public; Federal, Engineers, Nashville District, Nashville, the project is to relocate the main ebb State and local agencies and officials; TN, 37202–1070. Mr. Peoples may be bar channel, consideration will also be Indian Tribes; and other interested reached by telephone at (615) 736–7834. given to possible alterations in Nixon parties in order to consider and evaluate Channel and Green Channel to impacts of these proposed activities. Brenda S. Bowen, determine if such modification would Any comments received by the agency Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. enhance the stability of the new will be considered in determining future [FR Doc. 07–853 Filed 2–23–07; 8:45 am] channel. Nixon Channel meanders along operations. In the decision-making BILLING CODE 3710–GF–M a southwesterly path on the landward

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side of the north end of Figure Eight also moves with the channel. During density less than 50 cubic yards/foot, to Island; connecting to the Atlantic periods in which the main bar channel avoid the placement of a permanent Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) at a migrates to the north toward Lea-Hutaff static vegetation line. The volume of point approximately two miles west of Island and is oriented in a southeasterly material that would be removed to the Rich Inlet throat. Green Channel direction, the north end of Figure Eight construct the new channel will depend meanders to the northeast on the Island erodes. The northward movement on the final design of the channel but landward side of Lea-Hutaff Island and of the main ebb channel is accompanied could range between 500,000 cubic intersects with the AIWW by the northward shift of the south side yards and 2,000,000 cubic yards. Some approximately 1.75 miles north of the of the ebb tide delta away from the of the channel material may be used to Rich Inlet throat. north end of Figure Eight Island, thus construct or maintain the dune system Material dredged from the inlet and removing the ‘‘breakwater effect’’ on portions of Figure Eight Island. channels will be placed along the afforded by the south side of the ebb Existing profiles will be analyzed to central and northern portions of Figure tide delta. identify the range of natural beach and Eight Island and, if needed, along A geomorphic analysis of Rich Inlet dune elevations, widths, and slopes. portions of Lea-Hutaff Island. The will be performed utilizing historical The beach fill design will include beach objective of the placement of beach fill aerial photographs of Rich Inlet and the fill construction templates and along the Figure Eight Island’s shoreline adjacent shorelines. The geomorphic equilibrium cross-sections to estimate is to keep the design fill density less analysis will be used to develop the seaward limit of cross-shore than 50 cubic yards/foot, to avoid the alternative channel positions and spreading over the project life and the placement of a permanent static alignments that will assist in reduction in beach width due to vegetation line. This beach fill would be determining the desired changes on the changes in profile shape following maintained through a program of north end of Figure Eight Island. The construction. periodic beach nourishment events with analysis will also assist in identifying Beach planform performance will be the material extracted from the dredging any positive and/or negative impacts evaluated based on the numerical of Rich Inlet to maintain the inlet in an associated with Lea-Hutaff Island. The modeling for the proposed projects. The optimum location. position and alignment of the main ebb numerical model evaluation of various DATES: A public scoping meeting for the channel design and design alternatives channel alternatives will employ a Draft EIS will be held at Eaton will be evaluated to determine the process-based numerical model known Elementary School, located at 6701 potential effects on the adjacent as Delft3D developed by WL Delft Gordon Road, on March 1, 2007 at 6 shorelines and natural resources located Hydraulics (WL Delft Hydraulics, 2005). p.m. Written comments will be received within the study area. Delft3D is an advanced 2D/3D until March 29, 2007. 2. Proposed Action. The scope of hydrodynamic model that can simulate activities for the formulation of the water level changes, currents, wave ADDRESSES: Copies of comments and management plan for Rich Inlet will questions regarding scoping for the Draft transformation, sediment transport, and include the following engineering and bathymetric (morphological) changes in EIS may be addressed to: U.S. Army geological investigations: (1) Detailed coastal environments. The model Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, geomorphic studies of the inlet and its evaluations will consider short-term Regulatory Division. ATTN: File impacts on the shorelines of Figure changes (i.e., tidal cycles and storms) to Number 2006–41158–067, Post Office Eight Island and Lea-Hataff Island; (2) the inlet’s flow pattern and morphology; Box 1890, Wilmington, NC 28402–1890. numerical model simulations of various as well as long-term (one to five years) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: channel alternatives including possible changes in flow patterns and inlet Questions about the proposed action modifications of Nixon and Green morphology associated with various and DEIS can be directed to Mr. Mickey channels; (3) geotechnical investigations inlet channel alternatives. The model Sugg, Wilmington Regulatory Field to determine sediment quality in the simulations will also be used to evaluate Office, telephone: (910) 251–4811. inlet and connecting channels; (4) the importance of modifications of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: compatibility analysis of the inlet Nixon and/or Green Channels on the 1. Project Description. The Figure material with the native beach material; overall stability and associated impacts Eight Beach Homeowners Association and (5) and analysis of the physical of the new channel. proposes to develop an inlet impacts of the project on the inlet Comprehensive geotechnical management plan for Rich Inlet that will complex (including the adjacent investigations of the Rich Inlet system produce semi-permanent positive marshes and connecting channels) and including the inlet throat, flood tidal shoreline impacts on the extreme north on Figure Eight Island and Lea-Hutaff delta, ebb tidal delta, and feeder end of Figure Eight Island. Through a Island. channels Nixon and Green Channel will variety of investigations, it has been The Figure Eight Island beach fill be used to identify and map sand determined that chronic erosion design will consist of the disposal quality and quantity to be placed on the problems along the northern sections of material from Rich Inlet channel along shoreline of Figure Eight Island or Figure Eight Island have been directly the island shoreline in a general elsewhere as the study dictates. The linked to changes in the orientation and template of a horizontal berm proposed sand search will be completed position of the main ebb channel constructed to an elevation of +6.0 feet in two phases: (1) Research and through Rich Inlet. When the main ebb NAVD (National Geodetic Vertical planning, and (2) jet probes and channel of the inlet is oriented toward Datum) with a 1V:15H seaward slope. vibrance collection and analysis. Sand the southeast or in the direction of The width of the berm, which would resources in the study area will be Figure Eight Island, and positioned begin near the seaward toe of the evaluated for compatibility with native close to the north end of the island, the existing dune system, will depend on beach sand. This evaluation is necessary shoreline immediately south of the inlet the volume of material removed from to determine the potential performance tends to accrete. The accretion is Rich Inlet to construct the new channel of sand on the beach since the associated with the wave sheltering and the slope the material assumed performance is highly dependent on (‘‘breakwater effect’’) provided by the during placement. Another design similar sediment characteristics south side of the ebb tide delta which objective is to keep the design fill including mean grain size, sorting, and

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composition of borrow sands and native e. Potential impacts to Navigation, Dated: February 12, 2007. sands. commercial and recreational. John E. Pulliam, Jr., The research and planning phase f. Potential impacts to the long-term- Colonel, U.S. Army District Commander. includes a comprehensive analysis of management of Rich Inlet. [FR Doc. 07–848 Filed 2–23–07; 8:45 am] historical geophysical data, g. Potential impacts to private and BILLING CODE 3710–GN–M hydrographic survey data, and aerial public property. photographs of the inlet to determine h. Cumulative impacts of Inlet and potential channel shall lag deposit sites Inlet channel relocations throughout DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE and historic preferred channel North Carolina. alignment. The jet probe survey will i. Cumulative impacts for using inlets Department of the Army; Corps of provide preliminary qualitative as sand source in nourishment projects. Engineers information of the sediment contained j. Potential impacts on public health in the feeder channels and the ebb tide and safety. Intent To Prepare Supplement III to the delta of Rich inlet. Areas suspected of k. Potential impacts to recreational Final Environmental Impact Statement, containing the best quality and quantity and commercial fishing. New Orleans to Venice, LA, Hurricane of sand resources within the preferred l. The compatibility of the material for Protection Project: Incorporation of channel realignment corridor will be nourishment. Non-Federal Levees From Oakville to St. Jude, Plaquemines Parish, LA targeted for vibracore investigation. m. Potential impacts to cultural A magnetometer survey was resources, particularly the Wild Dayrell performed on September 3, 2006 on the AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. shipwreck. wreck site of the Wild Dayrell. The Wild Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 4. Alternatives. Several alternatives Dayrell is a side-wheel steamer which are being considered for the proposed ACTION: Notice of Intent. ran aground near in the Rich Inlet project. These alternatives will be complex on February 3, 1864. The further formulated and developed SUMMARY: The U.S. Army of Corps of location of the Wild Dayrell and its during the scoping process, and an Engineers, New Orleans District, is debris field will play a major role in appropriate range of alternatives, initiating this study under the authority options associated with the location of including the no federal action of Public Law 109–234, Title II, Chapter the new inlet channel. In addition, a alternative, will be considered in the 3, Flood Control and Coastal cultural resource study of the final EIS. Emergencies, page 38 (120 STAT.454– borrow area and channel design will be 5. Scoping Process. A public scoping 455), hereinafter ‘‘4th Supplemental’’, performed using a magnetometer survey meeting (see DATES) will be held to provides: ‘‘For an additional amount for controlled by differential global receive public comment and assess ‘Flood Control and Coastal positioning. Cartographic and historical public concerns regarding the Emergencies’, as authorized by section 5 research will be conducted to collect appropriate scope and preparation of of the Act of August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. available historical data. the Draft EIS. Participation in the public 701n), for necessary expenses relating to Natural resource studies and the consequences of Hurricane Katrina investigations which may be conducted meeting by federal, state, and local agencies and other interested and other hurricanes, $3,145,024,000, to in support of the plan formulation might remain available until expended: include: (1) Identification and biological organizations and persons is encouraged. Provided, that the Secretary of the Army characterization of estuarine habitat is directed to use the funds appropriated types (salt march, shelfish, submerged The COE will also be consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under under this heading to modify, at full aquatic vegetation) in a defined project Federal expense, authorized projects in area using aerial mapping and/or the Endangered Species Act and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act; southeast Louisiana to provide groundtruth investigations; (2) pre- hurricane and storm damage reduction project monitoring of threatened and with the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Magnuson-Stevens and flood damage reduction in the endangered species and their associated greater New Orleans and surrounding habitats as determined through Act and Endangered Species Act; and with the North Carolina State Historic areas; * * * $215,000,000 shall be used coordination with project stakeholders; to replace or modify certain non-Federal and (3) development and/or Preservation Office under the National Historic Preservation Act. Additionally, levees in Plaquemines Parish to implementation of project monitoring incorporate the levees into the existing and mitigation plans based on the the EIS will assess the potential water quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 New Orleans to Venice hurricane project impact assessment. protection project; * * *.’’ 3. Issues. There are several potential of the Clean Water Act, and will be environmental issues that will be coordinated with the North Carolina The Flood Control and Coastal addressed in the EIS. Additional issues Division of Coastal Management (DCM) Emergencies Section of Title II, Chapter may be identified during the scoping to determine the project’s consistency 3 of the Joint Explanatory Statement of process. Issues initially identified as with the Coastal Zone Management Act. the Committee of Conference, page 115, potentially significant include: The COE will closely work with DCM states: ‘‘Funds totaling $3,145,024,000 a. Potential impacts to marine through the EIS to ensure the process are recommended to continue repairs to biological resources (benthic organisms, complies with all State Environmental flood and storm damage reduction passageway for fish and other marine Policy Act (SEPA) requirements. It is the projects. These projects are to be funded life) and Essential Fish Habitat, COE and DCM’s intentions to at full Federal expense. * * * particularly within Green Channel. consolidate both NEPA and SEPA Additionally, the Conferees include: b. Potential impacts to threatened and processes to eliminate duplications. * * * $215,000,000 for incorporation of endangered marine mammals, birds, 6. Availability of the Draft EIS. The non-Federal levees on the west bank of fish, and plants. Draft EIS is expected to be published the Mississippi River in Plaquemines c. Potential impacts to water quality. and circulated sometime in 2008, and a Parish in order to provide improved d. Potential increase in erosion rates public hearing will be held after the storm surge protection and to protect to adjacent Lea-Hutaff. publication of the Draft EIS. evaucations routes; * * *’’

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