Draft Integrated Interim Report and Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Restoration of Assateague Island, as Part of the Ocean City, Maryland, and Vicinity Water Resources Study.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Corps of Engineers

Draft Integrated Interim Report and Environmental Impact

Statement (DEIS) for the Restoration of Assateague Island, as Part of

the Ocean City, Maryland, and Vicinity Water Resources Study.

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Baltimore District Corps of Engineers, Maryland Department

of Natural Resources, the National Park Service (Assateague Island

National Seashore), Worcester County, and the Town of Ocean City,

sponsors of the project, propose the implementation of a short-term

plan to restore the sediment-starved barrier island of Assateague. This

sediment starvation has been directly caused by the construction of the

jetties at the inlet located north of Assateague Island at Ocean City,

Maryland. The short-term plan involves placing approximately 1.4

million cubic meters (1.8 million cubic yards) of sand on Assateague

Island. The borrow area to be used for the project is Great Gull Bank,

an offshore shoal, and possibly a small portion of the ebb shoal at the

mouth of the inlet. The area of Assateague Island to be renourished in

between 2.5 km (1.6 miles) and 11.3 km (7 miles) south of the inlet. A

low berm will be constructed to an elevation of 3.3 m (10.8 feet) NGVD

(averaging 0.8 m in height) in the portion of the beach between 2.5 km

and 10 km (1.6 miles and 6.2 miles) south of the inlet. The placement

will be configured such that the impacts to Piping Plovers, a

threatened species, is minimal, and the integrity of the island is

restored. A plan for a long-term project is being developed to manage

the sand flow in and around the inlet. One of the project's purposes

will be to supply to Assateague Island an amount of sand that would

naturally be transported, should the jetties and inlet not exist. This

plan will be documented in a second report and EIS.

[[Page 26784]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the Integrated Interim

Report and DEIS, or for additional information, please contact Ms.

Stacey Underwood at (410) 962-4977 or Ms. Carol Anderson-Austra at

(410) 962-2910, or write to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore

District (Attn: Ms. Stacey Underwood, CENAB-PL-P) P.O. Box 1715,

Baltimore, MD 21203-1715, or send an e-mail message to:

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The decision to implement this action is

being based on an evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed

activities on the public interest. The decision will reflect the

national concern for both protection and utilization of important

resources. The benefits that reasonably may be expected to accrue from

the proposed project are being balanced against its reasonably

foreseeable detriments. All factors that may be relevant to the

proposal, including the cumulative effects thereof, are being

considered; among these factors are economics, aesthetics, general

environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, flood hazards, fish

and wildlife values, flood plain values, land use, recreation, water

supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and

fiber production, and the general needs and welfare of the people.

The DEIS describes the impacts of the proposed project on

environmental and cultural resources in the study area. The DEIS also

applies guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, under

authority of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-217). An evaluation

of the proposed actions on the waters of the United States was

performed pursuant to the guidelines of the Administrator, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of Section 404 of the

Clean Water Act. The proposed dredging, construction, and placement of

dredged material is in compliance with Section 404(b)(1) guidelines.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the

Clean Water Act, the Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the

public and from Federal, state, and local agencies and officials, as

well as other interested parties. Any comments received will be

considered by the Corps of Engineers in the decision to implement the

project. To make this decision, comments are considered to assess

impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality,

general environmental effects, and other public interest factors listed

above. Comments regarding the proposed project will be incorporated

into the Final Environmental Impact Statement as required by NEPA.

Public comments will also be used to determine the overall public

interest.

The public review and comment period for the draft feasibility

study and DEIS will be for 45 days, from May 16, 1997, to June 30,

1997.

This Notice of Availability is being sent to organizations and

individuals known to have an interest in the proposed restoration.

Please bring this notice to the attention of any other individuals with

an interest in this matter. Copies of the Draft Report and EIS are

available for review at the following locations:

Eastern Shore Area Library, 122 So. Division St., Salisbury, MD

Worcester County Library, Snow Hill Branch, 207 No. Washington St.,

Snow Hill, MD

Eastern Shore Public Library, 23610 Front St., Accomac, VA Worcester

County Library, Ocean City Branch, 14th St. and Coastal Highway, Ocean

City, MD

Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD Assateague

Island National Seashore, Route 611, 7206 National Seashore Lane,

Berlin, MD.

Scoping: A public scoping meeting will be held to give individuals

and groups the opportunity to comment, orally and/or in writing, on the

environmental, social, and economic impacts of the proposed action

(recommended plan) as presented in the DEIS. The DEIS findings will be

reviewed at the public meeting, and comments regarding the proposed

project will be incorporated into the Final Environmental Impact

Statement as required by NEPA.

The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 1997, at 6:30

p.m. at the Ocean City Elementary School. Written comments received by

June 30, 1997 will be incorporated into the Final EIS.

Dr. James F. Johnson,

Chief, Planning Division.

[FR Doc. 97-12723 Filed 5-14-97; 8:45 am]

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