Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Construction of a Containerized Cargo and Cruise Ship Terminal, Along Port Road, East of Old Highway 146, in the Extra-territorial Jurisdiction of the City of Pasadena and the City of Seabrook, Harris County, Texas

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army

Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

for Construction of a Containerized Cargo and Cruise Ship Terminal,

Along Port Road, East of Old Highway 146, in the Extra-territorial

Jurisdiction of the City of Pasadena and the City of Seabrook, Harris

County, Texas

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

ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent: Date and Location Change for Public

Scoping Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District intends

to prepare a DEIS to access the social, economic and environmental

effects of the proposed multi-year phased construction of a container

terminal and cruise ship facility. The DEIS will assess potential

impacts on a range of alternatives, including the preferred

alternative.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or

questions about the proposed action and DEIS, please contact Mr. Mark

King, Project Manager, by letter at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O.

Box 1229, Galveston, Texas 77550, by telephone at (409) 766-3991, or by

electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Galveston District intends to prepare a

DEIS on the proposed container cargo and cruise ship terminal which

would be located along Port Road, east of Old Highway 146, in the

Extra-territorial Jurisdiction of the City of Pasadena and the City of

Seabrook, Harris County, Texas. The Port of Houston Authority (PHA)

proposes this project.

1. Description of the Proposed Project

The PHA proposes to construct containerized cargo loading areas,

roadways, rail lines, an intermodal transit yard, and associated

warehouses, administration, and operations buildings. It is the PHA's

projection that initial construction would use approximately 1,600 feet

of waterfront and 54 acres of land for a container

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yard. Construction beyond this initial phase would occur in increments

(50-100 acre yard expansions and associated waterfront construction).

These additional phases of construction would occur based upon cargo

demand. It is currently estimated that the ultimate build-out of the

container terminal to seven berths and over 608 acres of container yard

and a 90 acre intermodal transit facility (rail yard) could take 15 to

20 years. Cruise ship facilities beyond the initial single berth would

be constructed based upon passenger demand.

2. Alternatives

The following alternatives will be examined to identify the

reasonable alternatives to be fully evaluated in the DEIS: No Action;

the modification of existing PHA facilities to meet the purpose and

need of and for the proposed project; alternative locations within the

jurisdictional authority of the PHA where the proposed facilities might

be developed; off-site alternatives such as Spillman Island, Shoal

Point (Texas City), and Galveston Harbor; modified on-site

alternatives. The applicant's preferred alternative is the PHA owned

property on the Bayport Ship Channel (95 deg.00' longitude and

29 deg.36.7' latitude).

3. Scoping and Public Involvement Process

A workshop and scoping meeting to gather information on the

subjects to be studied in detail in the DEIS will be conducted on

August 17, 1999, at the Pasadena Convention Center, 7902 Fairmont

Parkway, Pasadena, Texas.

4. Significant Issues

Issues associated with the proposed facilities to be given

significant analysis in the DEIS are likely to include, but may not be

limited to, the potential impacts of the proposed dredging, the

beneficial uses of dredged material, placement of fill, construction

and operation of the proposed facility and surface transportation

facilities, and of induced developments on: wetland resources; upland

and aquatic biotic communities; water quality; fish and wildlife values

including threatened and endangered species; noise and light levels in

areas adjoining the proposed facilities; air quality; land forms and

geologic resources; community cohesion; environmental justice; roadway

traffic; socioeconomic environment; archaeological and cultural

resources; recreation and recreational resources; public infrastructure

and services; energy supply and natural resources; hazardous waste and

materials; land use; aesthetics; public health and safety; navigation;

flood plain values; shoreline erosion and accretion; and the needs and

welfare of the people.

5. Cooperating Agencies

No other Federal agencies have been identified having permitting,

certifying, or other approval authority for the proposed project.

However, the Federal Highway Administration, the Environmental

Protection Agency and Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission

have agreed to cooperate in the technical review of the DEIS.

6. Additional Review and Consultation

Additional review and consultation which will be incorporated into

the preparation of this DEIS will include: compliance with the Texas

Coastal Management Program; protection of cultural resources under

Section 106 of the Historic Preservation Act; protection of navigation

under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899; protection of water quality

under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act; and protection of endangered

and threatened species under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

7. Availability of the DEIS

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is projected to be

available in March 2000. A Public Hearing will be conducted following

the release of the DEIS.

Dated: July 2, 1999.

Nicholas J. Buechler,

Col, EN Commanding.

[FR Doc. 99-18391 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710-52-M