Notice2023-05480
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Tampa Harbor Navigation Improvement Study, Hillsborough County, Florida
Primary source
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Published
March 17, 2023
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentEngineers Corps
Abstract
Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District, announces its intent to prepare an Integrated General Reevaluation Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to examine navigation improvements to the existing Tampa Harbor Federal Navigation Project. The purpose of the study is to determine the need and feasibility of deepening and/or widening the current Tampa Harbor federal navigation channel to improve vessel capacity, efficiency, and safety. Comments are being sought regarding identification of potential alternatives, information, and analysis relevant to the study for improving navigation, beneficial use of dredge material, and analyses to support evaluation of effects on the human environment and will be accepted at any time during the EIS process.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 52 (Friday, March 17, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16417-16418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05480]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Tampa
Harbor Navigation Improvement Study, Hillsborough County, Florida
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for a General Reevaluation Report of navigation improvements
at Port Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), Jacksonville District, announces its intent to prepare an
Integrated General Reevaluation Report and Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to examine navigation improvements to the existing
Tampa Harbor Federal Navigation Project. The purpose of the study is to
determine the need and feasibility of deepening and/or widening the
current Tampa Harbor federal navigation channel to improve vessel
capacity, efficiency, and safety. Comments are being sought regarding
identification of potential alternatives, information, and analysis
relevant to the study for improving navigation, beneficial use of
dredge material, and analyses to support evaluation of effects on the
human environment and will be accepted at any time during the EIS
process.
DATES: Written comments and suggestions must be submitted by May 16,
2023.
ADDRESSES: To ensure the USACE has sufficient time to consider public
input in the preparation of the Draft EIS, scoping comments should be
submitted to Mr. Michael Ornella II by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#91e5f0fce1f0f9f0e3f3fee3f7fdd1e4e2f0f2f4bff0e3fce8bffcf8fd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8efaefe3feefe6effcece1fce8e2cefbfdefedeba0effce3f7a0e3e7e2">[email protected]</span></a>; or by surface mail to U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Planning and Policy Division, Environmental Branch, P.O. Box
4970, Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Ornella II, at 904-232-1498 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cabeaba7baaba2abb8a8a5b8aca68abfb9aba9afe4abb8a7b3e4a7a3a6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1763767a67767f7665757865717b5762647674723976657a6e397a7e7b">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: USACE participation in this study is authorized by
Section 3052 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. The non-
Federal sponsor for the study is Port Tampa Bay. The study was
initiated at the request of Port Tampa Bay. The study is being cost-
shared 65-percent Federal and 35-percent non-Federal with Port Tampa
Bay.
Proposed Action: This study will consider navigation improvements
including deepening and/or widening the federal navigation project. The
main stem of Tampa Harbor is currently authorized at -43 feet Mean
Lower Low Water (MLLW). Big Bend and Cut D (Hillsborough Bay) channels
are authorized at -41 feet MLLW, and the upper channels are authorized
at -34 feet MLLW. The channel varies in width from 500 feet in the main
stem to 300 feet in the upper channels, with some channel cuts limited
to 200 or 250 feet.
Alternatives: The study will identify, evaluate, and recommend to
decision makers an appropriate, coordinated, and workable solution to
the navigation inefficiencies at Tampa Harbor. Alternatives will
include no action, and alternatives that include one or more of the
following measures: incremental deepening and the resulting widening
from 44 feet to 54 feet, incremental passing lanes up to 300 feet in
width at Cut B and Gadsden Cut, adjustments to improve maneuverability
in turning basins, widening and extension of Big Bend Channel, and
channel intersection and widener improvements throughout the harbor.
The study will evaluate numerous dredged material placement
alternatives including beneficial use, open water placement, and upland
placement. Dredged material that is sandy is expected to be suitable
for placement on Egmont Key or other
[[Page 16418]]
beneficial use sites identified in Tampa Harbor. Rocky material is
likely to be utilized for hardbottom creation and expansion of existing
artificial reefs next to the channel. Additional beneficial use options
are being determined and analyzed for other dredge material types and
include island creation/enhancement at Alafia Bank Sanctuary, MacDill
Air Force Base shoreline enhancement, and beach nourishment on Ft.
Desoto Beach.
Significant Issues: Impacts are expected to be short-term and
temporary in nature, including short-term disturbance to hardbottom and
creation of new hardbottom habitat adjacent to the channel edge, short-
term turbidity at the dredge and placement sites, temporary noise
impacts to fish and wildlife resources, impacts to swimming sea turtles
during dredging operations, impacts to nesting sea turtles during
material placement and long-term benefits from beach nourishment, and
disruption of recreation and navigation during dredging and placement
activities.
However, due to the volume of material expected to be dredged--up
to 40 million cubic yards--and the likely beneficial use of a majority
of that material, possibly to restore Egmont Key, an EIS is being
proposed.
Public Involvement and Scoping: A scoping letter was sent November
1, 2021, to invite comments from Federal, State, and local agencies,
affected Indian tribes, and other interested private organizations and
individuals. USACE hosted two (2) virtual NEPA scoping meetings on
November 18, 2021. USACE received comments from agencies,
organizations, and individuals in favor of the project and requesting
additional information on concerns over the impacts to property, flood
hazards, and wildlife. USACE addressed the comments, both at the
meeting and in email. Due to the scale of effects, the USACE is
inviting additional comments with this Notice of Intent.
Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements: The proposed
project is subject to review pursuant to (but not limited to) the
Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Clean Water Act, Marine Protection,
Research, and Sanctuaries Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and
NEPA.
Project Schedule: The Draft Integrated General Reevaluation Report
and Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be available for
public review in July of 2023. A 45-day public review period will be
provided for interested parties and agencies to review and comment on
this draft document. All interested parties are encouraged to respond
to this notice and provide a current address if they wish to be
notified of the Draft EIS circulation. A Record of Decision would be
approved and signed no earlier than 30 days after the Final EIS.
Daniel H. Hibner,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2023-05480 Filed 3-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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