[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7778-7779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4672]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for the proposed Ocean City, Maryland, and Vicinity Water Resources
Feasibility Study at Ocean City, in Worcester County, Maryland
AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
initiating the Ocean City, Maryland, and Vicinity Water Resources
Feasibility Study to investigate potential solutions to several water
resources problems in Ocean City, Maryland. The study area includes
Ocean City and Assateague Island, adjacent coastal bays and nearshore
waters of the Atlantic, and Maryland mainland areas within the coastal
watershed boundary. The Feasibility Study will address four different
water-related problems in the Maryland coastal bay area as separate
report components, including (1) the restoration of the northern end of
Assateague Island; (2) long-term sand placement opportunities along
Ocean City and Assateague Island shorelines; (3) restoration of
terrestrial and aquatic habitat; and (4) navigation improvements to the
harbor, inlet, and Thorofare channel. Cost-sharing partners in the
study include the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Town of
Ocean City, Worcester County, and the National Park Service (Assateague
Island National Seashore). The scheduled completion date for the draft
Ocean City, Maryland, and Vicinity Water Resources Feasibility Report
and DEIS is June 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and DEIS can be addressed to Ms. Stacey Marek, Project Manager,
Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENAB-PL-PC,
P.O. 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, telephone (410) 962-4977. E-
mail address: ocwr@ccmail.nab.usace.army.mil
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. The study was authorized by a resolution of the Committee of
Environmental and Public Works of the U.S. Senate, adopted 15 May 1991.
2. The Ocean City inlet was formed in 1933 during a severe storm.
In 1934 the Army Corps of Engineers constructed jetties to protect the
newly formed waterway in an effort to provide for navigation between
the coastal bays and the ocean. The inlet has functioned as a
thoroughfare for boating traffic for the past 60 years; however, the
jetties disrupt the normal movement of sediment along the coast from
Ocean City to Assateague Island. Lacking this sediment supply,
approximately 6 miles of the northern Assateague shoreline have been
eroding at an accelerated rate and the island is vulnerable to
breaching, or forming one of more new inlets. The first two of the four
study components listed below address this problem.
3. Restoration of the North End of Assateague Island--This study
component will address the short-term restoration of Assateague Island
by investigating methods for a one-time placement of sediment on the
north end of the island. The sediment placement will mitigate the
historic impacts of the jetty-induced sediment deficit. Due to a
potentially imminent breach of the island, this component of the study
will be completed as a separate draft report prior to completion of the
other three components.
4. Long-Term Sand Placement Opportunities--A second component of
the study will address the long-term placement of sand to restore a
normal sediment budget to the north end of Assateague Island. After
analysis and evaluation, a method will be selected to provide a sand
supply adequate to maintain the integrity of the northern portion of
Assateague Island. This portion of the study will also review current
Corps' shoreline protection activities at Ocean City to determine
whether there is a more cost-effective method of re-nourishing the
beach.
5. Restoration of Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitat in the Coastal
Bays--This study component will identify the best methods for creating
and restoring wetlands and islands throughout the coastal bay area for
fish and wildlife habitat. It is expected that between 80 and 200 acres
of habitat will be created or restored.
6. Navigation Improvements to the Harbor, Inlet, and Thorofare
Channel--This study component will determine the best methods for
improving navigation through the harbor, inlet, and Thorofare Channel.
Existing shoals cause damage to both commercial and recreational
vessels and extend travel time for vessels navigating the channels. It
is expected that the study will investigate deepening and widening the
Corps of Engineers' channel through the inlet and harbor, and creating
and maintaining a Federal channel through the existing Thorofare
Channel.
7. The Baltimore District is preparing a DEIS that will describe
the overall public interest and the impacts of the
[[Page 7779]]
proposed project on environmental resources in the area. The DEIS will
also apply guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency,
under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-
217). Potential effects of the project on water quality and on
recreational, aesthetic, cultural, economic, social, fish and wildlife,
and other resources will also be investigated.
8. The public involvement program will include workshops, meetings,
and other coordination with interested private individuals and
organizations, as well as with concerned Federal, state, and local
agencies. Coordination letters and a newsletter have been sent to
appropriate agencies, organizations, and individuals on an extensive
mailing list. Additional public information will be provided through
print media, mailings, and radio and television announcements.
9. In addition to the Corps, the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, the National Park Service, the Town of Ocean City, and
Worcester County, current participants in the DEIS process include the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
National Marine Fisheries Service, Maryland Department of the
Environment, Maryland Geological Survey, the Worcester Environmental
Trust, and the Assateague Coastal Trust. The Baltimore District invites
potentially affected Federal, state, and local agencies, and other
organizations and entities to participate in this study.
10. The DEIS is tentatively scheduled to be available for public
review in June of 1997.
James F. Johnson,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 96-4672 Filed 2-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-41-M
