[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49781-49782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23933]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the Daniel Island Terminal Located in the City of
Charleston, Berkeley County, South Carolina and Notice of Public
Hearing
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability and Public Hearing.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District has
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statment (DEIS) for the proposed
Daniel Island Terminal that will be located in the City of Charleston,
Berkeley County, South Carolina. A public hearing will be held to
receive oral and written comments on the DEIS. Federal, state and local
agencies and interested parties are invited to be present at the
hearing.
DATES: The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, November 17, 1999.
The time and place will be advertised locally via public notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or
questions about the proposed action and DEIS, please contact Ms. Tina
Hadden, Project Manager, telephone (843) 727-4330 or 1-800-208-2054,
CESAC-TS-RP, 334 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as implemented by the
Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508),
the Charleston District has prepared a DEIS on the proposed marine
cargo terminal on Daniel Island which is located in the City of
Charleston, Berkeley County, South Carolina. This project is proposed
by the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SPA).
1. Description of Proposed Project
The proposed project is the creation by the South Carolina State
Ports Authority (SCSPA) of a marine cargo terminal compex at Daniel
Island in the City of Charleston, Berkeley County, South Carolina,
which includes the following components: approximately 1,300 acres of
port terminal development at the south end of Daniel Island to include
cargo marshaling areas, cargo processing areas, cargo-handling
facilities, intermodal rail facilities, and related terminal operating
facilities; approximately 7,000 feet of wharf and berthing area on the
Cooper River and approximately 5,000 feet of wharf and berthing area of
the Wando River; approximately 37 acres of dredged berthing area;
associated improvements to the Wando River Federal Channel;
approximately 2.5 miles of multi-lane roadway construction between the
proposed terminal site and Interstate I-526; approximately 13 miles of
rail connecting the proposed terminal facilities to the East Cooper and
Berkeley Railroad; and a rail bridge and road bridge over Beresford
Creek.
2. Alternatives
The following alternatives were evaluated in the DEIS: No Action;
the Proposed Project; a combination of the Wando River side of Daniel
Island and a portion of the former Naval Base; a combination of the
Cooper River side of Daniel Island, a portion of the Naval Base, and
the existing Columbus Street Terminal. Multiple alternative road and
rail corridors to serve the alternative terminal locations were also
evaluated, as were design alternatives for each of the facilities.
3. Scoping and Public Involvement Process
Two scoping meetings were held on June 24, 1997, in order to gather
information on the subjects to be studied in detail in the DEIS, one
specifically for the Federal and State agencies with regulatory
responsibilities and one for the general public. Four public
information meetings were held in order to provide an arena for the
exchange of information regarding the proposed project and the EIS.
These meetings were held in September 1997, December 1997, March 1998
and September 1998. Five community outreach meetings were held. These
meetings were held at the request of the community to address specific
issues and concerns.
4. Significant Issues
Issues associated with the proposed facilities which received a
significant level of analysis in the DEIS include, but are not limited
to, the potential impacts of the proposed dredging, placement of fill,
construction and operation of the proposed terminal 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; Section 4(f) and Section 6(f) properties (parks and/or sites
of cultural significance); public infrastructure and services; energy
supply and natural resources; hazardous wastes and materials; land use;
aesthetics; public health and safety; parklands; prime farmlands;
ecologically critical areas; navigation;
[[Page 49782]]
flood plain values; shoreline erosion and accretion; Essential Fish
Habitat; and the needs and welfare of the people.
5. Cooperating Agencies
The U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
the Surface Transportation Board, and the U.S. Coast Guard were
cooperating agencies in the development of the DEIS.
6. Additional Review and Consultation
Additional review and consultation which was incorporated into the
DEIS includes: compliance with the South Carolina Coastal Zone
Management Act; protection of cultural resources under Section 106 of
the Historic Preservation Act; protection of water quality under
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act; coordination under Section 103 of
the Marine Protection, Resource, and Sanctuaries 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 will be available on
September 17, 1999.
Mark S. Held,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 99-23933 Filed 9-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-CH-M
