[Federal Register: October 27, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 207)]
[Notices]               
[Page 61191-61193]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27oc03-43]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army

 
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for a Permit Application for the 
Berths 136-147 Terminal Improvement Project, Also Known as the TraPac 
Container Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Los Angeles District 
in conjunction with the Los Angeles Harbor Department (Port) is 
examining the feasibility of waterside, terminal and transportation 
improvements at Berths 136-147 in the Port of Los Angeles. The Corps is 
considering the Port's application for a Department of the Army permit 
under Clean Water Act section 404 and River and Harbor Act section 10 
to conduct dredge and fill activities and construct one new wharf 
approximately 705 feet and seismically upgrade two wharves 
approximately 3,022 feet in length associated with the proposed 
project.
    Major project elements to be covered in the Draft EIS/EIR include: 
Wharf construction and landside improvements. The landside developments 
will include expansion, redevelopment and construction of marine 
terminal facilities, and transportation infrastructure improvements 
including construction of grade separations, and potential realignment 
of road and railways.
    The primary Federal involvement is the discharge of dredge and/or 
fill materials within waters of the United States, work (e.g. dredging) 
and structures in or affecting navigable waters of the United States, 
and potential impacts on the human environment from such activities. 
Therefore, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Corps is requiring the

[[Page 61192]]

preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to 
rendering a final decision on the Port's permit application. The Corps 
may ultimately make a determination to permit or deny the above project 
or permit or deny modified versions of the above project.
    Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the 
Port will serve as Lead Agency for the Preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Report (EIR). The Corps and the Port have agreed to jointly 
prepare a Draft EIS/EIR for the improvements at Berth 136-147 in order 
to optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The Draft EIS/EIR is 
intended to be sufficient in scope to address both the Federal and the 
state and local requirements and environmental issues concerning the 
proposed activities and permit approvals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and Draft EIS/EIR can be answered by Mr. Joshua Burnam, Corps Project 
Manager, at (213) 452-3294. Comments shall be addressed to: U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Branch. ATTN: File 
Number 2003-0-1142-JLB PO Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325, and 
Dr. Ralph Appy, Director of Environmental Management, Port of Los 
Angeles, 425 S. Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Project Site and Background Information. 
The proposed project is located in the northwestern portion of the Port 
of Los Angeles, adjacent to the San Pedro District of the City of Los 
Angeles, CA. The proposed project involves dredge and fill operations, 
new wharf construction, coupled with terminal expansion on adjacent 
areas of existing land, and improvement of transportation 
infrastructure at and adjacent to Berths 136-147.
    The project's overall goals are to upgrade the container cargo 
handling efficiency at the Berths 136-147 Terminal, increase its cargo 
handling capacity, and to improve transportation infrastructure in 
order to accommodate forecasted and planned increases in the volume of 
containerized goods shipped through the Port. In order to meet these 
goals, the following objectives must be met:
    [sbull] Establish needed container facilities that would maximize 
the use of existing waterways and integrate into the Port's overall 
utilization of available shoreline, while maintaining opportunities for 
the future integration with adjacent terminals;
    [sbull] Construct sufficient container berthing and infrastructure 
capacity to accommodate foreseeable increases in containerized cargo 
volumes entering the Port;
    [sbull] Create sufficient backland area for optimal container 
terminal operations including, storage, transport, and on/offloading of 
container ships in a safe and efficient manner;
    [sbull] Provide access to rail and truck infrastructure locations 
in order to minimize surface transportation congestion or delays and 
promote transport to both local and distant cargo destinations; and
    [sbull] Provide needed container terminal accessory buildings and 
structures to support containerized cargo handling requirements.
    2. Proposed Action. The first phase of construction would 
consolidate most of this area into a single terminal and upgrade its 
operations by increasing backland capacity, constructing approximately 
705 feet of new wharf, upgrading wharves to handle modern container 
terminal ships, adding an on-dock rail yard to reduce container truck 
traffic, constructing two grade separations to facilitate rail and 
truck shipments, and constructing a noise barrier (with landscaping and 
recreational facilities) along Harry Bridges Boulevard. The Harry 
Bridges Boulevard realignment would move the existing roadway 
approximately 580 feet north toward ``C'' Street. As a result of these 
improvements, the gross terminal area would increase in size from 176 
acres to 238 acres with a corresponding increase in throughput 
capacity. The improvements would make the facility more efficient. The 
proposed project elements for the Phase I construction period include:

Phase I Berth 136-147

    [sbull] Construction Stage I (completed by 2005)
    (1) Construction and operation of a new 705-foot wharf (78,135 
square feet) at Berths 145-147. There would be no loss of waters of the 
U.S.
    (2) Dredging of 265,000 cubic yards (cy) of material along the 
waterfront at Berths 145-147 to match approved-53 MLLW channel depths, 
with material to be placed at confined disposal site(s) (CDF) at either 
the Port of Los Angeles or the Port of Long Beach or at an appropriate 
upland site.
    (3) Construction of 179,500 cy of rock dike, placement of 24,000 cy 
of fill behind the dike, and placement of 699 concrete piles at Berths 
145-147.
    (4) Construction and development of 62 acres of additional backland 
area for container storage.
    (5) Construct a 3,200-foot long noise barrier between the realigned 
Harry Bridges Boulevard and residences along ``C'' Street between 
Figueroa Street and Lagoon Avenue.
    (6) Two existing 50-gauge cranes would be removed and one new 100-
gauge crane would be erected. The other four 100-gauge cranes on Berths 
142-146 would remain.
    (7) Construction of an on-dock intermodal container terminal 
facility (ICTF) rail yard within the former location of the Pier A rail 
yard.
    (8) Construction and operation of two grade separations at Neptune 
Avenue and Avalon Boulevard to eliminate potential traffic delays that 
would otherwise be caused by trains.
    (9) Construction of additional terminal gate facilities and 
accessory buildings.

Phase II Berth 136-147

    Proposed improvements in this area would expand backlands for 
container terminal use and improve wharves to efficiently handle 
increased cargo throughput and deep draft container ships. The backland 
expansion would increase the terminal size from 238 acres to 
approximately 250 acres. The proposed projects elements for the Phase 
II construction period include:
    [sbull] Construction Stage II (2005-2010)
    (1) Improvements and upgrades to approximately 2,000 feet of 
wharves at Berths 136-139 including dredging to handle the planned -53-
foot channel depth.
    (2) Redevelopment of the vacated area at the Westway and Water 
Street sites into approximately 14 acres of additional backland.
    (3) The existing seven 100-gauge cranes on Berths 136-139 would 
remain.
    3. Issues. There are several potential environmental issues that 
will be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Additional issues may be identified 
during the scoping process. Issues initially identified as potentially 
significant include:
    (a) Geological issues, including dredging and stabilization of fill 
areas in an area of known seismic activity;
    (b) Impacts to hydrology;
    (c) Impacts to air quality;
    (d) Impacts to traffic, including marine navigation and ground 
transportation;
    (e) Potential for noise impacts;
    (f) Impacts to public utilities and services;
    (g) Potential impacts to aesthetic resources, including light and 
glare;
    (h) Potential impacts on public health and safety;

[[Page 61193]]

    (i) Cumulative impacts; and
    (j) Disposal of dredged materials.
    4. Alternatives. Alternatives initially being considered for the 
proposed improvement project include the following:
    (a) Alternate location(s) for the Terminal Improvements (within the 
State or within the Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach).
    (b) Development of new landfills for a container terminal.
    (c) Non-containerized use of terminal (i.e., lumber, autos).
    (d) Non-shipping use i.e., park, cruise terminal, commercial 
development, empty container storage, etc.
    (e) No Federal action (No wharf construction or dredging--
construction of only backlands developments for Phases I and II) with 
and without Harry Bridges being relocated.
    (f) Larger facility (14-acre fill for more storage area).
    (g) Reduce Wharf (reduced fill'reduction in rip-rap, pilings, and 
dredging).
    (h) Proposed project without Harry Bridges Boulevard being 
relocated.
    (i) No Project (no physical changes).
    5. Scoping Process. The Corps and the Port will conduct separate, 
simultaneous English and Spanish language public scoping meeting on 
November 5, 2003 at 6 p.m., to receive public comment and assess public 
concerns regarding the appropriate scope and preparation of the Draft 
EIS/EIR. The meeting will be held at the Wilmington Recreational Center 
at 325 North Neptune Avenue. Parties interested in being added to the 
Corps' electronic mail notification list for the Port of Los Angeles 
can register at: http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/regulatory/register.html.
 This list will be used in the future to notify the 
public about scheduled hearings and availability of future public 
notices. Participation in the public meeting by federal, state and 
local agencies and other interested organizations and persons are 
encouraged.
    6. Availability of the Draft EIS/EIR. The joint lead agencies 
expect the Draft EIS/EIR to be made available to the public in July 
2004. A public hearing will be held during the public comment period 
for the Draft EIS/EIR.

    Dated: October 9, 2003.
Richard G. Thompson,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 03-26969 Filed 10-24-03; 8:45 am]

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