[Federal Register: June 30, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 126)]
[Notices]
[Page 37546-37547]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jn06-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for the Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program Study as
Introduced in the 2004 Louisiana Coastal Area, Louisiana Ecosystem
Restoration Study, Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, is
initiating this study under the authority provided by the resolutions
adopted by the Committees on Public Works of the U.S. Senate and House
of Representatives, dated April 19, 1967 and October 19, 1967,
respectively, an expansion of the authority created under section 3 of
the River and Harbor Act approved June 13, 1902. The Louisiana Coastal
Area (LCA) Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program will optimize the
use of dredged material resulting from the maintenance of federally
maintained navigational channels to (1) restore formerly existing
coastal wetlands; (2) reduce, halt or reverse the loss of existing
coastal wetlands; (3) create coastal wetlands where none existed
previously; or (4) provide protection to any of the above wetland
situations or other coastal landscape features within the study
placement area. The LCA Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program
costs are those costs incurred above and beyond the ordinary costs
incurred with USACE Operations and Maintenance dredging and disposal
operations in accordance with their established base plan for
maintenance dredging activities. The base plan is determined by
applying the Federal Standard which requires maintenance dredging and
disposal activities to be conducted in the most cost effective,
environmentally acceptable manner. The study area is Louisiana's
coastal area from Mississippi to Texas. Louisiana parishes included in
the study area include Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron,
Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St.
Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St.
Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Vermilion. The following
seven navigation channels represent an initial list of areas with the
most significant opportunities
(1) Calcasieu River and Pass;
(2) Houma Navigation Canal;
(3) Atchafalaya River and Bayous Chene, Boeuf, and Black;
(4) Bayou Lafourche;
(5) Mississippi River and Tributaries Project, Head of Passes and
Southwest Pass;
(6) Barataria Bay Waterway; and
(7) Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (although this channel is not
currently funded for O&M dredging).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be addressed to Ms.
Elizabeth McCasland at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PM-RS, P.O. Box
60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267, phone (504) 862-2021, fax number
usace.army. mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Alternatives. Alternatives recommended for consideration
presently include the No Action plan, to use dredged materials only
within the current federal standard which is not necessarily for
beneficial use. Within each channel alternative marsh creation or
nourishment sites would be examined to maximize the environmental
benefits, environmental need, and the engineering required to get the
material to the site. Also, unlike Section 204, Beneficial Uses of
Dredged Material, of the Continuing Authorities Program, the LCA
Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program would allow site preparation
(such as construction of retention dikes) in anticipation of a future
(i.e., 1-3 years out) dredging cycle.
2. Non-Federal local sponsor. The State of Louisiana, acting
through the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, is the non-
Federal local sponsor. The study cost share ratio is 50% Federal and
50% non-Federal.
3. Scoping. Scoping is the process for determining the scope of
alternatives and significant issues to be addressed in the Programmatic
EIS. For this analysis, a letter will be sent to all parties believed
to have an interest in the analysis, requesting their input on
alternatives and issues to be evaluated. The letter will also notify
interested parties of public scoping meetings that will be held in the
local area. Notices will also be sent to local news media. All
interested parties are invited to comment at this time, and anyone
interested in this study should request to be included in the study
mailing list.
Public scoping meetings will be held mid-July 2006 in multiple
cities across the southern portion of Louisiana. Additional meetings
could be held, depending upon interest and if it is determined that
further public coordination is warranted.
4. Significant Issues. The tentative list of resources and issues
to be evaluated in the Programmatic EIS includes wetlands (marshes and
swamps), aquatic resources, commercial and recreational fisheries,
wildlife resources, essential fish habitat, water quality, air quality,
threatened and endangered species, recreation resources, and cultural
resources. Socioeconomic items to be evaluated in the Programmatic EIS
include navigation, flood protection, business and industrial activity,
employment, land use, property values, public/community facilities and
services, tax revenues, population, community and regional growth,
transportation, housing, community cohesion, and noise.
5. Environmental Consultation and Review. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be assisting in the documentation of
existing conditions and assessment of effects of project alternatives
through Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act consultation procedures. The
USFWS will provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act report.
Consultation will be accomplished with the USFWS and the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concerning threatened and endangered
species and their critical habitat. The NMFS will be consulted on the
effects of this proposed action on Essential Fish Habitat. The
Programmatic draft EIS (DEIS) or a notice of its availability will be
distributed to all interested agencies, organizations, and individuals.
6. Estimated Date of Availability. The Programmatic DEIS is
expected to be available in the summer of 2007.
[[Page 37547]]
Dated: June 19, 2006.
Richard P. Wagenaar,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. E6-10273 Filed 6-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-P