Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, 57340-57342 [E8-23219]
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57340
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices
restoration components into a single,
comprehensive strategy.
DATES: In order to be considered in the
Draft EIS (DEIS), comments and
suggestions should be received no later
than 30 days after publication of this
notice in the Federal Register .
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu
District, ATTN: Cindy S. Barger, Project
Manager, Civil and Public Works
Branch (CEPOH–PP–C), Room 311,
Building 230, Fort Shafter, HI 96858–
5440.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions or comments concerning the
proposed action should be addressed to
Ms. Cindy S. Barger, Project Manager,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu
District, Civil and Public Works Branch,
Building 230, Fort Shafter, HI 96858–
5440, Telephone: (808) 438–6940, Email:
Cindy.S.Barger@poh01.usace.army.mil,
or Mr. Carty Chang, Project Planning
and Management Branch Chief, State of
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural
Resources, Engineering Division, 1151
Punchbowl Street, Room 221, Honolulu,
HI 96813, telephone (808) 587–0227, Email: carty.s.chang@hawaii.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A
preliminary assessment of this federally
funded action indicates that the project
may cause significant impacts on the
environment. As a result, it has been
determined that the preparation and
review of an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) is needed for this
project. The EIS and Feasibility Study
for the Ala Wai Canal Project are being
conducted concurrently. The EIS will
evaluate potential impacts to the
natural, physical, and human
environment as a result of implementing
any of the proposed alternatives that are
developed by this project.
This project will be implemented
under Section 209 of the Flood Control
Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87–874), for the
purpose of flood mitigation and
ecosystem restoration in the Ala Wai
Canal Watershed, which consists of the
sub-watersheds of Makiki, Manoa,
Palolo, and Waikiki. The USACE will
work with the affected community and
the sponsoring local organization, the
State of Hawaii Department of Land and
Natural Resources, to develop an
acceptable plan to address the flood and
ecosystem problems.
The 11,069-acre Ala Wai Canal
Watershed is located in the southern
portion of the island of Oahu. The
Watershed is highly urbanized, with
approximately 1,746 structures within
the designated 100-year floodplain.
There is a high potential for massive
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17:52 Oct 01, 2008
Jkt 217001
flood damage to the densely populated
and economically critical area of
Waikiki and the adjacent neighborhoods
of McCully and Moiliili. Additionally,
flooding frequently occurs in lower
Makiki and recently in the central
Manoa Valley, causing damages to
businesses, homes, and academic
facilities. There is also significant
environmental degradation of the
streams and waterways, including heavy
sedimentation, poor water quality, lack
of habitat for native species, and a
prevalence of alien species.
Goals of the Ala Wai Canal Project are
to (1) Protect the entire Ala Wai Canal
Watershed from the 100-year flood
event, (2) improve the migratory
pathway for native amphidromous
species, (3) reduce sediment buildup in
the streams and Ala Wai Canal, (4)
enhance the physical quality of existing
aquatic habitat for native species, and
(5) improve water quality. Anticipated
significant issues identified to date and
to be addressed in the EIS include: (1)
Impacts on flooding, (2) impacts on
stream hydraulics, (3) impacts on fish
and wildlife resources and habitats, (4)
impacts on recreation and recreational
facilities, and (5) other impacts
identified by the Public, agencies, or
USACE studies.
A full range of possible programs and
actions will be considered in order to
meet the project goals. Currently under
consideration are dredging, detention
basins, flood walls, debris basins and
other debris management actions, bridge
modification, flood-proofing structures
within the flood plain, diversion of
flood waters, flood warning systems,
widening of channels, acquisition of
properties within the floodplain,
maintenance easements, and a drainage
district. Ecosystem restoration measures
currently under consideration include
low-flow channels, creating more
natural stream channels, constructed
wetlands, trash separators, sediment
interceptors, daylighting the stream,
increasing or decreasing shade as
necessary, reducing the pig population,
and stream bank stabilization. As
hydrologic, hydraulic, and biological
analyses are performed and stakeholder
consultations are conducted, additional
concepts may be developed.
Evaluation of all of the alternatives
will take into account minimization of
adverse impacts to social resources,
economics, aesthetics, recreation,
historic and cultural resources, and
native species habitat. Flood hazard
reduction alternatives will additionally
take into account a cost-benefit analysis
and ability to complement ecosystem
restoration measures. Evaluation of the
ecosystem restoration alternatives will
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Sfmt 4703
be based on the areas of habitat they
create, improve, or provide access to, as
well as their ability to complement
flood hazard reduction measures.
A DEIS will be prepared and
circulated for review by agencies and
the public. The USACE and DLNR
invite participation and consultation of
agencies and individuals that have
special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or
interest in the preparation of the DEIS.
The DLNR will be issuing a state-level
Environmental Impact Statement
Preparation Notice (EISPN) pursuant to
Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter
343. All written and verbal comments
received in response to this Notice of
Intent and the State EISPN will be
considered when determining the scope
of the EIS. To the extent practicable,
NEPA and HRS 343 requirements will
be coordinated in the preparation of the
EIS document.
A public scoping meeting will be held
on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at the
Washington Middle School Cafeteria at
1633 South King Street, Honolulu, HI
96826, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. to
determine the scope of analysis of the
proposed action. The scoping meeting
will also be announced in local media.
Interested parties are encouraged to
express their views during the scoping
process and throughout the
development of the alternatives and EIS.
To be most helpful, comments should
clearly describe specific environmental
topics or issues which the commenter
believes the document should address.
Further information on the proposed
action or the scoping meeting may be
obtained from Cindy S. Barger, Project
Manager, at (see ADDRESSES). The DEIS
should be available for public review in
early 2010, subject to the receipt of
federal funding.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–23221 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710–NN–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet
Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility
Study
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Corps of Engineers
(Corps) intends to prepare an
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02OCN1
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet
(MRGO) Ecosystem Restoration
Feasibility Study within the Middle and
Lower Pontchartrain Basin and areas of
southern Mississippi. The Corps will
evaluate a full range of comprehensive
restoration measures to restore
important estuarine components and
ecosystem processes within the areas
affected by the MRGO navigation
channel and assess the impacts
associated with implementing the plan.
The MRGO was authorized by Congress
in 1956 as a Federal navigation channel
to provide a direct route between the
Port of New Orleans and the Gulf of
Mexico. Construction began in 1958 and
was completed in 1968 to authorized
dimensions (36-foot depth by 500-foot
width: 38-foot depth by 600-foot bottom
width in Bar Channel). Construction of
the MRGO channel created a direct deep
water link between the Inner Harbor
Navigation Canal and the Gulf of
Mexico allowing higher salinity waters
to enter Lake Borgne and Lake
Pontchartrain estuaries. Construction
resulted in direct wetland losses,
damages to the Bayou LaLoutre Ridge
and alteration of the adjacent landscape
and hydrology by placement of dredge
material adjacent to the channel in
upland confined disposal facilities.
Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall
in 2005, the MRGO navigation channel
has not been maintained. A June closure
plan and accompanying Legislative EIS
and Record of Decision titled
‘‘Integrated Final Report to Congress
and Legislative Environmental Impact
Statement for the Mississippi River-Gulf
Outlet Deep-Draft De-Authorization
Study’’ was signed on June 5, 2008,
officially deauthorizing the MRGO
navigation channel (from the Gulf of
Mexico to Mile 60 at the southern bank
of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway) and
authorizing construction of a closure
structure at the south ridge of Bayou
LaLoutre in St. Bernard Parish,
Louisiana and development of plan to
restore the areas affected by the MRGO
Navigation channel.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for scoping meeting dates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
should be addressed to Ms. Sandra
Stiles at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
CEMVNPM–RS, P.O. Box 60267, New
Orleans, LA 70160–0267, phone (504)
862–1583, fax number (504) 862–2088
or by e-mail at
sandra.e.stiles@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:52 Oct 01, 2008
Jkt 217001
1. Authority: Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 Sections 7012
and 7013 authorized the Corps to
develop a comprehensive closure and
restoration plan, at full Federal expense,
to de-authorize deep-draft navigation on
the MRGO, Louisiana, extending from
the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) and
develop a restoration plan.
2. Proposed Action. The Corps will
develop a comprehensive ecosystem
restoration plan to restore the areas
affected by the MRGO navigation
channel to include: (1) Physically
modifying the MRGO channel and
restoring areas affected by the channel;
(2) restoring natural ecosystem features
to reduce damage from storm surge; (3)
measures preventing saltwater intrusion
into the waterway; (4) measures
protecting, restoring or increasing
wetlands to prevent saltwater intrusion
or storm surge; (5) measures reducing
risk of storm damage to communities by
preventing or reducing wetland losses
or restoring wetlands in areas affected
by navigation, oil and gas and other
manmade channels; (6) diversions to
restore the Lake Borgne Ecosystem.
3. Alternatives. Restoration measures
being considered include physical
modification and restoration of the
MRGO navigation channel, freshwater,
sediment and nutrient introduction;
shoreline protection and bank
stabilization; restoration and protection
of natural ridges; barrier island
protection and restoration; wetland
protection, creation and restoration;
water control measures (gates, weirs,
sills, plugs, etc.); measures to increase
native vegetation; restoration of natural
features to reduce storm surge. Once
restoration measures are identified,
alternative plans will be developed
through various combinations of
restoration measures that best meet the
study goals and objectives and are
determined to be cost-effective,
environmentally acceptable and
technically feasible. Some measures
may also be recommended for
implementation under other authorities.
4. Public Involvement. Stakeholder
and public involvement for this
proposed action is integral to the
project. Interested parties, concerned
citizens, and other State and Federal
agencies, private and not-for-profit or
non-governmental organizations are
strongly encouraged to participate in the
development of the proposed action.
Stakeholder and public meetings would
be held throughout project
development. Meeting announcements
would be made as information becomes
available.
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57341
5. Public Scoping Meeting. Scoping is
the process utilized for determining the
range of alternatives and significant
issues to be addressed in the EIS. For
this study, a letter will be mailed to all
parties believed to have an interest in
the analysis. The letter will notify
interested parties of public scoping
meetings that will be held in the local
area and request their input on
alternatives and issues to be evaluated.
Notices will also be mailed to local
news media. All interested parties are
invited to comment at this time, and
anyone interested in this study should
request inclusion in the study mailing
list. A public scoping meeting will be
held November 3, 2008 from 6–9 p.m.
in Chalmette, Louisiana and November
6, 2008 from 6–9 p.m. in Waveland,
Mississippi. The exact location and
address for the meetings will be
announced through local media
channels. Additional meetings could be
held, depending upon public interest
and if it is determined that further
public coordination is warranted.
6. Significant Issues. The tentative list
of important resources and issues that
will be evaluated in the EIS include but
are not limited to tidal wetlands
(marshes and swamps), barrier islands,
aquatic resources, commercial and
recreational fisheries, wildlife resources,
essential fish habitat, water quality, air
quality, threatened and endangered
species and critical habitat, recreation
resources, and cultural resources.
Socioeconomic items to be evaluated in
the EIS include navigation; flood
protection; business and industrial
activity; oil and gas pipelines;
employment; land use; property values;
public/community facilities and
services; tax revenues; population,
community and regional growth;
transportation; housing; community
cohesion; environmental justice,
aesthetics and noise.
7. Environmental Consultation and
Review. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) will assist in
documenting existing conditions and
assessing effects of project alternatives
through the 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
regarding the effects of this proposed
action on Essential Fish Habitat. The
draft EIS or a notice of its availability
will be distributed to all interested
E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM
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57342
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices
Individuals or interested groups
interested may submit written
statements for consideration by the
Chief of Naval Operations Executive
Panel at any time or in response to the
agenda of a scheduled meeting. All
Dated: September 23, 2008.
requests must be submitted to the
Alvin B. Lee,
Designated Federal Officer at the
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
address detailed below.
[FR Doc. E8–23219 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am]
If the written statement is in response
BILLING CODE 3710–84–P
to the agenda mentioned in this meeting
notice then the statement, if it is to be
considered by the Panel for this
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
meeting, must be received at least five
days prior to the meeting in question.
Department of the Navy
The Designated Federal Officer will
review all timely submissions with the
Notice of Closed Meeting of the Chief
of Naval Operations Executive Panel
Chief of Naval Operations Executive
Panel Chairperson, and ensure they are
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
provided to members of the Chief of
ACTION: Notice.
Naval Operations Executive Panel
SUMMARY: The Chief of Naval Operations before the meeting that is the subject of
this notice.
(CNO) Executive Panel will report on
To contact the Designated Federal
the findings and recommendations of
Officer, write to Executive Director,
the Subcommittee on Africa to the Chief
CNO Executive Panel (N00K), 4825
of Naval Operations. The matters to be
discussed during the meeting have been Mark Center Drive, 2nd Floor,
Alexandria, VA 22311–1846.
divided into the following four
categories: threats to U.S. security and
Dated: September 26, 2008.
interests in Africa; political, economic,
T.M. Cruz,
and security assessments of key African Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate
nations and institutions; U.S. Navy
General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
security cooperation and engagement
Liaison Officer.
strategies; and a conclusion/summary of [FR Doc. E8–23227 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am]
the classified discussions.
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
Each topic under each of these
headings is classified either secret or
confidential, which makes this
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
information exempt from open meeting
disclosure pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Section
Notice of Proposed Information
552b(c)(1).
Collection Requests
DATES: The meeting will be held on
AGENCY: Department of Education.
October 27, 2008, from 9:30 a.m. to
SUMMARY: The Acting Director,
11:30 a.m.
Information Collection Clearance
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Division, Regulatory Information
the Center for Naval Analysis
Management Services, Office of
Boardroom, 4825 Mark Center Drive,
Management, invites comments on the
Alexandria, VA 22311.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CDR proposed information collection
requests as required by the Paperwork
David Di Tallo, CNO Executive Panel,
4825 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
22311, telephone: 703–681–4908.
submit comments on or before
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
December1, 2008.
to the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of
U.S.C. App.), these matters constitute
1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires
classified information that is
that the Office of Management and
specifically authorized by Executive
Order to be kept secret in the interest of Budget (OMB) provide interested
Federal agencies and the public an early
national defense and are, in fact,
opportunity to comment on information
properly classified pursuant to such
collection requests. OMB may amend or
Executive Order. Accordingly, the
Secretary of the Navy has determined in waive the requirement for public
consultation to the extent that public
writing that the public interest requires
participation in the approval process
that all sessions of this meeting be
closed to the public because they will be would defeat the purpose of the
concerned with matters listed in section information collection, violate State or
552b(c)(1) of title 5, United States Code. Federal law, or substantially interfere
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
agencies, organizations, and
individuals.
8. Estimated Date of Availability. The
earliest that the DEIS is expected to be
available is March of 2010.
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17:52 Oct 01, 2008
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
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with any agency’s ability to perform its
statutory obligations. The Acting
Director, Information Collection
Clearance Division, Regulatory
Information Management Services,
Office of Management, publishes that
notice containing proposed information
collection requests prior to submission
of these requests to OMB. Each
proposed information collection,
grouped by office, contains the
following: (1) Type of review requested,
e.g. new, revision, extension, existing or
reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of
the collection; (4) Description of the
need for, and proposed use of, the
information; (5) Respondents and
frequency of collection; and (6)
Reporting and/or Recordkeeping
burden. OMB invites public comment.
The Department of Education is
especially interested in public comment
addressing the following issues: (1) is
this collection necessary to the proper
functions of the Department; (2) will
this information be processed and used
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate
of burden accurate; (4) how might the
Department enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (5) how might the
Department minimize the burden of this
collection on the respondents, including
through the use of information
technology.
Dated: September 26, 2008.
Sheila Carey,
Acting Director, Information Collection
Clearance Division, Regulatory Information
Management Services, Office of Management.
Federal Student Aid
Type of Review: Extension.
Title: Application for Approval to
Participate in the Federal Student
Financial Aid Programs.
Frequency: On Occasion; Prior to
expiration of eligibility.
Affected Public: Businesses or other
for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions;
State, Local, or Tribal Gov’t, SEAs or
LEAs.
Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour
Burden:
Responses: 4,485.
Burden Hours: 21,181.
Abstract: The Higher Education Act of
1965 (HEA), as amended requires
postsecondary institutions to complete
and submit this application as a
condition of eligibility for any of the
Title IV student financial assistance
programs and for the other
postsecondary programs authorized by
the HEA. The institution must submit
the form (1) initially when it first seeks
to become eligible for the Title IV
programs; (2) when its program
E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM
02OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 192 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57340-57342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23219]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an
[[Page 57341]]
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mississippi River-Gulf
Outlet (MRGO) Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study within the Middle
and Lower Pontchartrain Basin and areas of southern Mississippi. The
Corps will evaluate a full range of comprehensive restoration measures
to restore important estuarine components and ecosystem processes
within the areas affected by the MRGO navigation channel and assess the
impacts associated with implementing the plan. The MRGO was authorized
by Congress in 1956 as a Federal navigation channel to provide a direct
route between the Port of New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.
Construction began in 1958 and was completed in 1968 to authorized
dimensions (36-foot depth by 500-foot width: 38-foot depth by 600-foot
bottom width in Bar Channel). Construction of the MRGO channel created
a direct deep water link between the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal and
the Gulf of Mexico allowing higher salinity waters to enter Lake Borgne
and Lake Pontchartrain estuaries. Construction resulted in direct
wetland losses, damages to the Bayou LaLoutre Ridge and alteration of
the adjacent landscape and hydrology by placement of dredge material
adjacent to the channel in upland confined disposal facilities. Since
Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005, the MRGO navigation channel
has not been maintained. A June closure plan and accompanying
Legislative EIS and Record of Decision titled ``Integrated Final Report
to Congress and Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the
Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Deep-Draft De-Authorization Study'' was
signed on June 5, 2008, officially deauthorizing the MRGO navigation
channel (from the Gulf of Mexico to Mile 60 at the southern bank of the
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway) and authorizing construction of a closure
structure at the south ridge of Bayou LaLoutre in St. Bernard Parish,
Louisiana and development of plan to restore the areas affected by the
MRGO Navigation channel.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for scoping meeting dates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be addressed to Ms. Sandra
Stiles at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CEMVNPM-RS, P.O. Box 60267, New
Orleans, LA 70160-0267, phone (504) 862-1583, fax number (504) 862-2088
or by e-mail at sandra.e.stiles@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority: Water Resources Development Act of 2007 Sections 7012
and 7013 authorized the Corps to develop a comprehensive closure and
restoration plan, at full Federal expense, to de-authorize deep-draft
navigation on the MRGO, Louisiana, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) and develop a restoration plan.
2. Proposed Action. The Corps will develop a comprehensive
ecosystem restoration plan to restore the areas affected by the MRGO
navigation channel to include: (1) Physically modifying the MRGO
channel and restoring areas affected by the channel; (2) restoring
natural ecosystem features to reduce damage from storm surge; (3)
measures preventing saltwater intrusion into the waterway; (4) measures
protecting, restoring or increasing wetlands to prevent saltwater
intrusion or storm surge; (5) measures reducing risk of storm damage to
communities by preventing or reducing wetland losses or restoring
wetlands in areas affected by navigation, oil and gas and other manmade
channels; (6) diversions to restore the Lake Borgne Ecosystem.
3. Alternatives. Restoration measures being considered include
physical modification and restoration of the MRGO navigation channel,
freshwater, sediment and nutrient introduction; shoreline protection
and bank stabilization; restoration and protection of natural ridges;
barrier island protection and restoration; wetland protection, creation
and restoration; water control measures (gates, weirs, sills, plugs,
etc.); measures to increase native vegetation; restoration of natural
features to reduce storm surge. Once restoration measures are
identified, alternative plans will be developed through various
combinations of restoration measures that best meet the study goals and
objectives and are determined to be cost-effective, environmentally
acceptable and technically feasible. Some measures may also be
recommended for implementation under other authorities.
4. Public Involvement. Stakeholder and public involvement for this
proposed action is integral to the project. Interested parties,
concerned citizens, and other State and Federal agencies, private and
not-for-profit or non-governmental organizations are strongly
encouraged to participate in the development of the proposed action.
Stakeholder and public meetings would be held throughout project
development. Meeting announcements would be made as information becomes
available.
5. Public Scoping Meeting. Scoping is the process utilized for
determining the range of alternatives and significant issues to be
addressed in the EIS. For this study, a letter will be mailed to all
parties believed to have an interest in the analysis. The letter will
notify interested parties of public scoping meetings that will be held
in the local area and request their input on alternatives and issues to
be evaluated. Notices will also be mailed to local news media. All
interested parties are invited to comment at this time, and anyone
interested in this study should request inclusion in the study mailing
list. A public scoping meeting will be held November 3, 2008 from 6-9
p.m. in Chalmette, Louisiana and November 6, 2008 from 6-9 p.m. in
Waveland, Mississippi. The exact location and address for the meetings
will be announced through local media channels. Additional meetings
could be held, depending upon public interest and if it is determined
that further public coordination is warranted.
6. Significant Issues. The tentative list of important resources
and issues that will be evaluated in the EIS include but are not
limited to tidal wetlands (marshes and swamps), barrier islands,
aquatic resources, commercial and recreational fisheries, wildlife
resources, essential fish habitat, water quality, air quality,
threatened and endangered species and critical habitat, recreation
resources, and cultural resources. Socioeconomic items to be evaluated
in the EIS include navigation; flood protection; business and
industrial activity; oil and gas pipelines; employment; land use;
property values; public/community facilities and services; tax
revenues; population, community and regional growth; transportation;
housing; community cohesion; environmental justice, aesthetics and
noise.
7. Environmental Consultation and Review. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) will assist in documenting existing conditions
and assessing effects of project alternatives through the 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 regarding the effects of
this proposed action on Essential Fish Habitat. The draft EIS or a
notice of its availability will be distributed to all interested
[[Page 57342]]
agencies, organizations, and individuals.
8. Estimated Date of Availability. The earliest that the DEIS is
expected to be available is March of 2010.
Dated: September 23, 2008.
Alvin B. Lee,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. E8-23219 Filed 10-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-P
