Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)-Louisiana, Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration Project, 78344-78345 [E8-30366]
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78344
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 246 / Monday, December 22, 2008 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)—
Louisiana, Terrebonne Basin Barrier
Shoreline Restoration Project
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a
supplemental environmental impact
statement (SEIS) for the Louisiana
Coastal Area (LCA)—Louisiana,
Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline
Restoration Project. This restoration
project will restore major reaches of the
Terrebonne barrier islands chain. This
SEIS will be tiered off of the
programmatic EIS for the Louisiana
Coastal Area (LCA)—Louisiana,
Ecosystem Restoration Study, November
2004. The record of decision for the
programmatic EIS was signed on
November 18, 2005.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for scoping meeting dates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the draft SEIS
should be addressed to Dr. William P.
Klein, Jr., CEMVN–PM–RS, P.O. Box
60267, New Orleans, LA 70160–0267;
telephone: (504) 862–2540; fax: (504)
862–1583; or by e-mail:
william.p.klein.jr@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority. This SEIS will be tiered
off of the programmatic EIS for the
Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)—
Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study,
November 2004. The record of decision
for the programmatic EIS was signed on
November 18, 2005. The Water
Resources Development Act of 2007
(WRDA 2007) authorized the LCA
program. The authority includes
requirements for comprehensive
planning, program governance,
implementation, and other program
components. The LCA restoration
program will facilitate the
implementation of critical restoration
features and essential science and
technology demonstration projects,
increase the beneficial use of dredged
material and determine the need for
modification of selected existing
projects to support coastal restoration
objectives. The LCA near-term plan
includes fifteen elements authorized for
implementation contingent upon
meeting certain reporting requirements.
Specifically, Section 7006(e)(3) instructs
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:07 Dec 19, 2008
Jkt 217001
the Secretary of the Army to submit
feasibility reports to Congress on six
elements of the LCA near-term
restoration plan by December 31, 2008.
The six elements are: (1) Multipurpose
Operation of Houma Navigation Lock,
(2) Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline
Restoration, (3) Small Diversion at
Convent/Blind River, (4) Amite River
Diversion Canal Modification, (5)
Medium Diversion at Whites Ditch, and
(6) Convey Atchafalaya River Water to
Northern Terrebonne Marshes. The
Congressional language further
authorizes construction of these six
elements contingent upon completion of
a favorable report of the Chief of
Engineers, no later than December 31,
2010, and subsequent submission to the
Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the
Senate.
2. Proposed Action. The Terrebonne
Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration
Project would restore major reaches of
the Terrebonne barrier island chain,
including the Isles Dernieres (East
Island, Trinity Island, and Whiskey
Island) Timbalier Island, and East
Timbalier Island. The objective of this
restoration project is to reduce the
number of breaches and enlarge the
width and dune crest of the barrier
islands. Specifically, this project has the
potential to prevent further barrier
island losses; restore endangered,
critical geomorphic structure, and
protect vital socioeconomic resources
such as oil and gas infrastructure and
fisheries.
3. Public Involvement. Public
involvement, an essential part of the
SEIS process, is integral to assessing the
environmental consequences of the
proposed action and improving the
quality of the environmental decision
making. The public includes affected
and interested Federal, state, and local
agencies, Indian tribes, concerned
citizens, stakeholders, and other
interested parties. Public participation
in the SEIS process will be strongly
encouraged, both formally and
informally, to enhance the probability of
a more technically accurate,
economically feasible, and socially and
politically acceptable SEIS. Public
involvement will include but is not
limited to: Information dissemination;
identification of problems, needs and
opportunities; idea generation; public
education; problem solving; providing
feedback on proposals; evaluation of
alternatives; conflict resolution by
consensus; public and scoping notices
and meetings; public, stakeholder and
advisory groups consultation and
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
meetings; and making the SEIS and
supporting information readily available
in conveniently located places, such as
libraries and on the World Wide Web.
4. Scoping. Scoping, an early and
open process for identifying the scope of
significant issues related to the
proposed action to be addressed in the
SEIS, will be used to: (a) Identify the
affected public and agency concerns; (b)
facilitate an efficient SEIS preparation
process; (c) define the issues and
alternatives that will be examined in
detail in the SEIS; and (d) save time in
the overall process by helping to ensure
that the draft SEIS adequately addresses
relevant issues. A Scoping Meeting
Notice announcing the locations, dates
and times for scoping meetings will be
mailed to all interested parties in
January 2009.
5. Coordination. The USACE and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
have formally committed to work
together to conserve, protect, and restore
fish and wildlife resources while
ensuring environmental sustainability of
our Nation’s water resources under the
January 22, 2003 Partnership Agreement
for Water Resources and Fish and
Wildlife. The USFWS will provide a
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
Report. Coordination will be maintained
with the USFWS and the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
regarding threatened and endangered
species under their respective
jurisdictional responsibilities.
Coordination will be maintained with
the NMFS regarding essential fish
habitat. Coordination will be
maintained with the Natural Resources
Conservation Service regarding prime
and unique farmlands. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture will be
consulted regarding the ‘‘Swampbuster’’
provisions of the Food Security Act.
Coordination will be maintained with
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency concerning compliance with
Executive Order 12898, ‘‘Federal Action
to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations.’’ Coordination will be
maintained with the Advisory Counsel
on Historic Preservation and the State
Historic Preservation Officer. The
Louisiana Department of Natural
Resources will be consulted regarding
consistency with the Coastal Zone
Management Act. The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
will be consulted concerning potential
impacts to Natural and Scenic Streams.
5. Availability of Draft SEIS. The
earliest that the draft SEIS will be
available for public review would be in
spring of 2010. The draft SEIS or a
notice of availability will be distributed
E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM
22DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 246 / Monday, December 22, 2008 / Notices
to affected Federal, state, and local
agencies, Indian tribes, and other
interested parties.
Dated: December 11, 2008.
Mark D. Jernigan,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Deputy
District Commander.
[FR Doc. E8–30366 Filed 12–19–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Postsecondary Education;
Overview Information; Fund for the
Improvement of Postsecondary
Education (FIPSE)—Special Focus
Competition: European Union-United
States Atlantis Program; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009
Dates:
Applications Available: December 22,
2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: March 23, 2009.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: May 25, 2009.
Full Text of Announcement
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the program is to provide grants to or
enter into cooperative agreements with
eligible applicants to improve
postsecondary education.
Priority: Under this competition, we
are particularly interested in
applications that address the following
priority.
Invitational Priority: For FY 2009, this
priority is an invitational priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not
give an application that meets this
invitational priority a competitive or
absolute preference over other
applications.
This priority is:
This priority is designed to support
the formation of educational consortia
of American and European institutions
to support cooperation in the
coordination of curricula, the exchange
of students, and the opening of
educational opportunities between the
United States (U.S.) and the European
Union (EU). This priority relates to the
purpose of the European Union-United
States Atlantis (Atlantis) Program to
develop and implement undergraduate
joint or dual degree programs, or shortterm exchange programs.
This invitational priority is
established in cooperation with the EU.
19:07 Dec 19, 2008
Jkt 217001
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79
apply to all applicants except federally
recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
(IHEs) only.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.116J.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
These awards support only the
participation of U.S. institutions and
students in the educational consortia
established under this priority. EU
institutions participating in any
consortium proposal responding to the
invitational priority may apply to the
Directorate-General for Education and
Culture (DG EAC), European
Commission, for funding under a
separate but parallel EU competition.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138–
1138d.
Applicable Regulations: The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,
84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$37,433,000 for the FIPSE programs, of
which we intend to allocate $4,486,000
for new awards for the European UnionUnited States Atlantis program in FY
2009. The actual level of funding, if any,
depends on final congressional action.
However, we are inviting applications to
allow enough time to complete the grant
process if Congress appropriates funds
for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $35,000–
$116,000 for the first year only.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$35,000 for a Policy Oriented Measures
grant, $45,000 for a Mobility grant, and
$116,000 for a Transatlantic Degree
grant. These figures are for the first year
of funding in a multi-year grant. You
can find a detailed description of each
of these three types of grants in the
program guidelines in the application
package for this competition.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $150,000 for a single budget
period of 12 months. The Assistant
Secretary for Postsecondary Education
may change the maximum amount
through a notice published in the
Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 45.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of
higher education (IHEs) or combinations
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
78345
of IHEs and other public and private
nonprofit institutions and agencies.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: You can obtain an application
package via the Internet or from the
Education Publications Center (ED
Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet,
use the following address:
www.Grants.gov. To obtain a copy from
ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the
following: Education Publications
Center, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD
20794–1398. Telephone, toll free: 1–
877–433–7827. FAX: (301) 470–1244. If
you use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1–877–
576–7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
site, also: https://www.ed.gov/pubs/
edpubs.html or at its e-mail address:
edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED
Pubs, be sure to identify this program or
competition as follows: CFDA number
84.116J.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain a copy of the application package
in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) by contacting the person or
team listed under Accessible Format in
section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning
the content of an application, together
with the forms you must submit, are in
the application package for this
competition.
Word Limit and Application Format:
The application narrative (Part III of the
application) is where you, the applicant,
address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your
application. You must limit the
application narrative (Part III) to no
more than 6000 words. The page format
for the application must comply with
the following standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5’’ x 11’’, on one side
only, with 1’’ margins at the top,
bottom, and both sides.
• Double space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
application narrative, including titles,
headings, footnotes, quotations,
references, and captions, as well as all
text in charts, tables, figures, and
graphs.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch).
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM
22DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 246 (Monday, December 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78344-78345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30366]
[[Page 78344]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)--Louisiana, Terrebonne
Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration Project
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a
supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Louisiana
Coastal Area (LCA)--Louisiana, Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline
Restoration Project. This restoration project will restore major
reaches of the Terrebonne barrier islands chain. This SEIS will be
tiered off of the programmatic EIS for the Louisiana Coastal Area
(LCA)--Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004. The
record of decision for the programmatic EIS was signed on November 18,
2005.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for scoping meeting dates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the draft SEIS
should be addressed to Dr. William P. Klein, Jr., CEMVN-PM-RS, P.O. Box
60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267; telephone: (504) 862-2540; fax:
(504) 862-1583; or by e-mail: william.p.klein.jr@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority. This SEIS will be tiered off of the programmatic EIS
for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)--Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration
Study, November 2004. The record of decision for the programmatic EIS
was signed on November 18, 2005. The Water Resources Development Act of
2007 (WRDA 2007) authorized the LCA program. The authority includes
requirements for comprehensive planning, program governance,
implementation, and other program components. The LCA restoration
program will facilitate the implementation of critical restoration
features and essential science and technology demonstration projects,
increase the beneficial use of dredged material and determine the need
for modification of selected existing projects to support coastal
restoration objectives. The LCA near-term plan includes fifteen
elements authorized for implementation contingent upon meeting certain
reporting requirements. Specifically, Section 7006(e)(3) instructs the
Secretary of the Army to submit feasibility reports to Congress on six
elements of the LCA near-term restoration plan by December 31, 2008.
The six elements are: (1) Multipurpose Operation of Houma Navigation
Lock, (2) Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration, (3) Small
Diversion at Convent/Blind River, (4) Amite River Diversion Canal
Modification, (5) Medium Diversion at Whites Ditch, and (6) Convey
Atchafalaya River Water to Northern Terrebonne Marshes. The
Congressional language further authorizes construction of these six
elements contingent upon completion of a favorable report of the Chief
of Engineers, no later than December 31, 2010, and subsequent
submission to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate.
2. Proposed Action. The Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline
Restoration Project would restore major reaches of the Terrebonne
barrier island chain, including the Isles Dernieres (East Island,
Trinity Island, and Whiskey Island) Timbalier Island, and East
Timbalier Island. The objective of this restoration project is to
reduce the number of breaches and enlarge the width and dune crest of
the barrier islands. Specifically, this project has the potential to
prevent further barrier island losses; restore endangered, critical
geomorphic structure, and protect vital socioeconomic resources such as
oil and gas infrastructure and fisheries.
3. Public Involvement. Public involvement, an essential part of the
SEIS process, is integral to assessing the environmental consequences
of the proposed action and improving the quality of the environmental
decision making. The public includes affected and interested Federal,
state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, concerned citizens,
stakeholders, and other interested parties. Public participation in the
SEIS process will be strongly encouraged, both formally and informally,
to enhance the probability of a more technically accurate, economically
feasible, and socially and politically acceptable SEIS. Public
involvement will include but is not limited to: Information
dissemination; identification of problems, needs and opportunities;
idea generation; public education; problem solving; providing feedback
on proposals; evaluation of alternatives; conflict resolution by
consensus; public and scoping notices and meetings; public, stakeholder
and advisory groups consultation and meetings; and making the SEIS and
supporting information readily available in conveniently located
places, such as libraries and on the World Wide Web.
4. Scoping. Scoping, an early and open process for identifying the
scope of significant issues related to the proposed action to be
addressed in the SEIS, will be used to: (a) Identify the affected
public and agency concerns; (b) facilitate an efficient SEIS
preparation process; (c) define the issues and alternatives that will
be examined in detail in the SEIS; and (d) save time in the overall
process by helping to ensure that the draft SEIS adequately addresses
relevant issues. A Scoping Meeting Notice announcing the locations,
dates and times for scoping meetings will be mailed to all interested
parties in January 2009.
5. Coordination. The USACE and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) have formally committed to work together to conserve, protect,
and restore fish and wildlife resources while ensuring environmental
sustainability of our Nation's water resources under the January 22,
2003 Partnership Agreement for Water Resources and Fish and Wildlife.
The USFWS will provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report.
Coordination will be maintained with the USFWS and the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding threatened and endangered species
under their respective jurisdictional responsibilities. Coordination
will be maintained with the NMFS regarding essential fish habitat.
Coordination will be maintained with the Natural Resources Conservation
Service regarding prime and unique farmlands. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture will be consulted regarding the ``Swampbuster'' provisions
of the Food Security Act. Coordination will be maintained with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency concerning compliance with Executive
Order 12898, ``Federal Action to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.'' Coordination will be
maintained with the Advisory Counsel on Historic Preservation and the
State Historic Preservation Officer. The Louisiana Department of
Natural Resources will be consulted regarding consistency with the
Coastal Zone Management Act. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries will be consulted concerning potential impacts to Natural and
Scenic Streams.
5. Availability of Draft SEIS. The earliest that the draft SEIS
will be available for public review would be in spring of 2010. The
draft SEIS or a notice of availability will be distributed
[[Page 78345]]
to affected Federal, state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and
other interested parties.
Dated: December 11, 2008.
Mark D. Jernigan,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Deputy District Commander.
[FR Doc. E8-30366 Filed 12-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
