Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)-Louisiana, Modification of Davis Pond Diversion Project, 45831-45832 [E9-21372]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 171 / Friday, September 4, 2009 / Notices
BILLING CODE 5001–06–C
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)—
Louisiana, Modification of Davis Pond
Diversion Project
Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) intends to prepare a
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:16 Sep 03, 2009
Jkt 217001
supplemental environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the Louisiana Coastal
Area (LCA)—Louisiana, Modification of
Davis Pond Diversion Project. This
modification project will be designed to
increase wetland restoration outputs.
This supplemental EIS will be tiered off
of the programmatic final EIS for the
Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)—
Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration Study,
November 2004, and the final EIS for
the LCA—Louisiana, Freshwater
Diversion to Barataria and Breton Sound
Basins Study, September 1984. The
record of decision (ROD) for the
programmatic final EIS was signed on
November 18, 2005 and the ROD for the
freshwater diversion final EIS was
signed on July 16, 1987.
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
DATES: A scoping meeting is planned for
October 6, 2009, see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for scoping meeting
location.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the draft
supplemental EIS should be addressed
to Michael T. Brown, CEMVN–PM–RP,
P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA
70160–0267; telephone: (504) 862–1570;
fax: (504) 862–2088; or by email:
michael.t.brown@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority. This supplemental EIS
will be tiered off of the programmatic
final EIS for the LCA—Louisiana,
Ecosystem Restoration Study, November
2004 and the final EIS for the LCA—
Louisiana, Freshwater Diversion to
E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM
04SEN1
EN04SE09.004
[FR Doc. E9–21357 Filed 9–3–09; 8:45 am]
45831
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
45832
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 171 / Friday, September 4, 2009 / Notices
Barataria and Breton Sound Basins
Study, September 1984. The Water
Resources Development Act of 2007
(WRDA 2007) authorized fifteen projects
under 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)(1)(D)
instructs the Secretary of the Army to
carry out the following project referred
to in the restoration plan: (D)
Modification of Davis Pond Diversion at
a total cost of $64,200,000. The
Congressional language further directs
completion of a feasibility report of the
Chief of Engineers, 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 Modification
of Davis Pond Diversion Project would
increase wetland restoration outputs in
the Barataria Basin. The objective of this
modification project is to: Maximize the
use of the existing diversion structure
for the purpose of decreasing wetland
loss and increasing habitat quality.
3. Alternatives. Restoration measures
being considered include changing the
structure’s operational plan to flow at
maximum capacity; to flow at 5,000
cubic feet per second (cfs) on average;
and to include pulsing (fully opening
the structure’s gates during a rise in the
Mississippi River to maximize
suspended sediment delivery). Other
possible alternatives include physical
land modifications to divert water to
areas that currently do not receive
diversion flows; marsh restoration; and
measures to increase native vegetation
and submerged aquatic vegetation.
Alternative plans will be developed
through various combinations of
restoration measures that best meet the
study goals and objectives and is
determined to be cost-effective,
environmentally acceptable and
technically feasible.
4. Public Involvement. Public
involvement, an essential part of the
supplemental EIS process, is integral to
assessing the environmental
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:16 Sep 03, 2009
Jkt 217001
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 supplemental EIS
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 supplemental EIS. 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 supplemental
EIS and supporting information readily
available in conveniently located places,
such as libraries and on the world wide
web.
5. Scoping. Scoping, an early and
open process for identifying the scope of
significant issues related to the
proposed action to be addressed in the
supplemental EIS, will be used to: (a)
Identify the affected public and agency
concerns; (b) facilitate an efficient
supplemental EIS preparation process;
(c) define the issues and alternatives
that will be examined in detail in the
supplemental EIS; and (d) save time in
the overall process by helping to ensure
that the draft supplemental EIS
adequately addresses relevant issues.
The public scoping meeting is
scheduled for October 6, 2009 at 6:00
p.m. at Cytec’s Tom Call Pavilion, 10800
River Road, Waggaman, Louisiana. A
Scoping Meeting Notice will also be
mailed to all interested parties in
September 2009. Additional meetings
could be held, depending upon public
interest and if it is determined that
further public coordination is
warranted.
6. 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
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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.
7. Availability of Draft Supplemental
EIS. The earliest that the draft
supplemental EIS will be available for
public review would be in spring of
2011. The draft supplemental EIS or a
notice of availability will be distributed
to affected Federal, state, and local
agencies, Indian tribes, and other
interested parties.
Dated: August 27, 2009.
Alvin B. Lee,
Colonel, US Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. E9–21372 Filed 9–3–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
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, Stabilize Gulf Shoreline at
Point Au Fer Island Feasibility Study
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), along with its local
sponsor the Louisiana Office of Coastal
Protection and Restoration, intends to
prepare a supplemental environmental
impact statement (SEIS) for the
Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)—
Louisiana, Stabilize Gulf Shoreline at
Point Au Fer Island restoration project.
E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM
04SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 171 (Friday, September 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45831-45832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21372]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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, Modification
of Davis Pond Diversion 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 (EIS) for the Louisiana
Coastal Area (LCA)--Louisiana, Modification of Davis Pond Diversion
Project. This modification project will be designed to increase wetland
restoration outputs. This supplemental EIS will be tiered off of the
programmatic final EIS for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)--Louisiana,
Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 2004, and the final EIS for the
LCA--Louisiana, Freshwater Diversion to Barataria and Breton Sound
Basins Study, September 1984. The record of decision (ROD) for the
programmatic final EIS was signed on November 18, 2005 and the ROD for
the freshwater diversion final EIS was signed on July 16, 1987.
DATES: A scoping meeting is planned for October 6, 2009, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for scoping meeting location.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the draft
supplemental EIS should be addressed to Michael T. Brown, CEMVN-PM-RP,
P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267; telephone: (504) 862-1570;
fax: (504) 862-2088; or by email: michael.t.brown@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority. This supplemental EIS will be tiered off of the
programmatic final EIS for the LCA--Louisiana, Ecosystem Restoration
Study, November 2004 and the final EIS for the LCA--Louisiana,
Freshwater Diversion to
[[Page 45832]]
Barataria and Breton Sound Basins Study, September 1984. The Water
Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA 2007) authorized fifteen
projects under 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)(1)(D) instructs the Secretary of the Army to carry out
the following project referred to in the restoration plan: (D)
Modification of Davis Pond Diversion at a total cost of $64,200,000.
The Congressional language further directs completion of a feasibility
report of the Chief of Engineers, 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 Modification of Davis Pond Diversion
Project would increase wetland restoration outputs in the Barataria
Basin. The objective of this modification project is to: Maximize the
use of the existing diversion structure for the purpose of decreasing
wetland loss and increasing habitat quality.
3. Alternatives. Restoration measures being considered include
changing the structure's operational plan to flow at maximum capacity;
to flow at 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on average; and to include
pulsing (fully opening the structure's gates during a rise in the
Mississippi River to maximize suspended sediment delivery). Other
possible alternatives include physical land modifications to divert
water to areas that currently do not receive diversion flows; marsh
restoration; and measures to increase native vegetation and submerged
aquatic vegetation. Alternative plans will be developed through various
combinations of restoration measures that best meet the study goals and
objectives and is determined to be cost-effective, environmentally
acceptable and technically feasible.
4. Public Involvement. Public involvement, an essential part of the
supplemental EIS 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 supplemental EIS 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 supplemental EIS. 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 supplemental EIS and
supporting information readily available in conveniently located
places, such as libraries and on the world wide web.
5. Scoping. Scoping, an early and open process for identifying the
scope of significant issues related to the proposed action to be
addressed in the supplemental EIS, will be used to: (a) Identify the
affected public and agency concerns; (b) facilitate an efficient
supplemental EIS preparation process; (c) define the issues and
alternatives that will be examined in detail in the supplemental EIS;
and (d) save time in the overall process by helping to ensure that the
draft supplemental EIS adequately addresses relevant issues. The public
scoping meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at
Cytec's Tom Call Pavilion, 10800 River Road, Waggaman, Louisiana. A
Scoping Meeting Notice will also be mailed to all interested parties in
September 2009. Additional meetings could be held, depending upon
public interest and if it is determined that further public
coordination is warranted.
6. 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.
7. Availability of Draft Supplemental EIS. The earliest that the
draft supplemental EIS will be available for public review would be in
spring of 2011. The draft supplemental EIS or a notice of availability
will be distributed to affected Federal, state, and local agencies,
Indian tribes, and other interested parties.
Dated: August 27, 2009.
Alvin B. Lee,
Colonel, US Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. E9-21372 Filed 9-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P