[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 88 (Friday, May 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26192-26193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11296]
[[Page 26192]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for Wetland Restoration and/or Creation in the Barataria Basin,
Louisiana, a Component of the Louisiana Coastal Area, Louisiana--
Ecosystem Restoration, Barrier Island Restoration, Marsh Creation, and
River Diversion, Barataria Basin Feasibility Study
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), New Orleans District (NOD) will prepare a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) to determine the feasibility of implementing
wetland restoration/creation in the Barataria Basin, located in
Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The proposed action is strategically
planned as an initial effort for coastal restoration under the existing
authority for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA), Louisiana--Ecosystem
Restoration Louisiana--Ecosystem Restoration, Barrier Island
Restoration, Marsh Creation, and River Diversion, Barataria Basin
Feasibility Study.
The LCA Feasibility Study will evaluate the coastal restoration
strategies described in the December 1998 document entitled ``Coast
2050: Toward a Sustainable Coastal Louisiana''. The LCA Feasibility
Study will evaluate the Coast 2050 Plan as a whole and select
strategies, such as the proposed action, to be analyzed in feasibility-
level detail. The Coast 2050 Plan has been developed under legislative
mandate and is a result of recognition by Federal, State, and local
agencies that a single plan is needed that incorporates a clear vision
for the coast, builds on previous work, integrates coastal management
and coastal restoration approaches, and adopts a multiple-use approach
to restoration planning.
In general, the overall purpose of the Coast 2050 Plan is to
sustain a coastal ecosystem that supports and protects the environment,
economy, and culture of southern Louisiana, and contributes greatly to
the economy and well-being of the nation. The purpose of the Coast 2050
strategies for the Barataria Basin is to restore and/or protect the
natural and human environment to create a sustainable ecosystem in the
Barataria Basin within the context of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem,
including coastal Louisiana. The purpose of the proposed action,
wetland restoration/creation strategy R2-16 and R2-17 of the Coast 2050
Plan for the Barataria Basin, is to restore and create wetlands in the
western Barataria Basin so as to protect and sustain the ecological
functions, the natural distributary ridges, and the local human
infrastructure of the area.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the DEIS may be
directed to Dr. William P. Klein, Jr., CEMVN-PM-RS, P.O. Box 60267, New
Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267; telephone (504) 862-2540 or fax (504)
862-2572. Questions regarding the proposed action should be directed to
the study manager, Mr. Edmond J. Russo, Jr., CEMVN-PM-CWPPRA, P.O. Box
60267, New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267, telephone (504) 862-1496 or
fax: (504) 862-2572.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority.
This study is authorized through Resolutions of the U.S. House of
Representatives and Senate Committees on Public Works, 19 October 1967
and 19 April 1967. Representatives and Senate Committees on Public
Works, 19 October 1967 and 19 April 1967.
2. Proposed Action
a. The proposed action is one of three separate actions to be
initially considered under the LCA, Louisiana--Ecosystem Restoration
Louisiana--Ecosystem Restoration, Barrier Island Restoration, Marsh
Creation, and River Diversion, Barataria Basin Feasibility Study. The
USACE, NOD proposes to investigate the feasibility of restoring and/or
creating wetlands in the southwestern portion of the Barataria Basin,
Louisiana.
The purpose of the proposed action, wetland restoration/creation
strategies R2-16 and R2-17 of the Coast 2050 Plan for the Barataria
Basin, is to restore and create wetlands in the southwestern portions
of the Barataria Basin so as to protect and sustain the ecological
functions, the natural distributary ridges, and the local human
infrastructure of the area.
b. The study area is located within the Barataria Basin of
southeastern Louisiana in Lafourche Parish. The study area is bounded
on the north by the West Fork Bayou L'Ours, on the west by Bayou
Lafourche, on the south by Louisiana State Highway 1, and on the east
by the Lafourche Parish and Jefferson Parish boundary. The study area
is experiencing wetland loss at the rate of approximately 11 square
miles per year.
Wetland loss within the Barataria Basin is attributed to the
combination of natural erosional processes of sea-level rise,
subsidence, herbivory, and the human activities of levee construction,
channelization, and development. Freshwater and sediment input into the
Barataria Basin was virtually eliminated by the flood protection levees
constructed along the Mississippi River and the closure of Bayou
Lafourche at Donaldsonville. The only significant source of fresh water
in the basin is rainfall. There is some freshwater input into the basin
by the siphons located at Naomi and at West Pointe a la Hache (each
siphon has a maximum output of about 2,000 cubic feet per second).
When Davis Pond becomes operational in April 2001, it could
potentially divert up to 10,650 cubic feet per second dependent upon
the salinity conditions in the basin. However, it is predicted that the
sediment-laden waters will collect in the ponding area about two miles
from the Davis Pond structure located at U.S. Highway 90 and Lake
Catouatche. Little, if any, of this would likely directly impact the
proposed action area.
c. The Coast 2050 Plan serves as the joint coastal restoration plan
of the Breaux Act Task Force and the State Wetlands Authority. The
Coast 2050 Plan was completed in December 1998 through a joint effort
of the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task
Force and the Louisiana Wetlands Conservation and Restoration
Authority. Coast 2050 is a planning effort inspired by the severity of
the problems facing south Louisiana, as well as an increased level of
confidence in our ability to understand the ecosystem and to implement
effective restoration projects.
The Coast 2050 Plan combines elements of all previous efforts,
along with new initiatives from private citizens, local governments,
State and Federal agency personnel, and the scientific community. For
the first time, as explicitly called for by the Coalition to Restore
Coastal Louisiana in 1997, diverse groups have come together to develop
one shared vision for the coast expressed in this overarching goal: To
sustain a coastal ecosystem that supports and protects the environment,
economy and culture of southern Louisiana, and that contributes greatly
to the economy and well-being of the nation.
d. Need for the Study.--The Coast 2050 Reconnaissance Report
recommended that the study proceed to
[[Page 26193]]
the feasibility phase, contingent upon the execution of a Feasibility
Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) with a non-Federal Sponsor. An FCSA was
executed with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LADNR) on
February 18, 2000. The proposed action focuses on wetland restoration/
creation in the Barataria Basin ecosystem due to the very high rate of
wetland loss, estimated at about 11 square miles per year, throughout
the basin.
The proposed action also provides additional advantages: (1) This
proposed action potentially provides a low risk and quickly
implementable plan to address wetland loss in the Barataria Basin; (2)
the proposed action study area is strategically placed and could
potentially yield benefits to other coastal resources within the unique
Barataria Basin ecosystem, geologic framework, and the human
environment infrastructure associated with transportation, oil and gas
extraction, utilities, etc.; (3) the proposed action could also provide
additional benefits in terms of protection of important landscape
structural features that function as important hydrological features
within the Barataria Basin; and (4) the proposed action could be
implemented independently of the remaining Coast 2050 Plan strategies
for the Barataria Basin.
3. Study Alternatives
a. During the Coast 2050 public meetings conducted in 1998, two
marsh creation strategies, Strategy R2-17--Dedicated Dredging near
Caminada Bay and Strategy R2-16--Dedicated Dredging Along Louisiana
Highway 1, were considered as viable ecosystem restoration strategies.
Hence, these strategies will be developed into alternatives for the
proposed action. Other alternatives that will be considered include:
The No Action Alternative, filling, marsh replenishing, terracing, and
the beneficial use of dredged material from maintenance dredging of
navigation channels. In addition, alternatives developed during the
scoping process will also be developed and considered.
b. Wetland restoration/creation design features will be evaluated
to ensure compliance with current Federal and State laws and
regulations. Any adverse effects of the alternative plans will be
identified and appropriate mitigation measures will be included in the
plans. However, because the proposed action is ecosystem restoration,
it is not the intent to generate alternative plans that would require
mitigation. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared
during the feasibility phase because of the potential for significant
direct and indirect, secondary, and cumulative impacts on the human and
natural environment.
4. Scoping Process
An intensive public involvement program will be initiated and
maintained throughout the study to solicit input from affected Federal,
State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and interested private
organizations and individuals. Scoping is a critical component of the
overall public involvement program. The scoping process is designed to
provide an early and open means of determining the scope of issues
(problems, needs, and opportunities) to be identified and addressed in
the DEIS.
5. Public Scoping Meeting
The Corps of Engineers and the LADNR invite NEPA input in writing
or in person concerning the scope of the EIS, resources to be
evaluated, and alternatives to be considered. Individuals, groups,
agencies and other interested parties can write comments to the Corps
of Engineers using Dr. Klein's mailing address shown above. In the
early summer of 2000, the Corps of Engineers will hold at least one
public meeting in the study area to receive oral and written comments
on the proposed action. Notices will be mailed to the affected and
interested public once the date of the public scoping meeting has been
established. Comments received as a result of the scoping meeting will
be compiled and analyzed; and a Scoping Document, summarizing the
results, will be made available to all participants.
6. Interagency Coordination
The Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will
provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report. Coordination will
be maintained with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National
Marine Fisheries Service regarding threatened and endangered species
under their respective jurisdictional responsibilities. 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. We will prepare a section 404(b)(1)
evaluation. 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 contacted
concerning potential impacts to Natural and Scenic Streams. Application
will be made to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for a
Water Quality Certificate.
7. Availability of DEIS
It is anticipated that the Draft EIS will be available for public
review during the spring of 2001. A 45-day review period will be
allowed so that all interested agencies, groups, and individuals will
have an opportunity to comment on the draft report and EIS. In
addition, a public meeting will be held during the review period to
receive comments and address questions concerning the draft EIS.
Dated: April 26, 2000.
Thomas F. Julich,
Colonel, U.S. Army District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 00-11296 Filed 5-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-P