[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 226 (Friday, November 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 58055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28591]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Mississippi River Sediment Nutrient and Freshwater 
Redistribution Feasibility Study; Louisiana

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a DEIS.

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SUMMARY: This study will investigate the Federal involvement in the 
redistribution of Mississippi River flows at various locations between 
the Old River Control Structure and Head of Passes. River water will 
provide sediments, nutrients, and freshwater to offset wetlands loss 
resulting from subsidence and saltwater intrusion.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the proposed study can be answered by Mr. Tim 
Axtman, (504) 862-1921, and questions concerning the DEIS can be 
answered by Mr. Michael Saucier, (504) 862-2525, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Planning Division (CELMN-PD), P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70160-0267.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Authority

    This study is being funded as specified in the Coastal Wetlands 
Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA, PL 101-646). At the 
direction of the CWPPRA Task Force, the study is being led and managed 
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Members of the Task Force are the 
Secretary of the Army who serves as chairman, the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Agriculture, the 
Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Interior, and the Governor of 
Louisiana. The other members of the Task Force will provide input to 
the proposed study.

2. Proposed Action

    The objective of this study is the maximization of the available 
resources of the Mississippi River for use in creation, restoration, 
protection, and enhancement of coastal wetlands in Louisiana.

3. Alternatives

    Alternatives for addressing wetland loss will include, but are not 
limited to, freshwater diversion through siphons over the river levee, 
freshwater diversion through structures built in the river levee, 
sediment diversion through structures built in the river levee, and 
freshwater and sediment diversion through crevasse construction in the 
natural river bank. These alternatives will be compared to the No-
Action alternative.

4. Public Involvement and Scoping

    a. Three scoping meetings will be held within the study area to 
identify the desires of the public. Members of the CWPPRA Task Force 
Environmental Work Group will participate as facilitators in the 
scoping meetings, organized by the Corps of Engineers. Participants in 
the scoping meetings will be requested to make comments on 
alternatives, significant issues, or impacts of alternatives for 
inclusion in the DEIS. Comments received as a result of this process 
will be compiled and analyzed, and a Scoping Document summarizing the 
results will be made available to all participants.
    b. Significant issues to be addressed in the DEIS currently 
include: extent of wetland loss under current conditions and if no 
remedial action is taken, environmental benefits of proposed 
alternatives, relocations required, and effects on fish and wildlife, 
endangered species, cultural resources, recreation, and socio-economic 
concerns.
    c. The U.S. Department of the Interior will provide a Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act Report to accompany the DEIS. Coordination 
will be maintained with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the 
National Marine Fisheries Service concerning endangered and threatened 
species. We will prepare a Section 404(b)(1) evaluation for review by 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other interested parties. 
Coordination will be maintained with the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Officer. The Louisiana 
Department of Natural Resources will be consulted regarding consistency 
with the State's Coastal Resources Program. Application for a State 
Water Quality Certificate will be made with the Louisiana Department of 
Environmental Quality.
    d. A 45-day public review period will be allowed so that all 
interested agencies, groups, and individuals will have an opportunity 
to review and comment on the DEIS.

5. Meeting Schedule

    The public will be informed of the dates and locations of the 
scoping meetings when scheduled. A public meeting will be held during 
the review period to receive comments on the DEIS.

6. Availability

    The DEIS is scheduled to be available to the public in November 
1997.

    Dated: October 30, 1995.
Kenneth H. Clow,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 95-28591 Filed 11-22-95; 8:45 am]
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