[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 120 (Tuesday, June 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34151-34153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16642]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of Army
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the West Shore--Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Hurricane Protection 
Feasibility Study

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 34152]]

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District 
proposes to determine the feasibility of providing protection against 
hurricane-induced flooding for residents located in portions of St. 
Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James Parishes, Louisiana. The 
study area, with a population in excess of 25,000 residents, is bounded 
by the Bonnet Carre Spillway to the east, the Mississippi River to the 
south, Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas to the north, and the St. 
James/Ascension Parish line to the west. There are no Federal hurricane 
protection projects protecting the study area from a tidal surge coming 
from Lake Pontchartrain and Maurepas. The vulnerability of the study 
area to a hurricane tidal surge is demonstrated by the fact that there 
are an estimated 1,000 residential structures subject to flooding from 
the 25-year storm, 3,990 residential structures subject to flooding 
from the 100-year storm, and 4,020 residential structures subject to 
flooding from the 500-year storm. The equivalent annual flood damages 
for the without-project conditions are estimated at $9.4 million. A 
reconnaissance study completed in June 1997, evaluated two alternative 
alignments for providing hurricane protection to the study area at the 
100-year and the standard project hurricane (SPH) levels of protection. 
Both alternative alignments were determined to be economically 
justified at both levels of protection. Hence, the reconnaissance 
report recommended that the study proceed to 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 
Pontchartrain Levee District on March 16, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the proposed 
action should be directed to the study manager, Mr. Brett H. Herr, 
CEMVN-PD-FG, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267, 
telephone (504) 862-2495. Questions regarding the DEIS may be directed 
to Dr. William P. Klein, Jr., CEMVN-PD-RS, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70160-0267, telephone (504) 862-2450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Authority

    The study was authorized by a resolution adopted on July 29, 1971, 
by the Committee on Public Works of the U.S. House of Representatives; 
and by a resolution adopted on September 20, 1974, by the Committee on 
Public Works of the U.S. Senate.

2. Proposed Action

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District proposes to 
investigate the feasibility of providing hurricane protection to 
residents living west of the Bonnet Carre Spillway between the 
Mississippi River and Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. The study area 
is located on the ``east bank'' of the Mississippi River and includes 
portions of St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James Parishes.

3. Study Alternatives

    Two alternative alignments for providing hurricanes protection to 
the study area were evaluated during the reconnaissance study phase. 
The two alignments are identical except for a portion located west of 
Belle Terre Boulevard. Both alignments (Plan 1 and Plan 2) begin at the 
west guide levee of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, approximately 2 miles 
south of Lake Pontchartrain. Both alignments end at U.S. Highway 61 in 
the vicinity of the Reserve Relief Canal. The alignment for Plan 1 more 
closely follows the existing limits of development and encloses less 
wooded swamps and bottomland hardwoods than Plan 2. The alignment for 
Plan 2 parallels Interstate 10 for an additional 1.2 miles west of the 
Belle Terre Boulevard interchange before turning to the southwest and 
heading back towards U.S. Highway 61. The alignments for Plan 1 and 
Plan 2 do not follow the wetland/nonwetland interface. Plan 1 and Plan 
2 would enclose approximately 3,269 acres and 4,614 acres of wooded 
swamps and bottomland hardwoods, respectively.
    An alternative alignment (Plan 3), provided by the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be evaluated during this study. This 
USFWS alignment more closely follows the existing wetlands/non-wetlands 
interface. These three alternative plans, along with other alternative 
plans developed during the feasibility phase, will be evaluated in more 
detail such that the level of protection provided by the proposed 
action will be optimized based on an economic analysis of the benefits 
and costs. Design features will be fully 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. An Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared during the feasibility phase 
because of the potential for significant direct and indirect impacts on 
the human environment in general, and on large tracts of forested 
wetlands, in particular.

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

    In the summer of 1998, the New Orleans District of the U.S. Army 
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 will provide a Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act Report. Coordination will be maintained with the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service 
on threatened and endangered species. 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 DEIS will be available for public review 
during the

[[Page 34153]]

summer of 2000. 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: June 9, 1998.
William L. Conner,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 98-16642 Filed 6-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-M