[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 44 (Monday, March 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 11760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5269]



[[Page 11760]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


TE 36 Thin-Mat Floating Marsh Enhancement Demonstration Project 
Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana

AGENCY:  Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agriculture.

ACTION:  Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY:  Pursuant to Section 102 (2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 
CFR Part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
Guidelines (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an 
environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Thin-Mat 
Floating Marsh Demonstration Project, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Donald W. Gohmert, State 
Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 3737 
Government Street, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302; telephone (318) 473-
7751.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The environmental assessment of the 
federally assisted action indicates that the project will not cause 
significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As 
a result of these findings, Donald W. Gohmert, State Conservationist, 
has determined that preparation and review of an environmental impact 
statement is not needed for this project.
    The demonstration project will test the potential of restoring 
thin-mat floating marsh to thick-mat maidencane (Panicum hemitomon) 
floating marsh using three methods and all possible combinations 
thereof: (1) Transplanting maidencane into the thin-mat marsh, (2) 
inducing growth through fertilization, and (3) inducing growth through 
reduction of mammalian grazing. The project directly impacts less than 
4 acres of fresh marsh within the northwestern part of the Penchant 
Basin in Terrebonne Parish. The potential benefits of developing 
management tools to restore a large area of existing thin-mat marsh 
exceed the risk of negatively impacting less than 4 acres.
    The Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 
forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency and to various 
federal, state, and local agencies and interested parties. A limited 
number of copies of the FONSI are available to fill single copy 
requests at the above address. Basic data collected during the 
environmental assessment are on file and may be reviewed by contacting 
Donald W. Gohmert.
    No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be 
taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.

Donald W. Gohmert,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 00-5269 Filed 3-3-00; 8:45 am]
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