[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 54 (Monday, March 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14939-14940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6735]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


BS-3a Caernarvon Diversion Outfall Management Project Plaquemines 
Parish, Louisiana

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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 Caernarvon 
Diversion Outfall Management Project, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald W. Gohmert, State 
Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 3737 
Government

[[Page 14940]]

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 project will promote better utilization of available freshwater 
and nutrients from the Mississippi River, via the Caernarvon Diversion, 
for the maintenance of project area marshes. Benefits will include 
increasing freshwater retention time and allowing river water 
dispersion into interior marshes during periods of low diversion 
discharges from the Caernarvon Diversion Structure. This will reduce 
saltwater intrusion and salinity variation within the project area. The 
project is expected to protect and enhance existing marshes, increase 
the occurrence of emergent and submergent marsh vegetation, and improve 
fish and wildlife habitat on 18,200 acres of intermediate marsh and 
shallow open water bodies.
    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. 00-6735 Filed 3-17-00; 8:45 am]
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