[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 208 (Friday, October 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 54324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26995]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[CGD08-01-038]


Proposed Faciane Canal Bridge Project; Faciane Canal Near 
Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will hold a public hearing to receive comments 
on an application by Waterfront Developers L.L.C. for Coast Guard 
approval of the location and plans for a proposed bridge. The proposed 
location of the bridge is across the Faciane Canal, mile 0.1, near 
Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The hearing will allow 
interested persons to present comments and information concerning the 
impact of the proposed bridge project on navigation and the human 
environment.

DATES: This hearing will be held on November 28, 2001, commencing at 7 
p.m. Comments must be received by December 13, 2001. Requests to speak 
and requests for services must be received in the office of Bridge 
Administration at the address given under ADDRESSES by November 21, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at the cafetorium of Salmen High 
School, 4040 Berkley Drive, Slidell, Louisiana 70458.
    Written comments may be submitted to, and will be available for 
examination between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays at the office of the Eighth Coast Guard District, 
Bridge Administration Branch, Commander (obc), 501 Magazine Street, New 
Orleans, Louisiana 70130-3396. Please submit all comments in an unbound 
format, no larger than 8 x 11 inches, suitable for copying and 
electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgement of receipt of 
comments should enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Frank, Project Officer, 
Bridge Administration Branch, telephone (504) 589-2965.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The proposed project consists of constructing a movable bridge from 
Carr Drive to Paradise Island across the Faciane Canal. The proposed 
bridge will be 135 feet long and will have a clear roadway width of 12 
feet. The applicant, based upon comments from interested persons, has 
moved the location of the draw of the bridge to the approximate center 
of the channel and has increased the horizontal clearance to 30 feet 
between the fender system. The vertical clearance of the proposed 
bridge in the closed-to-navigation position is 5.7 feet above mean high 
water, elevation 1.3 feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL) and unlimited in 
the open-to-navigation position.
    The proposed bridge, if approved, will be operated and lighted in 
accordance with the requirements of Title 33, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Parts 117 and 118. The bridge will be maintained in the 
open-to-navigation position and close for vehicular traffic by code 
control panels accessible only to authorized personnel.
    The Coast Guard, as lead federal agency for the proposed project, 
has reviewed the applicant-prepared Environmental Assessment (EA). 
Based upon the EA, the Coast Guard has tentatively determined that the 
proposed action will not have a significant impact on the environment 
for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A Coast 
Guard Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be prepared as the 
final environmental document for the proposed project unless 
significant impacts are identified as a result of this public 
notification process to warrant the preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS).
    Only two alternatives are currently being considered for this 
project. These alternatives are defined as the ``build'' and ``no-
build'' alternatives.

Procedural

    Individuals and representatives of organizations that wish to 
present testimony at the hearing or who want to be placed on the 
project mailing list, may submit a request to this office at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES clearly indicating name and organization 
represented, if applicable. Requests to speak should be received no 
later than November 21, 2001 in order to ensure proper scheduling for 
the hearing. Attendees at the hearing who wish to present testimony and 
have not previously made a request to do so, will follow those 
attendees who have made a request as time permits. Speakers will be 
called in the order of receipt of their request. Depending upon the 
number of scheduled statements, the Coast Guard may limit the amount of 
time allowed for each speaker. Written statements and other exhibits in 
lieu of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the hearing may be 
submitted to this office at the address listed under ADDRESSES until 
December 13, 2001, for inclusion in the public hearing transcript.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information about facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
the Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District (obc). Please request these 
services by contacting this office at the phone number under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or in writing at the address listed under 
ADDRESSES. Any requests for an oral or sign language interpreter must 
be received by November 21, 2001.

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 513, 49 CFR 1.46.

    Dated: October 17, 2001.
J.R. Whitehead,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, 8th Coast Guard District, Acting.
[FR Doc. 01-26995 Filed 10-25-01; 8:45 am]
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