[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20764-20765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10344]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6628-5]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on the Federal Funding, Construction, Operation and Monitoring of 
a Coastal Wetlands Restoration Project, Mississippi River Water 
Reintroduction Into the Maurepas Swamp

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 (EPA), is 
developing the restoration project as the designated Federal member of 
the Task Force created by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and 
Restoration Act, Public Law 101-646 (CWPPRA).

PURPOSE: EPA has determined that the proposed wetlands restoration 
effort is a Major Federal Action significantly impacting the human 
environment. The purpose of the EIS is to ensure that decisions are 
made in accordance with the policies and purposes of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The EIS will be considered by the CWPPRA Task 
Force in its decisions on funding and on alternative features and 
activities associated with carrying out the project.

SUMMARY: The proposed action provides for the reintroduction of 
Mississippi River water into the swamp south of Lake Maurepas in 
Louisiana for the purpose of restoring the ecological health and 
productivity of the swamp. Over time, hydrologic modifications to the 
riverine system have eliminated the natural inputs of fresh Mississippi 
River water, with its associated nutrients and sediments, that 
historically built and maintained the project area swamp. The swamp is 
now stressed and dying due to saltwater intrusion and excessive 
flooding due to subsidence and insufficient accumulation of sediment. 
The project will reintroduce approximately 1,500 cubic feet per second 
of Mississippi River water through a box-culvert structure constructed 
through the flood protection levee of the Mississippi River, then 
through an outflow channel for a distance of approximately five miles, 
and into the swamp south of Lake Maurepas. The outflow channel would be 
constructed near Garyville, Louisiana, and would connect to the 
existing Hope Canal north of U.S. Highway 61. As part of this 
alternative, the Hope Canal is proposed to be enlarged in order to 
accommodate the estimated project flow. The project is estimated to 
benefit more than 36,000 acres of cypress-tupelo swamp by increasing 
input of freshwater, sediments, and nutrients. The EIS will

[[Page 20765]]

consider impacts of this project with existing and/or proposed flood 
control measures of the foreseeable future. Efforts will be made to 
ensure that local drainage problems are not increased as a result of 
this project. Information will be provided in the EIS from 
reconnaissance level studies performed for preliminary project 
evaluation. These studies included site reviews; hydrologic modeling of 
existing conditions and basic reintroduction scenarios; baseline 
ecological field studies; and surveys of elevations and cross-sections.

ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS: The CWPPRA Task Force may determine to fund and 
construct the restoration project; the CWPPRA Task Force may deny 
funding and construction of the restoration project; or, the Task Force 
may determine to take no final action until additional funds and/or 
information are available. The EIS will be utilized in other actions 
such as the Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit which (1) may be issued 
as requested, (2) may be issued with conditions, or (3) may be denied.

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING: The EPA will hold a public meeting to receive 
public input on the scope of issues to be addressed in the Draft EIS 
and to identify any significant issues of the proposed project. 
Interested individuals, groups, agencies and public officials will be 
encouraged to participate. The exact date and location will be provided 
by mailing list notice and will be published in major, local and 
periodic newspapers thirty days in advance.

TO SUBMIT SCOPING COMMENTS, TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, OR TO BE 
PLACED ON THE EIS MAILING LIST, CONTACT: Mr. David McQuiddy, CWPPRA 
Coordinator, Marine and Wetlands Section, Water Quality Protection 
Division, U.S. EPA (6WQ-EM), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-2733; 
telephone (214) 665-6722 , e-mail [email protected], or Ms. 
Jeanene Peckham, U.S. EPA, Water Quality Protection Field Office, 707 
Florida Blvd, Suite B-21, Baton Rouge, LA, 70801; telephone (225) 389-
0736, e-mail [email protected].
    Estimated Date for Release of Draft EIS: Winter 2003.
    Responsible Official: Gregg A. Cooke, Regional Administrator.

    Dated: April 23, 2002.
Anne Norton Miller,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 02-10344 Filed 4-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P