[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66388-66389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27722]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Providing a Deeper and Wider Navigation Channel to the Port of Iberia 
Through the Enlargement of Existing Access Channels, in Vermilion and 
Iberia Parishes in the Vicinity of New Iberia and Intracoastal City, LA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

[[Page 66389]]


ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), New Orleans 
District, is initiating this study under the authority of section 431 
of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-541), dated 
December 11, 2000, to determine the feasibility of deepening and 
widening the navigation channel to the Port of Iberia (hereafter 
referred to as ``the Port'') through the enlargement of existing access 
channels. Deepwater oil and gas exploration and development in the Gulf 
of Mexico and other deepwater areas has increased because of growth in 
demand; depletion of existing oil and gas fields, including those in 
the shallower areas of the gulf; and advancements in deepwater drilling 
technologies that include larger platforms. The Port was constructed by 
Iberia Parish to provide a navigation outlet for trade and 
transportation of offshore fabrication modules. South Louisiana and the 
Port have a long association with the development of offshore oil and 
gas industry worldwide. The Port is primarily a landlocked port with 
connections to the Gulf of Mexico through the Commercial Canal and the 
Acadiana Navigation Channel. Additionally, the current project provides 
a ``Harbor of Refuge'' during storms and hurricanes. Five major 
waterways service the Port: the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, the 
Atchafalaya River, the Acadiana Navigation Channel, the Vermilion River 
Cutoff, and the Freshwater Bayou. The Port's access channel, the 
Commercial Canal is essentially the northernmost portion of the 
Acadiana Navigation Channel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) should be addressed to Mr. Michael Salyer at 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PM-RS, PO Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 
70160-0267, phone (504) 862-2037, fax number (504) 862-2572 or by E-
mail at [email protected]. army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Proposed Action. The proposed action would provide for the 
enlargement of the existing navigation channels to the Port via the 
Commercial Canal to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) to Freshwater 
Bayou to the Gulf of Mexico via a bypass channel at the existing 
Freshwater Bayou lock. The proposed project bottom depth is to 20 foot 
MSL from the current 13 feet MSL in Commercial Canal, and to 20 foot 
MSL from the current 12 foot MSL in the GIWW and Freshwater Bayou. The 
channel alignments and bottom widths would be increased to 150 feet 
from the current 115 feet where necessary in the areas of the Port as a 
result of existing bulkheads. The Commercial Canal, GIWW, and 
Freshwater Bayou widths would be increased to 200 feet from the current 
125 feet. It was assumed that the 250-foot width of the Freshwater 
Bayou Bar Channel into the Gulf of Mexico would remain the same. The 
Freshwater By-Pass would be widened to 150 feet from the current 125 
feet. A 20-foot project depth was the only depth evaluated for the 
reconnaissance analysis. The material dredged for the construction and 
maintenance of the channels would be used for bank-line stabilization 
and wetlands restoration and construction, to the maximum extent 
practicable. Economic and environmental analysis would be used to 
determine the most practical plan, which would provide for the greatest 
overall public benefit.
    2. Alternatives. Alternatives recommended for consideration 
presently include the construction of deeper and wider channels in the 
Commercial Canal, GIWW, and Freshwater Bayou. Incremental reaches of 
those channels with separable benefits and cost would be investigated. 
Various project depths for navigation channels would also be 
investigated.
    3. Scoping. Scoping is the process for determining the scope of 
alternatives and significant resources and issues to be addressed in 
the Environmental Impact Statement. For this process, a letter will be 
sent to all parties believed to have an interest in the analysis, 
requesting their input on alternatives and issues to be evaluated. The 
letter will also notify interested parties of public scoping meetings 
that will be held in the local area. Notices will also be sent to local 
news media. All interested parties are invited to comment at this time, 
and anyone interested in this study should request to be included in 
the study mailing list.
    A public scoping meeting will be held in November of 2002. The 
meeting will be held in the vicinity of Abbeville, LA. Additional 
meetings could be held, depending upon interest and if it is determined 
that further public coordination is warranted.
    4. Significant Resources. The tentative list of resources and 
issues to be evaluated in the EIS includes tidal wetlands (marshes and 
swamps), aquatic resources, commercial and recreational fisheries, 
wildlife resources, essential fish habitat, water quality, air quality, 
threatened and endangered species, recreation resources, and cultural 
resources. Socioeconomic items to be evaluated in the EIS include 
navigation, flood protection, business and industrial activity, 
employment, land use, property values, public/community facilities and 
services, tax revenues, population, community and regional growth, 
transportation, housing, community cohesion, and noise.
    5. Environmental Consultation and Review. The U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be assisting in the documentation of 
existing conditions and assessment of effects of project alternatives 
through Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act consultation procedures. The 
USFWS will provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act report. 
Coordination will be accomplished with the USFWS and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concerning threatened and endangered 
species and their critical habitat. The NMFS will be consulted on the 
effects of this proposed action on Essential Fish Habitat. The draft 
EIS (DEIS) or a notice of its availability will be distributed to all 
interested agencies, organizations, and individuals.
    6. Estimated Date of Availability. Funding levels will dictate the 
date when the DEIS is available. The earliest that the DEIS is expected 
to be available is in the spring of 2004.

    Dated: October 15, 2002.
Peter J. Rowan,
Colonel, U.S. Army District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 02-27722 Filed 10-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-U