[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42696-42698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16229]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (DSEIS) for the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System Project, 
Buffalo Cove Management Unit, Located in Both St. Martin and Iberia 
Parishes, LA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District 
(CEMVN), intends to evaluate water management features to improve water 
quality and interior water circulation, remove barriers to reestablish 
north to south water flow; provide input of oxygenated low temperature 
water; and reduce or manage sediment input into the interior swamp. The 
action is necessary due to the existing poor water quality resulting 
from the lack of internal circulation and oxygenated water inputs, and 
increased sedimentation. In addition if action is not taken, both deep-
water and shallow water habitat utilized by fish and wildlife resources 
will continue to be lost, reduced, or degraded. The intended result of 
the proposed work is to prolong the life expectancy of the productive 
habitat (primarily aquatic and cypress tupelo habitats) that would 
become scarce over time by restricting or redirecting sediments, while 
simultaneously achieving a healthy water circulation pattern that would 
maintain or restore water quality and reestablish north to south water 
movement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the DSEIS should 
be addressed to Mr. Larry Hartzog at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PM-
RP, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267, phone (504) 862-2524, 
fax number (504) 862-2572 or by E-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CEMVN, is initiating this DSEIS under 
the authority of the Flood Control Act of May 15, 1928 (Pub. L. 391, 
70th Congress), as amended and supplemented. Construction of two pilot 
management units (Buffalo Cove and Henderson Lake) is authorized by the 
Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1985 (Pub. L. 99-88) and the Water 
Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-662), with 
construction of three additional authorized management units (Flat 
Lake, Beau Bayou, and Cocodrie Swamp) to take place upon approval of 
the Chief of Engineers after evaluation of the operational success of 
the initial two pilot management units. WRDA 1986 authorized the USACE 
to carry out the recommended plan for management units as described in 
the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System feasibility report and 
Environmental Impact Statement of 1982 and the subsequent Chief of 
Engineers Report dated February 28, 1983. Under this authority, an 
assessment of environmental impacts associated with the construction, 
operation, and maintenance of water management activities in the 
Buffalo Cove Management Unit will be made.
    l. Proposed Act. The proposed action will consist of a series of 
closures and

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sediment traps (to reduce sediment influx); construction of new, or 
improvement of existing inputs for river water; and gap construction in 
existing embankments. Closures will be placed in areas that have the 
greatest potential for introduction of sediment. Closure heights will 
be designed to optimize sediment reduction. Construction of water 
inputs will be evaluated in areas where sediment-lean, fresh water 
sources can be easily connected to existing canals or bayous to conduit 
water into areas of poor water quality. Sediment traps will be designed 
as necessary in conjunction with the freshwater input sites. Gaps will 
be sized and placed in both elevated natural banks as well as dredged 
material embankments that impede water flow or induce stagnation. These 
gaps are primarily intended to improve drainage and reestablish flow 
through the interior swamp basin. Excavated material will be either 
placed in a non-continuous manner in order to not disrupt sheet flow, 
or if practicable, the material will be used to create closures.
    2. Alternatives. The alternative formulation process will include 
an evaluation of the ``no action alternative'', a monitored passive 
management plan, and the original structural alternative plan as 
proposed in the 1982 Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System Final 
Environmental Impact Statement which included construction of ring 
levees and active structures. The current alternative analysis will 
continue to evolve throughout the development of the DSEIS. 
Alternatives to be evaluated include different methods of sediment 
reduction, water input, and improving internal circulation with the 
management unit. Sediment reduction alternatives will include the use 
of various sediment trap sizes and placements, construction of sediment 
traps with and without maintenance, and monitoring the effectiveness of 
sediment reduction utilizing both partial and complete closures at 
sites of suspected sediment inputs. Alternative methods will also be 
evaluated for water introduction and include; diverse configurations of 
water inputs (sinuous, straight, length and depth), improvements to 
existing natural and manmade inlets, reopening natural and man-made 
inputs, and siting of bank shavings to reduce barriers to water input. 
In addition, various sizes, numbers and placement of gaps in existing 
canal banks, ridges and other internal circulation impediments will be 
considered in the alternatives.
    3. Scoping Process. The Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
process directs Federal agencies that have made a decision to prepare 
an environmental impact statement to engage in a public scoping 
process. The scoping process is designed to provide an early and open 
means of determining the scope of issues (problems, needs, and 
opportunities) to be identified and addressed in the draft 
environmental impact assessment, which in this case is a DSEIS.
    Scoping is the process used to: (a) Identify the affected public 
and agency concerns; (b) facilitate an efficient DSEIS preparation 
process; (c) define the issues and alternatives that will be examined 
in detail in the DSEIS; (d) and save time in the overall process by 
helping to ensure that the draft statements adequately address relevant 
issues. Scoping is a process, not an event or a meeting. It continues 
throughout the planning process for a DSEIS and may involve meetings, 
telephone conversations, and/or written comments. Scoping comments will 
be compiled, analyzed, and utilized in the plan formulation process. A 
scoping report, summarizing the comments, will be made available to all 
scoping participants in the initial scoping meetings and included in 
the public involvement appendix of the final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (FSEIS).
    a. Public Involvement. Scoping is a critical component of the 
overall public involvement program. An intensive public involvement 
program will continue throughout the study to solicit input from 
affected Federal, state, and local agencies, native American tribes, 
and other interested parties. This public input will be obtained 
through a series of scoping meetings open to the general public. In 
addition to these meetings there will be additional continual public 
involvement through the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources 
Division's Atchafalaya Basin Advisory Committee meetings on Water 
Management. CEMVN personnel actively participate, contribute, and 
utilize information obtained from these meetings. CEMVN personnel will 
be available for additional informational meetings if needed or 
requested by various interested and or affected public, private and 
conservation interests such as: Landowners, oil and gas interests, 
commercial and recreational hunters and fishers, forestry interests, 
and the Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society or other 
conservation organizations.
    Significant Issues: The tentative list of resources and issues to 
be evaluated in the EIS includes forested wetlands (includes cypress/
tupelo swamp as well as infrequently inundated areas of ash, oak, elm, 
hackberry and cypress), water quality, 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 
elevated in the EIS include employment, land use, property values, 
public/community facilities and services, community and regional 
growth, transportation, housing, community cohesion, and noise.
    Ineragency Coordination. The Department of Interior, U.S.Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS), will provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination 
Act Report. Coordination will be maintained with the USFWS regarding 
threatened and endangered species. Coordination will be maintained with 
the National Resources Conservation Service regarding prime and unique 
farmlands. Coordination will be maintained with the Advisory Counsel on 
Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Officer. The 
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources will be consulted regarding 
consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Louisiana 
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be contacted concerning 
potential impacts to Natural and Scenic Rivers and Streams. The 
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will review the action 
for consistency with applicable laws regarding the discharge of dredged 
material as it relates to impacting water quality and will provide the 
State of Louisiana Water Quality Certification.
    d. 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. 
Consultation 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 DSEIS or 
a notice of its availability will be distributed to all interested 
agencies, organizations, and individuals.
    4. Three public scoping meetings are to be scheduled in 2004. Based 
on available funding the tentative meeting locations will be Baton 
Rouge, Lafayette and St. Martinville, LA. Exact dates and

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meeting facility will be announced by public notice at a later date. 
The purpose of the scoping meeting is to provide the agencies and the 
interested public with the initial conceptual designs, preliminary 
designs known and designs under consideration for the proposed water 
management project for the Buffalo Cove Management Unit and issues 
concerning its construction and operation.
    5. 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 fall of 2006.

    Dated: July 4, 2004.
Peter J. Rowan,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 04-16229 Filed 7-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-M