[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12854-12855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5123]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for a Permit Application for the Proposed Timber Branch
Subdivision Phase II, Near Covington, St. Tammany Parish, 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, is
initiating the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement under
the National Environmental Policy Act in compliance with a judicial
order. The Environmental Impact Statement is for a Department of the
Army permit issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to install
the infrastructure necessary to implement an approximately 82-acre
residential development to provide single and multi-family residential
lots in the vicinity of LA Hwy 1085 and Bricker Road, near Covington,
Louisiana, some of the property containing regulated wetlands. The
permit was subsequently enjoined by the United States District Court,
Eastern District of Louisiana. Information obtained from preparation of
this EIS will be utilized in the re-evaluation of the enjoined permit
decision.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) should be addressed to Mr. Brian Breaux at U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, OD-S, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-
0267, phone (504) 862-1938, fax number (504) 862-2117 or by E-mail at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Proposed Action. The proposed action would include land-
clearing, excavation, and deposition of fill material for site
preparation and construction of drainage, utility and roadway
infrastructure. Single-family and multi-family residential lots would
then be offered for public sale. The approximately 82-acre project site
grades through ridge and swale hardwood, mixed pine-hardwood/hardwood
flats, pine flatwood, and pine savannah community types. Of the 82-acre
development, 38.9 acres of pine flatwood/pine savannah wetlands would
be directly affected by development.
[[Page 12855]]
2. Alternatives. Reasonable alternatives to consider include the
avoidance and minimization of impacts and the ``no action''
alternative.
3. Scoping. Scoping is the process for determining the range of
alternatives and issues to be addressed in the EIS. For this analysis,
a public notice will be posted on the New Orleans District Web site,
http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/ops/regulatory/publicnotices.asp,
requesting input on alternatives and issues to be evaluated. The public
notice will also notify interested parties of any 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.
4. Significant Issues. An Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact were completed on the subject proposal and a
Section 404 permit issued. The permit decision was subsequently
challenged through litigation, O'Reilly, et al. v. U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, U.S.D.C., E.D. of La., CA 04 0940. The decision of the court
enjoined the permit and required preparation of an EIS. Specific issues
identified in the decision include wildlife resources, substrate,
wetlands, aquatic resources, mitigation, segmenting of project phases,
and cumulative effects.
5. Environmental Consultation and Review. Federal, State and local
agencies will be consulted. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
will be consulted to assist in the documentation of existing conditions
and assessment of effects of project alternatives through Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act consultation procedures. 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 draft EIS (DEIS) or a notice of
its availability will be distributed to all interested agencies,
organizations, and individuals.
6. Estimated Date of Availability. The DEIS is expected to be
available not earlier than the spring of 2006.
Dated: March 4, 2005.
Stephen E. Jeselink,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Deputy District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 05-5123 Filed 3-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-02-P