[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 96 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28921-28923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9997]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)--Louisiana, Caminada Headland and Shell 
Island Restoration Feasibility Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice of intent (NOI) for the Louisiana Coastal Area 
(LCA)--Louisiana, Caminada Headland and Shell Island Restoration 
Feasibility Study (LCA Caminada-Shell Island Study) supersedes the 
notices of intent for the Barrier Shoreline Restoration in Lafourche, 
Jefferson, and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana, a Component of the 
Louisiana Coastal Area, Louisiana--Ecosystem Restoration, Barrier 
Island Restoration, Marsh Creation, and River Diversion, Barataria 
Basin Feasibility Study (Barrier Shoreline Restoration Study); and the 
Wetland Restoration and/or Creation in the Barataria Basin, Louisiana, 
a Component of the Louisiana Coastal Area, Louisiana--Ecosystem 
Restoration, Barrier Island Restoration, Marsh Creation, and River 
Diversion, Barataria Basin Feasibility Study (LCA Wetland Restoration 
Study). This notice of intent addresses the Caminada Headland and Shell 
Island reaches of the Barataria barrier shoreline that is presently 
addressed in the NOI for the Barrier Shoreline Restoration Study and 
also addresses the Chenier Unit marsh creation feature that is 
presently addressed in the NOI for the Wetland Restoration Study.

DATES: Scoping meetings will be conducted during the 30-day scoping 
meeting comment period so that scoping meeting comments will be 
accepted up to 10 days following the final scoping meeting.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments regarding the Draft EIS (DEIS) for the

[[Page 28922]]

LCA Caminada Headland and Shell Island Restoration Feasibility Study 
may be provided orally or in writing at the scoping meetings; sent via 
email to [email protected]; sent via the Worldwide Web at 
http://www.LCA.gov; or sent via letter postmarked not later than the 
close of the scoping comment period to Dr. William P. Klein, Jr., 
CEMVN-PM-RS, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267. Comments will 
not be accepted if submitted by facsimile (fax).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. William P. Klein, Jr., (504) 862-
2540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Background: On April 28, 2000 a NOI was published in the Federal 
Register (65 FR 24944) for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Barrier Shoreline Restoration in Lafourche, Jefferson, 
and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana, a Component of the Louisiana 
Coastal Area, Louisiana--Ecosystem Restoration, Barrier Island 
Restoration, Marsh Creation, and River Diversion, Barataria Basin 
Feasibility Study (LCA Barrier Shoreline Restoration Study). On May 5, 
2000 a notice of intent was published in the Federal Register (65 FR 
26192) for preparing an EIS for the Wetland Restoration and/or Creation 
in the Barataria Basin, Louisiana, a Component of the Louisiana Coastal 
Area, Louisiana--Ecosystem Restoration, Barrier Island Restoration, 
Marsh Creation, and River Diversion, Barataria Basin Feasibility Study 
(LCA Wetland Creation Study). Investigation of these studies was 
temporarily suspended pending completion of the near-term Louisiana 
Coastal Area (LCA), Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study 
(LCA Ecosystem Restoration Study). A final programmatic EIS for the LCA 
Ecosystem Restoration Study was released for public comment in November 
2004, completed in December 2004, and the related Chief of Engineers 
Report was signed on January 31, 2005. The programmatic findings 
specify recommendations that refocus and advance planning, scientific, 
and restoration efforts that are already underway. The Corps believes 
these findings have influenced the purpose and need for action and the 
scope of the analysis of the LCA Caminada Headland and Shell Island 
Restoration Feasibility Study. Hence, the Corps proposes to prepare a 
draft EIS for the LCA Caminada Headland and Shell Island Restoration 
Feasibility Study.
    The EIS will document the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969) process identifying and assessing reasonable alternatives to 
proposed actions that will avoid or minimize adverse effects of these 
actions upon the quality of the human environment. Specifically, the 
EIS will analyze the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts 
of implementing barrier shoreline restoration and wetland restoration 
in Lafourche, Plaquemines, and portions of Jefferson Parishes, 
Louisiana. The LCA Caminada-Shell Island Restoration Study, as stated 
in the January 2005 Chiefs Report, is one of 15 near-term features of 
the LCA Ecosystem Restoration Plan. Each of the 15 LCA projects will 
address critical near-term, site-specific restoration actions across 
the Louisiana coast. The study investigating the Caminada Headland and 
Shell Island reaches of the Barataria Barrier Shoreline initiates 
detailed feasibility-level plan formulation and environmental impacts 
analysis.
    2. Proposed Action and Reasonable Alternatives. This restoration 
feature involves mining offshore and/or riverine sediment sources to 
reestablish a sustainable barrier system (e.g. barrier islands, 
shorelines, and headlands) at Caminada Headland and Shell Island. The 
proposed action will build upon the alternatives considered under the 
LCA Barrier Shoreline Restoration Study and the LCA Wetland Creation 
Study. The proposed action will consider all reasonable alternatives 
for restoration of the Caminada Headland and Shell Island, including: 
Consideration of offshore, nearshore, riverine, and other borrow 
sources; varying widths and configurations of barrier shoreline and 
dune heights; marsh restoration as a platform for barrier shoreline 
rollover; as well as other recommendations from the public and 
interested parties. The Caminada Headland and Shell Island reaches are 
critical components of the Barataria Barrier System. The Caminada 
headland protects one of the highest concentrations of near-gulf oil 
and gas infrastructure in the coastal zone. This reach of the Barataria 
shoreline also supports the only land-based access to the barrier 
shoreline in the Deltaic Plain. The Shell Island segment has been 
nearly lost, and failure to take restorative action could result in the 
loss of any future options for restoration. Loss of the Shell Island 
segment would result in permanent modification of the tidal hydrology 
of the Barataria Basin. The Shell Island segment is the only remaining 
natural barrier between the Gulf and lower Plaquemines Parish.
    3. Scoping Process. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
regulations implementing the 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. Scoping is the process used 
to: (a) Identify the affected public and agency concerns; (b) 
facilitate an efficient EIS preparation process; (c) define the issues 
and alternatives that will be examined in detail in the EIS; and (d) 
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 for a 
draft EIS and may involve meetings, telephone conversations, and/or 
written comments.
    4. Request for Scoping Comments. In June 2005, the Corps will 
conduct scoping meetings to determine the scope of issues to be 
addressed and for identifying the significant issues related to the 
draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Louisiana Coastal 
Area (LCA), Louisiana--Caminada Headland and Shell Island Restoration 
Feasibility Study. Notices will be mailed to the affected and 
interested public once the dates and locations of the scoping meetings 
have been established. The Corps invites scoping input concerning the 
following scoping focus questions: Question #1: What are the critical 
natural and human environmental problems and needs that should be 
addressed in the DEIS? For example, critical natural and human 
ecological needs may include: barrier shoreline sustainability, 
navigation, barrier shoreline habitat restoration, hurricane and flood 
protection, protection of human infrastructure, and others. Question 
#2: What are the significant resources that should be considered in the 
DEIS? For example, significant resources may include: Barrier 
shorelines, offshore sand resources, water quality, threatened and 
endangered species, and others. Question #3: What are the reasonable 
restoration alternatives that should be considered in the DEIS? For 
example, consider alternative borrow sites from inland reaches of the 
Mississippi River and outside the system, rock the entire shoreline, 
use hardened structures such as break waters, re-establish the barrier 
shoreline further inland, emphasize marsh creation as major component 
of barrier shoreline restoration, and others. Interested parties are 
encouraged to provide their input and

[[Page 28923]]

recommendations for all significant issues of the study.
    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 and published on the 
Louisiana Coastal Area Web site (http://www.LCA.gov). Scoping comments 
will be accepted throughout the scoping comment period (see DATES).
    5. 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, Indian tribes, and other 
interested parties.
    6. Interagency Coordination and Cooperation. Pursuant to section 
1501.6 of the NEPA (30 CFR parts 1500-1508), the following agencies 
have been invited to participate in the study as cooperating agencies 
on the EIS: Minerals Management Service, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological 
Service, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana 
Department of Natural Resources, and the Louisiana Department of 
Wildlife and Fisheries. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide 
a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report. Coordination will be 
maintained with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service regarding threatened and endangered species 
under their respective jurisdictional responsibilities. Coordination 
will be maintained with the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding 
essential fish habitat. Coordination will be maintained with the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service regarding prime and unique 
farmlands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be consulted 
regarding the ``Swampbuster'' provisions of the Food Security Act. 
Coordination will be maintained with the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency concerning compliance with Executive Order 12898, ``Federal 
Action to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and 
Low-Income Populations.'' 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 
Streams.
    7. Availability of Draft EIS. It is anticipated that the Draft EIS 
will be available for public review during the late summer of 2005. A 
45-day review period will be provided so that all interested agencies, 
groups and individuals will have an opportunity to comment on the Draft 
EIS. In addition, public meetings will be held during the review period 
to receive comments and address questions concerning the Draft EIS.

    Dated: May 9, 2005.
Peter J. Rowan,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 05-9997 Filed 5-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-P