[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 141 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42537-42539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14581]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
for Two Features of the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System, Louisiana 
Project: Henderson Lake Management Unit, Which Is an Element of the 
Management Unit Feature in St. Martin and St. Landry Parishes, 
Including the Freshwater Distribution Structure for the Henderson Lake 
Area; and the Recreational Development Feature in St. Martin, Iberia, 
St. Mary, Iberville, St. Landry, and Pointe Coupee 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) 
is initiating a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for 
the Henderson Lake Management Unit feature, including the freshwater 
distribution structure element, of the Henderson Lake Area Atchafalaya 
Basin, Louisiana project, pursuant to the authority of the Flood 
Control Act of May 15, 1928 (Pub. L. 391, 70th Congress); and for the 
Recreational Development feature of the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway 
System, Louisiana project (hereinafter ``ABFS'' project), pursuant to 
the authority of the Flood Control Act of May 15, 1928 (Pub. L. 391, 
70th Congress), as amended by the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 
1985, Pub. L. 99-88 and as reauthorized and further amended by Section 
601(a) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (WRDA 1986), Pub. 
L. 99-662.
    The CEMVN is initiating this study to implement construction and 
operation of the Henderson Lake Management Unit, St. Martin and St. 
Landry Parishes, which is one of two authorized pilot management units 
for the Management Unit feature of the ABFS Project; the freshwater 
distribution structure element, of the Henderson Lake Area Atchafalaya 
Basin, Louisiana project in St. Martin and St. Landry Parishes, 
Louisiana; and the Recreational Development feature of the Atchafalaya 
Basin Floodway System, Louisiana project in St. Martin, Iberia, St. 
Mary, Iberville, St. Landry, and Pointe Coupee Parishes, Louisiana. The 
authorized goals of the Management Unit feature of the ABFS project are 
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. 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) 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. The Henderson Lake Management Unit is hydrologically separate 
and independent from the Buffalo Cove, Flat Lake, Cocodrie Swamp and 
Beau Bayou Management Unit elements of the ABFS project.
    The authorized goal of the freshwater distribution structure 
element, of the Henderson Lake Area Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana 
project is to provide water inflow to the Henderson Lake area and, 
together with the Henderson Lake Management Unit, restore overflow 
patterns to the extent practicable, and to encourage water movement 
through the Henderson Lake Management Unit for the benefit of the 
aquatic environment.
    The goals and objectives of the Recreational Development feature of 
the ABFS project are the development of facilities such as boat 
launching ramps for the provision of interior and peripheral access to 
the ABFS project area, including those lands acquired for the Public 
Access feature of the ABFS

[[Page 42538]]

project, as well as the construction and operation of developed and 
primitive campgrounds, an interpretive facility and other facilities 
complementary to the enjoyment of outdoor recreational activities for 
the observation and utilization by the public of the fish and wildlife 
resources of the Lower Atchafalaya Basin Floodway. Public demand and 
expectations for the ABFS have increased due to an increased awareness 
and use of the vast ABFS natural resource, and the involvement of the 
CEMVN through management and part-ownership of the resource. The CEMVN 
will address public concerns for management of the Henderson Lake 
Management Unit, and recreational development opportunities within the 
ABFS, through an SEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning this SEIS should 
be addressed to Mr. Richard Boe at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PM-RP, 
P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267, phone (504) 862-1505, fax 
number (504) 862-2572 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Proposed Action. Under the proposed action the existing project 
will be investigated to identify and evaluate possible alternatives for 
the freshwater distribution structure element of the Henderson Lake 
Area Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana project, the Henderson Lake 
Management Unit, and the Recreational Development feature of the ABFS 
project.
    A. Henderson Lake Management Unit: The Henderson Lake Management 
Unit represents one of two pilot management units authorized by WRDA 
1986 for the Management Unit feature of the ABFS Project in accordance 
with the Atchafalaya Basin Feasibility Study and the accompanying 
Environmental Impact Statement dated January 1982, as approved by the 
Report of the Chief of Engineers dated February 28, 1983. Because the 
Henderson Lake Management Unit constitutes one of the ``pilot'' 
management units for the Management Unit feature of the ABFS project, 
the SEIS will clearly identify the possibility that additional future 
work may be recommended in the Henderson Lake Management Unit if the 
analysis of the operational monitoring data supports a finding that the 
Henderson Lake Management Unit elements initially proposed in the 1982 
EIS for construction do not fully accomplish the goals and objectives 
of the authorized Management Unit feature of the ABFS project. The 
Henderson Lake Management Unit is hydrologically separate and 
independent from the other pilot management unit (Buffalo Cove 
Management Unit) and from the three conditionally authorized management 
units, Cocodrie Swamp, Flat Lake and Beau Bayou. Additionally, the 
management unit objectives, public interests and concerns that will be 
addressed at the Henderson Lake Management Unit differ substantially 
from those present for the other management units at Buffalo Cove, Flat 
Lake, Cocodrie Swamp and Beau Bayou. As such, Buffalo Cove, Flat Lake, 
Cocodrie Swamp and Beau Bayou will be the subject of a separate SEIS.
    B. The development of the freshwater distribution structure 
element, of the Henderson Lake Area will serve as a source of 
freshwater for the Henderson Lake Management Unit which, with the 
implementation of the Henderson Lake Management Unit, will restore 
overflow patterns to the extent practicable and encourage water 
movement within the Henderson Lake Management Unit area for the benefit 
of the aquatic environment.
    C. The development of the Recreational Development feature of the 
ABFS project will include, but is not limited to; campgrounds for 
recreational vehicles, tent, and primitive camping; paddling, hiking 
and biking trails; interpretive trails; bird watching facilities; boat 
launches; a project visitor center; and certain special and unique 
areas. These facilities will accommodate and support public-use in the 
ABFS, provide for additional entry into the ABFS to access its 
resources, and protect and aide in interpreting specific 
environmentally and culturally significant resources. The proposals for 
the freshwater distribution structure element of the Henderson Lake 
Area Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana project, the Recreational Development 
feature of the ABFS project and the Henderson Lake Management Unit 
element of the Management Unit feature of the ABFS project are being 
investigated in the same document because the operation of the 
Henderson Lake Management Unit will have an impact on the nature and 
scope of recreational development that can take place in the area 
affected by the Henderson Lake Management Unit.
    2. Alternatives. The alternative formulation process for the 
Henderson Lake Management Unit of the ABFS project and the freshwater 
distribution structure element of the Henderson Lake Area Atchafalaya 
Basin, Louisiana project will include, but shall not be limited to, an 
evaluation of the ``no action alternative'', the original structural 
alternative plan as proposed in the 1982 Atchafalaya Basin Floodway 
System, Louisiana Final Environmental Impact Statement and Feasibility 
Study, and other alternatives, such as dredging, lake draw downs, and 
spraying of vegetation, including hydrilla and hyacinth, for the 
regulation of water distribution, the improvement of water quality and 
interior water circulation, and the restoration, to the extent 
possible, of overflow patterns in the Henderson Lake Management Unit 
area. Alternative recreational features for the ABFS would be various 
combinations of the proposed action recreation feature. The 
alternatives analysis for all of these elements will continue to evolve 
throughout the development of the SEIS.
    3. Scoping. Scoping is the process for determining the scope of 
alternatives and significant issues to be addressed in the SEIS. For 
this analysis, 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.
    Public scoping meetings will be held in the vicinity of Lafayette, 
St. Martinville, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Depending on public 
interest, and if further public coordination is warranted, additional 
meetings may be scheduled.
    4. Significant Issues. The tentative list of resources and issues 
to be evaluated in the SEIS includes wetlands (marshes and swamps), 
aquatic resources, commercial and recreational fisheries, wildlife 
resources, water quality, air quality, threatened and endangered 
species, recreation resources, and cultural resources. Socioeconomic 
items to be evaluated in the SEIS 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. The 
CEMVN will consult with the USFWS concerning threatened and

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endangered species and their critical habitat. The CEMVN will notify 
all interested agencies, organizations, and individuals as to 
availability of a draft SEIS for review. The CEMVN will coordinate with 
the Natural Resources Conservation Service for prime and unique 
farmlands. The CEMVN will coordinate with the Advisory Counsel on 
Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Officer. The 
CEMVN will coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Natural 
Resources regarding consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act. 
The CEMVN will contact the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and 
Fisheries 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.
    6. Estimated Date of Availability. Funding levels will dictate the 
date when the draft SEIS will be available for review. The earliest 
date that the draft SEIS is expected to be available is in December of 
2007.

    Dated: July 11, 2005.
Stephen E. Jeselink,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 05-14581 Filed 7-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-P