[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 249 (Thursday, December 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77120-77121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-8005]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


LA-05 Floating Marsh Creation Demonstration Project, Terrebonne 
Parish, LA

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 
CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
Guidelines (7 CFR part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an 
environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Floating 
Marsh Creation Demonstration Project (LA-05), Terrebonne Parish, 
Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Donald W. Gohmert, State 
Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 3737 
Government Street, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302; telephone (318) 473-
7751.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental assessment of the 
federally assisted action indicates that the demonstration project will 
not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the 
environment. As a result of these findings, Donald W. Gohmert, State 
Conservationist, has determined that preparation and review of an 
environmental impact statement is not needed for this project.
    The demonstration project will develop and test unique, previously 
untested technologies for creating floating marsh in order to restore 
significantly deteriorated wetland areas that historically supported 
thick-mat maidencane (Panicum hemitomon) floating marsh, and other open 
freshwater areas. The development of appropriate technology through 
this plan has potential use throughout fresh and intermediate zones of 
coastal Louisiana, particularly in Terrebonne Basin where traditional 
techniques for re-establishing attached marshes are not applicable or 
feasible.
    The recommended project plan consists of two phases: The first 
phase

[[Page 77121]]

is the development and testing, in controlled settings, of a variety of 
artificial floating marsh system designs along with testing and 
optimization of plant growth and establishment. The second phase 
consists of field testing advanced designs of artificial floating marsh 
systems in selected marsh settings.
    The Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 
forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency and to various 
federal, state, and local agencies and interested parties. A limited 
number of copies of the FONSI are available to fill single copy 
requests at the above address. Basic data collected during the 
environmental assessment are on file and may be reviewed by contacting 
Donald W. Gohmert.
    No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be 
taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.

Donald W. Gohmert,
State Conservationist.
 [FR Doc. E5-8005 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am]
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