[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37546-37547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10273]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program Study as 
Introduced in the 2004 Louisiana Coastal Area, Louisiana Ecosystem 
Restoration Study, Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

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 this study under the authority provided by the resolutions 
adopted by the Committees on Public Works of the U.S. Senate and House 
of Representatives, dated April 19, 1967 and October 19, 1967, 
respectively, an expansion of the authority created under section 3 of 
the River and Harbor Act approved June 13, 1902. The Louisiana Coastal 
Area (LCA) Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program will optimize the 
use of dredged material resulting from the maintenance of federally 
maintained navigational channels to (1) restore formerly existing 
coastal wetlands; (2) reduce, halt or reverse the loss of existing 
coastal wetlands; (3) create coastal wetlands where none existed 
previously; or (4) provide protection to any of the above wetland 
situations or other coastal landscape features within the study 
placement area. The LCA Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program 
costs are those costs incurred above and beyond the ordinary costs 
incurred with USACE Operations and Maintenance dredging and disposal 
operations in accordance with their established base plan for 
maintenance dredging activities. The base plan is determined by 
applying the Federal Standard which requires maintenance dredging and 
disposal activities to be conducted in the most cost effective, 
environmentally acceptable manner. The study area is Louisiana's 
coastal area from Mississippi to Texas. Louisiana parishes included in 
the study area include Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, 
Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. 
Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. 
Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Vermilion. The following 
seven navigation channels represent an initial list of areas with the 
most significant opportunities
    (1) Calcasieu River and Pass;
    (2) Houma Navigation Canal;
    (3) Atchafalaya River and Bayous Chene, Boeuf, and Black;
    (4) Bayou Lafourche;
    (5) Mississippi River and Tributaries Project, Head of Passes and 
Southwest Pass;
    (6) Barataria Bay Waterway; and
    (7) Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (although this channel is not 
currently funded for O&M dredging).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be addressed to Ms. 
Elizabeth McCasland at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PM-RS, P.O. Box 
60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267, phone (504) 862-2021, fax number 
(504) 862-2088 or by E-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Alternatives. Alternatives recommended for consideration 
presently include the No Action plan, to use dredged materials only 
within the current federal standard which is not necessarily for 
beneficial use. Within each channel alternative marsh creation or 
nourishment sites would be examined to maximize the environmental 
benefits, environmental need, and the engineering required to get the 
material to the site. Also, unlike Section 204, Beneficial Uses of 
Dredged Material, of the Continuing Authorities Program, the LCA 
Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program would allow site preparation 
(such as construction of retention dikes) in anticipation of a future 
(i.e., 1-3 years out) dredging cycle.
    2. Non-Federal local sponsor. The State of Louisiana, acting 
through the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, is the non-
Federal local sponsor. The study cost share ratio is 50% Federal and 
50% non-Federal.
    3. Scoping. Scoping is the process for determining the scope of 
alternatives and significant issues to be addressed in the Programmatic 
EIS. 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 mid-July 2006 in multiple 
cities across the southern portion of Louisiana. Additional meetings 
could be held, depending upon interest and if it is determined that 
further public coordination is warranted.
    4. Significant Issues. The tentative list of resources and issues 
to be evaluated in the Programmatic EIS includes wetlands (marshes and 
swamps), 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 evaluated in the Programmatic EIS 
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. 
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 
Programmatic 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 Programmatic DEIS is 
expected to be available in the summer of 2007.


[[Page 37547]]


    Dated: June 19, 2006.
Richard P. Wagenaar,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. E6-10273 Filed 6-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-P