[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 61 (Friday, March 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 16653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6447]


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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 the Potable Water Supply for Washington Parish 
Reservoir, Project

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The study area comprises Washington Parish in southeast 
Louisiana. Washington Parish currently consumes approximately 40 
million gallons of water daily, 70 percent of which is supplied by 
groundwater. Decreasing groundwater levels (quantity) and groundwater 
quality, in combination with forecasted growth within the Parish 
require alternative water supplies to be developed. The purpose of the 
project is to identify a new water supply to address the current and 
future potable water demands of Washington Parish. The Local Project 
Sponsor is the Washington Parish Reservoir Commission.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on April 10, 2008 at 5:30 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public scoping meeting will be held in Bogalusa, LA at 
the Bogalusa City Hall, 202 Arkansas Avenue, Bogalusa, LA 70427.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and Draft EIS should be directed to: Karen Dove-Jackson at (601) 631-
7136, Vicksburg District, Corps of Engineers, 4155 Clay Street, CEMVK-
OD-FE, Vicksburg, MS 39183-3435.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Louisiana House Bill 216, 2003 
Regular Session, the Louisiana Legislature created the Washington 
Parish Reservoir Commission as a State Entity. This law gives the 
Washington Parish Reservoir Commission the power to obtain land needed 
for the reservoir pursuant to the State of Louisiana's principle of 
eminent domain, and in accordance with the Louisiana Laws and Revised 
Statutes for this principle.
    1. The Washington Parish Reservoir Commission completed a site 
selection study (January 2005) to determine a recommended best source 
of future potable water for Washington Parish. The study concluded that 
creation of a surface water reservoir by damming Bogalusa Creek was the 
most desirable. The Washington Parish Reservoir Commission subsequently 
completed a preliminary engineering report (December 2006) that 
presented preliminary design, planning level costs estimates, and 
preliminary construction plans for a water supply reservoir. Based upon 
review of the site selection report, the Corps concluded that the 
proposed project had the potential for significant impacts to the human 
and natural environment. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
requires the preparation of an EIS for proposals that are subject to 
federal funding, control, responsibility and permitting, and which have 
the potential for significant impacts. The proposed project would 
affect wetlands, which are regulated by the Corps, and require a permit 
to comply with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Because the proposed 
project would require federal involvement, it is subject to NEPA. 
Preliminary alternatives being considered include construction of a new 
surface water supply reservoir, construction of distribution systems to 
make available existing surface water supplies, and increased use of 
groundwater.
    2. The Southern Hills Aquifer system supplies Washington Parish 
with potable water. The Southern Hills Aquifer system is one of the 
most heavily pumped aquifers in Louisiana, supplying 290 million 
gallons per day for consumption. Recent studies indicate that the 
Southern Hills Aquifer system is supplying more water annually than it 
can sustain, and water levels in the aquifer are dropping as much as 
one foot annually. In addition to aquifer water levels, the water 
quality of the aquifer is also declining.
    3. A public scoping meeting will be held (see DATES and ADDRESSES). 
Significant issues identified during this scoping process will be 
analyzed in depth in the Draft EIS.
    4. Upon completion, the Draft EIS will be distributed for agency 
and public review and comment. Additionally, a public meeting will be 
held to present results of the Draft EIS evaluations and the 
recommended plan.
    5. The Draft EIS is estimated to be completed in September 2008.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-6447 Filed 3-27-08; 8:45 am]
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