[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 6603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2810]



[[Page 6603]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Draft Comprehensive Plan and Integrated Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Mississippi Coastal Improvement 
Program, Jackson, Harrison, and Hancock Counties, MS

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice of availability announces the public release of 
the Draft Comprehensive Plan and Integrated Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program 
(MsCIP), Jackson, Harrison, and Hancock Counties, MS. The Mobile 
District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published in the  
Federal Register, August 9, 2006, (71 FR 45537) a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare a Draft EIS to address the potential impacts associated with 
actions to comprehensively address hurricane and storm damage 
reduction, prevention of saltwater intrusion, preservation of fish and 
wildlife, prevention of erosion, and other related water resource 
purposes in coastal Mississippi. These actions are related to the 
consequences of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005. The Corps 
will forward recommendations to Congress as authorized by the 
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006 (Pub. L. 109-148) dated 
December 30, 2005. The tentatively selected comprehensive plan elements 
for construction include ecosystem restoration of the barrier islands, 
mainland beaches, and sites at Admiral Island, Turkey Creek, Dantzler, 
Bayou Cumbest, Franklin Creek, Deer Island, and submerged aquatic 
vegetation in Bayou Cumbest which will restore approximately 3,210 
acres of emergent tidal marsh, wet pine savannah, scrub/shrub, 
submerged aquatic vegetation, and beach and dune habitats. In 
conjuction with the ecosystem restoration efforts, the Draft 
Comprehensive Plan/Integrated Programmatic EIS recommends tentatively 
selected flood damage reduction elements, including Forrest Heights 
Levee, High Hazard Area Risk Reduction Plan Phase I, Waveland Flood 
Proofing Pilot Projects, and Moss Point Municipal Facility relocation. 
The EIS will be used as a basis for ensuring compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: The public comment period for the Draft Comprehensive Plan and 
Integrated Programmatic EIS will extend through March 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES: To receive an electronic copy of the Draft Comprehensive 
Plan and Integrated Programmatic EIS, or to submit comments, contact 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, MsCIP Team, P.O. Box 
2288, Mobile, AL 36628-0001. A copy of the full document may also be 
viewed at the Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay 
Saint Louis libraries in coastal Mississippi.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and the Draft Comprehensive Plan and Integrated Programmatic EIS should 
be addressed to Dr. Susan I. Rees, Program Manager, MsCIP, phone (251) 
694-4141, Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 2288, 
Mobile, AL 36628 or e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public comments can be submitted through a 
variety of methods. Written comments may be submitted to the Corps by 
mail, facsimile, or electronic methods. Additional comments (written or 
oral) may be presented at the public hearing to be held in early March 
2009 in each of the three coastal counties. Additional information on 
the public hearings will be mailed in a public notice to the agencies 
and public and announced in news releases.

    Dated: January 22, 2009.
Curtis M. Flakes,
Chief, Planning and Environmental Division.
[FR Doc. E9-2810 Filed 2-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P