[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 38 (Friday, February 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8920-8921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4202]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Southwest Coastal Louisiana Feasibility Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Southwest Coastal 
Louisiana Feasibility Study for Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermilion 
Parishes, Louisiana. The Corps will evaluate a full suite of 
structural, nonstructural and coastal restoration measures to achieve 
hurricane protection and storm damage risk reduction within Calcasieu, 
Cameron and Vermilion Parishes in Louisiana. Southwestern Louisiana has 
been affected by several named storms in the past 50 years. The study 
area, which is characterized by low, flat terrain, is highly 
susceptible to flooding from tidal surges associated with hurricanes 
and tropical storms due to its close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. 
Hurricanes that caused damage include Audrey (1957), Arlene (1959), 
Debra (1978), Chris (1982), Danny (1985), Juan (1985), Bonnie (1986), 
Allison (1989), Chantal (1989), Francis (1998), Hermine (1998), Allison 
(2001), Bertha (2002), Lili (2002), Rita (2005), Gustav (2008) and Ike 
(2008). As the ground elevation subsides relative to the levels of the 
Gulf of Mexico, the depth of potential flooding in the future will 
increase along with an increase in damages to the human and natural 
environments. Wetlands in the study area are affected by relative sea 
level rise, subsidence, tides and storm surge created by tropical 
storms and hurricanes, saltwater intrusion and ponding and reduced 
organic production. These conditions would continue at an increased 
rate as the mass of coastal land decreases.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for scoping meeting dates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be addressed to Ms. Sandra 
Stiles at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CEMVNPM-RS, P.O. Box 60267, New 
Orleans, LA 70160-0267, phone (504) 862-1583, fax number (504) 862-2088 
or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Authority: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. 
House of Representatives, Resolution Docket 2747, Southwest Coastal 
Louisiana, LA authorized the Secretary of the Army in accordance with 
section 110 of the River and Harbor Act of 1962, to survey the coast of 
Louisiana in Cameron, Calcasieu and Vermilion Parishes with particular 
reference to the advisability of providing hurricane protection and 
storm damage reduction and related purposes to include the feasibility 
of constructing an armored 12 foot levee along the Gulf Intracoastal 
Waterway.
    2. Proposed Action. The Corps will develop hurricane protection, 
storm damage risk reduction and coastal restoration measures for 
Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermilion Parishes to include: (1) Levee 
alignments to provide hurricane protection and reduce damages from 
storm surge; (2) restoring natural ecosystem features, such as 
Cheniers, to reduce damages from storm surge; (3) measures protecting, 
restoring or increasing wetlands to prevent saltwater intrusion or 
reduce storm surge; (4) measures reducing risk of storm damage to 
communities by preventing or reducing wetland losses in areas affected 
by navigation, oil and gas and other manmade channels; (5) creation of 
barrier islands to serve as the first line of defense against storms 
and reduce storm surge; (6) nonstructural measures such as raising 
structures in-place, relocating structures, buyouts, flood proofing and 
policy development.
    3. Alternatives. Hurricane protection and surge reduction measures 
being considered include multi-parish levee alignments, ring levees, 
ridges, and breakwaters to provide multiple lines of defense. Coastal 
restoration measures being considered include restoration of Cheniers, 
creation of barrier islands, large-scale marsh creation and 
restoration, salinity control, hydrologic restoration, and restoration 
of natural features to prevent/reduce storm surge. Non-structural 
measures include raising structures in-place, property buyouts, 
relocations of residents and communities, flood-proofing and hardening 
of infrastructure. Once hurricane protection, storm surge risk 
reduction and coastal restoration measures are identified, alternative 
plans will be developed through various combinations of measures that 
best meet the study goals and objectives and are determined to be cost-
effective, environmentally acceptable and technically feasible.
    3. Public Involvement. Stakeholder and public involvement for this 
proposed action is integral to the project. Interested parties, 
concerned citizens, and other State and Federal agencies, private and 
not for profit or non-governmental organizations are strongly 
encouraged to participate in the development of the proposed action. 
Stakeholder and public meetings would be held throughout project 
development. Meeting announcements would be made as information becomes 
available.
    4. Public Scoping Meeting. Scoping is the process utilized for 
determining the range of alternatives and significant issues to be 
addressed in the EIS. For this study, a letter will be mailed to all 
parties believed to have an interest in the analysis. The letter will 
notify interested parties of public scoping meetings that will be held 
in the local

[[Page 8921]]

area and request their input on alternatives and issues to be 
evaluated. Notices will also be mailed to local news media. All 
interested parties are invited to comment at this time, and anyone 
interested in this study should request inclusion in the study mailing 
list. A public scoping meeting will be held March 24, 2009 from 6-9 
p.m. in Cameron, Louisiana, March 25, 2009 from 6-9 p.m. in Lake 
Charles, Louisiana and March 26, 2009 from 6-9 p.m. in Abbeville, LA. 
The exact location and address for the meetings will be announced 
through local media channels. Additional meetings could be held, 
depending upon public interest and if it is determined that further 
public coordination is warranted.
    5. Significant Issues. Tentatively, the important resources and 
issues that would be evaluated in the EIS include but are not limited 
to tidal wetlands (marshes and swamps), aquatic resources, commercial 
and recreational fisheries, wildlife resources, essential fish habitat, 
water quality, air quality, threatened and endangered species and 
critical habitat, recreation resources, and cultural resources. 
Socioeconomic items to be evaluated in the EIS include navigation; 
flood protection; business and industrial activity; oil and gas 
pipelines; employment; land use; property values; public/community 
facilities and services; tax revenues; population, community and 
regional growth; transportation; housing; community cohesion; 
environmental justice, aesthetics and noise.
    6. Environmental Consultation and Review. The U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) will assist in documenting existing conditions 
and assessing effects of project alternatives through the 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 regarding the effects of 
this proposed action on Essential Fish Habitat. The draft EIS or a 
notice of its availability will be distributed to all interested 
agencies, organizations, and individuals.
    7. Estimated Date of Availability. The earliest that the DEIS is 
expected to be available is March of 2010.

    Dated: February 18, 2009.
Alvin B. Lee,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. E9-4202 Filed 2-26-09; 8:45 am]
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