[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14355-14356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5630]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for a Proposed Highway Between I-12 and Bush, LA in St. Tammany Parish, 
LA

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New Orleans District has prepared 
a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for a project proposed by 
the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) to 
construct a new highway between 1-12 and Bush, Louisiana, in St. 
Tammany Parish. On September 9, 2011, USACE published a notice in the 
Federal Register (76 FR 55887), informing the public of the 
availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that 
analyzes the potential effects of implementing each of four build and 
the ``no-build'' alternative scenarios for a four-lane arterial highway 
from the southern terminus of the current, modern four-lane arterial 
portion of LA 21 in Bush, Louisiana, to I-12, a distance between 17.4 
and 21 miles. The FEIS has been prepared to respond to comments 
received from agencies, organizations, and members of the public on the 
DEIS.
    The USACE is the lead Federal agency responsible for the FEIS and 
information contained in the FEIS serves as the basis for a Department 
of the Army permit decision under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. 
The FEIS also provides information for Federal, State and local 
agencies having jurisdictional responsibility for affected resources. 
Any comments on the FEIS will be considered by USACE and responses will 
be provided for substantive issues raised which have not been addressed 
in the DEIS or FEIS.

DATES: All written comments must be postmarked on or before April 8, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing to: U.S. Corps of 
Engineers, New Orleans District, PO Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160. 
ATTN: Regulatory Branch, or via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Barlow, JR., Ph.D., 
Regulatory Branch, phone (504) 862-2250 or email at 
[email protected], or Ms. Brenda Archer, Regulatory Branch, 
phone (504) 862-2046 or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS has been prepared to address the 
NEPA, environmental and cultural resource laws, USACE Regulatory 
Program Regulations (Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 
Parts 320-332), including the 33 CFR Part 325, Appendix B, and the 
requirements of the section 404(b)(1) guidelines (40 CFR Part 230), to 
gather information needed for the USACE permit decision-making process 
regarding a permit application (MVN-2005-0037) submitted by the LADOTD 
to construct a four-lane arterial highway from the southern terminus of 
the current, four-lane arterial portion of LA 21 in Bush, Louisiana, to 
I-12, a distance between 17.4 and 21 miles.
    LADOTD has stated that the proposed highway is needed as an 
alternative north-south connection that could reduce congestion and 
delays for those traveling from northern St. Tammany Parish and 
Washington Parish to I-12. As stated by LADOTD, the needs of the 
proposed action are to: (1) Fulfill the legislative mandate, Louisiana 
Revised Statute 47:820.2B(e); (2) provide a four-lane arterial to I-12 
from the southern terminus of the current, modern, four-lane arterial 
portion of LA 21; (3) divert traffic from Washington and northern St. 
Tammany Parishes onto a four-lane, arterial to free capacity for local 
trips on segments of existing routes in southern suburban areas and 
reduce congestion during peak and some non-peak periods; and (4) 
support and enhance the existing and developing economic activities in 
Washington and northern St. Tammany Parishes that rely on the highway 
network to reach their markets by providing a travel time savings. The 
``No-build and four build alternatives where evaluated in the DEIS and 
carried over into the FEIS.
     No-Build alternative--Continuation of existing roadway 
network in the region in its current condition to serve as the 
transportation network.
     Alternative P (applicant's proposed alignment)--
Construction of a new 17.4 mile highway segment beginning at the 
intersection of LA HWY 21and LA HWY 41 following the abandoned railroad 
line to a point north of Talisheek, Louisiana before heading 
southwesterly to connect to I-12 at the LA Hwy 1088 interchange with I-
12.
     Alternative Q (least damaging practicable alternative)--
Construction of a new 19.8 mile highway segment beginning at the 
intersection of LA HWY 21 and LA HWY 41 following the abandoned 
railroad line to a point approximately 1.7 miles north of LA 36 leaving 
the abandoned railroad line connecting to LA 434 then to I-12 at an 
existing interchange.
     Alternative J--Construction of a new 21.1 mile highway 
segment beginning at the intersection of LA HWY 21 and LA HWY 41 
following the abandoned railroad line to a point north of the Slidell 
Municipal Airport, widening Airport Road before connecting to I-12.
     Alternative B/O--Construction of a new 19.5 mile highway 
segment upgrading Existing LA HWY 21 to just

[[Page 14356]]

north of Waldheim then continue as a new four-lane roadway 
approximately 5 miles west of LA 1083, terminating at LA 1088 near I-
12.
    The Corps of Engineers expects to complete the National 
Environmental Policy Act process with a Record of Decision no sooner 
than 30 days after the FEIS is made available to the public. The Record 
of Decision will document the decision regarding the Department of the 
Army permit application.
    The FEIS is available for review at the following locations:
    (1) An electronic version of the FEIS may be downloaded and 
reviewed at the USACE, New Orleans District Web site: http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/ops/regulatory/Bush.htm.
    (2) A hardcopy of the FEIS will be available for review by 
appointment only at USACE, New Orleans District, 7400 Leake Avenue, New 
Orleans, LA 70188. To schedule an appointment please contact either 
James A. Barlow, JR., phone (504) 862-2250 or Ms. Brenda Archer, phone 
(504) 862-2046. (3) A hardcopy of the FEIS will be available for review 
at the following libraries:
    1. St. Tammany Parish Library.
--Abita Springs Branch, 71683 Leveson Street, Abita Springs, LA 70420
--Bush Branch, 81597 Highway 41, Bush, LA 70431
--Covington Branch, 310 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433
--Lee Road Branch, 79213 Highway 40, Covington, LA 70435
--Mandeville Branch, 844 Girod Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
--Pearl River Branch, 64580 Highway 41, Pearl River, LA 70452
--Slidell Branch, 555 Robert Boulevard, Slidell, LA 70458
    2. Franklinton Library, 825 Free Street, Franklinton, LA 70438
    3. Bogalusa Library, 304 Avenue F, Bogalusa, LA 70427
    4. Louisiana State Library, 701 North 4th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 
70802
    5. University of New Orleans, Earl K. Long Library, Louisiana 
Collection, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148

    Dated: March 9, 2012.
Edward R. Fleming,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. 2012-5630 Filed 3-8-12; 8:45 am]
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