[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84562-84563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28218]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Modification of the Bayou Lafourche and Lafourche-Jump Waterway, 
Louisiana, Navigation Channel Project in Lafourche Parish

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), New Orleans District 
will be the lead agency for a draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS), to be integrated with a Feasibility Report (FR), for the Bayou 
Lafourche and Lafourche-Jump Waterway, Louisiana Project, in Lafourche 
Parish. The FR and DEIS will investigate channel modification to the 
Bayou

[[Page 84563]]

Lafourche Waterway up to as much as 50 feet deep. The integrated 
document will be prepared by the Greater Lafourche Port Commission 
(GLPC).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the project and the 
DEIS should be addressed to: Mr. Sean Mickal, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Regional Planning and Environment Division South, Planning 
Branch, Room 141, 7400 Leake Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118-3651, by 
email at [email protected], or by telephone at (504) 862-
2319.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authority. The DEIS is being prepared by the GLPC under 
authority granted by Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act 
(WRDA) of 1986, as amended by Section 1014(b) of the Water Resources 
Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014.
    2. Proposed Action. The proposed action is to increase the 
controlling depth of the Bayou Lafourche Waterway federal navigation 
channel. Economic analyses will be performed to determine the current 
and future needs for the channel by various draft vessels, and the 
costs and benefits of maintaining channels of various sizes.
    3. Alternatives. An array of alternatives will be analyzed and the 
most feasible of the alternatives will be recommended. Alternatives 
range from the `No Action' Alternative to enlarging and extending the 
access channel to the natural contour of the Gulf at approximately -50 
ft. Mean Lower Low Water. The selected contour is to be optimized in 
the process of preparing the Integrated FR and DEIS. All feasible and 
reasonable alternatives will be considered, including alternatives with 
varying depths and lengths, for detailed analysis.
    4. Scoping. Scoping is the process for determining the scope of 
alternatives and significant issues to be addressed in the DEIS. For 
this study, a letter will be sent to all parties believed to have an 
interest in the study, requesting their input on alternatives and 
issues to be evaluated. The letter will also notify interested parties 
of a public scoping meeting 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. A public 
scoping meeting or meetings will be announced in the near future.
    5. Purpose of and Need for the Project. The project will enlarge 
the existing authorized channel at Port Fourchon, Louisiana, to an 
engineering, economic and environmentally feasible depth and extend the 
main access channel to the natural contour of the Gulf of Mexico at the 
optimum depth. The project would include the construction of a turning 
basin or wider slip(s) within the port complex to accommodate larger 
vessels. The action is being proposed to provide adequate depth to 
accommodate deeper drafts of larger oil and gas exploration and service 
vessels plying the Gulf in deep waters; to provide depths required to 
move large oil and gas exploration and production rigs constructed and 
fabricated at the port to open water; to allow large oil and gas 
platforms to move from the Gulf to Port Fourchon for repair and 
refurbishment; and to provide adequate depth for other ongoing 
construction projects at the port.
    6. Significant Issues. The tentative list of resources and issues, 
not exclusive, to be evaluated in the DEIS includes tidal wetlands, 
barrier shoreline habitat, aquatic resources, wildlife resources, 
essential fish habitat, water quality, air quality, threatened and 
endangered species, recreational resources, and cultural resources. 
Additional resources might include geological issues (including 
dredging and stabilization of fill areas) and impacts on visual 
resources. Socioeconomic items to be evaluated in the DEIS include 
navigation, business and industrial activity, employment, land use, 
property values, public/community facilities and services, tax 
revenues, population, community and regional growth, vehicular 
transportation, and noise.
    7. Consultation, Coordination, 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 also provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act report. 
Endangered Species Act, Section 7 consultation, will also be conducted 
in close coordination with the USFWS and the National Marine Fisheries 
Service concerning threatened and endangered species. Consultation will 
also be done with the State Historic Preservation Office and federally 
recognized Indian Tribes. The proposed action will involve evaluation 
for compliance with guidelines established by Section 404(b) of the 
Clean Water Act; application (to the State of Louisiana) for Water 
Quality Certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act; 
certification of state lands, easements, and rights of way; and 
determination of Coastal Zone Management Act consistency. The DEIS will 
be distributed for review to all interested agencies, organizations, 
and individuals.
    8. Estimated Date of Availability. It is estimated that this DEIS 
will be available to the public in November 2017. At least one public 
meeting will be held at that time, during which the public will be 
provided the opportunity to comment on the DEIS before it becomes 
final.

    Dated: November 10, 2016.
Michael N. Clancy,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander.
[FR Doc. 2016-28218 Filed 11-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-35-P