[Federal Register: July 16, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 136)]
[Notices]
[Page 42696-42698]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jy04-45]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (DSEIS) for the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System Project,
Buffalo Cove Management Unit, Located in Both St. Martin and Iberia
Parishes, LA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District
(CEMVN), intends to evaluate water management features to improve water
quality and interior water circulation, remove barriers to reestablish
north to south water flow; provide input of oxygenated low temperature
water; and reduce or manage sediment input into the interior swamp. The
action is necessary due to the existing poor water quality resulting
from the lack of internal circulation and oxygenated water inputs, and
increased sedimentation. In addition if action is not taken, both deep-
water and shallow water habitat utilized by fish and wildlife resources
will continue to be lost, reduced, or degraded. The intended result of
the proposed work is to prolong the life expectancy of the productive
habitat (primarily aquatic and cypress tupelo habitats) that would
become scarce over time by restricting or redirecting sediments, while
simultaneously achieving a healthy water circulation pattern that would
maintain or restore water quality and reestablish north to south water
movement.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the DSEIS should
be addressed to Mr. Larry Hartzog at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PM-
RP, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267, phone (504) 862-2524,
fax number (504) 862-2572 or by E-mail at
Larry.M.Hartzog@mvn02.usace.army.mi.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CEMVN, is initiating this DSEIS under
the authority of the Flood Control Act of May 15, 1928 (Pub. L. 391,
70th Congress), as amended and supplemented. Construction of two pilot
management units (Buffalo Cove and Henderson Lake) is authorized by the
Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1985 (Pub. L. 99-88) and the Water
Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-662), with
construction of three additional authorized management units (Flat
Lake, Beau Bayou, and Cocodrie Swamp) to take place upon approval of
the Chief of Engineers after evaluation of the operational success of
the initial two pilot management units. WRDA 1986 authorized the USACE
to carry out the recommended plan for management units as described in
the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System feasibility report and
Environmental Impact Statement of 1982 and the subsequent Chief of
Engineers Report dated February 28, 1983. Under this authority, an
assessment of environmental impacts associated with the construction,
operation, and maintenance of water management activities in the
Buffalo Cove Management Unit will be made.
l. Proposed Act. The proposed action will consist of a series of
closures and
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sediment traps (to reduce sediment influx); construction of new, or
improvement of existing inputs for river water; and gap construction in
existing embankments. Closures will be placed in areas that have the
greatest potential for introduction of sediment. Closure heights will
be designed to optimize sediment reduction. Construction of water
inputs will be evaluated in areas where sediment-lean, fresh water
sources can be easily connected to existing canals or bayous to conduit
water into areas of poor water quality. Sediment traps will be designed
as necessary in conjunction with the freshwater input sites. Gaps will
be sized and placed in both elevated natural banks as well as dredged
material embankments that impede water flow or induce stagnation. These
gaps are primarily intended to improve drainage and reestablish flow
through the interior swamp basin. Excavated material will be either
placed in a non-continuous manner in order to not disrupt sheet flow,
or if practicable, the material will be used to create closures.
2. Alternatives. The alternative formulation process will include
an evaluation of the ``no action alternative'', a monitored passive
management plan, and the original structural alternative plan as
proposed in the 1982 Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System Final
Environmental Impact Statement which included construction of ring
levees and active structures. The current alternative analysis will
continue to evolve throughout the development of the DSEIS.
Alternatives to be evaluated include different methods of sediment
reduction, water input, and improving internal circulation with the
management unit. Sediment reduction alternatives will include the use
of various sediment trap sizes and placements, construction of sediment
traps with and without maintenance, and monitoring the effectiveness of
sediment reduction utilizing both partial and complete closures at
sites of suspected sediment inputs. Alternative methods will also be
evaluated for water introduction and include; diverse configurations of
water inputs (sinuous, straight, length and depth), improvements to
existing natural and manmade inlets, reopening natural and man-made
inputs, and siting of bank shavings to reduce barriers to water input.
In addition, various sizes, numbers and placement of gaps in existing
canal banks, ridges and other internal circulation impediments will be
considered in the alternatives.
3. Scoping Process. The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
process directs Federal agencies that have made a decision to prepare
an environmental impact statement to engage in a public scoping
process. The scoping process is designed to provide an early and open
means of determining the scope of issues (problems, needs, and
opportunities) to be identified and addressed in the draft
environmental impact assessment, which in this case is a DSEIS.
Scoping is the process used to: (a) Identify the affected public
and agency concerns; (b) facilitate an efficient DSEIS preparation
process; (c) define the issues and alternatives that will be examined
in detail in the DSEIS; (d) and save time in the overall process by
helping to ensure that the draft statements adequately address relevant
issues. Scoping is a process, not an event or a meeting. It continues
throughout the planning process for a DSEIS and may involve meetings,
telephone conversations, and/or written comments. Scoping comments will
be compiled, analyzed, and utilized in the plan formulation process. A
scoping report, summarizing the comments, will be made available to all
scoping participants in the initial scoping meetings and included in
the public involvement appendix of the final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (FSEIS).
a. Public Involvement. Scoping is a critical component of the
overall public involvement program. An intensive public involvement
program will continue throughout the study to solicit input from
affected Federal, state, and local agencies, native American tribes,
and other interested parties. This public input will be obtained
through a series of scoping meetings open to the general public. In
addition to these meetings there will be additional continual public
involvement through the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
Division's Atchafalaya Basin Advisory Committee meetings on Water
Management. CEMVN personnel actively participate, contribute, and
utilize information obtained from these meetings. CEMVN personnel will
be available for additional informational meetings if needed or
requested by various interested and or affected public, private and
conservation interests such as: Landowners, oil and gas interests,
commercial and recreational hunters and fishers, forestry interests,
and the Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society or other
conservation organizations.
Significant Issues: The tentative list of resources and issues to
be evaluated in the EIS includes forested wetlands (includes cypress/
tupelo swamp as well as infrequently inundated areas of ash, oak, elm,
hackberry and cypress), water quality, aquatic resources, commercial
and recreational fisheries, wildlife resources, essential fish habitat,
water quality, air quality, threatened and endangered species,
recreation resources, and cultural resources. Socioeconomic items to be
elevated in the EIS include employment, land use, property values,
public/community facilities and services, community and regional
growth, transportation, housing, community cohesion, and noise.
Ineragency Coordination. The Department of Interior, U.S.Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), will provide a Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act Report. Coordination will be maintained with the USFWS regarding
threatened and endangered species. Coordination will be maintained with
the National Resources Conservation Service regarding prime and unique
farmlands. Coordination will be maintained with the Advisory Counsel on
Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Officer. The
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources will be consulted regarding
consistency with the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be contacted concerning
potential impacts to Natural and Scenic Rivers and Streams. The
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will review the action
for consistency with applicable laws regarding the discharge of dredged
material as it relates to impacting water quality and will provide the
State of Louisiana Water Quality Certification.
d. Environmental Consultation 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 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 on the
effects of this proposed action on Essential Fish Habitat. The DSEIS or
a notice of its availability will be distributed to all interested
agencies, organizations, and individuals.
4. Three public scoping meetings are to be scheduled in 2004. Based
on available funding the tentative meeting locations will be Baton
Rouge, Lafayette and St. Martinville, LA. Exact dates and
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meeting facility will be announced by public notice at a later date.
The purpose of the scoping meeting is to provide the agencies and the
interested public with the initial conceptual designs, preliminary
designs known and designs under consideration for the proposed water
management project for the Buffalo Cove Management Unit and issues
concerning its construction and operation.
5. Estimated Date of Availability. Funding levels will dictate the
date when the DEIS is available. The earliest that the DEIS is expected
to be available is in the fall of 2006.
Dated: July 4, 2004.
Peter J. Rowan,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 04-16229 Filed 7-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-M