[Federal Register: October 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 192)]
[Notices]               
[Page 57340-57342]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02oc08-47]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers

 
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Ecosystem Restoration 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

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Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mississippi River-Gulf 
Outlet (MRGO) Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study within the Middle 
and Lower Pontchartrain Basin and areas of southern Mississippi. The 
Corps will evaluate a full range of comprehensive restoration measures 
to restore important estuarine components and ecosystem processes 
within the areas affected by the MRGO navigation channel and assess the 
impacts associated with implementing the plan. The MRGO was authorized 
by Congress in 1956 as a Federal navigation channel to provide a direct 
route between the Port of New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. 
Construction began in 1958 and was completed in 1968 to authorized 
dimensions (36-foot depth by 500-foot width: 38-foot depth by 600-foot 
bottom width in Bar Channel). Construction of the MRGO channel created 
a direct deep water link between the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal and 
the Gulf of Mexico allowing higher salinity waters to enter Lake Borgne 
and Lake Pontchartrain estuaries. Construction resulted in direct 
wetland losses, damages to the Bayou LaLoutre Ridge and alteration of 
the adjacent landscape and hydrology by placement of dredge material 
adjacent to the channel in upland confined disposal facilities. Since 
Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005, the MRGO navigation channel 
has not been maintained. A June closure plan and accompanying 
Legislative EIS and Record of Decision titled ``Integrated Final Report 
to Congress and Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Deep-Draft De-Authorization Study'' was 
signed on June 5, 2008, officially deauthorizing the MRGO navigation 
channel (from the Gulf of Mexico to Mile 60 at the southern bank of the 
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway) and authorizing construction of a closure 
structure at the south ridge of Bayou LaLoutre in St. Bernard Parish, 
Louisiana and development of plan to restore the areas affected by the 
MRGO Navigation channel.

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 sandra.e.stiles@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Authority: Water Resources Development Act of 2007 Sections 7012 
and 7013 authorized the Corps to develop a comprehensive closure and 
restoration plan, at full Federal expense, to de-authorize deep-draft 
navigation on the MRGO, Louisiana, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to 
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) and develop a restoration plan.
    2. Proposed Action. The Corps will develop a comprehensive 
ecosystem restoration plan to restore the areas affected by the MRGO 
navigation channel to include: (1) Physically modifying the MRGO 
channel and restoring areas affected by the channel; (2) restoring 
natural ecosystem features to reduce damage from storm surge; (3) 
measures preventing saltwater intrusion into the waterway; (4) measures 
protecting, restoring or increasing wetlands to prevent saltwater 
intrusion or storm surge; (5) measures reducing risk of storm damage to 
communities by preventing or reducing wetland losses or restoring 
wetlands in areas affected by navigation, oil and gas and other manmade 
channels; (6) diversions to restore the Lake Borgne Ecosystem.
    3. Alternatives. Restoration measures being considered include 
physical modification and restoration of the MRGO navigation channel, 
freshwater, sediment and nutrient introduction; shoreline protection 
and bank stabilization; restoration and protection of natural ridges; 
barrier island protection and restoration; wetland protection, creation 
and restoration; water control measures (gates, weirs, sills, plugs, 
etc.); measures to increase native vegetation; restoration of natural 
features to reduce storm surge. Once restoration measures are 
identified, alternative plans will be developed through various 
combinations of restoration measures that best meet the study goals and 
objectives and are determined to be cost-effective, environmentally 
acceptable and technically feasible. Some measures may also be 
recommended for implementation under other authorities.
    4. 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.
    5. 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 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 November 3, 2008 from 6-9 
p.m. in Chalmette, Louisiana and November 6, 2008 from 6-9 p.m. in 
Waveland, Mississippi. 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.
    6. Significant Issues. The tentative list of important resources 
and issues that will be evaluated in the EIS include but are not 
limited to tidal wetlands (marshes and swamps), barrier islands, 
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.
    7. 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

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agencies, organizations, and individuals.
    8. Estimated Date of Availability. The earliest that the DEIS is 
expected to be available is March of 2010.

    Dated: September 23, 2008.
Alvin B. Lee,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
 [FR Doc. E8-23219 Filed 10-1-08; 8:45 am]

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