[Federal Register: October 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 204)] [Notices] [Page 57080-57081] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22oc99-46] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army; Army Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Proposed Hurricane and Wetland Protection in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, LA, a Component of the Morganza, LA, to the Gulf of Mexico Feasibility Study AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) will prepare a draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative beneficial and adverse impacts of implementing a hurricane protection project in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The purposes of the proposed action are to provide protection to existing development from tropical storm and hurricane-induced tidal flooding such as that which occurred during Hurricane Andrew and to protect coastal wetlands from hurricane surges in a portion of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The proposed action would consist of: (1) Upgrading many existing forced drainage system levees; (2) using permitted and/or installed flood-control features (e.g., floodgates); (3) constructing some new levees and water-control structures; and, (4) closing the water-control structures and flood gates in a coordinated manner in the event of tropical storm or hurricane-induced tidal surges. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the PEIS may be directed to Mr. Robert Martinson, CEMVN-PM-RS, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267, telephone: (504) 862-2582. Questions regarding the proposed action may be directed to Mr. Rodney Greenup, CEMVN-PM-W, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267, telephone: (504) 862-2613. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A hurricane protection plan was proposed by the South Terrebonne Tidewater Management and Conservation District (STTMCD). A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the STTMCD plan, under the COE Regulatory Program, was issued on April 7, 1993 (Volume 58, Number 65, pp. 18084-18085). Subsequent to this, the COE was authorized to begin a study of a similar plan. Because the underlying purposes of the plans were the same and in the interest of cost effectiveness, the COE decided to prepare one EIS to address both initiatives, rather than two separate EISs. A Notice of Intent, announcing this decision, was issued in the Federal Register on September 8, 1995. The COE and its cost-share partner, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, have determined that a full accounting of all the details on the proposed hurricane protection system, in the feasibility phase of project planning, will be extremely difficult. The COE came to this conclusion because of the study area's large size, its remote location, and the hydraulic complexity of developing a hurricane protection system with numerous openings for navigation and the natural environment. Therefore, the COE has decided, in conjunction with its cost-share partner, to address a hurricane protection system, programmatically, and to determine if the construction of the entire system is feasible. If such a system is deemed feasible, then as the details for each component (e.g., Houma Navigation Canal lock, levee alignment/placement) of the system become definitive during the detailed design phase, additional NEPA compliance would be achieved for each component. Each of the component NEPA documents would be presented in the context of the PEIS, which will provide an evaluation of the overall environmental impacts of such a system and present a mitigation plan for unavoidable impacts of the entire system. Proposed Action The proposed action would consist of: (1) Upgrading many existing forced-drainage system levees from near Larose at the eastern end of Theriot on the western end; (2) using permitted and/or installed flood- control features (e.g., floodgates) in the area; (3) constructing new levees and environmental water-control structures; and, (4) closing the water-control structures and flood gates, in a coordinated manner, in the event of tropical storm or hurricane-induced tidal surges. The flood gates and water-control structures would normally be left open for navigational and tidal ingress and egress. Several communities, including the City of Houma, Dulac, Cauvin, and Montegut, would receive protection from the proposed action. [[Page 57081]] Alternatives The no-action alternative must be evaluated. Additionally, several levee alignments around the Lake Beudreaux area will be evaluated, including the STTMCD plan. Non-structural solutions for protecting existing development also will be evaluated. On May 12, 1993, the COE held a formal NEPA scoping meeting at Houma, Louisiana, for the previously-announced regulatory EIS. Fifty- two individuals registered at the meeting. Questions and issues of concern were solicited at the meeting, and a summary of the results was made available to participants on April 12, 1994. One of the main areas of concern brought out during the 1993 scoping meeting was potential impacts to Lake Boudreaux, its surrounding marshes, and the associated marine organisms. Additional meetings will be held, with local interests from the various bayou areas, and with the various affected Federal and state agencies. The COE does not plan to hold additional formal NEPA scoping meetings, but meetings will continue to be held throughout the planning process, as discussed above. A draft PEIS is scheduled to be available for public review during March 2000. Thomas F. Julich, Colonel, U.S. Army District Engineer. [FR Doc. 99-27637 Filed 10-21-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-84-M