[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 4268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2137]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers
Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for the Intracoastal Waterway (IWW) Locks, Louisiana, Feasibility Study
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: A reconnaissance study of the locks on the Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway in Louisiana determined that the Bayou Sorrel Lock has the
most immediate need for an increase in capacity to pass navigation
traffic and needs to be modified or replaced to provide sufficient
height to pass a project flood in the Atchafalaya Basin. The Bayou
Sorrel Lock is located along the Morgan City to Port Allen alternate
route near the town of Bayou Sorrel and allows navigation traffic to
pass through the East Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee. The DEIS will
address alternatives for replacement of the existing Bayou Sorrel Lock.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the DEIS should be addressed to Mr. Richard Boe at
(504) 862-1505. Questions about the feasibility study should be
addressed to Mr. Kevin Wagner at (504) 862-2509. Their address is U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Planning Division (CELMN-PD), P.O. Box 60267,
New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authority. The feasibility study is authorized by two
Congressional resolutions. The first resolution was adopted by the
Committee on Public Works of the U.S. Senate on September 29, 1972, and
the second was adopted by the Committee on Public Works of the U.S.
House of Representatives on October 12, 1972. Both resolutions
requested the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors to investigate
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to determine the advisability of
modifying the existing project.
2. Proposed Action. The proposed action is to determine the
feasibility of replacing the Bayou Sorrel Lock with a larger, more
efficient lock. Various sizes, alignments, and construction techniques
will be investigated for the replacement lock. The DEIS will discuss
these alternatives and disclose the impacts of the alternatives for
which detailed investigations are made.
3. Alternatives. A variety of alternatives for replacement of the
lock, as well as the no-action alternative, are under investigation.
Alternatives include concrete shell design, earthen chamber design, and
lock sizes from 75 to 110 feet wide and up to 1,200 feet long.
Associated with any lock replacement plan is the necessity to dispose
of large quantities of dredged material. Investigations are being
conducted to minimize the environmental impact of dredged material
disposal and to mitigate for unavoidable impacts.
4. Scoping. Scoping is the process for determining the scope of
issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues
related to a proposed action. For this study, a scoping input request
letter will be sent to all parties believed to have an interest. The
scoping input request will invite comments on study alternatives and
other significant study-related issues to be addressed in the DEIS. The
scoping input request will also serve as an invitation to a public
scoping meeting to be held in the town of Bayou Sorrel in early 1997.
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.
5. Significant Issues. The tentative list of issues and resources
to be evaluated in the DEIS includes: forested wetlands (including
wildlife resources), aquatic resources (including water quality),
threatened and endangered species, recreation resources, cultural
resources, socioeconomic resources.
6. Cooperating Agencies. Non-Federal cost sharing will be provided
through the Inland Waterway Trust Fund, administered by the Inland
Waterway Users Board. No cooperating agencies have been designated.
7. Environmental Consultation and Review. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) is assisting in identification of impacts
and in the development of mitigation plans. The Service will provide a
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act report. Consultation will also be
accomplished with the Service concerning threatened and endangered
species. The DEIS will be distributed to all interested agencies,
organizations, and individuals.
8. Estimated Date of Availability. The DEIS is scheduled to be
distributed to the public in July 1998.
Dated: January 10, 1997.
William L. Conner,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 97-2137 Filed 1-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-M
