E9-8534. Raccoon Island Shore Protection/Marsh Creation Project-Phase B (TE-48-B) Terrebonne Parish, LA

AGENCY:

Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of finding of no significant impact.

SUMMARY:

Pursuant to Section 102 (2) (C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40 CFR Part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Guidelines (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Phase B portion of the Raccoon Island Shore Protection/Marsh Creation Project (TE-48-B), Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kevin D. Norton, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 3737 Government Street, Alexandria, Louisiana 71302; telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A supplemental environmental assessment of the Federally assisted action indicates that the project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As a result of these findings, Kevin D. Norton, State Conservationist, has determined that preparation and review of an environmental impact statement is not needed for this project.

The project will protect the Raccoon Island rookery and seabird colonies threatened by a retreating shoreline by reducing the rate of erosion along the northern end of the island by creating additional wetlands and avian habitat within the back bay area. The proposed project consists of creating approximately 68 acres of new habitat for bird species on the northeast portion of the island by backfilling open water areas with suitable dredged material and planting appropriate woody and herbaceous species.

The Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency and to various Federal, State, and local agencies and interested parties. A limited number of copies of the FONSI are available to fill single copy requests at the above address. Basic data collected during the environmental assessment are on file and may be reviewed by contacting Kevin D. Norton.

No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal Register.

Kevin D. Norton,

State Conservationist.