96-10595. Outer Continental Shelf, Gulf of Mexico Region, Proposed Louisiana Barrier Shoreline Restoration Effort

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 84 (Tuesday, April 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19084-19085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10595]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service


Outer Continental Shelf, Gulf of Mexico Region, Proposed 
Louisiana Barrier Shoreline Restoration Effort

AGENCIES: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Department of the 
Interior; National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce; State of 
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to Support Phase 1 of the Louisiana Barrier Shoreline 
Feasibility Study (Barataria-Terrebonne Basin Barrier Island 
Restoration Effort).

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PURPOSE OF THE NOI: The NOI announces the decision to prepare an EIS 
and initiate the scoping process. The scoping process affords Federal, 
State, local government agencies, and other interested parties the 
opportunity to identify significant issues and alternatives to be 
analyzed in the EIS.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 14, 1996.

PROPOSED ACTION: The purpose to which the Federal agencies are 
responding in the barrier island project and the proposed major Federal 
action to be considered are as follows:
    Purpose: The restoration, protection, and enhancement of Louisiana 
coastal wetlands, and for other purposes.
    Proposed Action: Restoration of the Louisiana Barrier Shoreline as 
Identified in Phase 1 of the Louisiana Barrier Shoreline Feasibility 
Study (Barataria and Terrebonne Basins).

SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND ON THE PROPOSED ACTION: Under the auspices of 
the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act 
(CWPPRA), the feasibility and benefits of restoring the barrier islands 
of coastal Louisiana are currently being evaluated with respect to 
their role in wetlands protection and enhancement. A feasibility study 
is underway to assess and quantify wetland loss problems linked to 
diminishing protection from barrier islands along the Louisiana coast, 
to identify solutions to these problems, and to determine the barrier 
configuration that will best protect Louisiana's coastal resources from 
environmental degradation. The feasibility study is being conducted in 
three phases: Phase 1, currently ongoing, encompasses the Barataria-
Terrebonne island chain; Phase 2 will focus on the Chenier Plain coast; 
Phase 3 will focus on the Chandeleur Islands.
    Within the Phase 1 study area, the State of Louisiana is proposing 
to renourish Isles Dernieres and Timbalier Islands using Federal 
offshore sand deposits. In addition to renourishment, other coastal 
restoration methods, such as dune building, vegetation planting, hard 
structures, and related actions may be employed. On April 19, 1995, the 
Governor of the State of Louisiana contacted the MMS to request a 
noncompetitive lease to use Federal sand resources from Ship Shoal for 
restoration of the Louisiana barrier islands. The MMS has determined 
that the use of Federal sand from Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) areas 
such as Ship Shoal for barrier island restoration and subsequent 
wetlands protection meets the negotiated agreement requirements under 
Section 8(k)(2)(A)(i) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1337(k)(2)(A)(i)).
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process is initiated 
when Federal agencies consider major actions which may significantly 
affect the environment. Because the environmental consequences of 
barrier island restoration are not fully understood and the extraction 
of Federal sand for the purposes of barrier island and wetlands 
restoration is considered a major Federal action, an EIS will be 
prepared.
    This specific EIS will support the Phase 1 portion of the 
feasibility study. Impacts associated with Phases 2 and 3 will be 
evaluated in subsequent NEPA documents. The EIS will be used to assist 
the CWPPRA Task Force in making funding decisions regarding Phase 1 
restoration methods as well as aid the MMS with respect to the request 
for a noncompetitive lease to the State of Louisiana for the use of 
Federal sand. The EIS will consider all reasonable restoration methods, 
the environmental consequences resulting from such methods, any 
alternatives to using material from the Ship Shoal area, and possible 
mitigation measures or stipulations which could be applied on the OCS 
or in the renourishment areas to ensure that a balance between orderly 
resource development and protection of

[[Page 19085]]

the human, marine, and coastal environments is maintained. Alternatives 
not recommended in the feasibility study, but identified by various 
involved parties during the EIS process, may also be included for 
analysis. Various aspects related to the EIS cannot be definitively 
determined until a scoping meeting, required under 40 CFR 1501.7, is 
conducted in the State of Louisiana.
    Scoping Process: This notice constitutes the beginning of the 
public scoping process. Interested individuals, organizations, and 
other agencies are encouraged to provide written comments within 45 
calendar days of this notice to the address below. Respondents should 
mark their submittal ``Comments Regarding Preparation of a Louisiana 
Barrier Island Restoration EIS.'' The MMS will review all comments 
received for the purpose of determining the scope of the EIS.
    As of the writing of this notice, a public scoping meeting was 
scheduled to be held May 14, 1996, beginning at 7:00 P.M., at the 
Municipal Auditorium in Houma, Louisiana. Written notice providing 
final details on the location, date, and times of this meeting will be 
published in local and regional newspapers, as appropriate. Persons 
interested in attending the scoping meeting may also call the number 
below for exact details and final arrangements.
    Comments and Questions: Please direct written comments and written 
or verbal questions on the proposed action and EIS to Mr. Barry S. 
Drucker, Project Coordinator, U. S. Department of the Interior, 
Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden Street, Mail Stop 4030, Herndon, 
Virginia, 22070. Phone: [phone]), Fax: [phone]).

    Dated: April 22, 1996.
Cynthia Quarterman,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. 96-10595 Filed 4-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P