Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 171 / Friday, September 4, 2009 / Notices 45835 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Questions concerning the draft SEIS 

should be addressed to Dr. William P. 

Klein, Jr., CEMVN–PM–RS, P.O. Box 

60267, New Orleans, LA 70160–0267; 

telephone: (504) 862–2540; fax: (504) 

862–1583; or by e-mail: 

william.p.klein.jr@usace.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Authority. This SEIS will tier from 

the programmatic EIS for the Louisiana 

Coastal Area (LCA)—Louisiana, 

Ecosystem Restoration Study, November 

2004. The Record of Decision for the 

Programmatic EIS was signed on 

November 18, 2005. The Water 

Resources Development Act of 2007 

(WRDA 2007) authorized the LCA 

ecosystem restoration program. The 

authority includes requirements for 

comprehensive planning, program 

governance, implementation, and other 

program components. The LCA 

restoration program will facilitate the 

implementation of critical restoration 

features and essential science and 

technology demonstration projects, 

increase the beneficial use of dredged 

material and determine the need for 

modification of selected existing 

projects to support coastal restoration 

objectives. The LCA near-term plan 

includes fifteen elements authorized for 

implementation contingent upon 

meeting certain reporting requirements. 

Specifically, Section 7006(e) of WRDA 

2007 authorizes the Secretary of the 

Army to carry out additional projects 

referred to in the restoration plan. 

Section 7006(e)(1) authorizes the 

following additional projects: Maintain 

Land Bridge between Caillou Lake and 

the Gulf of Mexico at a total cost of 

$56,300,000; Stabilize the Gulf 

Shoreline at Point Au Fer Island project 

at a total cost of $43,400,000; the 

Modification of Caernarvon Diversion 

project at a total cost of $20,700,000; 

and the Modification of Davis Pond 

Diversion Project at a total cost of 

$64,200,000; if the Secretary of the 

Army determines such projects are 

feasible. 

2. Proposed Action. The LCA 

Maintain Land Bridge between Caillou 

(Sister) Lake and the Gulf of Mexico 

restoration project would propose 

measures to increase the stability of the 

land bridge separating Caillou (Sister) 

Lake from the Gulf of Mexico. The 

objectives of the restoration project are 

to stem shoreline retreat and prevent 

further breaches that have allowed 

increased water exchange between the 

gulf and the interior water bodies (Bay 

Junop and Caillou (Sister) Lake). 

Prevention of increased marine 

influence would reduce interior wetland 

loss as well as preserve the potential for 

long-range restoration. Closure of newly 

opened channels would restore historic 

cross-sections of exchange points, 

would reduce marine influences in 

interior areas, and allow increased 

freshwater influence from Four League 

Bay to benefit area marshes. 

3. Public Involvement. Public 

involvement, an essential part of the 

SEIS process, is integral to assessing the 

environmental consequences of the 

proposed action and improving the 

quality of the environmental decision 

making process. The public includes 

affected and interested Federal, state, 

and local agencies, Indian tribes, 

concerned citizens, stakeholders, and 

other interested parties. Public 

participation in the SEIS process will be 

strongly encouraged, both formally and 

informally, to enhance the probability of 

a more technically accurate, 

economically feasible, and socially and 

politically acceptable SEIS. Public 

involvement will include but is not 

limited to: Information dissemination; 

identification of problems, needs and 

opportunities; idea generation; public 

education; problem solving; providing 

feedback on proposals; evaluation of 

alternatives; public and scoping notices 

and meetings; public, stakeholder and 

advisory groups consultation and 

meetings; and making the SEIS and 

supporting information readily available 

in conveniently located places, such as 

libraries and on the World Wide Web. 

4. Scoping. Scoping, an early and 

open process for identifying the scope of 

significant issues related to the 

proposed action to be addressed in the 

SEIS, will be used to: (a) Identify the 

affected public and agency concerns; (b) 

facilitate an efficient SEIS preparation 

process; (c) define the issues and 

alternatives that will be examined in 

detail in the SEIS; and (d) save time in 

the overall process by helping to ensure 

that the draft SEIS adequately addresses 

relevant issues. A Scoping Meeting 

Notice announcing the locations, dates 

and times for scoping meetings will be 

mailed to all interested parties in 

August 2009. 

5. Coordination. The USACE and the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 

have formally committed to work 

together to conserve, protect, and restore 

fish and wildlife resources while 

ensuring environmental sustainability of 

our Nation’s water resources under the 

January 22, 2003, Partnership 

Agreement for Water Resources and 

Fish and Wildlife. The USFWS will 

provide a Fish and Wildlife 

Coordination Act Report. Coordination 

will be maintained with the USFWS and 

the National Marine Fisheries Service 

(NMFS) regarding threatened and 

endangered species under their 

respective jurisdictional 

responsibilities. Coordination will be 

maintained with the NMFS regarding 

essential fish habitat. Coordination will 

be maintained with the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service 

regarding prime and unique farmlands. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will 

be consulted regarding the 

‘‘Swampbuster’’ provisions of the Food 

Security Act. Coordination will be 

maintained with the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency concerning 

compliance with Executive Order 

12898, ‘‘Federal Action to Address 

Environmental Justice in Minority 

Populations and Low-Income 

Populations.’’ Coordination will be 

maintained with the Advisory Counsel 

on Historic Preservation and the State 

Historic Preservation Officer. The 

Louisiana Department of Natural 

Resources will be consulted regarding 

consistency with the Coastal Zone 

Management Act. The Louisiana 

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 

will be consulted concerning potential 

impacts to Natural and Scenic Streams, 

and fish and wildlife issues including 

coordination regarding the Sister Lake 

Public Oyster Seed Reservation. 

5. Availability of Draft SEIS. The 

earliest that the draft SEIS will be 

available for public review would be in 

spring of 2011. The draft SEIS or a 

Notice of Availability will be distributed 

to affected Federal, state, and local 

agencies, Indian tribes, and other 

interested parties. 

Dated: August 25, 2009. 

Alvin B. Lee, 

Colonel, US Army, District Commander. 

[FR Doc. E9–21374 Filed 9–3–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3720–58–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army 

Army Science Board (ASB) 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD. 

ACTION: Notice; correction. 

SUMMARY: The notice of an open meeting 

scheduled for Sep 15, 2009 published in 

the Federal Register on August 31, 2009 

(74 FR 44828) has a revised 

classification and agenda. The 

survivability and deployability study of 

ground platforms session (1230–1330) 

will be a classified session at the Secret 

clearance level. A second unclassified 

session (1345–1430) has been added to 

adopt recommendations from the ASB 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
45836 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 171 / Friday, September 4, 2009 / Notices 

Installation 2025 study. The meeting 

will now be adjourned at 1445 EDT. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dennis Schmidt, Army Science Board 

Secretariat, at 703–604–7474 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public 

attendees desiring to attend the 

classified session must have a Secret 

clearance and a need to know the 

information related to the survivability 

topic. Please contact Mr. Justin 

Bringhurst at 703–604–7468 or 

justin.bringhurst@us.army.mil to 

arrange access to this meeting. 

Brenda S. Bowen, 

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–21369 Filed 9–3–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–08–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army 

Record of Decision (ROD) for the 

Maneuver Center of Excellence 

(MCOE) Actions at Fort Benning, GA 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD. 

ACTION: Record of Decision. 

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army 

announces the availability of the ROD 

that implements MCOE actions at Fort 

Benning including construction, 

operation and maintenance of proposed 

operational facilities, training areas 

(including ranges and maneuver areas), 

and infrastructure to accommodate the 

consolidated Armor and Infantry 

missions of the MCOE and the increase 

in military personnel and students due 

to Army growth. 

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the 

ROD, contact Mr. John Brent, 

FortBenning Directorate of Public 

Works, Environmental Management 

Division, 6650 Meloy Hall, Building 6, 

Room 308, Fort Benning, GA 31905, or 

e-mail to: john.brent@us.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two 

action alternatives were identified in the 

June 2009 MCOE Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) that would fulfill the 

purpose and need of the MCOE action: 

Alternative A and Alternative B. The No 

Action Alternative was also considered 

but it does not meet the purpose and 

need of the MCOE actions. The Army 

has identified Alternative A as its 

preferred alternative because it best 

meets the purpose and need of the 

MCOE actions. Of the two action 

alternatives, Alternative A is the 

environmentally preferred alternative. 

The Army has decided to proceed 

with implementing the Preferred 

Alternative (Alternative A) consistent 

with the analysis in the MCOE EIS and 

supporting studies and comments 

provided during formal comment and 

review periods. Administrative, 

maintenance, barracks, commercial 

services, medical, community, dining, 

and recreation facilities would be 

constructed in three of the four 

cantonment areas: Main Post, Sand Hill, 

and Harmony Church. Additional 

construction in the ranges and 

maneuver areas include small- and 

large-caliber weapons ranges, heavy 

maneuver areas and corridors, drivers’ 

training course, and vehicle recovery 

area to support the training 

requirements. In addition, MCOE 

activities will include a substantial 

long-term increase in training 

operations and associated land 

disturbance. Included in this EIS is an 

increase of 118 military personnel and 

2,640 new military students (daily 

average) resulting from Grow the Army 

actions. 

Special consideration was given to the 

effect of the preferred alternative on 

natural, cultural, and human 

environments. Mitigation measures, as 

described in the ROD, will be 

implemented to avoid, minimize, or 

compensate for the adverse effects 

identified in the MCOE EIS at Fort 

Benning for land use, operational noise, 

biological resources (fish and wildlife), 

water resources, cultural resources, and 

soils. Alternative B would also meet the 

MCOE purpose and need, but it was not 

selected because it would have 

substantially greater impacts on the redcockaded woodpecker (RCW) and other 

natural and cultural resources. The No 

Action Alternative would not meet the 

Army’s purpose and need for the MCOE 

actions. There are no differences 

between Alternatives A and B in impact 

to resources such as aesthetics and 

visual, socioeconomics, transportation, 

utilities, noise, hazardous and toxic 

materials and waste, and safety. 

Alternative A would impact fewer acres 

of soil and water resources than 

Alternative B resulting in substantially 

less impacts on biological resources, 

water resources, soils, and cultural 

resources. Impacts on land use and 

noise would be significant under both 

alternatives. Both alternatives will have 

significant impacts on special status 

species but Alternative B would have 

much greater impacts to the federally 

endangered RCW than Alternative A. 

The Preferred Alternative includes 

actions to avoid or reduce adverse 

effects on federally listed species as 

identified in the Army’s Biological 

Assessment and the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service’s Jeopardy Biological 

Opinion (JBO) including the Reasonable 

and Prudent Alternative, minimization 

measures, and terms and conditions. 

Even with these mitigation measures, 

impacts could still be potentially 

significant. Among the changes required 

by the JBO are the relocation of the 

Scout Leaders Course field training 

outside of Fort Benning boundaries to a 

location yet to be identified. This will 

further reduce impacts to environmental 

resources. This relocation action will be 

the subject of further National 

Environmental Policy Act analysis. 

Substantive comments received on 

the Final ElS during the waiting period 

are addressed in the ROD. 

An electronic version of the ROD is 

available at http://www.hqda.army.mil/ 

acsim/brac/nepa_eis_docs.htm. 

Dated: August 28, 2009. 

Addison D. Davis, IV, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, 

(Environment, Safety and Occupational 

Health). 

[FR Doc. E9–21300 Filed 9–3–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–08–M 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection Request 

AGENCY: Department of Education. 

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education 

requests comments on the Free 

Application for Federal Student Aid 

(FAFSA) that the Secretary proposes to 

use for the 2010–2011 award year. The 

FAFSA is completed by students and 

their families, and the information 

submitted on the form is used to 

determine the students’ eligibility and 

need for financial aid under the student 

financial assistance programs 

authorized under Title IV of the Higher 

Education Act of 1965, as amended 

(Title IV, HEA Programs). 

The Department is committed to 

improving the federal student aid 

application process for individuals 

completing the Free Application for 

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Because 

99 percent of student applicants opt to 

apply electronically, much of the 

Department’s recent improvements have 

focused on FAFSA on the Web which 

maximizes the use of ‘skip logic’ and 

previously submitted FAFSA data, to 

dramatically reduce applicant’s burden. 

For the 2010–2011 cycle FAFSA on the 

Web and the Pre-filled FAFSA will be 

further improved by the implementation 

of significant enhancements facilitated 

by a Web technology upgrade. The 

upgraded application will include new 

features, functionality and a level of 

user interaction that was not previously 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES