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[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
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