Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2011 / Notices 55887 

other Federal agency after execution of 

an interagency agreement. 

Comment 3: Four commenters noted 

that selection criterion (b) does not 

clearly address the transportation 

impacts on the community, noting that 

any expenditure of funds related to 

BRAC-affected areas should expressly 

take into consideration the larger effects 

on the community outside the perimeter 

of a military facility. They requested 

that the medical facility and its needs be 

considered in the broader context of the 

larger community—business and 

residential—in which it resides. 

Response: Although selection 

criterion (b) was intended to capture the 

overall magnitude of the transportation 

problem, to include its effect on the 

surrounding community, we agree that 

this criterion lacked sufficient clarity on 

that point. Therefore, selection criterion 

(b) has been modified to state more 

clearly that the effect on the 

surrounding community is also being 

considered. 

Comment 4: One commenter 

requested the addition of three new 

criteria addressing: (i) The extent to 

which the project contributes to on-base 

parking demand (negative factor) or 

relieves parking demand (positive 

factor); (ii) the effect of a project on 

pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access to 

the DoD facility; and (iii) the degree of 

mitigation (positive factor) or 

contribution to vulnerability to a 

terrorist attack or major accident 

(negative factor) of an existing or 

proposed transportation facility. 

Response: The commenter raises 

several valid issues pertaining to 

specific design considerations/effects 

that may be relevant to a project 

depending on the nature of the 

transportation problem and the 

proposed solution. Rather than create 

additional criteria, however, we believe 

these issues can be adequately 

addressed with a modification to 

selection criterion (d) that addresses the 

degree to which a project resolves a 

transportation issue. We have, therefore, 

added these issues as examples in 

selection criterion (d) of how a project 

might resolve a transportation issue. 

Final Selection Criteria—Accordingly, 

Section V, paragraphs 1.(a) through 1.(d) 

of the July 21, 2011, notice are revised 

and re-issued as follows: 

1. Selection Criteria—Upon validating 

the eligibility of the interested 

respondent to apply for assistance, an 

evaluation panel, designated by OEA, 

evaluates proposal content conforming 

to this notice as the basis for inviting a 

formal grant application. The proposed 

selection criteria, with relative weights, 

are: 

(a) The extent to which the 

transportation issue impedes the 

provision of care, i.e., the military 

medical mission (e.g., the greater the 

number of patients, patient visitors and 

patient care workers impacted, the more 

serious the consequences to patients, 

etc., the higher the score), 25%; 

(b) The magnitude (e.g. overall 

number of people affected, degree of 

failure, etc.) of the transportation issue 

that affects the military medical facility 

and its surrounding community, 

expressed in terms of accepted and 

appropriate transportation planning and 

assessment techniques (the greater the 

magnitude of the issue, the higher the 

score), 25%; 

(c) The applicant’s ability to execute 

the proposed project, including the 

extent of other funding for the project 

and the ability to meet project timelines 

and budgets, acquire site control, 

permits or concurrences of affected 

parties, etc. (the greater the 

demonstration of the applicant’s ability, 

the greater the score), 25%; and 

(d) The extent to which the proposed 

construction project resolves the 

transportation issue (e.g., improves both 

vehicular and non-vehicular access to 

the facility; reduces parking demand; 

improves public safety and mitigates 

potential vulnerability to a major 

accident or incident, etc. The more the 

project does to resolve the 

transportation issue, the higher the 

score), 25%. 

All other information announced in 

the July 21, 2011 notice, including the 

proposal submission deadline and 

application and submission 

information, remains unchanged. 

Dated: September 2, 2011. 

Aaron Siegel, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, Department of Defense. 

[FR Doc. 2011–23041 Filed 9–8–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army, Corps of 

Engineers 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

for a Proposed Highway Between 

Bush, LA and I–12 in St. Tammany 

Parish, LA 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. 

Corps of Engineers, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (USACE) is issuing this notice 

to advise the public that a Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 

has been completed and is available for 

review and comment. 

DATES: Comments on the DEIS must be 

received no later than 5 p.m. Central 

Standard Time, Monday, October 24, 

2011. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments to U.S. 

Corps of Engineers, New Orleans 

District, 7400 Leake Avenue, New 

Orleans, LA 70188. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Questions about the proposed action 

and the DEIS should be addressed to 

James A. Barlow, Jr., PhD, Regulatory 

Branch, phone (504) 862–2250 or e-mail 

at james.a.barlow@usace.army.mil, or 

Ms. Brenda Archer, Regulatory Branch, 

phone (504) 862–2046 or e-mail at 

brenda.a.archer@usace.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS 

has been prepared to address the NEPA, 

environmental and cultural resource 

laws, USACE Regulatory Program 

Regulations (Title 33 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 320– 

332), including the 33 CFR part 325, 

Appendix B, and the requirements of 

the section 404(b)(1) guidelines (40 CFR 

part 230), to gather information needed 

for the USACE permit decision-making 

process regarding a permit application 

submitted by the Louisiana Department 

of Transportation and Development 

(LADOTD). LADOTD proposes 

construction of a high-speed, four-lane 

arterial highway from the southern 

terminus of the current, modern fourlane arterial portion of LA 21 in Bush, 

Louisiana, to I–12, a distance between 

17.4 and 21 miles. The majority of the 

proposed highway would be designed as 

a rural arterial road RA–3 with a design 

speed of 70 miles per hour, which, 

according to LADOTD, generally 

equates to a posted speed limit of 65 

miles per hour. The typical cross section 

would have two 12-foot travel lanes, an 

8- to 10-foot outside shoulder, and a 4- 

foot inside shoulder in each direction. 

The median width would vary 

depending on highway design class 

used ranging between 40 and 60 feet, 

and a maximum ROW requirement of 

250 feet. The exception to that design 

could be as the proposed project 

transitions into existing roadways (i.e. 

intersections), and where alternative 

alignments follow the existing LA 21. 

The proposed I–12 to Bush highway 

is an effort planned by LADOTD and 

funded by the Transportation 

Infrastructure Model for Economic 

Development (TIMED) program 

(Louisiana Revised Statute 48:820.2). 

The stated mission of the TIMED 

program is to, ‘‘foster economic 

development throughout the state of 

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55888 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2011 / Notices 

Louisiana and enhance the quality of 

life for its residents through an 

investment in transportation projects.’’ 

The TIMED program, approved by the 

1989 General Session of the Louisiana 

State Legislature, identified a 15-year 

construction program funded by a 4- 

cent fuel tax, which includes the 

construction of the proposed LA 3241 

highway between Bush, LA and I–12 in 

St. Tammany Parish. Revised Statute 

47:820.2.B(1)(e) provides for a project 

from I–12 to Bush to be constructed as 

a four-lane or more highway. The 

proposed highway would provide a 

four-lane highway connection for 

Washington and northern St. Tammany 

Parishes to I–12, with the purported 

goal of providing for regional 

transportation needs and stimulating 

undefined economic growth and activity 

in the region. 

LADOTD has stated that the proposed 

highway is needed as an alternative 

north-south connection that could 

reduce congestion and delays for those 

traveling from northern St. Tammany 

Parish and Washington Parish to I–12. 

As stated by LADOTD, the needs of the 

proposed action are to: (1) Fulfill the 

legislative mandate, Louisiana Revised 

Statute 47:820.2B(e); (2) provide a 

logical, direct, modern, high-speed, 

four-lane arterial to I–12 from the 

southern terminus of the current, 

modern, four-lane arterial portion of LA 

21; (3) divert traffic from Washington 

and northern St. Tammany Parishes 

onto a four-lane, modern, high-speed 

arterial to free capacity for local trips on 

segments of existing routes in southern 

suburban areas and reduce congestion 

during peak and some non-peak 

periods; and (4) support and enhance 

the existing and developing economic 

activities in Washington and northern 

St. Tammany Parishes that rely on the 

highway network to reach their markets 

by providing a travel time savings. 

The Corps defines the overall project 

purpose as to construct a four-lane 

arterial highway from the southern 

terminus of LA 21 in Bush, Louisiana, 

to I–12. The need for the project is to 

meet a legislative mandate in Louisiana 

Revised Statute 47:820.2B(e), which 

requires, ‘‘[t]he Louisiana Highway 3241 

project from Interstate 12 to 

Bush* * *shall be constructed as a 

[four]-lane or more highway.’’ 

The project area is entirely within St. 

Tammany Parish, Louisiana, and 

roughly bounded by LA 21, U.S. 

Highway (US) 190, I–12, US 11, and LA 

41. It encompasses approximately 245 

square miles in area and includes the 

incorporated areas of Abita Springs, 

Pearl River, and portions of the cities of 

Slidell and Covington. Unincorporated 

areas such as Bush, Hickory, Talisheek, 

and Waldheim are included in the 

project area. 

The DEIS examines the No Build 

Alternative, Alternative B/O, 

Alternative J, Alternative P, and 

Alternative Q as the principal 

alternatives for detailed analysis. These 

alternatives are described in the 

following paragraphs. 

Alternative 1: No Build Alternative. 

Under the No Build Alternative, the 

Corps would not issue any permits for 

construction of a new modern, highspeed, four-lane highway between Bush 

and I–12. As a result, the existing 

roadway network in the region would 

remain in its current condition and 

continue to serve as the transportation 

network to travel between Bush and I– 

12. The No Build Alternative ensures 

that there would be no direct or indirect 

impacts to threatened and endangered 

species, wetlands, environmentally 

sensitive areas, aquatic resources, or 

historic sites. Including the CEQrequired No Build Alternative in the EIS 

serves as a benchmark against which 

build alternatives can be evaluated. If 

the proposed highway is not 

constructed, project-related impacts 

would be avoided. Other alternatives 

would have to be developed to provide 

anticipated project benefits. 

Alternative 2: Alternative B/O. Under 

Alternative B/O, LA 21 would be 

widened to a four-lane highway from 

Bush to just north of Waldheim, then 

continue as a new four-lane roadway 

approximately 5 miles west of LA 1083, 

terminating at LA 1088 near I–12. The 

alternative would be approximately 19.5 

miles long, with 7.0 miles on existing 

alignment and 12.5 miles on new 

alignment. The majority of the 

alignment would consist of an RA–3 

typical cross section, which would have 

a typical ROW width requirement of 250 

feet. Control of access could be provided 

except where the highway follows 

existing LA 21 and highway crossings at 

LA 435 and LA 36, and the connection 

to LA 1088. 

Alternative 3: Alternative J. Under 

Alternative J, a new four-lane highway 

following the abandoned railroad 

corridor would be constructed from 

Bush to a point due north of the Slidell 

Municipal Airport. From that point, the 

proposed route would connect to 

Airport Road, which ties into I–12 at an 

existing interchange (Exit 80). This 

proposed route would be approximately 

21.1 miles long, with 14.2 miles using 

the abandoned railroad embankment, 

5.4 miles on new alignment, and 1.5 

miles of existing roadway. The majority 

of the route (17.5 miles) would consist 

of an RA–3 typical cross section, which 

would have a typical ROW width of 250 

feet. The northern 0.7 mile of the route 

would consist of a rural arterial-2 (RA– 

2) cross section, while the southern 1.9 

miles would have suburban arterial SA– 

1 cross section. Control of access to the 

route could be provided for the section 

of highway classified as RA–3 (17.5 

miles), except for the segment through 

Talisheek (2.0 miles) and where the 

highway crosses LA 435 and LA 36. 

Alternative 4: Alternative P. Under 

Alternative P, a new alignment would 

begin at the intersection of LA 41 and 

LA 40 in Bush and proceed southward 

for approximately 17.4 miles to LA 

1088. The majority of the project (15.2 

miles) would consist of an RA–3 typical 

cross section, which has a typical ROW 

width requirement of 250 feet. The 

northern 0.7 mile of the project would 

consist of an RA–2 cross section, which 

also has a ROW width of 250 feet. The 

exception to that design would be at the 

southern end of the project area. The 

last 1.5 miles would be designed as a 

suburban arterial -1 typical section, 

which has a ROW width of 

approximately 180 feet. The proposed 

route would use an abandoned railroad 

corridor from Bush to Talisheek, a 

distance of approximately 2.5 miles, 

before turning southwesterly for 

approximately 13.3 miles on a new 

alignment to connect with LA 1088 

north of I–12. Access for this route 

would be provided in Bush, at LA 435, 

at LA 36, and at the intersection with 

LA 1088. Crossings of existing highways 

would be at grade. 

Alternative 5: Alternative Q. Under 

Alternative Q, a new four-lane highway 

following the abandoned railroad 

corridor would be constructed from 

Bush to a point approximately 1.7 miles 

north of LA 36. From that point, the 

proposed route would leave the railroad 

corridor and connect to LA 434, which 

ties into I–12 at an existing interchange 

(Exit 74). This alternative would be 

approximately 19.8 miles long, with 9.8 

miles using the abandoned railroad 

embankment, 8.7 miles on new 

alignment, and 1.3 miles on existing 

roadway. The majority of the alternative 

(17.2 miles) would consist of an RA–3 

typical cross section, which would have 

a typical ROW width of 250 feet. The 

northern 0.7 miles of the route would 

have an RA–2 cross section, with a 

ROW width of 250 feet. Control of 

access to the route could be provided for 

the section of highway classified as RA– 

3 (17.3 miles), except for the segment 

through Talisheek (2.0 miles) and where 

the highway crosses LA 435, LA 36, and 

connects to LA 434. 

In accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2011 / Notices 55889 

have filed the DEIS with the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

for publication of their notice of 

availability in the Federal Register. The 

EPA notice officially starts the 45-day 

review period for this document. It is 

the goal of the USACE to have this 

notice published on the same date as the 

EPA notice. However, if that does not 

occur, the date of the EPA notice will 

determine the closing date for 

comments on the DEIS. 

Scoping: A Scoping Meeting was held 

in Abita Springs, Louisiana, on January 

22, 2009 to solicit input from interested 

agencies and the public regarding the 

range of issues and alternatives that 

should be considered in the EIS. A 

Public notice was posted on the 

District’s webpage and local 

newspapers, and mailed to current 

stakeholder lists with notification of the 

public meetings and requesting input 

and comments on issues that should be 

addressed in the DEIS. 

A public hearing for this DEIS will be 

held on September 28, 2011 from 6 to 

8:30 p.m. in Abita Springs, Louisiana, at 

the Abita Springs Town Hall located on 

22161 Level Street. The purpose of this 

public hearing is to provide the public 

the opportunity to comment, either 

orally or in writing, on the DEIS. 

Notification of the hearing will be 

announced following the same format as 

the Scoping Meetings announcements. 

The DEIS is available online on the 

New Orleans District Web site at http:// 

www.mvn.usace.army.mil/ops/

regulatory/reg_regulatory_news.asp and 

the I–12 to Bush Web site at http:// 

www.i12tobush.com. Copies of the DEIS 

are also available for review at the 

following libraries: 

1. St. Tammany Parish Library: 

—Abita Springs Branch, 71683 

Leveson Street, Abita Springs, LA 

70420. 

—Bush Branch, 81597 Highway 41, 

Bush, LA 70431. 

—Covington Branch, 310 W. 21st 

Avenue, Covington, LA 70433. 

—Lee Road Branch, 79213 Highway 

40, Covington, LA 70435. 

—Mandeville Branch, 844 Girod 

Street, Mandeville, LA 70448. 

—Pearl River Branch, 64580 Highway 

41, Pearl River, LA 70452. 

—Slidell Branch, 555 Robert 

Boulevard, Slidell, LA 70458. 

2. Franklinton Library, 825 Free 

Street, Franklinton, LA 70438. 

3. Bogalusa Library, 304 Avenue F, 

Bogalusa, LA 70427. 

4. Louisiana State Library, 701 North 

4th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. 

5. University of New Orleans, Earl K. 

Long Library, Louisiana Collection, 

2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 

70148. 

Dated: August 25, 2011. 

Pete J. Serio, 

Chief, Regulatory Division. 

[FR Doc. 2011–23085 Filed 9–8–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3720–58–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

[CFDA Numbers 84.215N; 84.215P] 

Reopening Notice: Promise 

Neighborhoods Program— 

Implementation Grant Competition; 

Promise Neighborhoods Program— 

Planning Grant Competition 

AGENCY: Office of Innovation and 

Improvement, Department of Education. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Education 

(Department) reopens the competition 

for transmittal of applications for new 

awards for fiscal year (FY) 2011 under 

the Promise Neighborhoods Program 

Implementation and Planning grant 

competitions. The Department takes this 

action to allow more time for the 

preparation and submission of 

applications by prospective eligible 

applicants affected by the severe storms, 

flooding, property damage, and loss of 

electrical power that occurred as a result 

of Hurricane Irene on the East Coast of 

the United States, beginning on August 

26, 2011, and continuing through the 

publication of this notice. The 

reopening of the competitions is 

intended to help affected eligible 

applicants compete fairly with other 

eligible applicants under this 

competition. Due to the widespread 

impact of Hurricane Irene, the 

competition is reopened to all eligible 

applicants. 

DATES: The revised deadlines for 

transmitting applications under the 

Promise Neighborhoods Program 

Implementation and Planning grant 

competitions are listed in the chart 

entitled ‘‘List of Affected Programs’’ in 

the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 

of this notice. 

Deadline for Intergovernmental 

Review: The deadline date for 

Intergovernmental Review under 

Executive Order 12372 is changed from 

November 3, 2011 to November 10, 

2011. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The 

addresses and telephone numbers for 

obtaining applications for or 

information about the Promise 

Neighborhoods Program 

Implementation and Planning grant 

competitions are in the notice inviting 

applications for these competitions. We 

have also provided the date and Federal 

Register citations of the notice inviting 

applications for these competitions in 

the chart entitled ‘‘List of Affected 

Programs’’ in the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section of this notice. 

If you use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD), call the 

Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 

1–800–877–8339. 

Individuals with disabilities can 

obtain this document in an accessible 

format (e.g., braille, large print, 

audiotape, or computer diskette) by 

contacting the person listed in the 

notice inviting applications for these 

programs. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Eligibility: On July 6, 2011, we 

published in the Federal Register two 

notices inviting applications for new 

awards for FY 2011 under the Promise 

Neighborhoods Program—one for the 

Planning grant competition and one for 

the Implementation grant competition. 

We are reopening these competitions 

and establishing new dates for the 

transmittal deadline for applications 

and the deadline for intergovernmental 

review for each of these competitions. 

The extension of the application 

deadline dates in this notice applies to 

all eligible applicants under the FY 

2011 Promise Neighborhoods Program 

Implementation and Planning grant 

competitions. We note that under the 

Promise Neighborhoods Implementation 

and Planning grant competitions, the 

eligible applicants are nonprofit 

organizations that meet the definition of 

a nonprofit under CFR 77.1(c), which 

may include a faith-based nonprofit 

organization; an institute of higher 

education as defined by section 101(a) 

of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 

amended; and an Indian Tribe (as 

defined in the original notices inviting 

applications published in the Federal 

Register on July 6, 2011). 

The following is information about 

the competitions covered by this notice: 

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