57340 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices 

restoration components into a single, 

comprehensive strategy. 

DATES: In order to be considered in the 

Draft EIS (DEIS), comments and 

suggestions should be received no later 

than 30 days after publication of this 

notice in the Federal Register . 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu 

District, ATTN: Cindy S. Barger, Project 

Manager, Civil and Public Works 

Branch (CEPOH–PP–C), Room 311, 

Building 230, Fort Shafter, HI 96858– 

5440. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Questions or comments concerning the 

proposed action should be addressed to 

Ms. Cindy S. Barger, Project Manager, 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu 

District, Civil and Public Works Branch, 

Building 230, Fort Shafter, HI 96858– 

5440, Telephone: (808) 438–6940, Email: 

Cindy.S.Barger@poh01.usace.army.mil, 

or Mr. Carty Chang, Project Planning 

and Management Branch Chief, State of 

Hawaii Department of Land and Natural 

Resources, Engineering Division, 1151 

Punchbowl Street, Room 221, Honolulu, 

HI 96813, telephone (808) 587–0227, Email: carty.s.chang@hawaii.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A 

preliminary assessment of this federally 

funded action indicates that the project 

may cause significant impacts on the 

environment. As a result, it has been 

determined that the preparation and 

review of an Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) is needed for this 

project. The EIS and Feasibility Study 

for the Ala Wai Canal Project are being 

conducted concurrently. The EIS will 

evaluate potential impacts to the 

natural, physical, and human 

environment as a result of implementing 

any of the proposed alternatives that are 

developed by this project. 

This project will be implemented 

under Section 209 of the Flood Control 

Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87–874), for the 

purpose of flood mitigation and 

ecosystem restoration in the Ala Wai 

Canal Watershed, which consists of the 

sub-watersheds of Makiki, Manoa, 

Palolo, and Waikiki. The USACE will 

work with the affected community and 

the sponsoring local organization, the 

State of Hawaii Department of Land and 

Natural Resources, to develop an 

acceptable plan to address the flood and 

ecosystem problems. 

The 11,069-acre Ala Wai Canal 

Watershed is located in the southern 

portion of the island of Oahu. The 

Watershed is highly urbanized, with 

approximately 1,746 structures within 

the designated 100-year floodplain. 

There is a high potential for massive 

flood damage to the densely populated 

and economically critical area of 

Waikiki and the adjacent neighborhoods 

of McCully and Moiliili. Additionally, 

flooding frequently occurs in lower 

Makiki and recently in the central 

Manoa Valley, causing damages to 

businesses, homes, and academic 

facilities. There is also significant 

environmental degradation of the 

streams and waterways, including heavy 

sedimentation, poor water quality, lack 

of habitat for native species, and a 

prevalence of alien species. 

Goals of the Ala Wai Canal Project are 

to (1) Protect the entire Ala Wai Canal 

Watershed from the 100-year flood 

event, (2) improve the migratory 

pathway for native amphidromous 

species, (3) reduce sediment buildup in 

the streams and Ala Wai Canal, (4) 

enhance the physical quality of existing 

aquatic habitat for native species, and 

(5) improve water quality. Anticipated 

significant issues identified to date and 

to be addressed in the EIS include: (1) 

Impacts on flooding, (2) impacts on 

stream hydraulics, (3) impacts on fish 

and wildlife resources and habitats, (4) 

impacts on recreation and recreational 

facilities, and (5) other impacts 

identified by the Public, agencies, or 

USACE studies. 

A full range of possible programs and 

actions will be considered in order to 

meet the project goals. Currently under 

consideration are dredging, detention 

basins, flood walls, debris basins and 

other debris management actions, bridge 

modification, flood-proofing structures 

within the flood plain, diversion of 

flood waters, flood warning systems, 

widening of channels, acquisition of 

properties within the floodplain, 

maintenance easements, and a drainage 

district. Ecosystem restoration measures 

currently under consideration include 

low-flow channels, creating more 

natural stream channels, constructed 

wetlands, trash separators, sediment 

interceptors, daylighting the stream, 

increasing or decreasing shade as 

necessary, reducing the pig population, 

and stream bank stabilization. As 

hydrologic, hydraulic, and biological 

analyses are performed and stakeholder 

consultations are conducted, additional 

concepts may be developed. 

Evaluation of all of the alternatives 

will take into account minimization of 

adverse impacts to social resources, 

economics, aesthetics, recreation, 

historic and cultural resources, and 

native species habitat. Flood hazard 

reduction alternatives will additionally 

take into account a cost-benefit analysis 

and ability to complement ecosystem 

restoration measures. Evaluation of the 

ecosystem restoration alternatives will 

be based on the areas of habitat they 

create, improve, or provide access to, as 

well as their ability to complement 

flood hazard reduction measures. 

A DEIS will be prepared and 

circulated for review by agencies and 

the public. The USACE and DLNR 

invite participation and consultation of 

agencies and individuals that have 

special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or 

interest in the preparation of the DEIS. 

The DLNR will be issuing a state-level 

Environmental Impact Statement 

Preparation Notice (EISPN) pursuant to 

Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 

343. All written and verbal comments 

received in response to this Notice of 

Intent and the State EISPN will be 

considered when determining the scope 

of the EIS. To the extent practicable, 

NEPA and HRS 343 requirements will 

be coordinated in the preparation of the 

EIS document. 

A public scoping meeting will be held 

on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at the 

Washington Middle School Cafeteria at 

1633 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 

96826, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. to 

determine the scope of analysis of the 

proposed action. The scoping meeting 

will also be announced in local media. 

Interested parties are encouraged to 

express their views during the scoping 

process and throughout the 

development of the alternatives and EIS. 

To be most helpful, comments should 

clearly describe specific environmental 

topics or issues which the commenter 

believes the document should address. 

Further information on the proposed 

action or the scoping meeting may be 

obtained from Cindy S. Barger, Project 

Manager, at (see ADDRESSES). The DEIS 

should be available for public review in 

early 2010, subject to the receipt of 

federal funding. 

Brenda S. Bowen, 

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. E8–23221 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–NN–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army; Corps of 

Engineers 

Intent To Prepare a Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet 

Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility 

Study 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of intent. 

SUMMARY: The Corps of Engineers 

(Corps) intends to prepare an 

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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices 57341 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

for the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet 

(MRGO) Ecosystem Restoration 

Feasibility Study within the Middle and 

Lower Pontchartrain Basin and areas of 

southern Mississippi. The Corps will 

evaluate a full range of comprehensive 

restoration measures to restore 

important estuarine components and 

ecosystem processes within the areas 

affected by the MRGO navigation 

channel and assess the impacts 

associated with implementing the plan. 

The MRGO was authorized by Congress 

in 1956 as a Federal navigation channel 

to provide a direct route between the 

Port of New Orleans and the Gulf of 

Mexico. Construction began in 1958 and 

was completed in 1968 to authorized 

dimensions (36-foot depth by 500-foot 

width: 38-foot depth by 600-foot bottom 

width in Bar Channel). Construction of 

the MRGO channel created a direct deep 

water link between the Inner Harbor 

Navigation Canal and the Gulf of 

Mexico allowing higher salinity waters 

to enter Lake Borgne and Lake 

Pontchartrain estuaries. Construction 

resulted in direct wetland losses, 

damages to the Bayou LaLoutre Ridge 

and alteration of the adjacent landscape 

and hydrology by placement of dredge 

material adjacent to the channel in 

upland confined disposal facilities. 

Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall 

in 2005, the MRGO navigation channel 

has not been maintained. A June closure 

plan and accompanying Legislative EIS 

and Record of Decision titled 

‘‘Integrated Final Report to Congress 

and Legislative Environmental Impact 

Statement for the Mississippi River-Gulf 

Outlet Deep-Draft De-Authorization 

Study’’ was signed on June 5, 2008, 

officially deauthorizing the MRGO 

navigation channel (from the Gulf of 

Mexico to Mile 60 at the southern bank 

of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway) and 

authorizing construction of a closure 

structure at the south ridge of Bayou 

LaLoutre in St. Bernard Parish, 

Louisiana and development of plan to 

restore the areas affected by the MRGO 

Navigation channel. 

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

section for scoping meeting dates. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Questions concerning the Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 

should be addressed to Ms. Sandra 

Stiles at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

CEMVNPM–RS, P.O. Box 60267, New 

Orleans, LA 70160–0267, phone (504) 

862–1583, fax number (504) 862–2088 

or by e-mail at 

sandra.e.stiles@usace.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Authority: Water Resources 

Development Act of 2007 Sections 7012 

and 7013 authorized the Corps to 

develop a comprehensive closure and 

restoration plan, at full Federal expense, 

to de-authorize deep-draft navigation on 

the MRGO, Louisiana, extending from 

the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf 

Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) and 

develop a restoration plan. 

2. Proposed Action. The Corps will 

develop a comprehensive ecosystem 

restoration plan to restore the areas 

affected by the MRGO navigation 

channel to include: (1) Physically 

modifying the MRGO channel and 

restoring areas affected by the channel; 

(2) restoring natural ecosystem features 

to reduce damage from storm surge; (3) 

measures preventing saltwater intrusion 

into the waterway; (4) measures 

protecting, restoring or increasing 

wetlands to prevent saltwater intrusion 

or storm surge; (5) measures reducing 

risk of storm damage to communities by 

preventing or reducing wetland losses 

or restoring wetlands in areas affected 

by navigation, oil and gas and other 

manmade channels; (6) diversions to 

restore the Lake Borgne Ecosystem. 

3. Alternatives. Restoration measures 

being considered include physical 

modification and restoration of the 

MRGO navigation channel, freshwater, 

sediment and nutrient introduction; 

shoreline protection and bank 

stabilization; restoration and protection 

of natural ridges; barrier island 

protection and restoration; wetland 

protection, creation and restoration; 

water control measures (gates, weirs, 

sills, plugs, etc.); measures to increase 

native vegetation; restoration of natural 

features to reduce storm surge. Once 

restoration measures are identified, 

alternative plans will be developed 

through various combinations of 

restoration measures that best meet the 

study goals and objectives and are 

determined to be cost-effective, 

environmentally acceptable and 

technically feasible. Some measures 

may also be recommended for 

implementation under other authorities. 

4. Public Involvement. Stakeholder 

and public involvement for this 

proposed action is integral to the 

project. Interested parties, concerned 

citizens, and other State and Federal 

agencies, private and not-for-profit or 

non-governmental organizations are 

strongly encouraged to participate in the 

development of the proposed action. 

Stakeholder and public meetings would 

be held throughout project 

development. Meeting announcements 

would be made as information becomes 

available. 

5. Public Scoping Meeting. Scoping is 

the process utilized for determining the 

range of alternatives and significant 

issues to be addressed in the EIS. For 

this study, a letter will be mailed to all 

parties believed to have an interest in 

the analysis. The letter will notify 

interested parties of public scoping 

meetings that will be held in the local 

area and request their input on 

alternatives and issues to be evaluated. 

Notices will also be mailed to local 

news media. All interested parties are 

invited to comment at this time, and 

anyone interested in this study should 

request inclusion in the study mailing 

list. A public scoping meeting will be 

held November 3, 2008 from 6–9 p.m. 

in Chalmette, Louisiana and November 

6, 2008 from 6–9 p.m. in Waveland, 

Mississippi. The exact location and 

address for the meetings will be 

announced through local media 

channels. Additional meetings could be 

held, depending upon public interest 

and if it is determined that further 

public coordination is warranted. 

6. Significant Issues. The tentative list 

of important resources and issues that 

will be evaluated in the EIS include but 

are not limited to tidal wetlands 

(marshes and swamps), barrier islands, 

aquatic resources, commercial and 

recreational fisheries, wildlife resources, 

essential fish habitat, water quality, air 

quality, threatened and endangered 

species and critical habitat, recreation 

resources, and cultural resources. 

Socioeconomic items to be evaluated in 

the EIS include navigation; flood 

protection; business and industrial 

activity; oil and gas pipelines; 

employment; land use; property values; 

public/community facilities and 

services; tax revenues; population, 

community and regional growth; 

transportation; housing; community 

cohesion; environmental justice, 

aesthetics and noise. 

7. Environmental Consultation and 

Review. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (USFWS) will assist in 

documenting existing conditions and 

assessing effects of project alternatives 

through the Fish and Wildlife 

Coordination Act consultation 

procedures. The USFWS will provide a 

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 

report. Consultation will be 

accomplished with the USFWS and the 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

(NMFS) concerning threatened and 

endangered species and their critical 

habitat. The NMFS will be consulted 

regarding the effects of this proposed 

action on Essential Fish Habitat. The 

draft EIS or a notice of its availability 

will be distributed to all interested 

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57342 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices 

agencies, organizations, and 

individuals. 

8. Estimated Date of Availability. The 

earliest that the DEIS is expected to be 

available is March of 2010. 

Dated: September 23, 2008. 

Alvin B. Lee, 

Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer. 

[FR Doc. E8–23219 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–84–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Navy 

Notice of Closed Meeting of the Chief 

of Naval Operations Executive Panel 

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Chief of Naval Operations 

(CNO) Executive Panel will report on 

the findings and recommendations of 

the Subcommittee on Africa to the Chief 

of Naval Operations. The matters to be 

discussed during the meeting have been 

divided into the following four 

categories: threats to U.S. security and 

interests in Africa; political, economic, 

and security assessments of key African 

nations and institutions; U.S. Navy 

security cooperation and engagement 

strategies; and a conclusion/summary of 

the classified discussions. 

Each topic under each of these 

headings is classified either secret or 

confidential, which makes this 

information exempt from open meeting 

disclosure pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Section 

552b(c)(1). 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

October 27, 2008, from 9:30 a.m. to 

11:30 a.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Center for Naval Analysis 

Boardroom, 4825 Mark Center Drive, 

Alexandria, VA 22311. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CDR 

David Di Tallo, CNO Executive Panel, 

4825 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 

22311, telephone: 703–681–4908. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant 

to the provisions of the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 

U.S.C. App.), these matters constitute 

classified information that is 

specifically authorized by Executive 

Order to be kept secret in the interest of 

national defense and are, in fact, 

properly classified pursuant to such 

Executive Order. Accordingly, the 

Secretary of the Navy has determined in 

writing that the public interest requires 

that all sessions of this meeting be 

closed to the public because they will be 

concerned with matters listed in section 

552b(c)(1) of title 5, United States Code. 

Individuals or interested groups 

interested may submit written 

statements for consideration by the 

Chief of Naval Operations Executive 

Panel at any time or in response to the 

agenda of a scheduled meeting. All 

requests must be submitted to the 

Designated Federal Officer at the 

address detailed below. 

If the written statement is in response 

to the agenda mentioned in this meeting 

notice then the statement, if it is to be 

considered by the Panel for this 

meeting, must be received at least five 

days prior to the meeting in question. 

The Designated Federal Officer will 

review all timely submissions with the 

Chief of Naval Operations Executive 

Panel Chairperson, and ensure they are 

provided to members of the Chief of 

Naval Operations Executive Panel 

before the meeting that is the subject of 

this notice. 

To contact the Designated Federal 

Officer, write to Executive Director, 

CNO Executive Panel (N00K), 4825 

Mark Center Drive, 2nd Floor, 

Alexandria, VA 22311–1846. 

Dated: September 26, 2008. 

T.M. Cruz, 

Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate 

General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 

Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. E8–23227 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection Requests 

AGENCY: Department of Education. 

SUMMARY: The Acting Director, 

Information Collection Clearance 

Division, Regulatory Information 

Management Services, Office of 

Management, invites comments on the 

proposed information collection 

requests as required by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before 

December1, 2008. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires 

that the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) provide interested 

Federal agencies and the public an early 

opportunity to comment on information 

collection requests. OMB may amend or 

waive the requirement for public 

consultation to the extent that public 

participation in the approval process 

would defeat the purpose of the 

information collection, violate State or 

Federal law, or substantially interfere 

with any agency’s ability to perform its 

statutory obligations. The Acting 

Director, Information Collection 

Clearance Division, Regulatory 

Information Management Services, 

Office of Management, publishes that 

notice containing proposed information 

collection requests prior to submission 

of these requests to OMB. Each 

proposed information collection, 

grouped by office, contains the 

following: (1) Type of review requested, 

e.g. new, revision, extension, existing or 

reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of 

the collection; (4) Description of the 

need for, and proposed use of, the 

information; (5) Respondents and 

frequency of collection; and (6) 

Reporting and/or Recordkeeping 

burden. OMB invites public comment. 

The Department of Education is 

especially interested in public comment 

addressing the following issues: (1) is 

this collection necessary to the proper 

functions of the Department; (2) will 

this information be processed and used 

in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate 

of burden accurate; (4) how might the 

Department enhance the quality, utility, 

and clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (5) how might the 

Department minimize the burden of this 

collection on the respondents, including 

through the use of information 

technology. 

Dated: September 26, 2008. 

Sheila Carey, 

Acting Director, Information Collection 

Clearance Division, Regulatory Information 

Management Services, Office of Management. 

Federal Student Aid 

Type of Review: Extension. 

Title: Application for Approval to 

Participate in the Federal Student 

Financial Aid Programs. 

Frequency: On Occasion; Prior to 

expiration of eligibility. 

Affected Public: Businesses or other 

for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; 

State, Local, or Tribal Gov’t, SEAs or 

LEAs. 

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour 

Burden: 

Responses: 4,485. 

Burden Hours: 21,181. 

Abstract: The Higher Education Act of 

1965 (HEA), as amended requires 

postsecondary institutions to complete 

and submit this application as a 

condition of eligibility for any of the 

Title IV student financial assistance 

programs and for the other 

postsecondary programs authorized by 

the HEA. The institution must submit 

the form (1) initially when it first seeks 

to become eligible for the Title IV 

programs; (2) when its program 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES