FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
CALCASIEU RIVER AT COON ISLAND, LOUISIANA, SHIP CHANNEL
ASSOCIATED WATER FEATURE CALCASIEU RIVER, LOUISIANA
Prepared by
U. S. ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT, NEW ORLEANS, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
6 30 November 1972 CALCASIEU RIVER AT COON ISLAND, LOUISIANA, SHIP CHANNEL
( •) Draft (X) Final Environmental Statement
Responsible Office: U. S. Army Engineer District, New Orleans, New Orleans, La.
1. Name of Action: (X) Administrative ( ) Legislative
2. Description of Action: Construction of a 40- by 200-foot ship channel and a 40- by 750- by 1,000-foot turning basin in the Coon Island channel to allow more efficient use of the channel by larger and deeper-draft vessels. Construction requires the removal and disposed, of approximately 3,252,000 cubic yards of dredged material. Located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
3. a. Environmental Impacts; The proposed deepwater navigation channel will accommodate larger vessels, stimulcite industrial growth, and reduce the risk of marine hazards. Potential adverse environmental impacts that may result include air and water pollution by vessels and industry, and the use of hydraulic dredges during construction and maintenance may degrade the water quality of Calcasieu River by inducing temporary turbidity. Spoil material will be confined by retaining dikes which will contain waste-water control structures. No significant esthetical or environmental changes in land use cure associated with the project.
b. Adverse Environmental Effects: Unavoidable adverse impacts to the fish, wildlife, water, and recreational resources are associated with a temporary increase in the turbidity of the Calcasieu River. Losses are of such a minor and localized nature that no relative values were assigned to the impacts. Induced industrial expansion will require a land-use change, increase vessel traffic which has the potential for increasing pollution of land and water.
4. Alternatives; Alternatives considered included: retention of existing ship channel, channel enlargement, and no ship channel.
5. a. Comments received (initial draft):
Federal agencies U. S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Mines Geological Survey
Environmental Protection Agency
State of Louisiana Louisiana Department of Public Works Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission Louisiana Stream Control Commission
b . Comments received (revised draft) :
Federal agencies U. S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, Southwest Region Environmental Protection Agency U. S. Department of Commerce, Hie Assistant Secretary of Commerce U. S. Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
State of Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission State Land Office State Board of Health Capitol Region Planning Commission Louisiana Advisory Commission on Coastal & Marine Resources
6. Draft statement to CEQ: 11 October 1972 Final statement to CEQ: 3 MAR tS73 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT CALCASIEU RIVER AT COON ISLAND, LOUISIANA, SHIP CHANNEL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Paragraph number and title Number
SECTION I -PROJECT DESCRIPTION
1 GENERAL |-1 2 LOCATION |-1 3 PLAN, PURPOSE, STATUS, AND BENEFIT-COST RATIO |-i *» AUTHORIZATION |-]
SECTION II - ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING WITHOUT THE PROJECT
1 PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGICAL ELEMENTS ||-i 2 HYDROLOGICAL ELEMENTS ||-| a. General 11-1 b. Climatology 11-2 c. Bottom sediment sampling 11-2 d. Bottom sediment analyses 11-2 3 BOTANICAL ELEMENTS I,-i, b ZOOLOGICAL ELEMENTS M _/, a. Wildlife 11.^ b. Fish life j j_c 5 PLANTS, WILDLIFE, AND FISHERY RESOURCES COMMON TO THE COON ISLAND AREA I._r 6 ARCHEOLOGICAL, HISTORICAL, AND CULTURAL ELEMENTS 7 ECONOMIC ELEMENTS ,,_6 8 MISCELLANEOUS ELEMENTS ,. .7 9 RELATED PROJECTS ,, L 10 FUTURE SETTING WITHOUT PROJECT
SECTION III - THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION
1 NATURE OF IMPACTS 111-1 2 BENEFICIAL AND DETRIMENTAL ASPECTS OF IMPACTS |||-1 3 REMEDIAL, PROTECTIVE, AND MITIGATION MEASURES ||l-2
SECTION IV - ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED SHOULD THE PROPOSAL BE IMPLEMENTED
GENERAL IV-1 TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)
Page Paragraph nunfrer and title number
SECTION V - ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION
1 RETENTION OF THE EXISTING SHIP CHANNEL V-l 2 CHANNEL ENLARGEMENT V-l • 3 NO SHIP CHANNEL V-l k ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVES V-l
SECTION VI - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TERM USES OF MAN'S ENVIRONMENT AND THE MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY
GENERAL VI-1
SECTION VII - ANY IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES WHICH WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE PROPOSED ACTION SHOULD IT BE IMPLEMENTED
GENERAL VI1-1
SECTION VIII - COORDINATION WITH OTHERS
1 COORDINATION DURING PLAN FORMULATION Vlll-l 2 COORDINATION OF PRELIMINARY DRAFT STATEMENT Vlll-l CIRCULATED IN NOVEMBER 1970 a. Environmental Protection Agency Vlll-l b. Geological Survey VI11-2 c. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife VI11-2 d. Bureau of Mines VI11-2 e. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation VI11-2 f. Department of Commerce VI11-2 g. U. S. Coast Guard VI11-3 h. Public Health Service VIII-3 i. Louisiana Department of Public Works VIII-3 j. Louisiana WiId Life and Fisheries Commission VIII-3 k. Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission VIII-3 l. Louisiana Stream Control Commission VIII-3 m. Louisiana Board of Health VIII-3 n. Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District VIII-3 o. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury VIII-3 3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION VIII-3 TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)
Page Paragraph number and title Number
4 COORDINATION OF REVISED DRAFT STATEMENT CIRCULATED IN AUGUST 1972 VI11-4
Federal agencies a. Environmental Protection Agency VII1-4 b. U. S. Department of the Interior, Office of Secretary, Southwest Region VI11-4 c. U. S. Department of Commerce, The Assistant Secretary of Commerce VI11-5 d. U. S. Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration VIII-5 e. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare VI11-5
State agencies; a. Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission VI11-5 b. Louisiana State Land Office VI11-6 c. Louisiana State Board of Health VI11-6 d. Capital Region Planning Commission (Clearinghouse) VI11-6 e. Louisiana Advisory Commission on Coastal and Marine Resources VIII-6 f. Louisiana Department of Public Works VI11-7 g. Louisiana Wild Life and Fista-ies Commission VI11-7 h. Louisiana Stream Control Commission VI11-7 i. Louisiana State Planning Office VI11-7 j. Louisiana Commission on Intergovernmental Relations VI11-7 k. Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District VII1-7 l. Calcasieu Regional Planning Commission VI11-7 m. Curator of Anthropology VI11-7 n. Louisiana State Liaison Office for Historical Preservation VI11-7 Local agencies and civic groups a. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury VI11-7 b. Louisiana Intracoastal Seaway Commission VII1-7 c. Greater Lake Charles Chamber of Commerce VI11-7 d. Lake Charles Pilot Association VI11-8 e. PPG Industries VII1-8 f. Port of Lake Charles, Board of Commissioners VI11-8 g. Calcasieu Marine National Bank VI11-8 h. Airport Commission VI11-8 TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)
Page Paragraph nunfcer and title number
Conservation and environmental groups: a. Environmental Defense Fund VI11-8 b. National Wildlife Federation VIII c. National Sierra Club VI11-8 d. National Audubon Society VII1-8 e. Vice-President, National Sierra Club, New Orleans VI11-8 f. Regional Director, National Wildlife Federation VI11-8 g. SW Regional Representative, National Audubon Society VI11-8 h. Ecology Center of Louisiana, Inc. VIII-9 i. Louisiana Wild)ife Federation VIII-9 j. Chairman, Water Control Projects Committee, Louisiana Wildlife Federation VIII-9 k. Acadian Sierra Club VIII-9 l. Calcasieu Rod & Gun Club VIII-9 CALCASIEU RIVER AT COON ISLAND, LOUISIANA, SHIP CHANNEL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
SECTION I - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
1. GENERAL
A preliminary draft environmental statement for the project Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, ship channel was circulated to Federal, state, and local agencies in November 1970. Subsequent to that time, the recommended plan was modified to include a 40- by 750-by 1,000- foot turning basin in place of the previously recomnended 30- by 750- by 1,000-foot turning basin as included in the original statement. For this reason, the statement was updated to include the larger turning basin and recoordinated in August 1972. Responses of those agencies comnenting on both draft statements are attached along with a ccmment- respcnse section.
2. LOCATION
The Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, ship channel project is located in Calcasieu Parish, southwestern Louisiana, at about mile 32.2 on the Calcasieu River, 1.5 miles downstream from the Port of Lake Charles. A map of the proposed project is attached.
3. PLAN, PURPOSE, STATUS, AND BENEFIT-COST RATIO
The plan of improvement provides for construction of a 40- by 200-foot ship channel and a 40- by 750- by 1,000-foot turning basin in the Coon Island channel, an existing locally improved industrial channel in a cutoff of the Calcasieu River, to allow more efficient use of the channel by larger and deeper-draft vessels. Construction requires the removal and disposal of approximately 3,252,000 cubic yards of dredged material. Non-Federal interests have enlarged the channel along the west side of Coon Island for a distance of 1.5 miles to dimensions of approximately 30 by 100 feet and constructed a 30- by 500- by 750-foot turning basin at the northern end of the island. A 40- by 400-foot deep-draft channel now exists on the Calcasieu River which extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the city of Lake Charles, a distance of some 34 miles. The improvement is economically justified, with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.7.
4. AUTHORIZATION
The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District by resolution at a regular meeting 13 July 1966 requested that the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, under Section 107 of the River and Harbor Act of 1960, as amended, enlarge the Calcasieu River channel along the west side of Coon Island to the dimension necessary for existing and prospective traffic to the plants located on this inadequate waterway. Section 107 of the River and Harbor Act of 1960 as amended provides the authority for the construction of small river and harbor improvement projects not specifically authorized by Congress which will result in substantial benefits to navigation and which can be operated consistently with appropriate and economic use of the waters of the Nation for other purposes/ when in the opinion of the Chief of Engineers such work is advisable if benefits are in excess of the cost. SECTION II - ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING WITHOUT THE PROJECT
1. PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGICAL ELEMENTS
The Calcasieu River Basin is located within the Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province and on the Recent alluvial plains of the river. Dominant features are the oxbow lakes (one of which forms Coon Island), the natural levees, lakes, and the surrounding Pleistocene uplands. Surface elevations of the flood plains are extremely flat with little relief and average 2-3 feet above mean sea level (m.s.l.). Highest land elevations in the basin are about 400 feet m.s.l.; however, elevations of appreciable areas vary from about 260 feet near the head of the basin to 1 or 2 feet in the coastal marshes. Coon Island was formed by the Rose Bluff Cutoff prior to 1908. The island has an elevation of about 2.8 feet m.s.l., while the outer banks of the loop vary from 2.8 to 5.2 feet m.s.l. Portions of the western banks of Coon Island have had the natural ground elevations raised by retaining dikes and spoil from oil exploration activities. During periods of high water, most of the island is covered by water.
2. HYDROLOGICAL ELEMENTS
a. General. 'Jhe Calcasieu River has a drainage area of about 3,500 square miles and is located in southwest Louisiana. It heads in the hills west of Alexandria, Louisiana, and flows in a southerly direction for about 215 miles to enter the Gulf of Mexico about 30 miles east of the Louisiana-Texas state line. From the upland hills the river flows through the coastal prairie and coastal marshes. Lakes transversed include Lake Charles, Prien Lake, Moss Lake, and Calcasieu lake. The river varies from a small fast-flowing stream in the headwaters to a broad, sluggish, tidal-influenced waterbody from the latitude of lake Charles to its entrance into the gulf. The average water stage is 1.4 feet at Cameron, 2.2 feet at Lake Charles, and 22.0 feet at Kinder, Louisiana. Elevations are referenced to mean low gulf (m.l.g.), a datum plane 0.78 foot below mean sea level. Flows in the upper basin may range frcm a high of 180,000 cubic feet per second (c.f.s.) in the winter and spring to zero flow during the summer and fall. The lower portion of the river from the city of Lake Charles to the gulf is subject to tidal variation. A semidiurnal tide extends about 65 miles upstream and has mean tidal ranges of 1.7 feet at the mouth of the river and 0.7 foot at Lake Charles. The existing salt-water barrier across Calcasieu River at Lake Charles is the dividing line between the upper and lower basins and prevents salt-water intrusion from degrading the major source of irrigation water supply for rice production. Water resources projects have modified Calcasieu River from its mouth to river mile 52.6 principally by navigation improvements. Good water quality exists in the upper reaches of the river but it is degraded by industrial and domestic effluent and vessel traffic in and below the city of Lake Charles. The existing Coon Island ship channel was formerly a bend of Calcasieu River at about mile 32.2, approximately 1.5 miles downstream from the Port of Lake Charles. It was estimated that the riverflow diverted into the Coon Island ship channel represents about 15 percent of the total river discharge and varies from fresh to salt water, depending upon the flow and tidal influences. Generally the waters of the channel are brackish and exhibit poor water quality due to domestic and industrial waste.
b. Climatology. Temperature in the Lake Charles area is moderate; annual normal is 68.6° F. with norms of 53.2° F. in January and 82.8° F. in July. Precipitation has a yearly average of 56.0 inches with a monthly average of 3.1 inches in October and 7.3 inches in July. Rainfall can be expected every month of the year. Hurricane winds are evident in the Lake Charles area. There is a probability that sustained hurricane winds will exceed 90 miles per hour (m.p.h.) on the average of once every 100 years.
c. Bottcm sediment sampling. The bottom sediment of the proposed channel was sampled at the six locations shown on plate 2. The samples were analyzed in accordance with laboratory methods described in the Chemistry Laboratory Manual, Bottom Sediments published in December 1969 by the FWQA (Federal Water Quality Administration), currently the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). The results cf the laboratory analyses for the eight parameters measured are presented in table 1. Also presented are the means of the six samples for each constituent and the constituent concentration set by the EPA as a criteria for determining the acceptability of dredge spoil for disposal to the Nation's waters. Since land disposal and containment of the dredged material are proposed for this project, the EPA criteria should not be compared directly with the results shewn in table 1. The sampling was performed with a hand-operated dredging device which collected only the upper 6 inches of bottom sediment. Therefore the sampling results conservatively reflect the most recently deposited and more polluted materials. Currently the deep-draft vessels which use the 30-foot existing channel are resuspending this relatively polluted sediment every time they pass.
d. Bottom sediment analyses. All values except total solids are in percent dry weight. (See table 1, page II-3) TABLE 1
Total Chemical Total Sample solids Volatile oxygen Kjeldahl solids demand nitrogen
EPA open water disposal criteria 6.0 5.0 0.10
1 60.2 4.1 4.1 0.077 2 44.9 5.9 5.4 0.099 3 36.6 11.0 11.3 0.200 4 36.3 10.5 10.7 0.204 5 42.5 8.0 8.7 0.147 6 27.8 21.0 26.9 0.258
Sample means 41.4 10.0 11.2 0.164
Oil and Sample grease Mercury Lead Zinc
EPA open water disposal criteria 0.15 0.0001 <0.005 0.005
1 0.035 0.000042 <0.0002 0.00208 2 0.097 0.000095 <0.0002 0.00415 3 0.138 0.000220 <0.0002 0.00657 4 0.201 0.000140 <0.0002 0.00936 5 0.219 0.000083 <0.0002 0.00734 6 1.97 0.000047 <0.0002 0.07644
Sample means 0.443 0 .000104 <0.0002 0.01765 3. BOT-AWICAL ELEMENTS
The vegetative makeup of the upper portion of Calcasieu River Basin varies from pure stands of pines to pine-hardwoods to mixed bottomland hardwoods when descending from the hill tops to the flood plain of the river and its tributaries. Forests consist of second growth trees which include shortleaf, longleaf, and loblolly pines, oaks (ratraerous species), beech, hickory, magnolia, sweetgum, maple, black gum, red cedar, cypress, persimmon, and holly. Shrubs associated with this area are ironwood, sassafras, crab apple, mayhaw, sumac, youpon, and gallberry. Vast 'tasslands once covered the coastal prairie, but have yielded to agricultural practices and production of pine timber. The flood plains of the streams in the coastal prairie which are subject to annual overflow contain a limited quantity of mixed hardwoods. Vegetation of the coastal marshes, in the area influenced by Calcasieu River, are for the most part limited to those types associated with a brackish marsh. Typical vegetation consists of wiregrass, three-cornered grass, coco, and widgeon-grass. Coon Island is near the transitional zone between coastal prairie and icoastal marsh. Sparse stands of cypress and buck brush are found along the banks and the higher grounds of the island. Marsh grasses (as listed above) are predominant on the lower areas of Coon Island. The same vegetation is represented on the western shores of Coon Island channel except those areas occupied by industrial development and related improvements.
4. ZOOLOGICAL ELEMENTS
a. Wildlife. A wide variety of wildlife is indigenous to the Calcasieu River Basin. Good populations of white-tail deer, rabbits, squirrels, and woodcock sure found in the forest of the uplands and coastal prairies. Quail and dove furnish hunting opportunity for upland game sportsmen. Rice fields of the prairie and the brackish water marshes afford an excellent habitat and resting area for numerous migratory birds and waterfcwl. A large percentage of all the birds species of eastern North America has been recorded from the Louisiana marshes. The "chenieres" near the mouth of Calcasieu River along the Gulf of Mexico sure used extensively by ornithologists, bird watchers, and photographers during migration periods because of the vast diversity of birds which utilize the area. A variety of resident birds is also exhibited by the study basin. Regional importance is not only attached to the marsh areas as waterfowl habitat but fur-bearing sinimals are signifiesmt to the economy of the surea. Wildlife resources directly associated with Coon Island are very limited in quality and qusmtity. Major resident animals are rabbit and nutria, with rail, gallinules, and snipe being temporary migrant residents. b. Fish life. Fishery resources of the Calcasieu Basin vary from a warm-water fresh-water fishery in the upper basin to a marine fishery in the lower portion. Large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, and numerous species of sunfish are the principal sport fish afforded by the fresh water. Comnercial fishes include buffalo, freshwater drum (gaspergou), catfish, and gar. The waters of the lower basin provide an excellent habitat and the dominant species are seatrout, black drum, sheepshead, croaker, and channel bass. Calcasieu Lake not only contains the above-mentioned fishes but has a valuable shellfish resource which includes oysters, shrimp, and crabs. Estuaries of the area also provide the vital nursery grounds necessary in the life cycle of many species of marine fish and shellfish found in the Gulf of Mexico. Coon Island ship channel supports a minor population of mullet, menhaden, sheepshead, drum, and gar during periods of favorable water conditions.
5. PLANTS, WILDLIFE, AND FISHERY RESOURCES COMMON TO THE COON ISLAND AREA
TABLE 2 PLANTS C0MM3N TO COON ISLAND
Pinaceae Baldcypress Taxodium distichum
Compositae Buck brush Iva frutescens
Gramineae Wire grass Spartina patens
Cyperaceae Three-cornered grass Scirpus olneyi
Coco grass Scirpus robustus
Zosteraceae Widgeongrass Ruppia maritima WILDLIFE COMMON TO COON ISLAND
Leporidae Swamp rabbit Sylvilagus aquaticus
Myocas toridae Nutria - Myocastor coypus
Rallidae Clapper rail Rallus longirostris King rail Rallus elegans Virginia rail Rallus limicola Sora rail Porzana Carolina Common gallinule Gallinula chloropus Purple gallinule Porphyrula martinica
Scolopacidae Cannon snipe (Wilson's) Capella gallinago
FISH COMMON TO THE COON ISLAND CHANNEL
Clupeidae Menhaden Brevoortia patronus
Sparidae Sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus
Sciaenidae Black drum Pogonias cromis
Lepisosteidae Alligator gar Lepisosteus spatula
6. ARCHEOLOGICAL, HISTORICAL, AND CULTURAL ELEMENTS
There cure no recorded archeological sites in this area that will be endangered by the proposed project. "Hie National Register of Historic Places, March 1972," has been consulted and no National Register properties will be affected by the project. The American alligator included on the Department of the Interior's list of rare and endangered species inhabits coastal marshes of the Calcasieu River drainage area south of the project area, but no species of rare, endangered, or endemic plants or animals are known to occur in the area to be influenced by the project.
7. ECONOMIC ELEMENTS
The Calcasieu River drainage area includes parts of Vernon, Natchitoches, Rapides, Beauregard, Allen, Jefferson Davis, Calcasieu, and Cameron Parishes. These parishes had a population of 433,936 people in 1970. Lake Charles, the parish seat for Calcasieu Parish, is the major trading and industrial area of southwest Louisiana. Popula tions of Calcasieu Parish and the city of Lake Charles were .145,415 and 77,998, respectively, in 1970. The upper portion of the basin above the city is rural in nature and the economy of the area is primarily agriculturally oriented. Cattle reusing and rice growing are the two major agricultural efforts in the upper basin. Coastal and offshore areas of the State of Louisiana have an abundance of mineral resources such as gas, oil, salt, sulphur, and seashells. These resources in combination with the important Calcasieu River ship channel have led to development of large petroleum, petrochemical, and related industries in the Lake Charles area. Industrial growth is also enhanced by an excellent system of Federal, state, and local roads, as well as rail and air service. Another industry of the lower basin of national importance is the commercial fishery industry. Cameron, Louisiana, serves as an important port for this industry. Development in the immediate vicinity of the recommended plan includes two large industrial complexes and numerous oil wells to the west and north of Coon Island ship channel. No development other than two petroleum wells is located on the privately owned island. A 12-inch gas pipeline is laid along about 3,400 feet of the old Coon Island river channel and approximately 700 feet of this line transverses the proposed Coon Island ship channel.
8. MISCELLANEOUS ELEMENTS
Calcasieu River and its tributaries are capable of affording high water-oriented recreational opportunity. Numerous commercial and public facilities are found over the length of the river which furnish the public access for hunting, fishing, boating, waterskiing, picnicking, swimming, and camping. The public beach on Prien Lake at U. S. Interstate Highway 210 offers swimming, picnicking, and boating and is the only recreational area in the immediate vicinity of the project area. The Sabine Migratory Water Fowl Refuge, an area of about 143,900 acres, is a Federally owned refuge which abuts the shores of Calcasieu Lake, about 23 miles south of the proposed improvement. No national or state parks or forests, hunting clubs, wildlife refuges, management areas, or scientific areas occur in the area to be influenced by construction of the project.
9. RELATED PROJECTS
Related waterways which influence the usage of the existing Coon Island ship channel are: The Calcasieu River and Pass ship channel, a 40- by 400-foot ship channel between the Port of Lake Charles (river mile 34.0) and the Gulf of Mexico; a 35- by 250-foot channel from the Port of Lake Charles to U. S. Highway 90 crossing (river mile 36.2); and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, a 12- by 125- foot or larger barge channel extending from Florida to the Mexican Border, which crosses the Calcasieu River at river mile 22,6 (about 15 miles beltm the proposed project area). With such a network of vessel accessibility the Coon Island ship channel serves as an excellent transfer point for interchange of ship and barge cargo.
10. FUTURE SETTING WITHOOT PROJECT
The existing Coon Island ship channel was constructed by local interests. Because larger and deeper-type vessels are being used to replace the older, obsolete, and retiring tankers, the 30- by 100-foot channel and turning basin is fast diminishing in its ability to serve the vessel traffic. The industrial complex now located on the Coon Island channel anticipates a marked increase in shipments over the waterway resulting from increased production capability for products new being shipped, and from additional facilities to be installed for production of products which will also move by oceangoing vessels. Since the industry is expanding its production and capabilities in new fields of production, along with the fact that more and larger vessel traffic is expected to utilize the channel, the increased channel dimensions are considered necessary and in all probability enlargement will be accomplished with or without Federal aid. SECTION III - TOE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION
1. NATURE OF IMPACTS
Implementation of the reconmended plan will require physical alteration to much of the existing water bottom along the western shore and northern end of Coon Island. Construction of the 40- by 200-foot ship channel over a linear distance of 6,943 feet will require the removal and disposal of approximately 2,438,000 cubic yards of spoil material. To provide a 40- by 750- by 1,000-foot turning basin at the north end of the island, it will be necessary to remove and dispose of about 814,000 cubic yards of spoil material. The total water bottoms to be affected by the proposed excavation is roughly 115 acres. Spoil disposal will not present changes to the existing environmental elements of the land; it will be placed in an area which has previously been dedicated and used as a permanent spoiling area, but waste water fran the hydraulic dredging will increase turbidity of the Calcasieu River during construction. The raw spoil area may be viewed as esthetically unpleasing by some, until it becomes covered with vegetation by natural processes. Construction of a deep-water navigational channel will induce changes in the existing land-use pattern immediately adjacent to the project area as further industrial development is expected to take place. The increased vessel traffic and industrial development contemplated may degrade the water quality of Calcasieu River. Industrial development includes potentials for environmental pollution of air and water. It will be necessary that all Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies cooperate to prevent such pollution.
2. BENEFICIAL AND DETRIMENTAL ASPECTS OF IMPACTS
The ability of the proposed ship channel to accommodate larger vessels will stimulate industrial production and growth which will increase employment and income and thereby enhance the social well being of the residents of the area. A larger channel and turning basin will reduce the risk of marine accidents which endanger life, property, and the natural resources of the area. Water levels of Calcasieu River and the side channel will not change as a result of the project, but turbidity in the river and channel will be increased during construction and maintenance by the hydraulic dredging process which will impose minor adverse impacts upon the aquatic life, The removal of polluted bottom sediments (relative to EPA open water disposal criteria) from the Coon Island ship channel will have a beneficial effect on the environment. Currently these sediments are resuspended with regular frequency in the waters of the Calcasieu River by the relatively deep-draft vessels using the channel. Dredging of these relatively polluted bottom sediments will not have an adverse effect on the surface waters adjacent to the project inasmuch as the effluent frcra the hydraulic dredging will be discharged iireide spoil retention dikes containing waste water control structures for the maximum retention of solids and polluted material. The area selected for spoil disposal is a permanent spoil-disposal area that has been used previously, and will not be adversely affected by the dredged materials. Effluent from the spoil areas will be returned to the Calcasieu River.
3. REMEDIAL, PROTECTIVE, AND MITIGATION MEASPRES
The recommended plan contains protective measures for reducing adverse environmental impacts. Spoil disposal will be contained within a permanent spoil-disposal area that has been previously used and retention dikes will be used to control the spread of dredging effluent. Waste-water control structures will be placed in a manner to prevent as much silt-laden waters as possible from entering Calcasieu River and other water bodies. These structures will be located as far as possible from the point of dredge discharge. Park facilities and bathing beaches, located adjacent to the 1—210 highway bridge crossing the Calcasieu River, will be protected from waste water discharge by locating the effluent control structures in such a manner to insure the waste water will remain in Calcasieu River. The extent to which mercury or other chemical constituents associated with pollution will be returned to the Calcasieu River in the effluent from the spoil retention area is dependent on the oxidation state and the stoichemetry of an almost infinite number of chemical and biochemical reactions which may take place. Most metals including mercury and zinc are absorbed by and combined with soil and sediment particles, thereby providing for the sedimentation and containnent of these metals along with the solid material. Mildly reducing conditions that occur in most bottom sediments generally cause mercury to be precipitated as the sulfide cinnabar. This compound has extremely low solubility. At near neutral pH, the equilibrium solubility may be lower than 0.002 parts per billion (p.p.b.). This is below the concentration that is detectable by current analytical procedures. Under very strong reducing conditions or at high pH, the solubility of mercury can be increased through a number of chemical reactions. In the presence of the relatively high chloride concentration in the Calcasieu River and if a sufficiently high oxidation state is reached, the solubility of mercury may be increased slightly by the formation of mercurous chloride, or increased greatly by the formation of highly soluble mercuric chloride. In addition to the complex inorganic chemistry involved, methylation of mercury may be accomplished by anerobic bacteria producing the relatively stable dimethyl mercury. In the presence of excess mercuric ion, the more soluble methyl mercury is also produced. At low pH the dimethyl mercury disassociates to ionic methyl mercury which is the more soluble form. During construction and maintenance the quality of the surface water in the Calcasieu River upstream and downstream from the project location will be monitored. The discharge from the dredge and the effluent from the ponding axea will also be monitored to determine any dissolved oxygen depletion and the extent of resuspension and dissolving of metal constituents that is occurring. The results of these analyses will be reviewed with regard to the water quality criteria of the State of Louisiana and the EPA criteria for the discharge of dredge material to cpen water. Local interests will be required to establish regulations to control the discharge of untreated sewage, garbage, or other pollutants into the waters of the harbor or channel by users thereof, which regulation shall be in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of Federal, state, and local authorities responsible for pollution prevention and control. Contractors will exercise care in the handling and storage of hazardous materials to prevent accidental spillage or usage that would result in water pollution. Sanitary facilities will be provided to adequately dispose of domestic wastes for conformance with existing pollution regulations. Esthetical impacts as related to spoil disposal are classified as minor and temporary in nature. Revege tation will occur, within a growing season, shielding the raw spoil area. There will be no significant environmental changes to the land area, which is within an existing industrially developed area, although it is anticipated that additional areas fronting on the Coon Island ship channel will be developed by commercial and industrial interests because of more efficient handling of shipments. SECTION IV - ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED SHOULD THE PROPOSAL BE IMPIEMENTED
GENERAL
Unavoidable adverse impacts upon the fish, wildlife, and recreational resources are considered minor and local in nature. Excavation and disposal of spoil will temporarily increase turbidity in the waterway but the impact on the low value fishery resources in the immediate project area will be of short duration. Short-term esthetical impacts will result from spoiling activities. The expected future industrial development fronting on Coon Island channel will induce land-use changes. This action will not significantly affect wildlife resources to a measur able degree. Hie water quality of Calcasieu River will not be altered to a degree that would produce adverse effects upon the water related recreational resources of the area. Unavoidable adverse effects associated with the proposed action are of such a minor nature, remedial, protective, or mitigation measures, other than that specified in section III, paragraph 3, are not warranted. SECTION V - ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION
1. RETENTION OF THE EXISTING SHIP CHANNEL
The alternative of utilizing the existing channel in an "as is" condition was included in our studies. Adoption of this alternative would require industry to: dispatch tankers with light loads; partially loaded tankers in the Coon Island ship channel and top-off*.by barge transfer at the Port of Lake Charles; and partially loaded tankers in the Coon Island channel and top-off in the Calcasieu River and Pass ship channel via a specially constructed pipeline facility.
2. CHANNEL ENLARGEMENT
Studies were made for enlarging the channel to a 35- by 200-foot channel. This alternative would permit fully loading of some tankers at the existing docking facilities but would require light or partial loading of larger vessels and with top-offing by barge transfer or pipeline as described above.
3. NO SHIP CHANNEL
Should maintenance of the existing channel cease* its loss as a deepwater connection would require movement of oceangoing commerce from plants cn Coon Island to the Calcasieu River and Pass ship channel by either barge or pipeline. The nearest suitable location for transferring from barge to ship is the Port of Lake Charles, approximately 3 miles from the industry. Transfer by pipeline frcm the plant to a ship on the Calcasieu River and Pass ship channel would require docking facilities at the intersection of the Coon Island ship channel and Calcasieu River and Pass ship channel and construction of approximately 1 1/4 miles of pipelines. This alternative would also be classified as the "no-action" alternative in that no Pederal assistance would be provided.
4. ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVES
a. The overall annual transportation cost for each of these plans and the proposed plan was computed, it was determined that the recom mended channel would best meet the needs of the users of the channel in that it would meet the present and foreseeable needs of navigation within the context of present national policies and includes features specifically formulated for the benefit of the environmental elements.
b. As stated earlier* the present channel size prevents full utilization by mo d e m tankers and adoption of the above-described alternatives would require employment of other methods for fully loading the larger tankers. In most cases, completion of the loading and unloading of the larger vessels would require dual operations and increase the shipping traffic. The extra handling and increased traffic would increase the risk of marine accidents which endanger life, property, and the natural resources of the area. This potential adverse impact is considered to be far more serious than those associated with the tentative plan.
c. The last alternative considered is to forego construction of the proposed project in an effort to retain the existing environ mental setting. Ships will continue to use the Coon Island ship channel whether or not a Federally assisted project is approved and the continued usage of an inadequately dimensioned channel will contribute to stream pollution by increasing turbidity due to insufficient underkeel clearance by causing bottom material to remain in suspension and be free to move into the Calcasieu River with each tidal change. The no-action alternative would serve only to deprive man of the increased income and employment, which enhances man's social well-being, as associated with the recommended plan. SECTION VI - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TERM USES OF MAN'S ENVIRONMENT AND THE MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY
GENERAL
The present generation will be required to canunit an absolute minimum of its environmental elements for purposes of channel construction and placement of dredged material. Approximately 115 acres of water bottom will undergo physical changes by implementation of the planned action. No measurable effects to the renewable natural resources were surfaced in the formulation of this study. No significant adverse effects to short-term uses or long-term productivity of natural resources sure recognized. The existing channel has previously been dedicated for navigation purposes and will apparently continue to be used as such. Implementation of the recommended plan will not narrow the range of beneficial uses of the environment but will enhance the present use and long-term productivity by providing a channel of adequate dimensions to insure marine safety. Federal assistance would improve the water quality of Calcasieu River by reducing turbidity caused by larger vessels having to use am undersize channel and by requiring local interests to implement and enforce water quality standards for industry and vessels which discharge effluent into the channel. Spoil material will be placed on an existing area dedicated for such use and will not require changes in land uses which would result in adverse environmental affects. Temporary turbidity from dredging activities may disrupt short-term uses temporarily but will not impose any restrictions on long-term productivity. Anticipated land changes on the area fronting Coon Island ship channel will be oriented towards industrial development, thereby limiting the diversity in usage from that of a low-lying wetland area which has limited environmental value. All identifiable adverse effects surfaced in the coordination process are minor and local in nature and do not influence the environmentally rich coastal area below the project. SECTION VII - ANY IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABIE COMMITMENT OP RESOURCES WHICH WOGLD BE INVOLVED IN THE PROPOSED ACTION SHOULD IT BE IMPLEMENTED
GENERAL
Anticipated future industrial development on the shores of Coon Island ship channel would in all probability be an irreversible commitment of the existing setting as related to change in land use. Irretrievable commitments of a minor nature will be experienced by the water quality and aquatic life of the Coon Island ship channel and Calcasieu River as a result of the increased turbidity associated with dredging activities. These adverse effects are temporary and local and of a significance too low for assigning of quantitative values. None of the above- mentioned commitments, other than the expected industrial development, are credited with producing unalterable disruptions, or a curtailment in the diversity and range of beneficial uses of the environmental setting. The labor resources associated with the planned construction will be both an irretrievable and irreversible commitment. SECTION VIII - COORDINATION WITH OTHERS
1. COORDINATION PORING PLAN FORMULATION
Between November 1967 and M a r c h 1971, six meetings were held with local interests for deriving a plan acceptable to all interests. The Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, a state agency, is the sponsor of the proposed improvement and has indicated that it will be responsible for local assurances. This agency has furnished plans for work previously accomplished on the Coon Island ship channel and turning basin and statements from prospective users and others indorsing the proposed enlargement. Coordination was maintained with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission, and Federal Water Quality Administration (new the Environmental Protection Agency) during the entire study. The U. S. Coast Guard concurred with the location of the channel and turning basin and estimated the cost for aids to navigation.
2. COORDINATION OF PRELIMINARY DRAFT STATEMENT CIRCULATED IN NOVEMBER 1970
The initial draft environmental statement w a s coordinated with various Federal, state, and local agencies. The following is a summary of their comments; copies of their letters are attached.
a. Environmental Protection Agency
Water Hygiene Program
Comment: Urged that all dredge material be disposed of in a manner that will permit good drainage to prevent ponding of water and the creation of a suitable vector breeding habitat.
Response: The project provides for retention dikes and placement of waste-water control structures for controlling the dredging effluent, which is also expected to prevent excessive ponding of water.
Comment: They also recommended that state and local requirements as well as appropriate health guidelines be employed during construction of the project.
Response: Contract specification will contain appropriate health safeguards, environmental protection, and requirements to comply with Federal, state, county, and municipal laws concerning pollution, health, etc.
Water Quality Office.
Comment: Urged that regulation or other means of preventing environmental damage which may result from additional industrial development be established and in operation prior to initiation of construction. Response: The discharge permit regulations described in Title IV of tha Federal Water Pollution Act of 1972 will prevent additional pollution to the planned ship channel and the Calcasieu River by potential industrial development in the project area. These regulations require approval of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Louisiana Stream Control Conmission as a condition for granting a permit.
Comnent: Construction and operation of the project must not violate water quality standards for coastal waters of Louisiana.
Response: Contract specifications will contain appropriate health safeguards, environmental protection, and requirements to comply with Federal, state, county (parish), and municipal laws concerning pollution, health, etc.
Comment: The Corps of Engineers, prior to construction, should collect and analyze borings and sediment samples of the ship channel to determine the extent of suspected mercury deposits in the construction area.
Response: A mmber of bottom samples have been collected from the Coon Island channel and analyzed for mercury and other elements. Section II of the statement has been modified to include the results of the bottom sampling.
b. Geological Survey
Comment: During construction, flow characteristics of the lower Calcasieu River will be slightly altered.
Response: Concur.
c. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
Comment: In general agreement with statement and the project will have minor effects on fish and wildlife resources.
d. Bureau of Mines
Comment: Mineral resources and oil wells as mentioned should suffice.
e. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
No comments received.
f. Department of Commerce
No comments received. g. U. S. Coast: Guard
No comments received.
h. Public Health Service
No comments received.
i. Louisiana Department of Public Works
Comment: Finds the statement to be comprehensive and adequate in covering environmental aspects associated with the project.
j. Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission
Comment: Finds statement adequately states the situation.
k. Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission
Coianent. Recommended that efforts be made to ascertain the presence and extent of mercury deposits resulting from industrial effluent and the effects of dredging on the suspected mercury deposits.
Response: Bottom samples have been collected from the Coon Island channel and analyzed for mercury and other elements. The statement has been modified to include the results. During construction and maintenance, the surface water in the Calcasieu River, upstream and downstream of the project area, will be monitored. The discharge from the dredge and the effluent from the ponding area will also be monitored.
l Louisiana Stream Control Commission
Comment: With respect to water quality only, the Commission has no objection to the project.
m. Louisiana Board of Health
No comments received.
n. Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District
No comments received.
o. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
No comments received.
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A public meeting was held on 11 May 1972 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for affording other governmental bodies and the public an opportunity to conment on the reoonmended plan. Prior to this meeting news releases and public notices were circulated inviting and urging all interested parties to be present or represented. The public notices contained an environmental assessment relative to the Ooon Island study. An environmental presentation was made at the meeting which delineated the impacts expecting to result from the recommended plan as well as the alteratives considered. Approximately 20 people representing state and local agencies, political offices, industry, news media, and other public interests, as well as individuals attended the meeting. All parties were afforded full opportunity to express their views and specific data on matters pertinent to the study, including technical, economic, and ecological and environmental material. Five persons representing state and local agencies, civic groups, and industry presented statements and/or resolutions supporting the plan as presented. No opposition or comments of an environmental nature were voiced at the public meeting.
4. COORDINATION OF REVISED DRAFT STATEMENT CIRCULATED IN AUGUST 1972
A revised draft environmental statement was recoordinated with various Federal, state, and local agencies, civic groups, conservation and environmental groups, business and industrial interests, and any citizen making a request. The following is a summary of their comments; copies of responses are attached.
Federal agencies:
a* Environmental Protection Agency
Conment: Suggested that the final statement be modified to include analyses of samples previously collected from Coon Island Ship channel.
Response: Concur. Final environmental statement has been modified to include suggested information.
b. U. S. Department of the Interior, Office of Secretary, Southwest Region.
Conment: The statement adequately describes the resources present in the project area.
Ccmment: The proposed project will not have significant effects on the existing fish, wildlife, recreational, and archeological resources.
Response: Concur.
Conment: During construction, the flow characteristics of the lower Calcasieu River may be slightly altered and some temporary sediment pollution may take place. However, these effects are minor and temporary and no significant adverse effects on hydraulics or hydrology are expected.
Response: Construction may temporarily alter flow characteristics in the project area and induce temporary turbidity as pointed out. These impacts were expressed in the revised draft as well as in the final environmental statement.
c. U. S. Department of Commerce, The Assistant Secretary of Conner ce.
Comment: Some discussion should be included in the environmental statement pertaining to the probability of hurricane winds in the area and the impacts resulting on ship use of the planned channel and turning basin.
Response: The statement was modified to include the probability of hurricane winds in the Lake Charles, La., area. Occurrence of hurri canes would adversely affect shipping interests. The proposed ship channel could serve as a harbor during such occurrences.
d U. S. Department of Commerce, Mauri time Administration.
Comment: Have forwarded draft statement to our Environmental Activities Group in Washington, D. C., for response.
Response: No response has been received from the Environmental Activities Group.
e * U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
Comment: Our review of the draft environmental statement discerns no adverse health effects that might be of significance where our program responsibilities and standards pertain, provided that appropriate guides are followed in concert with state, county, and local environmental health laws and regulations. We therefore have no objection to the authorization of this project insofar as our interests and responsibilities are concerned.
State agencies:
a • Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Comment: Expressed concern about the effects of dredging in areas of mercury deposition in relation to possible damages to the important commercial and sports fisheries in Calcasieu Lake and other downstream water bodies. Feels that the results of the analysis for bottom samples and implications in relation to possible impact on the commercial and sports fisheries should be a part of the environmental statement. Response: Analyses of the bottom samples taken in the Coon Island ship channel are included in the final environmental statement. Implications of the effects expected to result from dredging in the channel have also been made a part of the statement.
b. Louisiana State Land Office.
Comment; Feels that special emphasis should be placed on the suggestion that all Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies cooperate to prevent pollution in the area surrounding the project.
Response: The revised draft and the final environmental statement state "Local interests will be required to establish regulations to control the discharge of untreated sewage, garbage, or other pollutants into the harbor or channel by users thereof, which regulations shall be in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of Federal, state, and local authorities responsible for pollution prevention and control." Since pollution prevention or abatement in the project area is a_ requirement, it is considered that the terminology cannot be made more positive than as presented.
c. Louisiana State Board of Health.
Comment: Advised that the document was reviewed and registered no objections in the area of land, water, and air.
d. Capital Region Planning Cctnmission (Clearinghouse) .
Comaent: Returned the revised draft environmental statement in that the project is not located in their area of concern.
e . Louisiana Advisory Commission on Coastal and Marine Resources.
Ccmnent: Recommended that the Corps of Engineers take cognizance of the planning functions of the Louisiana Advisory Commission on Coastal and Marine Resources.
Response: The role of the Advisory Commission on Coastal and Marine Resources is recognized as a vital effort in developing a management plan for the coastal resources of Louisiana.
Comment: Recommends that the Corps of Engineers consider this project and its environmental impact in terms of its relationship to other projects, state and Federal policy, and the ecosystem in which the project is taking place.
Response: The draft environmental statement included and considered the relationship of other projects, state and Federal policy, and the ecosystem of the project area. f. Louisiana Department of Public Works
No comments received. g. Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Comnission
No comments received. h. Louisiana Stream Control Comnission
No comments received. i. Louisiana State Planning Office
No comments received.
j. Louisiana Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
No comments received. k. Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District
No comments received
l. Calcasieu Regional Planning Commission
No comments received. m. Curator of Anthropology
No comments received.
n. Louisiana State Liaison Office for Historical Preservation
No comnents received.
Local agencies and civic groups:
a. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
No comments received. b. Louisiana Intracoastal Seaway Commission
No comments received.
c. Greater Lake Charles Chamber of Commerce
No comnents received. d. Lake Charles Pilot Association
No consents received.
e. PPG Industries
No comments received.
f. Port of Lake Charles, Board of Commissioners
No comments received.
g. Calcasieu Marine National Bank
No comments receive**.
h. Airport Commission
No comment received.
Conservation and environmental groups:
a. Environmental Defense Fund
No comments received.
b. National Wildlife Federation
No comments received.
c. National Sierra Club
No comments received.
d. National Audubon Society
No comments received.
e. Vice-President, National Sierra Club, New Orleans
No comments received.
f. Regional Director, National Wildlife Federation
No comments received.
g. SW Regional Representative, National Audubon Society
No comments received. h. Ecology Center of Louisiana, Inc.
No comments received.
i. Louisiana Wildlife Federation
No comments received.
j* Chairman, Water Control Projects Committee, Louisiana Wildlife Federation
No comments received.
k. Acadian Sierra Club
No comments received.
l. Calcasieu Rod & Gun Club
No conments received. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 1114 Commerce Street Dallas, Texas 75202 December 7, 1970
Your Reference: LMNED-PC
Colonel Herbert R. Haar, Jr, District Engineer, New Orleans District Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army P.O. Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear Colonel Haar:
As requested in your letter of November 9, 1970, addressed to DHEW, the draft environmental statement on Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel, has been reviewed by this office in accord ance with implementation of Reorganization Plan No. 3 on Dec. 2, 1970.
The report upon which the statement is based describes a single-purpose project to enhance navigation by extending and enlarging the ship channel and construction of a turning basin.
No significant long-term adverse health affects from the proposed project are anticipated.
The report proposes that spoil from channel excavation will be placed in areas previously used for similar purposes. We trust that all dredge material will be disposed of in a manner that will permit good draining and thus prevent vector breeding.
In addition to State and local requirements, we recommend that appropriate health guidelines outlined in the following publication be employed dur ing the development of this project:
Prevention and Control of Vector Problems Associated with Water Resources (Public Health Service monograph, January 1965)
This office has no objection to the authorization of this project insofar as the Bureau of Water Hygiene interests and responsibilities are concerned.
Sincerely yours,
Charles W. Northington, P.E. Water Hygiene Representative Environmental Protection Agency ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WATER QUALITY OFFICE 1402 Elro Street, Third Floor Dallas, Texas 75202
Your Reference: LMNED-PC March 24, 1971 District Engineer U.S. Army Engineer District, New Orleans P. 0. Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70161 Dear Sir:
We have reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement prepared rnnn°!ci f
The lower portion of the Calcasieu River from the City of Lake frnm ?S7 tf *5® 5UI![ iS sub3ect to tidal variations which vary Charlie7 at.t5* moutf of the river, to 0.7 foot at Lakey ‘rhTh? exlst?"9 salt water barrier across Calcasieu River at Lake Charles is the dividing line between the upper and the lower basins and prevents salt water intrusion from deg?ading the major sources of irrigation water supply for rice production frnmU!iJeS de?!;1?pme?t Projects have modified Calcasieu River from its mouth to river mile 52.6. Most of the modifica- tions have been made by navigation improvement projects The CalcasieuCRiverSlait Channel was'fomerly S'bJId Sf thU caIcasieu ^ River. It has been estimated that the river flow diverted into the Coon Island Ship Channel represents about to tn6 t°5?1 river d1schar9e and varies from fresh » i f ’ depending upon the flow and tidal influences ^aters 0f the Channel are brackish and hive l poor quality of water due to domestic and industrial waste fS aSt3yHd15C°V?red m?rcury P°llutl’°n was found to originate in an industrial complex located on the Coon Island Ship Channel The content of the Environmental Statement on the Coon Island Ship Channel Is adequate for some factors discussed, however, for pertinent subheadings of the Environmental Statement we have the following comments and suggestions. 3. Environmental impacts of the proposed action. The Environmental Statement points out that the recommended plan will have an effect in three areas of environmental concern: (1) The wastewater from the hydraulic dredging will increase turbidity of the Calcasieu River and the channel during construc tion. (2) Construction of a deep water navigational channel will induce changes in the existing land use pattern immediately adjacent to the project area as further industrial development is expected to take place. The increased vessel traffic and industrial development may degrade water quality of the Calcasieu River and increase discharge of air pollutants. (3) Dredging of the channel and turning basin would stir up and recycle mercury deposits that may exist in the Coon Island Ship Channel. The potential for additional environmental pollution of air and water will be increased. Your Environmental Statement indicates that local interests will be required to regulate the discharge of untreated sewage, garbage and other pollutants into the waters of the harbor and that these regulations shall be in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of Federal, state, and local authorities responsible for pollution prevention and control. We strongly urge that these regulations, or other means of preventing environmental damage that might be caused by additional industrial development, be established and in operation before construction of the ship channel. Increased turbidity of the river and channel caused by the hydraulic dredging process will have an adverse impact upon the aquatic life. The project plan for spoil disposal contains measures for reducing this adverse environmental impact to a minimu In our review letter on this project of October 6, 1966, we suggested that a method to avoid damage to existing or potential water or land use be developed. During dredging opera tions conservation measures must be taken to insure that the quantity of suspended material would turn to the Calcasieu River will not have a significant effect on aquatic life. The construction and operation of the project must not "create conditions which will adversely effect the public health or use of the waters for propagation of aquatic life, recreation, navigation, or other legitimate uses— .11 These water quality standards for the coastal waters of Louisiana must not be violated. In the summer of 1970 industrial surveys disclosed that mercury was being discharged from the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company's industrial plant located on the Coon Island Ship Channel. The mercury was not being discharged directly to the ship channel but through the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company's ditch and to the Calcasieu River. The possibility exists, however, that mercury discharged through this ditch could have been carried by tidal action into the ship channel and deposited. It is not known at this time the extent and location, if any, of mercury deposited in the sediment of the present Coon Island Ship Channel. Before this project is implemented, the Corps of Engineers should make certain that enough borings and sediment samples be collected and analyzed to show the extent of mercury deposits, if any, in the channel. On March 2, 1971, our office sent you information on the criteria which EPA will now be_ using to determine the acceptability of dredging and the disposal of dredge spoils in United States waters. 4. Any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be imp!emented" With proper planning and control measures, most of the adverse environmental effects discussed above can be avoided. The possibility of recycling mercury deposits that are in the bottom deposits is a factor that may or may not have a significant environmental effect. This will not be known until the Corps determines the extent of these deposits and makes proper plans for control of recycling. 5. Alternatives to the proposed action. Adequate measures to protect the environmental aspects should be followed by what ever interests eventually construct the needed improvements. 7. Any irreversible and irretrieveable commitments of resources"which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented. The magnitude of the adverse effects of dredging on the environment cannot be ascertained until the investigations of the extent and magnitude of mercury deposits are made. Our Agency considers your field level review and comments on the draft Environmental Statement to be a request for consultation and technical assistance. Our response to requests at field level is unofficial. EPA's official or formal comments on Environmental Statements prepared by other agencies will be made at the Washington 1evel. Sincerely yours,
KENTON KIRKPATRICK Director, Office of Planning cc: Water Hygiene Rep. United States Department o f the Interior
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water Resources D ivision 6554 Florida Blvd. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806
November 16, 1970
Herbert R. Haar, Jr. Colonel, CE District Engineer Corps o f Engineers, N.O. D istrict P. 0. Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear Colonel Haar:
Reference is made to your letter of November 9, 1970 requesting that we review the draft statement and make comments as to the environmental effects (public law 91-190, Section 102C) of the project, Calcasieu
River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel. During construction, the flow characteristics of the lower Calcasieu River will be slightly altered . Other than th is, we know o f no e ffe c t this p roject w ill have on the environment.
Sincerely yours,
FOR THE DISTRICT CHIEF
L. A. Martens Hydrologist United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE PCACHTRU-KVCNTH aUd-DMO ATLANTA. GEORGIA 30323
December 11, 1970
District Engineer U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers P.O. Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear S ir:
Reference is made to your le t t e r , IMNED-PC, dated November 9, 1970, requesting our comments on an environmental statement on the proposed project, Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel. This statement was prepared by your staff on November b, I 970. We are in general agreement with thoughts expressed in the statement that the p ro je ct w ill have minor e ffe c ts on fis h and w ild life resources.
As a matter of information, we note that the species of fish and wildlife present in the Calcasieu River drainage are discussed on page 2, and on page 4 a statement is made to the effect that no rare or endangered species of plants or animals are known to exist in the influenced project area. We call to your attention that alligators inhabit coastal marshes of the Calcasieu drainage south of the project area, and that alligators are one o f the species Included in the Department o f the In te r io r 's list of rare and endangered species. We do not, however, expect the project to have a significant effect on the habitat of alligators in the Calcasieu River drainage.
We appreciate the opportunity to review your environmental statement for Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel.
Sincerely yours,
W. L. Towns Acting Regional Director UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF MINES Intermountain Field Operation Center BUILDING 20 DENVER FEDERAL CENTER DENVER, COLORADO 80223 December 15, 1970
Colonel Herbert R. Hear, J r. Department o f the Army New Orleans District Corps o f Engineers P. 0. Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear Colonel Haar:
This is in reply to your letter of November 9 to Floyd Everett, former Chief of the Bartlesville Mineral Supply Field Office, requesting comments on a draft environmental statement for the proposed project "Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel."
As subsequently explained by Robert Arndt of the Bartlesville office in a letter dated November 2h, review functions for mineral involvement have been transferred to this o ffic e .
After scanning your statement, we feel that the mention of mineral resources and oil wells on page 4 should suffice. It is assumed that the references to mercury pollution on pages 2 and 6 have been obtained from one of the environmental agencies. It is believed however that the reference on page 6 to "mercury deposits" denotes natural occurrences of the metal and is not in keeping with the statement on page 2 that the pollution comes from an industrial complex located on the Coon Island ship channel.
Sincerely yours,
0. M. Bishop, Chief, Intermountain Field Operation Center S tate of Louisiana D e p a r t m e n t o f P u b l i c W o r k s BATON ROUGE. LA. 70804
February 2, 1971
Colonel Herbert R. Haar, District Engineer Department of the Army New Orleans District - Corps of Engineers P.O.Box 60267 Re: Calcasieu River at Coon Island, New Orleans, Louisiana 70160 L a ., Ship Canal (L M N E D -P C )
Dear Colonel Haar:
In accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Public Law 91-190, and as requested, the Louisiana Department of Public Works is pleased to submit comments on the project referred to above.
After careful review of the environmental draft statement and other project data made available, the Department of Public Works is pleased to endorse the draft state ment. We find it to be comprehensive and adequate in covering environmental aspects associated with the project.
We appreciate the opportunity to review and comment.
Sincerely,
C. H. DOWNS Director LOUISIANA WILD LIFE AND FISHERIES COMMISSION P. O. BOX 44095 CAPITOL STATION BATON ROUGE. LOUISIANA 70804
December 1, 1970
District Engineer United States Corps of Engineers P. O. Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter of November 9, 1970 and attached proposed environmental impact statement on the "Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel. "
Members of my staff have reviewed this proposed draft and find that it adequately states the situation.
We appreciate the opportunity to comment on this proposed statement.
Sincerely yours,
Clark M. Hoffpauer Director STATE OF Lgfyj^TliX , STATE PARKS'AND'RECREATION COMMISSION BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION
Herbert R. Haar, J r ., Dis tr ic t Engineer U. S. Corps of Engineers P. 0. Box 6 0 2 6 7 New Orleans, La . 7 0 1 6 0
Dear S i r :
A COPY OF A DRAFT STATEMENT ON THE PROPOSED PROJECT, "CALCASIEU RlVER At Coon Island, Lo u isia n a , Ship Channel," concerning the environmental IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND REVIEWED BY THIS OFFICE. Our comments are as follows:
On page under 3 . T he environmental impacts of the proposed a c tio n . MENTION IS M A 0 E OF THE FACT THAT "INCREASED VESSEL TRAFFIC AND TfT^ DUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CONTEMPLATED may degrade the water quality of Calcasieu R iv e r ." We concur with your statement that it will be NECESSARY FOR ALL AGENCIES TO COOPERATE TO PREVENT SUCH POLLUTION. It should be noted here that Coon Island and much of the surrounding AREA HAS ALREADY BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS AND EFFORTS BY ALL- AGENCIES SHOULD BE MADE TO STOP PRESENT INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL POLLUTION ANTICIPATED AS A RESULT OF INCREASED INDUSTRIAL GROWTH ATTRIBUTED TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT.
On PAGE 6 , PARAGRAPH 1, MENTION IS MADE OF THE FACT THAT THE RESULTS OF OREDGING ON THE SUSPECTED MERCURY DEPOSITS ARE NOT KNOWN. We FEEL THAT EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO ASCERTAIN THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE AND THE EXTENT OF MERCURY DEPOSITS, THROUGH SAMPLING AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. Al s o , in view of the valuable commercial and sports fishery aspect of Calcasieu Lake which could be affected by the dreoging, efforts should be made to ascertain the effects of the dredging on the suspected MERCURY DEPOSITS.
We appreciate the opportunity to review ano comment on this p r o je c t.
S I N<£?R ELY,
\1 am ar G i BSorr D i r ec/to^i-L i a i son Officer
Gus^ Stacy Research Statistician
; ; LAMAR GW80ftl’ Vf CLYDE FUNDERBURK' • DIRECTOR— LIAISON OFFICER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT STATE OF LOUISIANA STREAM CONTROL COMMISSION P. O. DRAWER FC UNIVERSITY STATION BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70803
December 14, 1970
Colonel Herbert R. Haar, Jr. District Engineer Department of the Army New Orleans District, Corps of Engineers Post Office Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear Colonel Haar:
Re: Proposed Calcasieu River Ship Channel at Coon Island. Louisiana______-
This is to advise that with respect to water quality only the Louisiana Stream Control Commission has no objection to the above subject project.
Very truly yours,
Robert A. Lafleur ' Executive Secretary ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION VI 1600 PATTERSON. SUITE IIOO DALLAS. TEXAS 78201 September 13, 1972 OFFICE OF THE Re g io n a l administrator
Colonel Richard L. Hunt Res 06-3-22-LA District Engineer Your Res LMNED-PC New Orleans District, Corps of Engineers P. 0. Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear Colonel Hunts
We have reviewed the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel, prepared by your office. The proposed action provides for the construction of a 40' by 200' ship channel and a 40' by 750' by 1000' turning basin in Coon Island Channel, an existing locally- improved industrial channel in a cutoff of the Calcasieu River. The construction will require removal and disposal of approximately 3,252,000 cubic yards of dredged material. Non-federal interests have enlarged the channel along the west side of Coon Island for a distance of 1.5 miles to dimensions of approximately 30' by 100' and created a turning basin at the north end of the island. A 40' by 400' deep draft channel now exists on the Calcasieu River, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the City of Lake Charles, a distance of about 34 miles.
Our comments of March 24, 1971, for the preliminary statement are contained in the revised draft statement or are included in the added Section VIII for comment and response. We noted that bottom samples have already been collected from Coon Island Channel and analyzed for mercury. To further strengthen your statement, we suggest that the final statement contain the analyses of these samples.
The opportunity to comment on your Revised Draft Environmental Statement is appreciated. We would appreciate two copies of the Final Environmental Statement on this action when it is available.
Sincerely yours,
Arthur w. Busch Regional Administrator United States Department o f the Interior
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY SOUTHWEST REGION Room 4030, 517 Gold Avenue SW. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87101
September 26, 1972
Col. Richard L. Hunt District Engineer Corps o f Engineers P.0. Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear Colonel Hunt:
This is in response to your letter of August 3, 1972, (referenced, LMNED-PC) requesting our review and comments on the draft environmental statement for the project "Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel."
The statement is well written, comprehensive, and adequately describes the resources present in the project area. The proposed project will not have significant effects on the existing fish, wildlife, recreational and archeological resources.
During construction, the flow characteristics of the lower Calcasieu River may be slightly altered and some temporary sediment pollution may take place. However, these e ffe c ts are minor and temporary and no sig n ifica n t adverse effects on hydraulics or hydrology are expected.
We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the draft environmental statement.
Respectfully yours,
Copp Ci^.i&s Field Representative THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE Washington, D.C. 20330
September 14, 1972
Colonel Richard L. Hunt District Engineer Post Office Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear Colonel Hunt:
The revised draft environmental impact statement for Calcasieu River At Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel which accompanied your letter of August 3, 1972, has been received by the Department of Commerce for review and comment.
The Department of Commerce has reviewed the draft environ mental statement and has the following comment to offer for your consideration.
Although not directly pertinent to dredging of the Calcasieu -River, some discussion should be included under the climato logy (II-3) pertaining to the probability of hurricane winds. Such meteorological events would have an impact on ship use of the channel and turning basin.
We hope these comments will be of assistance to you in the preparation of the draft environmental statement.
Sincerely,
Sidney w . Galler Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Affairs U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE1 Maritime Administration P. 0 . Box 529UQ August 9, 1972 New Orleans, Louisiana 70152
Colonel Richard L. Hunt District Engineer New Orleans D istrict Corps of Engineers P. 0 . Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Dear Colonel Hunt:
Reference is made to your letter of August 3, 1972, addressed to the Central Region Director, requesting our comments on the draft environ mental statement for the project "Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel."
In accordance with pertinent directives of our agency, we have forwarded this draft to our Environmental Activities Group in Washington, for response.
S in cerely,
A.' F. Brown Port Development O fficer DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION. AND WELFARE REGIONAL OFFICE 1114 COMMERCE STREET DALLAS, TEXAS 7S202 O FFIC E O F August 15, 1972 THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Our Reference: El# 0872-165
Department o f the Array New Orleans D ist., Corps of Eng Re: C alcasieu River a t Coon P. 0. Box 60267 Island, Louisian^ Ship New Orleans, Louisiana Channel
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to your request, we have reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement for the above project proposal in accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of P. L. 91-190, and the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines of April 23, 1971.
Environmental health program responsibilities and standards of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare include those vested with the United States Public Health Service and the Facilities Engineering and Construction Agency. The U. S. Public Health Service has those programs of the Federal Food and Drug Administration, which include the National Institute of Occu pational Safety and Health and the Bureau of Community Environ mental Management (housing, in ju ry c o n tr o l, re c re a tio n a l health and insect and rodent control).
Accordingly, our review of the Draft Environmental Statement for the project discerns no adverse health effects that might be of significance where our program responsibilities and standards pertain, provided that appropriate guides are followed in eoncerl with s ta te , county, and l o c a l environm ental health laws and regulations.
We therefore have no objection to the authorization of this project insofar as our interests and responsibilities are concerned.
Very truly yours,
perry fy. Stephens ,'Envirenmental Impacl Coordinator sVATE OF fcmiSIMui state parks and ecreation commission BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION
August 10, 1972
R ichard L. Hu n t , Dis tr ic t Engineer Corps of Engineers, New Orleans Distr ic t P. 0 . Box 6026? New Orleans, L ouisiana 70^60
Re : Revised Draft Environmental Statement - Calcasieu R iver at Coon Island, L o u is ia n a , Ship Channel
Dear Mr. Hunt:
In reference to the captioned statem ent, we would like TO OFFER THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:
Page IV—1 "T he extent of this recycling process and its EFFECTS UPON THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT ARE NOT KNOWN." We ARE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF DREDGING ON MERCURY DEPOSITS IN RELATION TO POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL AND SPORTS FISHERIES IN CALCASIEU LAKE AND OTHER DOWNSTREAM WATER BODIES.
Page Y111-J A statement is made that a number of bottom SAMPLES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED FROM THE PROJECT AREA AND ANALYZED FOR MERCURY. We FEEL THAT THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS AND IMPLICATIONS IN RELATION TO POSSIBLE IMPACT ON THE COMMERCIAL AND SPORTS FISHERIES SHOULD B E A PART OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
We appreciate this opportunity to review and comment.
S incerely,
Gilbert C. Lagasse D I R e c t q a -L I a I s o n c e r
Gu? Stacy I I r Research Statistician SffacUe S&ua icvna
S t a t e L a n d O f f i c e
B a t o n R o u s e 70804
August 30, 1972
Department of the Army New Orleans D istrict Corps of Engineers Post O ffice Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Attention Colonel Richard L. Hunt D istrict Engineer
Dear Colonel Hunt:
RE: LMNED-PC
Reference is made to your letter of August 3, 1972, relating to the project "Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel".
. revised draft of the environmental statement is well detailed and seems to adequately cover those areas in which we are concerned. We do feel that special emphasis should be placed on the suggestion that all Federal, state,and local regulatory agencies cooperate to prevent pollution in the area surrounding the project.
Very sincerely,
FQR-^THE REGISTER
0RYG. P0RET DEPUTY REGISTER LOUISIANA STATE OFTlCS BUILDING Ramson K. Vldrlne, M.D. P. O .B O X © 0 6 3 0 • *«fU(w*n«*AP*?p**«** STATE HEALTH OFFICER August 16, 1972
Richard L. Hunt Colonel, CE District Engineer N.O. District Corps of Engineers P. 0. Box 60267 New Orleans, La. 70160
Dear Colonel Hunt:
Your letter of August 3, 1972 in regard to the Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship Channel with attached revised draft environmental statement has been referred to me for review and reply.
This Is to advise that we have reviewed the document and register no objections In the area of land, water, and air.
Very truly yours,
Assistant State Health Officer 'for^Envi ronmeriti CAPITAL REGION . PLANNING COMMISSION 1101 St.Ferdiini Siiti20S Baton Rouge,La.70801
CHAIRMAN: August 3, 1972 Edward E. Evans
VICE CHAIRMAN: Charles J. Pasqua Colonel Richard L. Bunt, CE District Engineer EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: U. S. Corps of Engineers Sidney L. Gray P. 0. Box 60267 New Orleans, Louisiana 70160 MEMBERS: Dear S ir: PARISHES: We are returning herewith the Revised Draft Environ Ascension mental Statement on Calcasieu River at Coon Island, East Baton Rouge Louisiana, Ship Channel. Inasmuch as this project is not East Feliciana located in the 10-parish region with which our agency is Ib e r v ille concerned, we have no comment to make about it. Pointe Coupee West Baton Rouge Sincerely,
MUNICIPALITIES:
Amite SIDNEY L. GRAY Baker Executive Director Baton Rouge Brusly Denham Springs Donaldsonville Gonzales Maringouin New Roads Plaquemine Port Allen Rosedale White Castle Zachary * * m & r n * (LOUISIANA ADVISORY COMMISSION
COASTAL and MARINE RESOURCES 52-60 Law Center, LSU Telephone 504 389-2254 aton Rouge, La.970803 -/ 1
M i u J. H ershm an COMMISSIONERS Executive Director ty lr S. St. Amont September 15, 1972 Chairman New Orleans Lawrence K. Benton Colonel Richard L. Hunt Vice Chairman New Orleans District Engineer Department of the Army Donatd M. Bradburn New Orleans New Orleans D istrict, Corps of Engineers P. 0. Box 60267 Alva H. Harris Thibodaux New Orleans, Louisiana 70160
Charles Janvier New Orleans Dear Colonel Hunt:
Oliver C. Salinovich Port Sulphur In reference to your letter of August 3, 1972, which requests statements on the draft environmental statement for the Jack R. Van Lopik Baton Rouge project "Calcasieu River at Coon Island, Louisiana, Ship
M cVey F. Ward Channel" (LMNED-PC) we submit the following statement. New Orleans Due to staff limitations we are unable to review each environmental impact statement and make specific comments STAFF since the commission is not responsible for approving or dis J. Arthur Smith, HI approving any specific project, but it must develop a manage Legal Associate ment master plan for the entire region. It must create the Paul H. T em plet framework within which decisions regarding projects are made. Scientific Associate We are also working hard to define some guidelines which might help solve the problem of intense pressures for the development of particularly fragile regions of the coastal zone. Hence, the coastal zone management plan, if adopted by the Governor and the legislature, will have an impact on all projects which use coastal zone resources, and may require changes or modifi cations being incorporated into those plans.
Our studies to date have indicated that there is a delicate ecological balance in the coastal zone, and individual projects— whether it be to construction of a single well location, enlargement of waterways or the construction of a multipurpose superport—rarely have isolated effects. Our studies have also shown that there is an interdependence of projects from ecological, economic and social-cultural viewpoints. In devis ing a coastal zone management plan we are considering many a sp ects o f t h is in terd ep en d en ce; among them the c o n f l i c t s among th ose in t e r e s t s com peting f o r the same land— w ater resources and the need to minimize those conflicts; and programs leading toward multiple and compatible use and enhancement of coastal zone resources. In other words we are tr y in g a new approach— n atu ral re so u rce s management on a regional scale. Needless to say, if all of the projects planned for Louisiana’s coastal zone proceed at their current pace, significant portions of the marshlands could be permanently altered prior to the promulgation of our plan in 1973* In this context we would like to respect fully recommend that the Corps of Engineers take cognizance of the planning functions of the Louisiana Advisory Commission on Coastal and Marine Resources. Moreover, we recommend that the Corps of Engineers consider this project and its environmental impact in terms of its relationship to other projects, state and federal policy, and the ecosystem in which the project is taking place. Perhaps, then, some uniformity and cooperation can be achieved with regard to the nature of the projects affecting the ecology of Louisiana’s coastal zone. Thank you very much for the opportunity to present our views to you.
Sincerely yours,
Paul H. Templet Technical Associate