Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 19 / Thursday, January 29, 2015 / Notices 4911

estimated ton-miles of each commodity 6:00 p.m. followed by the scoping authorization was later amended by carried or shipped on the inland meeting at 6:30 p.m. Section 844 of the Water Resources waterways system in a recent year (or ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be Development Act of 1986, Public Law years), using the waterway regions and held at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 99–662, and Section 326 of the Water commodity categories previously listed. Charter School for Science and Resources Development Act of 1996, (2) State the region(s) to be Technology, 1617 Caffin Avenue, New Public Law 104–303. represented. Orleans, LA. The original EIS and project (3) State whether the nominated FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: evaluation report for the Project was representative organization is a carrier, Questions about the Project and the finalized in March 1998. A Record of shipper or both. supplemental EIS should be addressed Decision was signed on December 18, (4) Provide the name of an individual to: Mr. Richard Boe or Mr. Mark Lahare, 1998, selecting a construction method to be the principle person representing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and location for a replacement lock the organization and information Environmental Compliance Branch, P.O. north of the Claiborne Avenue Bridge, pertaining to their personal Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160– replacement of the St. Claude Avenue qualifications, to include a bio or a Bridge, modification of the Claiborne 0267, by email to Richard.e.boe@ resume. Avenue Bridge, extension of the usace.army.mil or Mark.h.lahare@ Previous nominations received in Mississippi River flood protection usace.army.mil, or by telephone at (504) response to notices published in the levees and floodwalls, a community 862–1505 or (504) 862–1344. Federal Register in prior years will not impact mitigation plan, and a fish and be retained for consideration. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: wildlife mitigation plan. Renomination of representative 1. Project Background and In 2003, the Corps’ decision to organizations is required. Authorization. The existing Industrial construct a new lock was challenged in e. Deadline for Nominations. All Canal Lock, hereinafter referred to as the United States District Court, Eastern nominations must be received at (see ‘‘existing lock’’, located in Orleans District of Louisiana (Case No. 2:03–cv– ADDRESSES) no later than February 20, Parish, Louisiana, connects the 00370). In October 2006, the Court 2015. Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain, enjoined the Corps from continuing the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), with the Project until additional Brenda S. Bowen, and the remaining authorized six miles compliance with the National Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. of the Mississippi River—Gulf Outlet Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was [FR Doc. 2015–01712 Filed 1–28–15; 8:45 am] (MRGO) between the Industrial Canal completed. BILLING CODE 3720–58–P and the Michoud Slip. The existing In accordance with the provisions of lock, located between the St. Claude and Section 7013 of the Water Resources Claiborne Avenue (Judge Seeber) Development Act of 2007, Public Law DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Bridges in New Orleans, was 110–114, that portion of the MRGO from commissioned and constructed by non- Mile 60 on the southern bank of the Gulf Department of the Army; Corps of federal interests in 1923 to allow vessel Intracoastal Waterway to the Gulf of Engineers traffic from the Mississippi River to Mexico was deauthorized effective upon Lake Pontchartrain and to permit Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental the June 5, 2008 submittal by the industrial development away from the Environmental Impact Statement Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil river. The federal government (Supplement 2) for the Mississippi Works) to Congress of the Report of the purchased the existing lock at a later River, Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Chief of Engineers dated January 29, date. 2008 recommending partial Mexico, Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, The Project was authorized by an act Louisiana, New Industrial Canal Lock deauthorization of the MRGO. In July of Congress entitled ‘‘AN ACT to 2009, in accordance with the 2008 and Connecting Channels Project, New authorize construction of the Orleans, LA MRGO Chief’s Report, the Corps Mississippi River-Gulf outlet [sic]’’, completed construction of a rock AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. approved on March 29, 1956, as Chapter closure structure on the MRGO at Bayou Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 112 of Public Law 455, of the 84th LaLoutre. Aids to navigation have been ACTION: Notice of intent. Congress as an amendment to the removed. existing Mississippi River, Baton Rouge In 2007, the Corps initiated SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of to the Gulf of Mexico to provide for the preparation of a Supplemental Engineers (Corps), New Orleans District construction of the Mississippi River- Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) intends to prepare a Draft Supplemental Gulf Outlet substantially in accordance for the Project to address changes in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), with the report and recommendation of existing conditions after Hurricane integrated with a General Reevaluation the Chief of Engineers in House Katrina, further analyze anticipated Report, for the Mississippi River, Baton Document No. 245 of the 82nd impacts associated with construction of Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico Mississippi Congress, and to authorize the Chief of the new lock and determine if any River-Gulf Outlet, Louisiana New Engineers, when economically justified significant changes to the previously- Industrial Canal Lock and Connecting by the obsolescence of the existing recommended plan were necessary. The Channels Project, hereinafter referred to industrial canal lock or by increased final SEIS considered three deep-draft as ‘‘the Project’’. This project is traffic, to replace the existing lock or an lock alternatives and the no-action sometimes referred to as the Inner additional lock in the vicinity of alternative (i.e., continued operation Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock Meraux, Louisiana, together with and maintenance of the existing lock), Replacement Project. This will be the suitable connecting channels, said two dredging alternatives for the second supplemental EIS prepared for replacement lock and connecting excavation that would be necessary for this project. channels to be constructed in the construction of a new deep-draft DATES: A public scoping meeting is accordance with the type, dimensions, lock, and three disposal alternatives for scheduled for Wednesday, February 4, and cost estimates approved by the the dredged sediment. On May 20, 2009, 2015. An open house will be held at Chief of Engineers. The 1956 a Record of Decision was signed,

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recommending the float-in-place plan process for determining the scope of an coordination. The Corps expects to for construction of the lock, the EIS and for identifying significant issues better define the issues of concern and hydraulic dredging method for related to the proposed action. The define the methods that will be used to excavation of sediment from the canal, public will be involved in the scoping evaluate those issues through the and a dredged material disposal plan and evaluation process through scoping process. that included three locations for advertisements, notices, and other C. Environmental Review and disposal of excavated sediments. means. Federal, state and local agencies, Consultation. The proposed action will In 2010, the Corps’ decision to and other interested groups will also be involve an evaluation for compliance construct a new lock was again involved. Meetings to address discrete with all applicable guidelines pursuant challenged in United States District issues or parts or functions of the to section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act. Court, Eastern District of Louisiana in a Project may be held. All parties are This review will involve a detailed case that was subsequently consolidated invited to participate in the scoping reevaluation of all practicable with the 2003 case. On September 9, process by identifying any additional alternatives to the handling and 2011, the Court found that the 2009 concerns on issues, studies needed, disposal of the dredged material SEIS failed to sufficiently consider the alternatives, procedures, and other generated from the Project. The Corps impact of the closure of the MRGO to matters related to the scope of this will provide extensive information on deep-draft traffic and the effect of that supplemental EIS. the resources to be impacted, mitigation closure on the depth of the new lock A. The Corps will provide additional measures, and alternatives. Although and potentially how that depth may notification of the public scoping the Corps does not plan to invite any affect dredging and disposal alternatives meeting time and location through Federal agencies to be cooperating for the Project. newspaper advertisements and other agencies, we expect to receive input and 2. Proposed Action. The purpose of means (see DATES). Following a short critical information from the U.S. the General Reevaluation Report and presentation, verbal and written Environmental Protection Agency, the SEIS is to determine if construction of comments on the scope of this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other a more efficient navigational lock to supplemental EIS will be accepted. A Federal, state, and local agencies. replace the existing lock is economically transcript of verbal comments will be 5. Public Scoping Meeting Special justified and environmentally generated to ensure accuracy. Accommodations. The public scoping acceptable. The need for the Project B. Issues. Issues identified for the meeting place is physically accessible to arises from long navigation delays in Project include, but are not limited to people with disabilities. Requests for passage through the Industrial Canal the level of existing and forecasted sign language interpretation or other due to an increase in volume of vessel vessel traffic through the existing lock, auxiliary aids should be directed to traffic and the small size and changes in socio-economics (i.e., Mark Lahare, (504) 862–1344 (voice), or inefficiencies of the current lock. This property values, population, land use, email at [email protected], supplemental EIS will evaluate (and/or public/community facilities and at least 5 business days prior to the reevaluate, as appropriate) existing services) since the 2009 SEIS, meeting date. conditions, alternative lock designs, and evaluation of direct and indirect social 6. Estimated Date of Availability. It is provide environmental analysis of and cultural impacts of the Project on estimated that this draft supplemental anticipated project impacts associated certain Congressionally identified EIS will be available to the public in with lock construction, dredging and affected communities and the June 2016. At least one public hearing disposal alternatives. The analyses appropriate and practicable mitigation will be held at that time, during which associated with the handling of dredged measures to address those impacts, lock the public will be provided the material generated during project construction methods (i.e., cast-in-place construction, the engineering design of versus float-in), lock depth, and re- opportunity to comment on the draft confined disposal areas, and several evaluation of reasonable dredging and supplemental EIS before it becomes other aspects of the Project, evaluated in disposal alternatives and associated final. the original 1998 EIS and the 2009 SEIS, impacts. This list is preliminary and is Dated: January 20, 2015. will also be updated as appropriate. intended to facilitate public comment Richard L. Hansen, 3. Alternatives. An evaluation of on the scope of the SEIS. Concurrent Colonel, U.S. Army, District Commander. alternatives, including a no action with the NEPA process, the Corps will [FR Doc. 2015–01674 Filed 1–28–15; 8:45 am] alternative will be included. In this ensure that compliance will be achieved BILLING CODE 3720–58–P supplemental EIS, the no action and/or maintained with all applicable alternative will be the continued environmental laws, regulations, and operation and maintenance of the executive orders governing issues such DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY existing lock. Other alternatives will be as Federally-listed threatened and determined through scoping, but are endangered species, essential fish Commission To Review the anticipated to include shallow-draft habitats, health and safety, general Effectiveness of the National Energy versus deep-draft lock alternatives. environmental concerns, wetlands and Laboratories Previous evaluations of alternative other aquatic resources, historic dredging methods, dredged material properties, fish and wildlife values, AGENCY: Department of Energy. handling and disposal alternatives, and flood hazards, navigation, recreation, ACTION: Notice of open meeting. construction of the lock by a cast-in- water quality, and environmental place method versus a float-in justice. In making its decision, the Corps SUMMARY: This notice announces an construction method evaluated in the will consider, in general, the needs and open meeting of the Commission to 1998 EIS and 2009 SEIS will also be welfare of the community, the effect of Review the Effectiveness of the National updated and/or re-evaluated as the closure of the MRGO on existing Energy Laboratories (Commission). The appropriate. conditions and the alternatives under Commission was created pursuant 4. Scoping. The Council on evaluation, and other issues identified section 319 of the Consolidated Environmental Quality regulations at 40 through scoping, public involvement, Appropriations Act, 2014, Public Law CFR 1501.7 require an early and open stakeholder views, and interagency 113–76, and in accordance with the

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