LOUISIANA TRUSTEE IMPLEMENTATION GROUP FINAL RESTORATION PLAN/ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT #1.3 RABBIT ISLAND RESTORATION PROJECT & SHORELINE PROTECTION AT JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND PRESERVE PROJECT Cameron Parish & Jefferson Parish, Louisiana FEBRUARY 2020 Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................ v SECTION PAGE NO. 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 OPA and NEPA Compliance ................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Purpose and Need............................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Rabbit Island Project Purpose and Need ............................................................... 4 1.3.2 Jean Lafitte Project Purpose and Need .................................................................. 5 1.4 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................. 5 1.4.1 Rabbit Island Project .............................................................................................. 6 1.4.2 Jean Lafitte Project ................................................................................................ 6 1.5 Other Design Alternatives Analyzed in this Phase 2 RP/EA #1.3 ........................................ 6 1.6 No Action Alternative ......................................................................................................... 6 1.7 Coordination with Other Gulf Restoration Programs ......................................................... 6 1.8 Severability of Projects ....................................................................................................... 7 1.9 Public Involvement ............................................................................................................. 7 1.9.1 Public Review and Comment Opportunities .......................................................... 7 1.9.2 Administrative Record ........................................................................................... 7 2.0 RESTORATION PLANNING PROCESS: PROJECT ALTERNATIVES AND SCREENING............................ 8 2.1 Phase 1 Final RP .................................................................................................................. 8 2.2 Phase 2 RP/EA #1.3 ............................................................................................................. 9 2.3 Design Alternatives and OPA Screening ............................................................................. 9 2.3.1 Rabbit Island Project Design Alternatives and OPA Screening ............................ 10 2.3.2 Jean Lafitte Project Design Alternatives and OPA Screening .............................. 12 2.3.3 Natural Recovery Alternative............................................................................... 15 3.0 REASONABLE RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................................... 16 3.1 Rabbit Island Project ......................................................................................................... 16 3.1.1 Alternative 2A ...................................................................................................... 16 3.1.2 Design Alternative 2 ............................................................................................. 19 3.1.3 No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 19 3.1.4 The LA TIG’s Preferred Alternative for the Rabbit Island Project and Summary Rationale ........................................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Jean Lafitte Project ........................................................................................................... 20 3.2.1 Alternative 4C ...................................................................................................... 20 3.2.2 Alternative 4A ...................................................................................................... 22 3.2.3 No Action Alternative .......................................................................................... 22 3.2.4 The LA TIG’s Preferred Alternative for the Jean Lafitte Project and Summary Rationale ........................................................................................................................... 23 4.0 NEPA Analysis: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ................................... 24 4.1 Physical Environment ........................................................................................................ 24 4.1.1 Geology and Substrates ....................................................................................... 24 4.1.1.1 Rabbit Island Project Geology and Substrates ...................................... 24 4.1.1.2 Jean Lafitte Project Geology and Substrates ........................................ 26 4.1.2 Air Quality ............................................................................................................ 27 4.1.2.1 Rabbit Island Project Air Quality ........................................................... 28 Rabbit Island Restoration Project & Page i Shoreline Protection at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve Project Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment 4.1.2.2 Jean Lafitte Project Air Quality ............................................................. 28 4.1.3 Hydrology and Water Quality .............................................................................. 29 4.1.3.1 Rabbit Island Project Hydrology and Water Quality ............................. 29 4.1.3.2 Jean Lafitte Project Hydrology and Water Quality ............................... 31 4.1.4 Noise .................................................................................................................... 32 4.1.4.1 Rabbit Island Project Noise ................................................................... 33 4.1.4.2 Jean Lafitte Project Noise ..................................................................... 33 4.2 Biological Environment ..................................................................................................... 34 4.2.1 Habitats ................................................................................................................ 34 4.2.1.1 Rabbit Island Project Habitat ................................................................ 34 4.2.1.2 Jean Lafitte Project Habitat .................................................................. 36 4.2.2 Wildlife Species .................................................................................................... 38 4.2.2.1 Rabbit Island Project Wildlife Species .................................................. 38 4.2.2.2 Jean Lafitte Project Wildlife Species ..................................................... 40 4.2.3 Marine and Estuarine Fauna, Essential Fish Habitat, and Managed Fish Species 41 4.2.3.1 Rabbit Island Project Marine and Estuarine Fauna, Essential Fish Habitat, and Managed Fish Species ................................................................................... 42 4.2.3.2 Jean Lafitte Project Marine and Estuarine Fauna, Essential Fish Habitat, and Managed Fish Species ................................................................................... 43 4.2.4 Protected Species ................................................................................................ 45 4.2.4.1 Rabbit Island Project Protected Species ............................................... 45 4.2.4.2 Jean Lafitte Project Protected Species ................................................. 47 4.3 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ..................................................................... 47 4.3.1 Infrastructure ....................................................................................................... 48 4.3.1.1 Rabbit Island Project Infrastructure ..................................................... 48 4.3.1.2 Jean Lafitte Project Infrastructure ........................................................ 48 4.3.2 Aesthetics and Visual Resources .......................................................................... 49 4.3.2.1 Rabbit Island Project Aesthetics and Visual Resources ........................ 49 4.3.2.2 Jean Lafitte Project Aesthetics and Visual Resources ........................... 49 4.3.3 Public Health and Safety ...................................................................................... 50 4.3.3.1 Rabbit Island Project Public Health and Safety ..................................... 50 4.3.3.2 Jean Lafitte Project Public Health and Safety ....................................... 51 4.3.4 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ........................................................ 51 4.3.4.1 Rabbit Island Project Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ....... 52 4.3.4.2 Jean Lafitte Project Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ......... 52 4.3.5 Cultural Resources