Introduction. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District (CEMVN), has prepared RDIFR-EIS for your review and comment. This public notice is being posted per the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council of Environmental Quality’s Regulations for Implementing NEPA, Section 1506.6, Public Involvement and the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 in accordance with provisions of Title 33 CFR Parts 336.1(b)(1) and 337.1, which establish policy, practices, and procedures to be followed on Federal actions involving the disposal of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States (application of Section 404(b)(1) of the CWA guidelines).
The purpose of the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Feasibility Study (study) is to investigate flood risk management (FRM) and coastal storm risk management (CSRM) solutions to reduce flood damages caused by riverine, rainfall, and coastal storm flooding in St. Tammany Parish (study area).
Location of Work. The St. Tammany Parish Feasibility Study: Optimized Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) consists of structural and non-structural features including a levee and floodwall system along an alignment in South Slidell, West Slidell, and channelization of a portion of the Mile Branch in Covington, Louisiana.
Description of Work. The Optimized TSP as proposed is a comprehensive plan that includes CSRM, FRM, and nonstructural features to address flooding in St. Tammany Parish. The Optimized TSP includes the construction of approximately 18.5 miles of levee and floodwall system for West Slidell to South Slidell, 2.15 miles of channel improvements to Mile Branch in Covington, and nonstructural home elevations for 5,583 preliminarily eligible residences and flood proofing for 827 eligible nonresidential structures in St. Tammany Parish. The I-10 road surface would be raised to ramp over the new levee section to stay above the hydraulic design elevation for year 2082, to ensure the entire pavement section remains above the hydraulic design elevation across the interstate by constructing ramps to the preliminary design elevation of 15 feet. The Optimized TSP would reduce flood risk to approximately 26,600 structures in the study area and approximately 70,000 residents. Detailed project descriptions including site specific components are presented in Appendix D of the RDIFR-EIS.
Public Involvement. The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public; federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties. The RDIFR-EIS is available online and for download beginning July 14, 2023, at the following weblink: https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental/ NEPA-Compliance-Documents/Bipartisan-Budget-Act-2018-BBA-18/BBA-18-Projects/
The public review and comment period will begin on July 21, 2023 and end on September 6, 2023. Interested parties may express their views on the proposed action. All comments postmarked on or before the expiration of the comment period will be considered.
Comments or requests to receive a hard copy of the document may be submitted by email to sttammanyfs@usace.army.mil, or by mail to Mr. Eric Williams; Chief, Environmental Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Regional Planning and Environmental Division South; CEMVN–PDC-C; 7400 Leake Avenue; New Orleans, Louisiana 70118.
For more information on the St. Tammany Parish Feasibility Study, visit https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/About/Projects/St-Tammany/