SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The reduction in scope includes the following: an adjustment of the proposed dredge depth from the previous proposed maximum dredge depth of −50 ft mean lower low water (MLLW) to a proposed elevation of −30 ft MLLW for the inland reach plus 3 ft of advanced maintenance and to −32 ft MLLW for the offshore reach plus 4 ft of advanced maintenance, and the proposed channel deepening would not require an increase in channel width. The disposal area has also been changed from a marsh creation project to nearshore disposal on the west and east sides of the jetties.

The existing maintenance project was authorized for a navigation channel 300 ft wide with an elevation of −24 ft MLLW on the inland reach for mile 3.4 to Mile 0.0 and to an elevation of −26 ft MLLW for the offshore reach from Mile 0.0 to Mile −1.3. The Port Fourchon Federal navigation channel has been maintained by USACE within the proposed action dimensions and alignment.

The Federal proposed plan includes deepening and maintenance of the Port Fourchon Federal navigation channel which was considered through a 50-year period of analysis. The proposed dredging would start at approximately Station 0+00 and end at approximately Station 330+00. Deepening would be achieved by the same dredging operation that is currently used for maintenance. The existing maintenance project was authorized by WRDA 1996 for a navigation channel 300 ft wide with an elevation of −24 ft MLLW on the inland reach for mile 3.4 to Mile 0.0 and to an elevation of −26 ft MLLW for the offshore reach from Mile 0.0 to Mile −1.3. The proposed action would dredge the Federal navigation channel to an elevation of −30 ft MLLW for the inland reach plus 3 ft of advanced maintenance and to −32 ft MLLW for the offshore reach plus 4 ft of advanced maintenance. The proposed action follows the alignment of the existing maintenance project and extends to the newly authorized limits following the natural contour of the Gulf of Mexico. Dredging would be accomplished with a hydraulic cutter-head dredge and material excavated would be transported to two (2) sites in a slurry via pipeline. The two dredge material disposal sites are located on the exterior of the existing jetties near the intersection with the existing shoreline. Discharge location would be 200 ft offshore and would extend 300-3,000 ft from the jetties in the shallow open water and be allowed to flow.

The study was authorized by section 203 of the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-662) as modified by section 1014 of Water Resources and Reform Development Act (WRRDA) 2014. Also, by section 1126 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements of the Nation Act (Pub. L. 114-322) which is also known as WRDA of 2016, and section 1152 of WRDA 2018. Section 203, as amended via the above referenced provisions, allows non-Federal interests, such as GLPC, to undertake feasibility studies of proposed navigation projects and submit them to the (ASA-CW).

The Draft EA was made available for a 30-day public review and comment period beginning on May 17, 2024 and ending on June 15, 2024 and can be found on the study website at https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/​About/​Projects/​Port-Fourchon/​.

89 FR 78851