NOAA NEPA Document Database

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released a draft restoration plan that proposes three restoration projects for the Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats restoration type. Together, the proposed projects would create or restore more than 1,900 acres of marsh, beach , and dune habitat and protect more than 11.5 miles of shoreline. The total estimated cost is approximately $209 million.

The LA TIG is proposing changes to the Wetlands Center Project in the Town of Jean Lafitte. The original project was approved in the July 2018 Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #4. If approved, the project would be moved to another location adjacent to the town’s library, multipurpose facility, and Lafitte’s Barataria Museum.

Point-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area Project as evaluated in the Final Supplemental Envrionmental Assessment for the Point-aux-Chenes WMA Recreational Use Project (PDF, 43 pages), one component of the overall project, the boat launch for pirogues, kayaks, and other non-motorized vessels, will be moved from one location to another. The new location, on top of the Terrebonne Parish 4-3C Levee, provides access to tidally influenced brackish and intermediate marsh without requiring clearing of vegetation or causing adverse effects to sensitive habitats. No additional funds will be needed to implement this change.

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is considering design alternatives for the Large-Scale Barataria Marsh Creation: Upper Barataria Component project. The preferred design alternative, included in a draft restoration plan now open for public comment for 30 days until April 20, 2020, would create 1,207 acres of intertidal marsh in Upper Barataria Bay.

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has initiated development of our Draft Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #5. This plan will propose restoration projects intended to compensate the public for injuries to oysters and marine mammals caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Our intent is to use a portion of the total oyster and marine mammal funding allocations in this plan, with additional restoration planning for these Restoration Types in the future.

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group prepared the Final Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (PDF, 116 pages) for the Cypremort Point State Park Improvements Project Modifications. The modifications include substituting the original proposed breakwater system project feature with other recreational use features. The original breakwater was constructed using another funding source.

The draft plan includes proposed projects that restore the Wetlands, Coastal and Nearshore Habitat and Birds restoration types. It includes five proposed preferred alternatives which have a total estimated cost of $234.1 million.

The plan will consider projects under the Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats restoration type. Two projects are selected for engineering and design: New Orleans East Landbridge Restoration will provide engineering and design for a project intended to create and restore marsh habitat that separates Lake Pontchartrain from Lake Borgne and the Gulf of Mexico. The approximate cost is $4 million. Raccoon Island Barrier Island Restoration will provide engineering and design for a project intended to create and enhance beach, dune, and tidal habitats through sand fill placement and shoreline protection. The approximate cost is $8.2 million. Two projects are selected for construction: Bayou Dularge Ridge and Marsh Creation is intended to create and nourish marsh on the south side of Bayou Dularge and restore the ridge along the southern bank of Bayou Dularge. The approximate cost is $41.4 million. Bayou La Loutre Ridge Restoration and Marsh Creation is intended to create and nourish marsh along Lena Lagoon, and restore the ridge along the southern bank of Bayou La Loutre. The approximate cost is $21.2 million.

This Final Phase 2 Plan evaluated a reasonable range of design alternatives and selects alternative 7A as the preferred design for construction.  The project will restore and conserve bird nesting and foraging habitat and create, restore, and enhance barrier and coastal islands and headlands by increasing the acreage of the island from 27.6 acres up to approximately 45 acres of shrub nesting, ground nesting, and marsh habitat. An existing, degraded perimeter rock dike will be restored, and breakwaters may be constructed on the northeast side of the island to provide further protection as well as calm water for loafing birds. Habitat restoration will be accomplished by raising the elevation of HNC Island using dredged material from a borrow area near Cat Island Pass.

The proposed funding for the draft restoration plan and projects is $15 million. Habitat restoration and management activities for the Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats projects would include prescribed fire and invasive species management, hydrologic restoration, and prescribed grazing. Proposed projects for Oysters include cultch deployment and the implementation of an oyster gardening program.

Proposed restoration activities include debris removal on federally managed lands, maintaining enhanced stranding network capacity for sea turtles and marine mammals, marine mammal bycatch reduction, bird stewardship, and recreational access and educational opportunities.

The draft plan includes approximately $19 million for projects proposed for implementation to partially address the injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.More than 120 proposed restoration projects were reviewed, and 13 preferred projects from that list are included in the draft plan. The proposed projects, grouped by restoration type, include: Four Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitat projects; Two Nutrient Reduction projects; One Oyster restoration project; Two Sea Turtles projects; and one Birds project.

the Final Open Ocean Restoration Plan 3 (PDF, 335 pages) selecting seven projects totaling almost $33 million to help restore seabirds injured by the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. These projects are scheduled to begin implementation within the next year. The plan and its projects represent the largest commitment to date of Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment funds for restoring injured seabird species, and includes restoration actions in Canada, the northeastern United States, and the Caribbean.

The regionwide approach exemplifies collaboration and coordination among the trustees by restoring living coastal and marine resources that migrate and live in wide geographic ranges, and linking projects across regional jurisdictions. The plan proposes $99.6 million for 11 restoration projects across all five states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, and specific locations in Mexico and on the Atlantic coast of Florida.

NMFS is proposing regulations pursuant to its rulemaking authority under MMPA section 112(a) (16U.S.C. 1382(a)), and ESA section 11(f) (U.S.C. 1540(f)) that would modify the North Atlantic right whale vessel speed rule (50 CFR § 224.105). This Draft Environmental Assessment considers a combination of one or more of the following changes to the existing speed rule: 1) adding most vessels greater than or equal to 35 ft (10.7 m) in length and less than 65 ft (19.8 m) in length to the class of vessels subject to speed regulation, 2) modifying Seasonal Management Area boundaries and timing to create proposed Seasonal Speed Zones (SSZs); and 3) implementing a new mandatory Dynamic Speed Zone (DSZ) program.

Hilcorp is proposing to conduct rig tugging activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska. These activities are similar to activities that Hilcorp has conducted in the past. NMFS was sued on the initial authorization to Hilcorp for not issuing take associated with tugging, and later issued two IHAs for tugging as a result of the lawsuit.

The draft plan will explain our rationale for considering projects for the "Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities" and "Birds" Restoration Types.It may include proposed projects related to the restoration efforts for each of these Restoration Types.It will also provide information on proposed funding for each project proposed in the plan.The public will have the opportunity to review and provide input on the draft plan when it’s released.

This restoration plan proposes the third phase of the Florida Coastal Access Project. The Phase V.3 Restoration Plan and Supplemental Environmental Assessment proposes one additional recreational use project: the acquisition of a coastal parcel of land, the Navarre Beach Marine Park Addition. The privately-owned parcel is within the existing Navarre Beach Marine Park property and acquisition would enhance the public’s access to the surrounding natural resources and increase recreational opportunities.

The FL TIG Restoration Plan I evaluates 32 project alternatives, plus the no action alternative for each restoration type, and proposes 24 projects for funding. The restoration activities proposed in this draft plan includes projects that address the following restoration types: Habitat projects on federally managed lands; Nutrient reduction; Water quality; Provide and enhance recreational opportunities. These projects will help restore and benefit wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats on federally managed lands; improve water quality and hydrology by reducing sources of pollution and restoring more natural flows to increase the overall health and productivity of these ecosystems; and enhance the public’s access to the surrounding natural resources and increase recreational opportunities. The alternatives proposed for funding in the draft plan have a total estimated cost of $62 million.

The plan is consistent with the Trustees’ programmatic restoration plan. This restoration plan covers engineering and design activities for six projects, which will restore: wetlands, coastal and nearshore habitats in Barataria, Terrebonne, and Pontchartrain basins; habitat projects on federally managed lands in Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve; and birds.The total estimated cost for the engineering and design activities for these projects is $22.3 million. Once the engineering and design phase is complete, we will consider these projects for construction.