Withdrawal of Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Mississippi River and Tributaries-Morganza, Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Protection-Houma Navigation Canal General Re-Evaluation
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Issuing agencies
Abstract
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is issuing this notice to advise Federal, State, and local governmental agencies and the public that USACE is withdrawing the notice of intent for the preparation of the DEIS pursuant to Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 103-316) for the Mississippi River and Tributaries-Morganza, Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Protection-Houma Navigation Canal Deepening (HNCD) General Re- Evaluation which was published in the Federal Register on May 23, 2003. Since publication of the NOI, the project authority has changed; HNCD was conditionally authorized under Section 403 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. Additionally, the USACE has since determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the appropriate level of environmental documentation.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 64358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20643]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Withdrawal of Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Mississippi River and
Tributaries-Morganza, Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico Hurricane
Protection--Houma Navigation Canal General Re-Evaluation
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent; withdrawal.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is issuing this
notice to advise Federal, State, and local governmental agencies and
the public that USACE is withdrawing the notice of intent for the
preparation of the DEIS pursuant to Energy and Water Development
Appropriation Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 103-316) for the Mississippi River
and Tributaries-Morganza, Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico Hurricane
Protection-Houma Navigation Canal Deepening (HNCD) General Re-
Evaluation which was published in the Federal Register on May 23, 2003.
Since publication of the NOI, the project authority has changed; HNCD
was conditionally authorized under Section 403 of the Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. Additionally, the USACE has since
determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the appropriate level of
environmental documentation.
DATES: The notice of intent to prepare an EIS published in the Federal
Register on May 23, 2003 (68 FR 28199), is withdrawn as of October 8,
2026.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans; 7400 Leake Ave.,
New Orleans, Louisiana 70118.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the withdrawal of the
Notice of Intent can be directed to Elizabeth Behrens, (504) 862-2025
or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e7a28b8e9d868582938fc9afc9a5828f95828994a79294868482c986958a9ec98a8e8b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="11547d786b70737465793f593f53747963747f625164627072743f70637c683f7c787d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The study was previously authorized under
Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 103-
316) for the Mississippi River and Tributaries-Morganza, Louisiana to
the Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Protection-Houma Navigation Canal
Deepening (HNCD) General Re-Evaluation and scoped as an EIS.
Subsequently, the project was submitted as a Section 203 Integrated
Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement by the Louisiana
Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD). HNCD was
conditionally authorized under Section 403 of the Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 pending resolution of comments and
completion of NEPA. Since release of the NOI, it was determined that a
portion of environmental impacts resulting from the HNC deepening would
be addressed through operations of the HNC Lock Complex. Salinity
thresholds are included for HNC lock complex operations within the
draft Water Control Plan developed for Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane
and Storm Damage Risk Reduction Project SEIS (2026). The reduction in
anticipated impacts from salinity intrusion resulted in the change from
EIS to EA as the appropriate level NEPA documentation.
Resolution of comments from the NOI 03-13010 (68 FR 28199) and any
future Federal action related to the Energy and Water Development
Appropriation Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 103-316) for the Mississippi River
and Tributaries-Morganza, Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico Hurricane
Protection-Houma Navigation Canal Deepening (HNCD) General Re-
Evaluation will comply with the requirements of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), and Department of War National Environmental Policy Act
Implementing Procedures and other related environmental review
requirements. The USACE will initiate a separate environmental review
process for the federal action pursuant to Section 403 of WRDA 2020.
The USACE will notify the public in advance of the availability of the
draft EA through public notice.
James A. Bodron,
Programs Director, Mississippi Valley Division.
[FR Doc. 2026-20643 Filed 10-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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