[Louisiana Cemeteries] What other questions should be addressed with the relocation of nine cemeteries?
- From: LouisianaGenealogy Blogs <louisianagenealogyblogs@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Louisiana Cemetery Preservation Wikispace Admin." <louisianacemeteries@xxxxxxxxx>, louisianacemeteries@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, lasavinggraves@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, LAWASHIN@xxxxxxxxxxxx, lacemeterypreservation@xxxxxxxxxx, LA-CEMETERY-PRESERVATION@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 09:15:44 -0700 (PDT)
"Louisiana Cemetery Preservation Wikispace Admin."
<louisianacemeteries@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 10:12 AM
Dear Louisiana Genealogy Societies, mailing lists, and Groups;
What other cemeteries in Louisiana have been relocated and where can I find
more information about the process of relocating a cemetery? It appears that 9
cemeteries in Washington Parish will be affected and possibly relocated due to
a reservior project.
Can anyone think of any other obvious questions that should be addressed with
the likelihood of nine cemeteries requiring relocation?
Sincerely,
Louisiana Genealogy Blogs
louisianagenealogyblogs@xxxxxxxxx
The following is a draft letter that pertains to the above question and is in
preparation for public comment pending the September 08 Draft EIS completion.
Please note that there is NO mention of the nine cemeteries in the DOD
Statement attached below the letter.
====
Department of
Defense
Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers
Karen Dove-Jackson
Vicksburg District
Corps of Engineers
4155 Clay Street, CEMVK-OD-FE
Vicksburg, MS 39183-3435
RE: Questions for the proposal and draft EIS, Washington Parish, Louisiana
Dear Karen Dove Jackson,
Will the proposed action and the Draft EIS discuss the long-term plan for the
preservation of the nine historical cemeteries affected?
Has the State of Louisiana Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism,
Louisiana Unmarked Burial Sites Board been notified of the proposed action and
the Draft EIS?
Will local historians, genealogist, archaeologists and Save Our Cemeteries
offer impact statements concerning the nine cemeteries affected?
Louisiana Cemeteries
louisianacemeteries@xxxxxxxxx
Excerpt April 11, 2008 via the Internet from: 16653 Federal Register / Vol. 73,
No. 61
/ Friday, March 28, 2008 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Potable Water Supply for
Washington Parish Reservoir, Project
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
SUMMARY: The study area comprises
Washington Parish in southeast
Louisiana. Washington Parish currently
consumes approximately 40 million
gallons of water daily, 70 percent of
which is supplied by groundwater.
Decreasing groundwater levels
(quantity) and groundwater quality, in
combination with forecasted growth
within the Parish require alternative
water supplies to be developed. The
purpose of the project is to identify a
new water supply to address the
current
and future potable water demands of
Washington Parish. The Local Project
Sponsor is the Washington Parish
Reservoir Commission.
DATES: A public scoping meeting will be
held on April 10, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The public scoping meeting
will be held in Bogalusa, LA at the
Bogalusa City Hall, 202 Arkansas
Avenue, Bogalusa, LA 70427.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action
and Draft EIS should be directed to:
Karen Dove-Jackson at (601) 631-7136,
Vicksburg District, Corps of Engineers,
4155 Clay Street, CEMVK-OD-FE,
Vicksburg, MS 39183-3435.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to Louisiana House Bill 216, 2003
Regular Session, the Louisiana
Legislature created the Washington
Parish Reservoir Commission as a State
Entity. This law gives the
Washington
Parish Reservoir Commission the power
to obtain land needed for the reservoir
pursuant to the State of Louisiana's
principle of eminent domain, and in
accordance with the Louisiana Laws
and Revised Statutes for this principle.
1. The Washington Parish Reservoir
Commission completed a site selection
study (January 2005) to determine a
recommended best source of future
potable water for Washington Parish.
The study concluded that creation of a
surface water reservoir by damming
Bogalusa Creek was the most desirable.
The Washington Parish Reservoir
Commission subsequently completed a
preliminary engineering report
(December 2006) that presented
preliminary design, planning level costs
estimates, and preliminary construction
plans for a water supply reservoir.
Based upon review of the site
selection
report, the Corps concluded that the
proposed project had the potential for
significant impacts to the human and
natural environment. The National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
requires the preparation of an EIS for
proposals that are subject to federal
funding, control, responsibility and
permitting, and which have the
potential for significant impacts. The
proposed project would affect wetlands,
which are regulated by the Corps, and
require a permit to comply with Section
404 of the Clean Water Act. Because the
proposed project would require federal
involvement, it is subject to NEPA.
Preliminary alternatives being
considered include construction of a
new surface water supply reservoir,
construction of distribution systems to
make available existing surface water
supplies, and increased
use of
groundwater.
2. The Southern Hills Aquifer system
supplies Washington Parish with
potable water. The Southern Hills
Aquifer system is one of the most
heavily pumped aquifers in Louisiana,
supplying 290 million gallons per day
for consumption. Recent studies
indicate that the Southern Hills Aquifer
system is supplying more water
annually than it can sustain, and water
levels in the aquifer are dropping as
much as one foot annually. In addition
to aquifer water levels, the water quality
of the aquifer is also declining.
3. A public scoping meeting will be
held (see DATES and ADDRESSES).
Significant issues identified during this
scoping process will be analyzed in
depth in the Draft EIS.
4. Upon completion, the Draft EIS will
be distributed for agency and public
review and comment.
Additionally, a
public meeting will be held to present
results of the Draft EIS evaluations and
the recommended plan.
5. The Draft EIS is estimated to be
completed in September 2008.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-6447 Filed 3-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-PU-P
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