[StBernard] Oil drilling in the parish?

[Westley Annis]

Exploratory well?

See link to C.O.E. 

http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/ops/regulatory/pdf/GCF%20ExploratoryWells%20PN
.pdf

Has anyone heard of this before?  Saw it on nola.com


Jim



__________________________________________________

SUBJECT: MVN-2007-02752-ETT
PUBLIC NOTICE
Interested parties are hereby notified that a permit application has
been received by the New Orleans District of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
pursuant to: [XI Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of March 3, 1899
(30
Stat. 1151; 33 USC 403); and/or [XI Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (86
Stat. 816; 33 USC 1344).
DRILL EXPLORATORY WELLS in ST. BERNARD PARISH, LOUISIANA
NAME OF APPLICANT: Gulf Production Company, Inc., Attention: Regulatory
Services, Inc., 304 LaRue France, Suite, 204, Lafayette, Louisiana 70508.
LOCATION OF WORK: Project site is approximately 17.4 miles northeast of
Alluvial City within the tidal waters of South Bay Boudreau, in Section 33,
,
Township 12 South, Range 18 East, Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana, as shown
on
the attached drawings.
CRARACTER OF WORK: Proposal to dredge approximately 179,999 cubic yards of
material from 34.86 acres of non-vegetated tidal bottoms. Also proposed is
the
discharge 978 cubic yards of crushed stone into approximately 0.30 acre of
open water to construct a shell pad and associated drilling structures for
the
purpose of drilling two exploratory wells. The 179,999 cubic yards of
materials to be dredged are to be placed in open waters, adjacent to the
dredge areas, to a height conducive to establishing tidal marsh.
The comment period for the Department of the Army Permit and the
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality WQC will close 30 days from
the
date of this joint public notice. Written comments, including suggestions
for
modifications or objections to the proposed work, stating reasons thereof,
are
being solicited from anyone having interest in this permit and/or this WQC
request and must be mailed so as to be received before or by the last day of
the comment period. Letters concerning the Corps of Engineers permit
application must reference the applicant's name and the Permit Application
Number, and be mailed to the Corps of Engineers at the address above,
ATTENTION: REGULATORY BRANCH.
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of
the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity
on
the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for
both
protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit which
reasonably may be expected to accrue from the- proposal must be balanced
against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be
relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects
thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general
environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife
values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline
erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water
quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs,
considerations of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare
of
the people.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public,
federal, state, and local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes, and other
interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this
proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to determine whether to make, modify, condition, or deny
a
permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess
impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general
environmental effects, and other public interest factors listed above.
Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or
an
Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy
Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and
to
determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
No properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places are
near the proposed work. The possibility exists that the proposed work may
damage or destroy presently unknown archeological, scientific,
pre-historical,
historical sites, or data. Copies of this notice are being sent to the State
Archeologist and the State Historic Preservation Officer.
Our initial finding is that the proposed work would neither affect any
species listed as endangered by the U.S. Departments of Interior or
Commerce,.
nor affect any habitat designated as critical to the survival and recovery
of
any endangered species.
This notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act.
The applicant's proposal would result in the alteration of 34.86 acres of
open
waters located in EFH utilized by various life stages of red drum and
penaeid
shrimp. Our initial determination is that the proposed action would not have
a substantial adverse impact on EFH or federally managed fisheries in the
Gulf
of Mexico. Our final determination relative to project impacts and the need
for mitigation measures is subject to review by and coordination with the
National Marine Fisheries Service.
If the proposed work involves deposits of dredged or fill material into
navigable waters, the evaluation of the probable impacts will include the
application of guidelines established by the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency. Also, a certification that the proposed
activity will not violate water quality standards will be required from the
Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Environmental Services before
a
permit is issued.
Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified
in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider this application.
Requests for public hearings shall state, with particularity, the reasons
for
holding a public hearing.
You are requested to communicate the information contained in this notice to
any other parties whom you deem likely to have interest in the matter.
The applicant has certified that the proposed activity described in the
application complies with and will be conducted in a manner that is
consistent
with the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program. The Department of the Army
permit will not be issued unless the applicant received approval or a waiver
of the Coastal Use Permit by the Department of Natural Resources.
You are requested to communicate the information contained in this
notice to any other parties whom you deem likely to have interest in the
matter.
Darrell Barbara
Acting Chief, Eastern Evaluation Section
Regulatory Branch
Attachments