Oyster Shell Dredging in Atchafalaya Bay and Adjacent Waters, Louisiana. Volume 3. Responses to Public Comments.

Oyster shells have been removed by means of hydraulic cutter-head dredges from the waters of coastal Louisiana since of 1917. The shells have been harvested primarily for use in construction activities, although a variety of other uses are common. There has been considerable controversy over the impacts of shell dredging. This Final Environmental Impact Statement has has been prepared to assess the impacts of oyster shell dredging in East Cote Blanche Bay, Atchafalaya Bay, and Four League Bay, Louisiana as permitted under 5-year permits issued in 1982 that will expire in December 1987. The document also assesses the impacts of applications for 10-year permits extensions that would allow continuation of dredging under the same conditions. These permit actions are being considered under the authority of the Section 10 of the River and Harbor Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Numerous alternatives have been discussed and evaluated in the document. Keywords Alternatives, Benthos, Cultural resources, Economic environment, Fisheries, Hydrological resources, Oyster reefs, Pollution, Refuges, Sediments, Shell dredging, Social environment, Turbidity, Water quality.