[Federal Register: March 7, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 45)]
[Notices]
[Page 11070-11071]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07mr03-56]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Jacksonville
District intends to prepare an integrated Project Implementation
Report/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (PIR/DEIS) for the Biscayne
Bay Coastal Wetlands Project. The study is a cooperative effort between
the Corps and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD),
which is also a cooperating agency for this DEIS. One of the
recommendations of the final report of the Central & South Florida
(C&SF) Comprehensive Review Study (Restudy) was the implementation of
the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project. The purpose of this project
is to rehydrate wetlands and reduce point source discharge to Biscayne
Bay. This study is intended to replace lost overland flow and partially
compensate for the reduction in groundwater seepage by redistributing,
through a spreader system, available surface water entering the area
from regional canals. This project is a component of the Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan, a multi-year effort to restore the greater
Everglades ecosystem while providing water supply and other water-
related benefits to South Florida over many decades.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brad Tarr, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Planning Division, Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970,
Jacksonville, FL, 32232-0019, by email bradley.a.tarr@usace.army.mil,
or by telephone at 904-232-3582.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a. Authorization: The authority for this project is contained
within the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2000. The ``Design
Agreement between the Department of the Army and the SFWMD for the
Design of Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the Everglades and
South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Project'' contains additional
guidance.
b. Study Area: The general geographical extent of the project is
along the mainland coast of southern Biscayne Bay from the Deering
Estate, south to the Florida Power and Light Turkey Point Power Plant,
generally along the L-3E canal in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The study
area will extend further west and south, as needed, to evaluate project
effects.
c. Project Scope: The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands project may
include the installation or construction of pump stations, spreader
swales, stormwater treatment areas, flowways, levees, culverts, and
backfilling canals as part of an effort to rehydrate wetlands and
reduce point source discharge to Biscayne Bay.
The purpose of these features is to replace lost overland flow and
partially compensate for the reduction in groundwater seepage by
redistributing, through a spreader system, available
[[Page 11071]]
surface water entering the area from regional canals. The proposed
redistribution of freshwater flow across a broad front is expected to
restore or enhance freshwater wetlands, tidal wetlands, and nearshore
bay habitat.
The study will evaluate alternatives based on their ability to
improve water deliveries to the natural system, protect and conserve
water resources, protect or restore fish and wildlife and their
associated habitat, restore and manage wetland and associated upland
ecosystems, sustain economic and natural resources, improve water
quality, and other performance criteria being developed by the Project
Delivery Team.
d. Preliminary Alternatives: Additional alternatives will be
drafted which may be revised pending model results and public feedback.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project will
include an evaluation of adverse environmental impacts, including but
not limited to, water quality, socio-economic, archaeological and
biological. In addition to adverse impacts, the evaluation will also
focus on how well the plans perform with regard to specific performance
measures.
e. Issues: The EIS will address the impacts concerning freshwater
overland flow into Biscayne Bay; and water quality, particularly in the
estuaries and receiving waters of Biscayne Bay and the reef tract.
The EIS will also address environmental issues, such as: Flood
protection; aesthetics and recreation; fish and wildlife resources,
including protected species; cultural resources; and other impacts
identified through scoping, public involvement, and interagency
coordination.
f. Scoping: A scoping letter and public workshops will be used to
invite comments on alternatives and issues from Federal, State, and
local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested private
organizations and individuals.
Public meetings will be held over the course of the study; the
exact location, dates, and times will be announced in public notices
and local newspapers.
g. DEIS Preparation: The integrated draft PIR, which will include a
draft EIS, is currently scheduled for publication in July 2005.
Dated: February 21, 2003.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 03-5486 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]