[Federal Register: March 28, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 60)]
[Notices]
[Page 15158]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28mr03-54]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
C-43 Basin Storage Reservoir Project adjacent to the Caloosahatchee
River, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte, or Lee County, FL
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps), intends to prepare an integrated Project Implementation Report
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the C-43 Basin
Storage Reservoir Project, part 1. 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 C-43 Basin Storage
Reservoir Project. This project includes the construction of an
approximately 160,000 acre-feet storage area within the Caloosahatchee
Basin to capture and store stormwater runoff and water releases from
Lake Okeechobee. Stored water would be used to meet the environmental
demands of the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary and urban and
agricultural demand as able.
DATES: A public meeting is cheduled for May 1, 2003, 7 p.m. in Hendry
County at the Dallas B. Townsend Agricultural Center, 1085 Pratt
Boulevard, LaBelle, FL.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Susan Conner, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Planning Division, Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970,
Jacksonville, FL, 32232-0019, or by telephone at 904-232-1782.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a. Authorization: Section 601 of the Water Resources Development
Act of 2000 authorized a framework and guide for modifications to the
C&SF Project to restore the south Florida ecosystem and to provide for
the other water-related needs of the region, including the C-43 Basin
Storage Reservoir Project.
b. Project Scope: The purpose of this project is to capture C-43
Basin runoff and releases from Lake Okeechobee. These facilities will
be designed for water supply benefits, some flood attenuation, to
provide environmental water supply deliveries to the Caloosahatchee
Estuary, and water quality benefits to reduce salinity and nutrient
impacts of runoff to the estuary. It is assumed that, depending upon
the location of the facility and pollutant loading conditions in the
watershed, the facility could be designed to achieve significant water
quality improvements, consistent with appropriate pollution load
reduction targets. The project as proposed will include the
construction of an above-ground reservoir(s) with a total capacity of
approximately 160,000 acre-feet, located in the C-43 Basin in Hendry,
Glades, Charlotte, or Lee Counties. Water levels could fluctutate up to
8 feet above grade.
c. Preliminary Alternatives: Formulation of alternative plans will
involve the selection of the most suitable site or sites for a
reservoir, depth and configurations of the impoundment(s),
investigation of intake and discharge sites, and investigation
opportunities in configuration designs to provide significant water
quality improvements for the project.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluation of the project
will include an evaluation of adverse environmental impacts, including
but not limited to, water quality, socio-economic, archeological and
biological. In addition to adverse impacts, the evaluation will also
focus on how well the plans perform with regard to specific ecological
and other performance measures.
d. Issues: The EIS will consider impacts on water quality,
ecosystem habitat, threatened and endangered species, health and
safety, aesthetics and recreation, fish and wildlife resources, culture
resources, water availability, flood protection, and other potential
impacts identified through scoping, public involvement, and interagency
coordination.
e. Scoping: Initial project scoping began in February 2002 at a
public meeting in Hendry County. A scooping letter was issued in
February 2002 to interested parties inviting all interested parties and
government agencies to participate in the scoping process by
identifying any additional concerns on issues, studies needed,
alternatives, procedures, and other matters related to the scoping
process. A NEPA scoping letter will be issued in March 2003, along with
this notice. A public meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2003 (see DATES
above).
f. Public Involvement. We invite the participation of affected
Federal, State and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other
interested private organizations and parties.
g. Coordination: The proposed action is being coordinated with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries
Service under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, with the FWS
under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the State
Historic Preservation Officer.
h. Other Environmental Review and Consultation: The proposed action
would involve evaluation for compliance with guidelines pursuant to
section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act; application (to the State of
Florida) for Water Quality Certification pursuant to section 401 of the
Clean Water Act; certification of State lands, easements and right of
ways, and determination of Coastal Zone Management Act consistency.
i. Agency Role: As cooperation agency, non-Federal sponsor, and
leading local expert, SFWMD will provide information and assistance on
the resources to be impacted and alternatives.
j. DEIS Preparation: The integrated Project Implementation Report
(PIR) including a DEIS, is currently estimated for publication in
September 2004.
Dated: March 17, 2003.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 03-7498 Filed 3-27-03; 8:45 am]