[Federal Register: February 27, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 38)]
[Notices]
[Page 8921-8922]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27fe09-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Integrated Feasibility Report and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the Southwest Florida Feasibility
Study/Watershed Plan, Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades, and
Monroe Counties, FL
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 Feasibility Report/Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (FR/DEIS) for the Southwest Florida
Feasibility Study/Watershed Plan. 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. The goal of
the Southwest Florida Feasibility Study is to produce a regional
restoration plan that addresses water resources issues within all
watersheds in southwest Florida. It is intended that this plan will
meet many of the ecological and hydrological restoration needs of
southwest Florida. The problems which will be addressed in this study
include loss of natural ecosystems and landscape connectivity/
degradation of wildlife habitat, altered, unnatural freshwater flows to
wetlands and estuaries (altered surface water hydrology), and water
quality degradation in surface waters.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning Division,
Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Angela Dunn, by telephone at 904-
232-2108, or e-mail at angela.e.dunn@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a. Authorization: The Southwest Florida Feasibility Study (SWFFS),
along with the Central and South Florida Project Comprehensive Review
study (Restudy), is authorized by Section 309(l) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-580) and is also authorized by two
resolutions of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
United States House of Representatives, dated September 24, 1992. The
Restudy proposed several new feasibility studies, which included the
SWFFS, to allow a more thorough investigation into subjects that were
considered related to but beyond the scope of the Restudy.
b. Study Area: The study area covers approximately 4,300 square
miles. It encompasses all of Lee County and portions of Collier,
Charlotte, Hendry, Glades, and Monroe Counties.
c. Project Scope: The scope includes conducting a watershed
assessment of the study area and developing a watershed plan for
stakeholder utilization, additional landscape connectivity for
endangered species, and maintenance of natural hydrology. The
assessment will investigate the southwest Florida region and its
hydrology and natural landscape in greater detail than was developed in
the Restudy. The evaluation of the alternatives and selection of a
recommended plan will be documented in the FR/EIS. The alternative
plans will be reviewed under provisions of appropriate laws and
regulations, including the Endangered Species Act, Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act, Clean Water Act, and Farmland Protection Policy Act.
d. Preliminary Alternatives: The alternatives analyzed in this
feasibility investigation are a combination of structural and non-
structural measures addressing the following objectives: The health of
aquatic and upland ecosystems; the quantity, quality, timing, and
distribution of water flows; agricultural, environmental, and urban
water supply; the sustainability of economic and natural resources;
flood protection; fish and wildlife; biological diversity; and natural
habitat in southwest Florida. Alternatives were developed to address
these objectives. These alternatives include a plan of no action and
various combinations of structural and non-structural measures within
the watersheds of the study area.
e. Issues: The EIS will analyze the following project objectives:
Establish total freshwater inflows to coastal estuaries within project
area to within 10% of the pre-development natural system flow quantity
conditions; decrease loss of habitat connectivity for large mammals
throughout the project area by 20%; reduce average annual total
nitrogen loads to project area. In addition, the EIS will analyze:
Impacts to aquatic and wetland habitats; water flows; hazardous and
toxic waste; water quality; flood protection; the impacts of land
acquisition on the tax base; aesthetics and recreation; fish and
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wildlife resources, including protected species; cultural resources;
and other impacts identified through scoping, public involvement and
interagency coordination.
f. Scoping: An initial scoping letter was sent to stakeholders in
the southwest Florida region in April, 2006, as notification of the
initiation of a Feasibility Study to address the water resource
problems in southwest Florida. An additional scoping letter 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.
g. DEIS Preparation: The integrated Feasibility Report, including a
DEIS, is currently estimated for publication in late 2009.
Dated: February 18, 2009.
Eric P. Summa,
Chief, Environmental Branch.
[FR Doc. E9-4199 Filed 2-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P