[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 4419-4420] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-2381] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Rodman Dam/Ocklawaha River Restoration Project, Putnam and Marion Counties, FL AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DOD. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the feasibility of implementing a plan for [[Page 4420]] the Rodman Dam/Ocklawaha River Restoration Project in Putnam and Marion Counties, Florida. ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Therese Fretwell, 904-232-3271. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: a. The Water Resources Development Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-640) required the U.S. Corps of Engineers to transfers all lands, facilities and management responsibilities associated with Cross Florida Barge Canal Project to the State of Florida. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is now in the process of developing the Rodman Dam/Ocklawaha River Restoration project for restoring a portion of the Cross Florida Canal to its historic condition. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers participation will include permitting activities for Section 9 and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and NEPA documentation of this project. The FDEP application for a Department of the Army permit includes four alternative plans for dealing with management of the Rodman Dam. These include: Complete Restoration of the Ocklawaha River, Partial Restoration of the Ocklawaha River, Total Retention of the Rodman Reservoir and Partial Retention of the Rodman Reservoir. The FDEP has chosen the Partial Restoration of the Ocklawaha River as its preferred alternative for the Rodman Dam/Ocklawaha River Restoration Project. This plan will be an eleven part process that will restore river hydrology and floodplain function to historic conditions through breaching of the dam, with limited removal and/or alteration of structures and topographical manipulation and allowing for maximum restoration from natural processes to occur. The magnitude and duration of the project is such that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined that an EIS should be prepared for the entire project pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). b. Scoping: The scoping process as outlined by the Council on Environmental Quality will be utilized to involve Federal, State, and local agencies; and other interested persons and organizations. A scoping letter will be sent to interested Federal, State, local agencies and interested parties requesting their comments and concerns regarding the issues they think should be included in the EIS. Interested persons and organizations wishing to participate in the scoping process should contact the Corps of Engineers at the above mentioned address. Environmental considerations will include potential presence of historical or archeological resources, aesthetics, recreation demand, water quality, flood control, water supply, land use, wetlands, endangered and threatened species, and fish and wildlife habitats and values. Public meetings may be held in the future, exact dates, times and locations will be published in local papers. c. It is estimated that the DEIS will be available to the public by mid-1996. Gregory D. Showalter, Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 96-2381 Filed 2-5-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-AJ-M