[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 20810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11385]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Jacksonville District, Jacksonville, Florida; Intent to Prepare a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Maintenance 
Dredging of the Miami River, Dade County, Florida

AGENCY: 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 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Maintenance Dredging of the Miami River, Dade County, Florida. The 
study is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
and the Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management 
(DERM).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be answered by: Mr. Rea N. Boothby, 904-232-3453, 
Environmental Branch, Planning Division, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, 
Florida 32232-0019.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dredging to create a Federal Navigation 
channel in the Miami River was completed in 1933. The Federal project 
extends from the mouth of the river at its confluence with Biscayne Bay 
approximately 5.5 miles west to a salinity structure near NW 36th 
Street. Congressional resolutions were passed in 1972 for sediment 
removal from the Miami River. The Water Resources Development Act of 
1974 authorized removal of sediments from Miami River. The Water 
Resources Development Act of 1986 authorized removal of contaminated 
sediments from Miami River and the Seybold Canal in the interest of 
improved water quality. The 1991 Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Act provided funds to initiate pre-construction 
engineering and design for sediment removal from Miami River and the 
Seybold Canal.
    A revised 1990 Feasibility Report on the dredging of the Miami 
River and Seybold Canal concluded that there was no justification for 
sediment removal based on environmental purposes, but that there may be 
justification for maintenance dredging of Miami River in the interest 
of navigation. It should be noted that the Seybold Canal portion of the 
project is not justified economically and has been dropped from further 
consideration.
    Several alternatives are being studied and will be addressed in the 
DEIS. These include the use of various mechanical and/or hydraulic 
dredges; methods of transporting, unloading and transferring dredged 
material; use of interim disposal sites and the final disposal site(s).
    The preferred alternative at this point is the use of some type of 
mechanical dredge to remove sediment and debris. Dredged material would 
then be loaded into geotextile fabric containers (GFC's) and 
transported in split-hull barges to the Miami Ocean Dredged Material 
Disposal Site (ODMDS) for disposal. Material placed in the GFC's would 
be positioned for disposal in the ODMDS and capped with material from 
on-going and future operation and maintenance activities.

SCOPING: A scoping workshop was held in Miami on September 5, 1991. 
Agencies, organizations, and individuals were sent a notice of 
alternatives proposed and issues raised at that scoping meeting and 
invited to respond. A formal scoping meeting is not planned at this 
time. However, a scoping letter containing a description of the most 
recent alternatives will be sent to Federal, State, and local agencies 
and interested organizations and individuals.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: We invite the participation of affected Federal, 
state and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested 
private organizations and parties. A Preliminary Draft EIS has been 
prepared. A copy of this document is being placed in the Main Library 
located at 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida. The library hours 
are: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Thursday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Draft EIS will follow the 
preliminary DEIS and will incorporate the results of scoping and public 
involvement.

COORDINATION: The proposed action will be 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.

OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND CONSULTATION: The proposed action may 
involve the following: (1) evaluation for disposal of dredged material 
into Ocean Waters under Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, 
and Sanctuaries Act; (2) evaluation pursuant to Section 404(b) of the 
Clean Water Act; (3) certification of water quality by the State 
pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act; (4) determination of 
Coastal Zone consistency pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act; 
and (5) other state and local requirements.

DEIS PREPARATION: It is estimated that the DEIS will be available to 
the public in the summer of 1996.
A.J. Salem,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 96-11385 Filed 5-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-AJ-M