[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24946]



[[Page 51085]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Herbert Hoover Dike Major Rehabilitation Evaluation Report 
(MRER); Jacksonville District, Jacksonville, FL

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps), intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for the feasibility phase of the Herbert Hoover Dike Major 
Rehabilitation Evaluation Report (MRER).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and DEIS can be answered by: Mark 
Ziminske, Planning Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 
4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019; Telephone 904-232-1786; Fax 
904-232-3442; e-mail: mark.t.ziminskeusace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: a. Authorization: The Flood Control Act, 
approved by Congress on 30 June 1948, authorized the first phase of a 
comprehensive plan to provide flood protection and other water control 
benefits in central and south Florida. The Act included measures for 
improving control of Lake Okeechobee by constructing or modifying the 
spillways and other structures, and enlarging the water storage and 
water supply capacity of the lake. The authorization for levee repairs 
to be done under the Herbert Hoover Dike MRER, are justified as a means 
to provide for the authorized project purposes of this Act.
    b. Study Area: The study will include the entire Herbert Hoover 
Dike (HHD) system, which surrounds Lake Okeechobee, Florida. The HHD 
system, made up of approximately 143 miles of levee, has for the 
purposes of the study, been divided up into nine levee segments, or 
``Reachers''. The initial phase of the study will be the preparation of 
a Major Rehabilitation Evaluation Report (MRER) for Reach 1, a segment 
of levee 22.4 miles long, along the southeast shore of the lake from 
The Hurricane Gate Structure #4, at Belle Glade, Palm Beach County, to 
the St. Lucie Canal, at Port Mayaca, Martin County, Florida. The DEIS 
will also address, to a lesser degree, an environmental analysis of the 
entire dike system surrounding the lake (Reaches 2-8) in a 
comprehensive manner. It is anticipated that additional NEPA documents 
will then be tiered from the Final Environmental Impact Statement, once 
it is completed, for subsequent studies on the remaining Reaches.
    c. Project Features and Scope: The general goal of the HHD MRER is 
to provide a reliable embankment system around Lake Okeechobee to 
contain the lake waters for water supply, flood protection, navigation, 
fish and wildlife, and recreation. Analysis of the existing dike system 
has revealed areas where the factors of safety relative to stability 
are less than current regulation requirements. The first report will 
define the extent and severity of any unstable condition within 
Priority Reach 1 and describe necessary remedial action to repair or 
manage the problem. The DEIS will evaluate the array of alternative 
plans, including the selected alternative plan and the no-action 
alternative, and determine if, and to what extent, implementation of 
these various plans may affect the surrounding environment. An array of 
alternative plans will be developed and evaluated based on economic, 
engineering, and environmental considerations. Preliminary alternatives 
may include, but are not limited to: use of drainage blankets, landside 
seepage berms, relief wells, sub-levees, impervious cut-off walls, 
slope modifications, and changes in the lake regulation schedule.
    d. Scoping: The scoping process as outlined by the Council on 
Environmental Quality is being utilized to involve Federal, State, and 
local agencies, affected Indian Tribes, and other interested private 
organizations and parties. A Scoping Letter has been sent to interested 
Federal, State and local agencies, interested organizations and the 
public, requesting their comments and concerns regarding issues they 
feel should be addressed in the DEIS. Interested persons and 
organizations wishing to participate in the scoping process should 
contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the address above. 
Significant issues anticipated include concern for: maintenance of 
flood protection and water supply for the project area; maintenance of 
lake access routes primarily for amphibians and reptiles, historical 
and archeological resources in the adjacent area, effects on water 
based recreation, commercial fishing and certain species of plants and 
animals listed under the Endangered Species Act. 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.
    e. It is estimated that the DEIS will be available to the public in 
early 1998.
George M. Strain,
Acting Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 96-24946 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
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