[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44850-44851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22470]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Dade County Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection 
Project, for a Test Beach Fill Using a Foreign Source of Carbonate Sand

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 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Dade 
County Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project, for a 
Test Beach Fill Using a Foreign Source of Carbonate Sand. The study is 
a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 
Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), 
the non-Federal sponsor for the project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kenneth Dugger, 904-232-1686, Environmental Branch, Planning Division, 
P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane 
Protection (BEC & HP) Project for Dade County, Florida was authorized 
by the Flood Control Act of 1968. The Supplemental Appropriations Act 
of 1985 and the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-
662) provided authority for extending the northern limit of the 
authorized project to include the construction of a protective beach 
along the 2.5 mile reach of shoreline north of Haulover Beach Party 
(Sunny Isles) and for periodic nourishment of the new beach.
    Offshore borrow sources of beach quality sediment along the Dade 
County shoreline have been almost completely depleted, and alternative 
sources of material will be required in the near future to provide 
continued renourishment of the Dade County Beach Erosion Control and 
Hurricane Protection Project. Although carbonate sediment from offshore 
borrow sites has traditionally been used for project renourishment, the 
use of oolitic aragonite or other carbonate sand from non-domestic 
sources may provide an effective alternative for future renourishment 
requirements.
    Virtually unlimited supplies of beach-quality material are 
available in the Bahamas Bank, located 65 miles east of the project 
site, in the Turks and Caicos Islands located approximately 500 miles 
to the southeast, and possibly other locations. The proposed test fill 
will be constructed using aragonite from one of these sources. The 
purpose of the test fill, in addition to providing nourishment to an 
eroded portion of the Federal project along northern Miami Beach, is to 
evaluate the physical and environmental performance of aragonite on the 
beach erosion control project.
    The proposed test fill site would be located along northern Miami 
Beach, and would extend along approximately one mile of shoreline which 
has been an erosional area since the project was constructed. The 
proposed site is located far from adjacent inlets, and no significant 
structures exist in this vicinity to disrupt the ``natural'' coastal 
processes. The total volume of the test fill is expected to be 
approximately 500,000 cubic yards. The currently proposed location for 
the test fill is between 65th and 80th Streets in Miami Beach (DNR 
monuments DNR-39 to DNR-44). The exact source of aragonite (or other 
non-domestic carbonate sand) for the test beach would be determined 
during the procurement process. Sand sources proposed by contractors 
would have to meet a set of generic and specifications and pass a 
screening process for sand characteristics and possible introduction of 
undesirable benthic organisms or other environmental impacts.
    The different properties of the material being placed in the test 
fill will allow the sediment to be used as a natural tracer material, 
and data on longshore and cross-shore transport can be gained by 
studying the movement of this material. In order to evaluate the 
performance of the test fill, a monitoring program will be established. 
This monitoring program would consist of four areas of field data 
acquisition: physical surveys, sediment sampling and analysis, aerial 
photography, and wave data collection. The field data would be 
collected over a minimum 5-year period following project construction. 
The wave gage would be installed and activated prior to construction. 
Physical surveys, sediment samples, and aerial photography would be 
taken immediately before and after project construction, and quarterly 
for the first year, semi-annually for the second year, and annually 
thereafter for the remainder of the 5-year monitoring period. Physical 
surveys, sediment samples, and aerial photography would therefore be 
taken a total of 11 times during the monitoring program, while the 
directional wave gauge would be operated continuously during the entire 
5-year monitoring period.
    In addition, environmental monitoring of the test fill would be 
performed. The environmental studies would focus mainly on the impacts 
of the non-native material on sea turtle nesting and benthic infaunal 
communities.
    Alternatives: At this time, the only known alternative to 
performing the test beach fill is not performing the test or the no-
action alternative.
    Issues: The EIS will consider impacts on coral reefs and other 
hardbottom communities, endangered and threatened species, shore 
protection, water quality, aesthetics and recreation, fish and wildlife 
resources, cultural resources, energy conservation, socio-economic 
resources, and other impacts identified through scoping, public 
involvement, and interagency coordination.
    Scoping: A copy of this notice will be sent to interested parties 
to initiate scoping. All parties are invited 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. At this time, there are no plans for a public 
scoping meeting.
    Public Involvement: We invite the participation of affected 
Federal, state and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other 
interested private organizations and parties.
    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. In addition, we have coordinated with 
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the dredging 
industry, certain foreign government representatives, academic experts, 
and other interests on this matter.
    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;

[[Page 44851]]

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 rights of way; and determination of Coastal Zone 
Management Act consistency.
    Agency Role: As the non-Federal sponsor and leading local expert; 
DERM will provide extensive information and assistance on the resources 
to be impacted, mitigation measures, and alternatives.
    DEIS Preparation: It is estimated that the DEIS will be available 
to the public on or about October 9, 1998. We plan to post the DEIS on 
the environmental documents page of the Jacksonville District's web 
site. (http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/pd/env-doc.htm.)

    Dated: August 7, 1998.
George M. Strain,
Acting Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 98-22470 Filed 8-20-98; 8:45 am]
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