[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 200 (Monday, October 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 56200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27058]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (DSEIS) for the Upper St. Johns River Basin Restoration, 
Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area Project, Brevard 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 
(Corps), and the St. Johns River Water Management District intend to 
prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) on 
the feasibility of implementing a plan for the Upper St. Johns River 
Basin, Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area (TFMCA) Project in Brevard 
County, Florida.

ADDRESSES: Questions about the proposed action and DSEIS should be 
addressed to Ms. Lizabeth R. Manners, U.S. Army Engineer District, P.O. 
Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019; Telephone 904-232-3923.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    a. The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper St. Johns 
River Basin (USJRB) Project was published in 1985. The entire project 
area is located in Brevard, Indian River, Okeechobee, and Osceola 
counties and is approximately 1,659 square miles in area. The Three 
Forks Marsh Conservation Area (TFMCA) Project is one component of the 
USJRB Project. TFMCA is approximately 14,000 aces in size and located 
entirely within Brevard County.
    The largest portions of the TFMCA include the following: 
approximately 2,000 acres of mixed herbaceous marsh; approximately 
1,900 acres of sawgrass; approximately 1,900 acres of pastureland; 
approximately 1,800 acres of mixed sawgrass/sedge marsh; and 
approximately 1,500 acres of primrose willow. Other vegetative 
communities are present in smaller portions.
    Under the original General Design Memorandum and EIS, the plan 
called for the TFMCA to be hydrologically connected via levee gaps to 
the St. Johns Marsh Conservation Area (SJMCA). However, recent survey 
data has revealed significant subsidence in the TFMCA. If the origin 
plan is implemented, then overdrainage of the SJMCA would occur. In 
addition, a design modification is needed at two structures (S-96-B and 
S-96-C) currently discharging into the SJMCA. The TFMCA project would 
address these two concerns while providing for the main project purpose 
of flood control and secondary purposes of environmental protection, 
water quality, and water supply.
    Alternatives which will be evaluated in the SEIS include the 
proposed TFMCA Diversion plan. Under the proposed alternative water 
deliveries through S-96-B and S-96-C which are currently discharged 
into the SJMCA would be divided. Water leaving the St. Johns Water 
Management Area would be discharged through S-96-B directly into the 
southern portion of TFMCA. Water from the Blue Cypress Marsh 
Conservation Area would be discharged through S-96-C directly into the 
southern portion of SJMCA. A discharge canal, extending from S-96-B to 
the northern deepwater portion of TFMCA, would have a low berm 
constructed along its eastern edge to prevent water from directly 
entering the emergent marsh portions of TFMCA. Because of subsidence 
and the amount of water that would be delivered into TFMCA, the lower 
reaches of the TFMCA would be impounded. Water would flow from TFMCA 
into SJMCA through a proposed weir and structure S-257. Additional 
plans may be identified and evaluated during the SEIS process.
    Potential environmental resources and issues to be evaluated in the 
SEIS include project impacts on:

Fish and wildlife resources
Wetlands and habitat values
Conversion of habitat types
Water quality
Endangered or threatened species
Historical or archaeological resources
Aesthetics
Nuisance and exotic plant species

Because of the magnitude and duration of this project the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers and St. Johns River Water Management District have 
determined that a SEIS should be prepared for the 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. Earlier 
this year a letter was sent to ``interested Federal, State, local 
agencies and interested parties requesting comments and concerns 
regarding issues to consider during the study. Responses to this letter 
helped identify the potential environmental impacts listed in paragraph 
a. above. Additional comments are welcome and may be provided to the 
above address. 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 DSEIS will be available to the public 
by the spring of 2000.

    Dated: October 1, 1999.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 99-27058 Filed 10-15-99; 8:45 am]
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