[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 53 (Friday, March 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14559-14560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6705]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6252-3]


Peace River Intake Facility, DeSoto County, Florida Construction 
and Operation of Expanded Water Treatment and Aquifer Storage/Recovery 
Facilities: Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on facility construction associated with the Peace River/Manasota 
Regional

[[Page 14560]]

Water Supply Authority Facility Construction Grant.

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PURPOSE: Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.7 and in accordance with Section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), EPA has 
identified the need to prepare an EIS and therefore issues this Notice 
of Intent pursuant to 40 CFR 1507.7.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO BE PLACED ON THE PROJECT MAILING LIST 
CONTACT:  Ms Lena Scott, Environmental Protection Agency--Region 4, 
Office of Environmental Assessment, 61 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, Georgia 
30303, Telephone: (404) 562-9607 or FAX (404) 562-9598.

SUMMARY: EPA intends to prepare the EIS to evaluate the impacts of the 
Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority's (Authority) 
proposal to construct and operate expanded water treatment and aquifer 
storage/recovery facilities at its existing Peace River Facility 
located in southwest DeSoto County, Florida. The proposed facilities 
will include treatment of surface water, alternative water storage 
including off-stream aquifer storage and recovery wells, and expansion 
of regional pipeline connections. EPA intends to retain the services of 
an independent contractor to provide technical data and to prepare the 
EIS using the ``third party method'' as provided under 40 CFR 
6.510(b)(3). By utilizing the third party method, EPA enters into an 
agreement for the Authority to engage and pay for the services of a 
contractor to prepare the EIS under the direction of EPA.

NEED FOR ACTION: EPA awarded construction grants totaling $9,574,000 to 
the Authority for the construction of water treatment and aquifer 
storage/recovery facilities. Based on draft Environmental Information 
Documents (EID) submitted by the Authority, EPA determined the EID did 
not adequately address potential impacts and could not issue a Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Known concerns include impacts from 
reduced flows on the Peace River, long-term impacts to Charlotte 
Harbor, threatened and endangered species, salinity regime change 
impacts on aquatic organisms, sport and commercial fisheries, 
cumulative and secondary impacts.

ALTERNATIVES:   
     EPA issues construction grant with conditions.
     EPA issues construction grant with no conditions.
     EPA withholds construction grant, the No Action 
Alternative.

SCOPING: EPA will hold a public scoping meeting in April in which a 
general description of the projects and its goals will be presented. 
Time and meeting location will be announced in newspapers local to the 
project. Details of the proposed project will be presented. Both oral 
and written comments will be accepted at the scoping meeting to assist 
EPA to determine the scope of the EIS. Persons who do not attend the 
meeting and wish to comment on the issues and scope of the project are 
invited to respond in writing to this agency within 30 days of the 
scoping meeting.

ESTIMATED DATE OF DEIS RELEASE: September 1, 2001.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: A. Stanley Meiburg, Deputy Regional 
Administrator, Region 4, Environmental Protection Agency.

    Dated: March 3, 2000.
Anne N. Miller,
Deptuy Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-6705 Filed 3-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U