[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 69 (Monday, April 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18991-18992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8671]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6252-8]


Tampa Bay Water Regional Reservoir and Pipeline: Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on the reservoir and pipeline to the Alafia River located in 
southeast Hillsborough County, Florida.

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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), the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified the need to 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) and therefore issues 
this Notice of Intent pursuant to 40 CFR 1507.7.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO BE PLACED ON THE 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 of Fax (404) 563-9598.

SUMMARY: EPA intends to prepare the EIS to evaluate Tampa Bay Water's 
(Authority) proposal to construct and operate a 1,200-acre reservoir 
and pipeline located in southeast Hillsborough County, Florida. The 
proposed reservoir will provide storage during high flow periods for 
use as potable water when surface water is not available for 
withdrawals. An 84-inch, 8-mile long pipeline will connect the 
reservoir to the South Central Hillsborough Intertie near the Alafia 
River withdrawal location. EPA intends to retain the services of an 
independent contractor to prepare the EIS using the

[[Page 18992]]

``third party method'' as provided under 40 CFR Section 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 
$12,615,000 to Tampa Bay Water for the reservoir and pipeline. Based 
upon draft Environmental Information Documents (EID) submitted for the 
regional reservoir, EPA determined the EID did not adequately address 
potential impacts of the project and could not issue a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FNSI). Known concerns include viable alternatives 
to the proposed action, impacts on protected wetlands, effects from 
inter-basin transfer of water, short-and long-term impacts on the 
Alafia River and Tampa Bay aquatic ecosystems from the incremental 
withdrawal of water resources attributable to reservoir operations, 
impacts on threatened and endangered species, impacts of salinity 
changes on aquatic organisms, sport and commercial fisheries.
    Alternatives:
     EPA releases grant funds without conditions.
     EPA releases grant funds with conditions.
     EPA withholds grant funds exercising the ``No Action'' 
alternative.
    Scoping: EPA will hold a public scoping meeting 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. 
Both oral and written comments will be accepted at the 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 are invited to respond in 
writing to this agency within 30 days of the scoping meeting.
    Estimated Date of Release: August 30, 2001.
    Responsible Official: A. Stanley Meiburg, Deputy Regional 
Administrator, Region 4, Environmental Protection Agency.

Richard E. Sanderson,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-8671 Filed 4-7-00; 8:45 am]
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