[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42681-42682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17503]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers

Department of the Army


Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(SEIS) to the Central and Southern Florida Project (C&SF) Comprehensive 
Review Study Integrated Feasibility Report and Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement on the Water Preserve Areas (WPA) 
Feasibility Study

AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to the 
C&SF Comprehensive Review Study Integrated Feasibility Report and 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on the Water Preserve Areas 
Feasibility Study. the study is located in Palm Beach, Broward, and 
Miami-Dade Counties east of the Water Conservation Areas and generally 
west of existing developed areas. The study will investigate concepts 
to capture and store excess surface waters by backpumping water from 
the lower east coast urban areas that is normally discharged to tide 
via the C&SF Project canal system. The C&SF Comprehensive Review Study 
demonstrated that the Water Preserve Areas concept is an integral part 
of the Everglades restoration plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and SEIS can be answered by William Porter, Planning Division, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-
0019, Telephone 904-232-2259, or Fax 904-232-3442.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: a. Project Features and Scope: The WPAs 
feasibility study will evaluate the size, location, and operational 
aspects of the components of the Comprehensive Plan of the C&SF Project 
Comprehensive Review Study within the WPAs study boundary to provide 
for the optimum ecosystem restoration function. Other water-related 
needs and issues which will be addressed in the detailed engineering 
design of the WPAs include: water supply/use, water quality, seepage 
barriers, salt water intrusion, urban development impacts, and the 
presence of exotics in the proposed WPAs. This WPAs Feasibility Study 
will contain feasibility level analyses including General Design 
Memorandum level engineering and design. Some of the tasks associated 
with the preparation of this report will include surveys and mapping, 
geotechnical investigations, design optimization, economics, 
environmental analyses, and real estate analyses. A supplemental 
National Environmental Policy Act document will be prepared. A Project 
Management Plan has been prepared that details schedules, funding 
requirements, and identifies resource needs.
    b. 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, to request their comments and concerns regarding issues they 
feel should be addressed in the SEIS. Interested persons and

[[Page 42682]]

organizations wishing to participate in the scoping process should 
contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the address above. 
Significant tissues anticipated include: flood protection and water 
supply for the project area; reduced drainage of the Everglades and 
reestablishing natural hydropatterns within existing natural areas, 
providing short hydroperiod wetlands to increase spatial extent, and 
providing a buffer between the Everglades and the increasingly 
urbanized lower east coast area. Public meetings held over the course 
of the study will be announced in public notices and local newspapers 
with exact locations, dates, and times.
    c. It is estimated that the SEIS will be available to the public by 
summer 2001.

James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 00-17503 Filed 7-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-AJ-M