[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34915-34916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12187]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
C-111 Spreader Canal Project

AGENCY: Department of the Army, 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), intends to prepare an integrated Project Implementation Report 
(PIR) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the C-111 
Spreader Canal Project study. The study is a cooperative effort between 
the Corps and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), 
which is also a cooperative agency for this DEIS. C-111 is the 
southernmost canal of the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project 
and is located in southern Miami-Dade County. The canal functions 
primarily to provide flood protection and drainage for the agricultural 
areas to the west and south of Homestead, as well as providing a means 
to deliver water to Taylor Slough in Everglades National Park. 
Environmentally detrimental effects have resulted from the construction 
of the canal, including large scale releases of freshwater to Manatee 
Bay, disruption and redirection of the natural sheet flow pattern over 
the marsh, and declining fish catches and productivity in northeastern 
Florida Bay and Barnes Sound, due to highly variable salinities. The 
final report of the C&SF Comprehensive Review Study (RESTUDY) 
recommended implementing the 
C-111 North Spreader Canal Project, now called simply the C-111 
Spreader Canal Project. This project will evaluate alternatives to 
construct, modify, or remove levees, canals, pumps and water control 
structures, in order to reestablish a more natural water sheet flow 
pattern through the Model Lands and Southern Glades to Florida Bay, and 
may include a storm water treatment area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning 
Division, Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida, 
32232-0019; Attn: Ms. Barbara Cintron or by telephone at 904-232-1692.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Authorization: Section 601(c)(x) of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-541) authorized the implementation 
of the C-111 N Spreader Canal Project.
    b. Study Area: The study area is in sections of the Model Lands and 
the Southern Glades, in southern Miami-Dade County.
    c. Project Scope: The scope is to provide water deliveries to the 
project lands that will enhance connectivity between the natural areas 
of the Southern Glades and Model Lands, provide natural sheet flow to 
Florida Bay by eliminating point sources of freshwater discharges 
through the 
C-111 Canal to Manatee Bay and Barnes Sound. Pumps and spreader canal 
features have been proposed to connect the Southern Glades and Model 
Lands hydrologically. The evaluation of alternatives and selection of a 
recommended plan will be documented in the Project Implementation 
Report and EIS.
    d. Preliminary Alternatives: Backfilling C-110 and a portion of the 
C-111 Canal and removing water control structures S-18C and S-197 would 
re-establish the sheet flow pattern of water distribution. Further plan 
formulation will determine the location and design of the spreader 
canal, storm water treatment area and pump stations, and will explore 
other ways of addressing project objectives.
    e. Issues: The EIS will address the following issues: the relation 
between this project and the Modified Water Deliveries and C-111 
projects; impacts to South Miami-Dade County agricultural and urban 
lands, impacts to aquatic and wetland habitats; water flows; hazardous 
and toxic wastes; water quality; flood protection; the impacts of land 
acquisition on the tax base; aesthetics and recreation; fish and 
wildlife resources, including protected species; cultural resources; 
and other impacts identified through scoping, public involvement and 
interagency coordination.
    f. Scoping: A scoping letter and public workshops will be used to 
invite

[[Page 34916]]

comments on alternatives and issues from Federal, State, and local 
agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested private 
organizations and individuals. The next public workshop is scheduled 
for May 22, 2002, at the Miami-Dade Extension Office, located at 18710 
SW 288th Street, Homestead, Florida. The meeting will begin at 6:30 
p.m. and continue to 10 p.m.
    g. DEIS Preparation: The integrated draft PIR, including a DEIS, is 
currently scheduled for publication in June 2004.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-12187 Filed 5-15-02; 8:45 am]
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