[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54646-54648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21481]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability of a Draft Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (SEIS), for 200000380(IP-DEB), Phipps Ocean 
Park Beach Restoration Project, Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, 
FL

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE or Corps) 
Jacksonville District, announces the availability of a Regulatory 
Program SEIS for the Phipps Ocean Park Beach Restoration Project. The 
Town of Palm Beach, Florida is seeking Corps regulatory authorization 
for the proposed project pursuant to section 404 of the Clean Water Act 
and section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403). 
In accordance with 40

[[Page 54647]]

CFR 1506.5 and Appendix B, 33 CFR part 325, the applicant has prepared 
the Draft SEIS on the requested permit action under the direct 
supervision of the Corps pursuant to a ``third party contract.''
    The general environmental impacts of beach restoration and erosion 
control activities on the Southeast Atlantic Coast of Florida were 
previously evaluated in the ``Coast of Florida, Erosion and Storm 
Effects Study--Region III, with Final Environmental Impact Statement, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District'', October 1996. 
The applicant's proposed project is located within a segment of the 
Region III area evaluated in the Coast of Florida FEIS and the Phipps 
Ocean Park Draft SEIS is a supplement to the Coast of Florida FEIS. The 
applicant's proposed is consistent with the Town's ``Comprehensive 
Coastal Management Plan Update--Palm Beach Island, Florida'' (June 
1998).
    As required by NEPA, the Draft SEIS describes the applicant's 
preferred alternative and other alternatives evaluated to provide shore 
protection for Phipps Ocean Park within the Town of Palm Beach, 
Florida. The applicant's preferred alternative is intended to: (1) 
Mitigate the long-term erosion impacts of Lake Worth Inlet and armored 
coastline north of the Project area; (2) provide and maintain storm 
protection to upland improvements; (3) restore and maintain the beach 
for public recreational use; and (4) restore and maintain the beach for 
marine turtle nesting habitat.
    The applicant's preferred alternative includes placement of 
approximately 1.5 million cubic yards of fill over approximately 1.9 
miles of beach, between DEP Monuments R-116 and R-126 and installation 
of 3.1 acres of hardbottom reef to mitigate for unavoidable impacts to 
nearshore hardbottom. Sand compatible with the existing beach has been 
identified and will be obtained from borrow areas located approximately 
3,500 feet offshore and between 1.5 and 2.6 miles south of the fill 
area. Geotechnical analysis of the borrow area indicates that the 
material is suitable for the restoration of Phipps Ocean Park beach. 
The proposed borrow areas have been designed with buffer zones to avoid 
impact to hardbottom communities in the vicinity of the borrow areas. 
Mitigation of hardbottom resources within the fill area is required and 
has been incorporated into the plan.
    The Draft SEIS also identifies and evaluates the potential direct, 
indirect, and cumulative environmental consequences of the applicant's 
preferred alternative, including potential impacts on Essential Fish 
Habitat, hardbottom resources and other specific issues identified in 
the scoping process. Cooperating agencies for the proposed project are 
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

DATES: The public comment period on the Draft SEIS shall commence upon 
publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. 
Written comments must be received at the address listed below no later 
than 5 p.m. EST, 45 calendars days from the date of publication. A 
public meeting regarding the Draft SEIS will be held on September 12, 
2002 (See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft SEIS document may be obtained by 
contacting Lois Edwards, SEIS Public Involvement Coordinator/Third 
Party Contractor, Coastal Technology Corp., 3625 20th Street, Vero 
Beach Florida, 32960, telephone (888) 562-8580; facsimile (772) 562-
8432 or by e-mail to [email protected]. This document may 
also be found on the Corps' Web site by accessing the following 
address: www.saj.usace.army.mil/permit/hot_topics/PhippsEIS/phippsindex.htm. Written comments and questions concerning this 
proposal must be submitted to Dale Beter, Phipps SEIS Project Manager, 
USACE, Regulatory Branch, 400 North Congress Avenue, Suite 130, West 
Palm Beach, Florida 33401; telephone (561) 683-1814, facsimile (561) 
683-4941, or e-mail at [email protected]. Requests to 
be placed on the mailing lists should be sent to Mrs. Edwards at the 
Vero Beach address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Beter at the above address or 
Peter A. Ravella, SEIS Project Manager/Third Party Contractor, Coastal 
Technology Corp., 2306 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, Texas 78703; 
telephone (512) 236-9494; facsimile (800) 321-9673, or e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft SEIS examines potential impacts on 
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and also includes a comprehensive 
examination of potential cumulative impacts of the project and other 
projects from Lake Worth Inlet to South Lake Worth Inlet. In accordance 
with the NEPA, the Draft SEIS evaluates reasonable alternatives for the 
USACE's decision-making process, including the ``no action'' 
alternative as a baseline for gauging potential impacts.
    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has 
designated all of the Project area from R-116 to R-126 as an area of 
``critical erosion.'' This designation is based on (a) the erosion 
attributable to the influence of Lake Worth Inlet and the adjacent 
armored shoreline and (b) the existing headland features surrounding 
the Project area.
    Shoreline conditions and structures updrift of the Project area 
exacerbate erosion and, if action is not taken, will lead to 
significant future erosion of the Project area and the shoreline 
further south. Net longshore sand transport in the region is to the 
south. Construction of the Inlet and Inlet jetties interrupts the 
longshore flow of sand and sand starves the region south of the Inlet 
leading to the construction of seawalls, groins, and eventually a rock 
revetment constructed by the Florida Department of Transportation 
(FDOT) north of Sloan's Curve in 1987. The revetment has cut-off the 
sand supply from the dune landward of the revetment. These conditions 
are expected to continue to contribute to the erosion within the 
Project area in the future.
    The three miles of shoreline immediately north of Sloan's Curve are 
fronted by numerous armoring structures including rock revetments, 
seawalls, and groins. The existing groins north of Phipps Ocean Park 
deter southerly longshore transport to Phipps Ocean Park and the 
Project area. The Mid-Town Beach Restoration Project (unrelated to the 
project for which the applicant seeks authorization) is located to the 
north of this three-mile segment; the groins and armoring have impeded 
the southerly migration of the Mid-Town sand. In combination with the 
effects of Lake Worth Inlet, armoring structures have caused a 
longshore transport and sediment deficit to the Project area, resulting 
in erosion, loss of the recreational beach, increase in the storm 
damage risk to upland property, and loss of sea turtle nesting habitat.
    Copies of the Draft SEIS are also available for inspection at the 
locations identified below:
    (1) Town of Palm Beach Clerk's Office, Town Hall, 360 South County 
Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480.
    (2) Town of Palm Beach Public Works Department, 951 Old Okeechobee 
Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
    (3) Town of Palm Beach Fire Rescue Station 3, 2185 South Ocean 
Blvd., Palm Beach, FL 33480.
    (4) USACE West Palm Beach Regulatory Office, 400 North Congress

[[Page 54648]]

Avenue, Suite 130, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
    (5) Palm Beach County Government Center, Front Lobby Information 
Desk, 215 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
    After the public comment period ends, USACE will consider all 
comments received, revise the Draft SEIS as appropriate, and issue a 
Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. As part of the 
public involvement process, notice is hereby given by the USACE-
Jacksonville District of a public meeting to be held at Town Hall 
Council Chambers, 360 S. County Road, Town of Palm Beach, Florida, 
beginning at 7 p.m. on September 12, 2002. The public meeting will 
allow participants the opportunity to comment on the Draft SEIS.

John A. Hall,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-21481 Filed 8-22-02; 8:45 am]
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