[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57413-57414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23004]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements 
Program

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 a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program 
involving the planning, design and construction of wastewater treatment 
systems to improve water quality within the Florida Keys National 
Marine Sanctuary. This program is a cooperative effort between the 
Corps (lead Federal agency) and the South Florida Water Management 
District (non-Federal sponsor).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Cintron, 904-232-1692, 
Environmental Branch, Planning Division, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, 
Florida 32232-0019 or e-mail at: Barbara.B.Cintron@ 
saj02.usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under authority of Public Law 106-554, 
Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act of 2001, Section 109 and Conference Report 
H.R. 4577, the Corps is authorized to provide technical and financial 
assistance to carry out projects for the planning, design and 
construction of treatment works to improve the water quality of the 
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The marine ecosystem of the 
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is dependent on acceptable water 
quality to maintain fragile aquatic habitats. However, as population 
and tourism within the Keys have increased over the years, improvements 
in wastewater treatment and management practices have not kept pace 
with this growth. Ongoing research has suggested that this trend has 
resulted in a significant degradation of water quality in canals and 
nearshore waters surrounding the Florida Keys and that nutrients from 
waterwater are one of the major contributors to the decline of the 
water quality. This, in turn, is prompting the proposal to improve 
sewage treatment practices throughout the Florida Keys. According to 
the Monroe County Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan, approximately 23,000 
private onsite systems and 250 small wastewater treatment plants are 
currently operating throughout the Florida Keys. It is estimated that 
the onsite systems contribute 4.88 million gallons per day (mgd) of 
wastewater and the treatment plants contribute an additional 2.40 mgd 
of wastewater. Many of these onsite systems and treatment plants 
provide minimal nutrient removal. The primary objective of the Florida 
Keys Water Quality Improvements Program is to improve wastewater 
management practices throughout the Florida Keys and satisfy the 
existing and future needs for the community. Several wastewater master 
plans have been prepared for Monroe County and other municipalities 
within Monroe County that the Corps plans to utilize as the base for 
the planning component of the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement 
Program. These wastewater master plans recommend that existing onsite 
systems located in lower density areas of the Florida Keys be upgraded 
or replaced with onsite wastewater nutrient reduction systems. The 
wastewater master plan also recommended the construction of 12 
community wastewater collection and treatment systems and five regional 
systems. Five of the 12 community systems would feature interim 
treatment plants that over time would be phased into larger regional 
treatment systems. In addition to the new systems and extension of the 
existing systems, the plans recommend that 17 existing facilities 
continue to operate and upgrade their treatment processes to meet the 
best available technology/advanced wastewater treatment standards. The 
estimated cost to implement these master plans is approximately $500 
million.
    Alternatives: Alternatives to be considered include (1) no action, 
or continued reliance on septic tanks and cesspits for wastewater 
treatment, or (2) the proposed action involving the implementation of 
wastewater master plans prepared for Monroe County and various 
municipalities within Monroe County.
    Issues: The EIS will consider water quality impacts on the Florida 
Keys National Marine Sanctuary, preservation of coral reefs, impacts to 
protected species, shore protection, health and safety, aesthetics and 
recreation, fish and wildlife resources, cultural resources, socio-
economic resources, and other impacts through scoping, public 
involvement, and interagency coordination.
    Scoping: A copy of this notice will be sent to interested parties 
to initiate the scoping process, which will involve Federal, State, 
County and municipal agencies and other interested parties and 
organizations. All parties are invited to participate in the scoping 
process by identifying any additional concerns on issues, alternatives, 
procedures, and other matters related to the scoping process.
    Public Involvement: We invite the participation of affected 
Federal, State, and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other 
interested private organizations and parties. The Corps plans to hold 
two sets of public meetings associated with the planning component of 
the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements Program.
    Coordination: The proposed action is being coordinated with U.S. 
Fish and

[[Page 57414]]

Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service under 
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, with the FWS under the Fish 
and Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the State Historic Preservation 
Officer.
    Other Environmental Review and Consultation: The proposed action 
would involve evaluation for compliance with guidelines pursuant to 
Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act; application (to the State of 
Florida) for Water Quality Certification pursuant to Section 401 of the 
Clean Water Act; certification of state lands, easements and rights-of-
way; and determination of Coastal Zone Management Act consistency.
    Agency Role: As the non-Federal sponsor, the South Florida Water 
Management District will provide extensive information and assistance 
coordinating local units of government and with the identification of 
resources to be impacted, mitigation measures, alternatives and 
prioritization of program components.
    DEIS Preparation: It is estimated that the Draft EIS will be 
available to the public for review by January 2003. The Corps plans to 
post the Draft EIS on the environmental documents page of the 
Jacksonville District's Web Site (http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/pd/env-doc.html.)

George M. Strain,
Acting Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 02-23004 Filed 9-9-02; 8:45 am]
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