[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 61080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24533]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Florida Bay/Florida Keys Integrated Feasibility Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Jacksonville 
District, intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for Florida Bay/Florida Keys Integrated Feasibility Study. The 
study is a cooperative effort between the Corps and the South Florida 
Water Management District (SFWMD), which is a cooperating agency for 
this DEIS. One of the recommendations of the final report of the 
Central & South Florida (C&SF) Comprehensive Review Study (Restudy) was 
the implementation of the Florida Bay/Florida Keys Integrated 
Feasibility Study. This study is intended to develop a comprehensive 
watershed plan, which identifies structural and/or operational 
modifications upstream of Florida Bay and to improve water quality in 
Florida Bay and Florida Keys. This study is a component of the 
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), a multi-year effort 
to restore the greater Everglades ecosystem while providing water 
supply and other water-related benefits to South Florida over many 
decades.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brad Tarr, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Planning Division, Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, 
Jacksonville, FL, 32232-0019, by email [email protected], 
or by telephone at 904-232-3592.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    a. Authorization: The authority for this project is contained in 
Section 601(c)(x) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2000. 
The ``Design Agreement between the Department of the Army and the SFWMD 
for the Design of Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the Everglades 
and South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Project'' contains additional 
guidance.
    b. Study Area: Florida Bay and the Florida Keys are located in 
southern Dade and Monroe Counties. These areas are the receiving bodies 
of water released from the everglades through both Shark River and 
Taylor sloughs. The Study area extends from the western edge of Florida 
Bay out beyond the reef tract and south to Key West. The Northern 
Limits are wetlands above the coastal lakes on the northern edge of 
Florida Bay.
    c. Project Scope: The Restudy recommended conducting a feasibility 
study to comprehensively examine the Florida Bay and Florida Keys 
marine habitats and environmental conditions, along with the actions 
and land uses upstream, to determine the modifications necessary to 
successfully restore water quality and ecological conditions to the 
region.
    The study will evaluate alternatives based on their ability to 
improve water deliveries to the natural system, protect and conserve 
water resources, improve water quality, protect or restore fish and 
wildlife and their associated habitat, restore and manage wetland and 
associated upland ecosystems, sustain economic and natural resources, 
and other performance criteria being developed by the Project Delivery 
Team.
    d. Preliminary Alternatives: Additional alternatives will be 
drafted which may be revised pending model results and public feedback. 
These alternatives will provide operational targets to upstream 
modifications, as well as, potential structural changes and wetland or 
flow restoration.
    The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will include an evaluation 
of adverse environmental impacts, including but not limited to, water 
quality, socio-economic, archeological and biological. In addition to 
adverse impacts, the evaluation will also focus on how well the plans 
perform with regard to specific performance measures.
    e. Issues: The EIS will address the impacts concerning freshwater 
flow into Florida Bay from both Shark River and Taylor sloughs; and 
water quality, particularly in the receiving waters of Florida Bay and 
the reef tract.
    The EIS will also address other environmental issues including: 
Impacts to the estuaries; flood protection; 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 comments on alternatives and issues from Federal, State, and 
local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested private 
organizations and individuals. The next public workshops are scheduled 
for October 8, 2002, at the Marathon Government Center, on 2798 
Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida; and on October 9, 2002 at the Key 
Largo Civil Club, on 209 Ocean Bay Drive, Key Largo, Florida. The 
meetings will begin at 7 p.m. and continue to 9 p.m.
    Other public meetings will be held over the course of the study; 
the exact location, dates, and times will be announced in public 
notices and local newspapers.
    g. DEIS Preparation: The DEIS is currently scheduled for 
publication in January 2005.

    Dated: September 10, 2002.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 02-24533 Filed 9-26-02; 8:45 am]
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