[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63903-63904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26337]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
North Palm Beach County Project, Part 1 in Palm Beach County, FL

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 
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the North Palm 
Beach County (NPBC) Project, Part 1. The study is a cooperative effort 
between the Corps and the South Florida Water Management District 
(SFWMD), which is also 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 NPBC Project. This 
project includes 6 separable components that together will provide 
environmental, urban, and agricultural water supply needs, flood 
attenuation, and some water quality improvements for NPBC. The 
components include the Pal-Mar and Corbett Hydropattern Restoration, L-
8 Basin Modifications, C-51 and L-8 Basin Reservoir, Lake Worth Lagoon 
Restoration, C-17 Backpumping and Treatment, and C-51 Backpumping and 
Treatment.

DATES: A public scoping meeting is scheduled for October 29, 2002, 6:30 
p.m., at the B1-Auditorium, SFWMD, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, 
Palm Beach County.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rebecca Weiss, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Planning Division, Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, 
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019, or by telephone at 904-899-5025.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Authorization: Entitled ``Everglades and South Florida Ecosystem 
Restoration'', section 528 of the Water Resources Development Act 
(WRDA) of 1996 authorized a number of ecosystem restoration activities, 
including the North Palm Beach County Project (Pub. L. 104-303). The 
restoration activities were a continuation of earlier efforts started 
during the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project Comprehensive 
Review Study (Restudy), authorized by section 309(l) of the WRDA of 
1992 (Pub. L. 102-580). Signed on December 11, 2000, section 601 of the 
WRDA of 2000 authorized a framework and guide for modifications to the 
C&SF Project to restore the south Florida ecosystem and to provide for 
the other water-related needs of the region.
    b. Project Scope: The NPBC project will promote environmental 
restoration and sustainable water resources in Palm Beach County 
through 6 separable components. The Pal-Mar and J.W. Corbett 
Hydropattern Restoration involves acquisition of 3,000 acres of land to 
extend the spatial extent of protected natural areas and provide a 
hydrologic connection between the Pal-Mar and Corbett Wildlife 
Management Area. The L-8 Basin Modification consists of conveyance 
improvements to increase water supply availability and enhance 
hydroperiods in Loxahatchee Slough. C-51 and L-8 Basin Reservoir 
involves construction of 48,000 acre-feet reservoir or reservoirs for 
long term storage to meet water supply and to reduce discharges to Lake 
Worth Lagoon. Lake Worth Lagoon Restoration includes sediment removal 
to provide improvements to the lagoon environment and augment local 
habitat restoration efforts planned by Palm Beach County. The C-17 and 
the C-51 backpumping components include backpumping facilities and 
construction of a 550-acre and a 600-acre stormwater treatment area, 
respectively, to increase water supplies to West Palm Beach Water 
Catchment Area and enhance hydroperiods in Loxahatchee Slough.
    c. Preliminary Alternatives: Formulation of alternative plans will 
involve the selection of the most suitable site for the reservoirs, 
pump stations, land acquisitions, and other surface facilities, 
impoundment depths and configurations, canal modifications, water 
treatment requirements, investigation of intake and discharge sites of 
stored water, and investigation of best configuration of surface 
facilities for the project.
    The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will include an evaluation 
of adverse environmental impacts, including but not limited to, water 
quality, socio-economic, archaeological and biological. In addition, to 
adverse impacts, the evaluation will also focus on how well the plans 
perform with regard to specific ecological performance measures.
    d. Issues: The EIS will consider impacts on water quality, 
ecosystem habitat, threatened and endangered species, health and 
safety, aesthetics and recreation, fish and wildlife resources, 
cultural resources, water availability, flood protection, and other 
potential impacts identified through scoping, public involvement, and 
interagency coordination.
    e. Scoping: A public scoping meeting is scheduled for October 29, 
2002 (see DATES). A scoping letter will also be issued October 2002 to 
interested parties. In addition, all parties are invited to participate 
in the scoping process by identifying any additional concerns on issues 
studies needed, alternatives, procedures, and other matters related to 
the scoping process.
    f. Public Involvement: We invite the participation of affected 
Federal, state and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other 
interested private organizations and parties.
    g. Coordination: The proposed action is being coordinated with the 
U.S. Fish and 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.
    h. 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 right of 
ways, and determination of Coastal Zone Management Act consistency.
    i. Agency Role: As the cooperating agency, non-Federal sponsor, and 
leading local expert, SFWMD will provide information and assistance on 
the resources to be impacted and alternatives.
    j. DEIS Preparation: The integrated Project Implementation Report,

[[Page 63904]]

including a DEIS, is currently scheduled for publication in June 2004.


    Dated: October 8, 2002.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 02-26337 Filed 10-15-02; 8:45 am]
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