[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11070-11071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5486]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project

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 an integrated Project Implementation 
Report/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (PIR/DEIS) for the Biscayne 
Bay Coastal Wetlands Project. 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 implementation of 
the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project. The purpose of this project 
is to rehydrate wetlands and reduce point source discharge to Biscayne 
Bay. This study is intended to replace lost overland flow and partially 
compensate for the reduction in groundwater seepage by redistributing, 
through a spreader system, available surface water entering the area 
from regional canals. This project is a component of the Comprehensive 
Everglades Restoration Plan, 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 904-232-3582.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Authorization: The authority for this project is contained 
within 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: The general geographical extent of the project is 
along the mainland coast of southern Biscayne Bay from the Deering 
Estate, south to the Florida Power and Light Turkey Point Power Plant, 
generally along the L-3E canal in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The study 
area will extend further west and south, as needed, to evaluate project 
effects.
    c. Project Scope: The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands project may 
include the installation or construction of pump stations, spreader 
swales, stormwater treatment areas, flowways, levees, culverts, and 
backfilling canals as part of an effort to rehydrate wetlands and 
reduce point source discharge to Biscayne Bay.
    The purpose of these features is to replace lost overland flow and 
partially compensate for the reduction in groundwater seepage by 
redistributing, through a spreader system, available

[[Page 11071]]

surface water entering the area from regional canals. The proposed 
redistribution of freshwater flow across a broad front is expected to 
restore or enhance freshwater wetlands, tidal wetlands, and nearshore 
bay habitat.
    The study will evaluate alternatives based on their ability to 
improve water deliveries to the natural system, protect and conserve 
water resources, protect or restore fish and wildlife and their 
associated habitat, restore and manage wetland and associated upland 
ecosystems, sustain economic and natural resources, improve water 
quality, 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.
    The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project 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 performance 
measures.
    e. Issues: The EIS will address the impacts concerning freshwater 
overland flow into Biscayne Bay; and water quality, particularly in the 
estuaries and receiving waters of Biscayne Bay and the reef tract.
    The EIS will also address environmental issues, such as: 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.
    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 integrated draft PIR, which will include a 
draft EIS, is currently scheduled for publication in July 2005.

    Dated: February 21, 2003.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 03-5486 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
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