[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 15158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7498]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
C-43 Basin Storage Reservoir Project adjacent to the Caloosahatchee 
River, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte, or Lee 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 C-43 Basin 
Storage Reservoir 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 C-43 Basin Storage 
Reservoir Project. This project includes the construction of an 
approximately 160,000 acre-feet storage area within the Caloosahatchee 
Basin to capture and store stormwater runoff and water releases from 
Lake Okeechobee. Stored water would be used to meet the environmental 
demands of the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary and urban and 
agricultural demand as able.

DATES: A public meeting is cheduled for May 1, 2003, 7 p.m. in Hendry 
County at the Dallas B. Townsend Agricultural Center, 1085 Pratt 
Boulevard, LaBelle, FL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Susan Conner, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Planning Division, Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, 
Jacksonville, FL, 32232-0019, or by telephone at 904-232-1782.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Authorization: Section 601 of the Water Resources Development 
Act 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, including the C-43 Basin 
Storage Reservoir Project.
    b. Project Scope: The purpose of this project is to capture C-43 
Basin runoff and releases from Lake Okeechobee. These facilities will 
be designed for water supply benefits, some flood attenuation, to 
provide environmental water supply deliveries to the Caloosahatchee 
Estuary, and water quality benefits to reduce salinity and nutrient 
impacts of runoff to the estuary. It is assumed that, depending upon 
the location of the facility and pollutant loading conditions in the 
watershed, the facility could be designed to achieve significant water 
quality improvements, consistent with appropriate pollution load 
reduction targets. The project as proposed will include the 
construction of an above-ground reservoir(s) with a total capacity of 
approximately 160,000 acre-feet, located in the C-43 Basin in Hendry, 
Glades, Charlotte, or Lee Counties. Water levels could fluctutate up to 
8 feet above grade.
    c. Preliminary Alternatives: Formulation of alternative plans will 
involve the selection of the most suitable site or sites for a 
reservoir, depth and configurations of the impoundment(s), 
investigation of intake and discharge sites, and investigation 
opportunities in configuration designs to provide significant water 
quality improvements for the project.
    The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluation of the project 
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 ecological 
and other 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, culture 
resources, water availability, flood protection, and other potential 
impacts identified through scoping, public involvement, and interagency 
coordination.
    e. Scoping: Initial project scoping began in February 2002 at a 
public meeting in Hendry County. A scooping letter was issued in 
February 2002 to interested parties inviting all interested parties and 
government agencies 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. A NEPA scoping letter will be issued in March 2003, along with 
this notice. A public meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2003 (see DATES 
above).
    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 cooperation 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 
(PIR) including a DEIS, is currently estimated for publication in 
September 2004.

    Dated: March 17, 2003.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 03-7498 Filed 3-27-03; 8:45 am]
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