[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15157-15158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7501]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Caloosahatchee River Aquifer Storage and Recovery Pilot Project Located 
Southwest of LaBelle on the Berry Groves Property, Hendry 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 Pilot Project Design Report 
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Caloosahatchee 
River Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Pilot 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. This project will determine the feasibility of using ASR 
technology for water storage in the Caloosahatchee River basin as part 
of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program. It will also 
collect scientific data to address the uncertainties associated with 
the ASR technology and for future optimization and design studies.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Authorization: The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 
2000 (Pub. L. 106-541) was enacted in December 2000. Title VI of WRDA 
2000 approved the Comprehensive Plan, provided authorization of an 
initial suite of projects, and included a number of other provisions 
including outreach and periodic reports to Congress. The Caloosahatchee 
ASR pilot project was authorized by Section 601(b)(2)(B) of WRDA 2000.
    b. Project Scope: The pilot project will determine the feasibility 
of ASR technology for water storage at the site, the water quality 
characteristics of source waters, native subsurface waters and 
recovered waters and appropriate water treatment requirements, and 
recommend operational goals for a full scale ASR project within the 
Caloosahatchee River basin. The pilot project includes the construction 
of one ASR well into the Floridan Aquifer with a capacity of 5 million 
gallons per day, a source water collection system that will supply 
water to the ASR system, pre-injection and post recovery water 
treatment facilities, and other associated piping and treatment 
systems.
    Operational plans for the test pilot are to collect surface water, 
treat to drinking water standards, and inject water into the Floridan 
Aquifer System (FAS) for a minimum of two cycle tests. Each cycle test 
includes a period of water storage followed by a period of recovery and 
discharge. Recovered water will be monitored and treated prior to 
discharge into surface water.
    c. Preliminary Alternatives: Formulation of alternative plans will 
involve the selection of collection well configuration, water treatment 
technologies, investigation of intake and discharge sites, and 
investigation of best configuration of surface facilities of the 
project.
    The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluation of the pilot 
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 technologic performance measure.
    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 scooping, public involvement, and 
interagency coordination.
    e. Scoping: A scoping letter will be issued on March 2003 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. As there have already been meetings 
held on the ASR technology and the related C-43 Reservoir Project, 
there is no plan for a public scoping meeting at this time.
    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

[[Page 15158]]

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 Pilot Project Design Report, 
including a DEIS, is currently estimated for publication in March 2006.

    Dated: March 12, 2003.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 03-7501 Filed 3-27-03; 8:45 am]
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