[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 94 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26293-26294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12155]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the 
Proposed Section 227 National Shoreline Erosion Control Demonstration 
Project, 63rd Street, ``Hotspot'' Miami Beach, Dade County, FL

AGENCY: Department of the 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 a Technical Report and 100% Plans and 
Specifications with a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 
the placement of an innovative breakwater design to help control 
erosion along the upcoming Test Fill at North Miami Beach using a 
domestic upland sand source. The proposed project is to be constructed 
from NE. 63rd Street to NE. 65th Street, Miami Beach, Dade County, FL. 
The Secretary of the Army is responsible for report approval. a 
collaborative effort between the Jacksonville District and Waterways 
Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul C. Stevenson, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Planning Division, Plan Formulation Branch, 701 San Marco 
Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32207, [email protected] by e-
mail, or phone 904-232-3747.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Authorization. Authority and funds for the project are provided 
by section 227, of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996, 
as amended. The proposed section 227, National Shoreline Erosion 
Control Demonstration Project, 63rd Street, ``Hotspot'', Miami Beach, 
Dade County, Florida, has awarded a contract to URS Group to complete 
100% plans and specifications for an innovative breakwater to help 
control erosion along the Dade County Beach Erosion Control and 
Hurricane Protection (BEC&HP) Project in the same location. The BEC&HP 
for Dade County, Florida was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 
1968 (with supplemental Appropriation Act of 1985 and WRDA 1986) to 
protect, reduce the loss of public beachfront and to prevent or reduce 
periodic damages and potential risk life, health and property in the 
developed lands adjacent to the beach.
    b. Study Area: The project area begins at NE. 63rd Street and 
continues north to NE. 65th Street, Miami Beach, FL, an erosion hot 
spot.
    c. Project Scope: The proposed project area is very specific to the 
erosion hot spot area of Miami Beach, between NE. 63rd Street and NE. 
65th Street. The proposed project footprint will cover approximately 
1,800 linear foot by 40-foot wide and 4.5 to 6-foot high, covered by at 
least one foot of water at Mean Low Water (MLW), 150-foot from the toe 
of fill.
    d. Preliminary Alternatives: The DEIS will evaluate the No Action 
Plan and the nearshore Submerged Artificial Reef Training (SMART) 
structure. SMART is proposed approximately 150-foot from the toe of 
fill for the Test Beach Renourishment at Miami Beach, in the vicinity 
of 63rd Street, ``Hotspot'', Miami Beach, FL. The SMART design consists 
of groupings of reef modules in 200-foot by 40-foot segments, attached 
to an articulated armor concrete mat, parallel to the shoreline for a 
total length of 1,800-foot. The artificial reef modules would vary in 
size from 2,400 (4.5-foot high) pounds to 9,800 (6-foot high) pounds 
and be covered by a minimum of 1-foot of water at MLW. The reef modules 
would be anchored to the mats to prevent ``rolling''. Mat ends would be 
free of reefs modules to help prevent scouring. The SMART design 
breakwater is proposed to help control erosion along the renourished 
and provide environmental benefits (see ftp site ftp://
ftp.saj.usace.army.mil/pub/uploads/k3cdstjv/

[[Page 26294]]

URSMiamiHotSpotSection227/ for the 30% submittal).
    e. Issues: This DEIS will evaluate the potential impacts of the 
innovative submerged breakwater. The environmental analysis will 
incorporate the results of studies/surveys of environmental resources 
within the proposed project area and cumulative effects the proposed 
structure may produce.
    f. Scoping: Scoping for the section 227 National Shoreline Erosion 
Control Development and Demonstration Project, 63rd Street, 
``Hotspot'', Miami Beach, Date County, FL was initiated April 28, 2003, 
via letter. A scoping meeting and teleconference was held April 14, 
2003, with interested resource agency participants. The proposed 
project area has been scoped for several previous Environmental Impact 
Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments in the past. We invite 
the participation of affected Federal, State and local agencies, 
affected Indian tribes, other interested private organizations and the 
public.
    g. DEIS Preparation: The forecasted completion date for the EIS and 
National Environmental Policy Act work is February 4, 2004.

    Dated: May 1, 2003.
George M. Strain,
Acting Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 03-12155 Filed 5-14-03; 8:45 am]
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