[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70784-70785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31334]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Regional Comprehensive Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Indian River County Beach Restoration Project, 
Indian River 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 a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) to address the potential impacts associated with the 
implementation of beach restoration measures in Indian River County, 
Florida. The Corps will be evaluating a permit application for the work 
under the authority of section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and 
section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The DEIS will be used as a basis 
for the permit decision and to ensure compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Interested parties are invited to 
submit comments on or before February 9, 2004 to assure full 
consideration during the scoping process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comment submissions 
should be addressed to Ms. Irene Sadowski, Jacksonville District at 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2460 N. Courtney Parkway, Suite 204, 
Merritt Island, FL 32953, phone: (321) 453-7655, Ext. 12 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose of the Proposed Project. The applicant proposes to place 
approximately 459,700 cubic yards of beach-quality material along 1.35 
miles of shoreline to restore erosion-damaged beaches and enhance 
existing dunes within Sector 7 in accordance with the County's 
comprehensive shore

[[Page 70785]]

protection program. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection 
has identified 4,000 feet of the project area as an area of Critical 
Erosion. The project is being proposed to: mitigate the historical 
erosion loss; protect upland properties and infrastructure; establish a 
viable beach and dune system for sea turtles; and enhance the 
recreational use of the County's eroded beaches.
    Within Sector 7, continued erosion has limited the availability of 
quality beaches and has increased the cost of protecting the shoreline. 
To protect shorefront properties within the area, extensive seawall 
construction has taken place within recent years. Without adequate 
large-scale measures to counteract erosion rates within this area, more 
shoreline armoring to protect property is likely to occur.
    Beach restoration was recommended for this shoreline based on 
erosion rates, proximity of major structures to mean high water line, 
beach width, available sand resources and coastal dynamics. The goals 
of the beach restoration and dune enhancement are to optimize the 
performance and cost of the project while providing storm protection 
for the upland properties, limiting direct and indirect coverage of 
nearshore hardbottom habitats, creating additional nesting habitat for 
marine turtles, and providing greater recreational area along the 
County's beaches.
    Indian River County recently completed a beach restoration project 
in Sectors 1 and 2 at the northern end of the County (Ambersand Beach 
Restoration Project), under the authority of the Department of the Army 
Permit Number 200001872 (IP-IS) and the Florida Department of 
Environmental Protection Permit Number 0166929-001-JC. This project 
involved the development of an Environmental Assessment and Regional 
Cumulative Impact Assessment. This regional assessment of the 
cumulative impacts associated with beach nourishment activities will be 
updated with this project and included in the DEIS as an appendix.
    The DEIS intends to focus on Sector 7 and incorporate the effects 
of all future beach nourishment projects in less detail. Future 
projects within Indian River County with be added as supplements to the 
EIS when these projects come on line.
    Alternatives. For the Sector 7 beach restoration project, the 
applicant has provided analysis of a number of alternatives, including 
the No Action Alternative, in addition to the proposed alternative. 
Alternatives to be evaluated in the DEIS include the use of sand 
retention structures and decreased fill volume. Other alternatives with 
the potential to further minimize environmental impacts may be included 
in the DEIS.
    Issues. Issues related with this beach restoration project include 
impacts to nearshore hardbottom resources, impacts to Essential Fish 
Habitat, impacts to marine turtles including foraging habitat and 
nesting beaches, and beach access concerns.
    Scoping and Public Involvement. The scoping process will involve 
Federal, State, County, and municipal agencies and other interested 
persons and organizations. A workshop was held at the Indian River 
County Commission Chambers, 1840 25th Street, Vero Beach, FL, by Indian 
River County on July 23, 2003, to solicit comments from interested 
organizations and individuals on the scope of the DEIS. Comments 
received included the use of public monies for the work, the need for 
the work, impacts to nearshore hardbottom reefs, alternative designs, 
and the need for public access. Issues brought forth may be considered 
during the EIS process.
    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 and the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
    DEIS Preparation. It is estimated that the DEIS will be available 
to the public by June 2004.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-31334 Filed 12-18-03; 8:45 am]
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