[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 42 (Friday, March 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 10609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4178]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Cancellation of the Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Acme Basin B Discharge Project

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice; cancellation.

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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hereby 
cancels its Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Acme Basin B Discharge Project, as published 
in Federal Register on Friday, May 24, 2002 (67 FR 36577).
    The notice is canceled because, during scoping for this project and 
development of alternatives, it appeared that each of the alternatives 
would affect the same 410 acres of agricultural lands, converting sugar 
cane into functional wetlands, resulting in discharge of cleaner water 
into Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (WCA-1), increasing the 
spatial extent of Everglades wetlands and reducing freshwater flows 
into Lake Worth Lagoon. While all of these effects are environmentally 
beneficial, the relative magnitude of the impacts in the context of 
greater Everglades's restoration was determined not to be significant. 
There are not expected to be any adverse impacts on public health and 
safety; the affected area (Acme Basin B) is not environmentally unique; 
the significant WCA-1 wetlands will benefit by a relatively small 
increment, as will Lake Worth Lagoon. No public controversy related to 
the proposed alternatives developed during scoping for this project, 
nor are there high levels of uncertainty, unique or unknown risks 
associated with the study, nor have surveys revealed the presence of 
any significant wildlife, cultural resource elements or contaminants.
    An environmental Assessment will be prepared and coordinated for 
the proposed action. This document is expected to be available in 
August 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nancy Allen, Flood Control and 
Flood Plain Management Section, Planning Division, Jacksonville 
District, Corps of Engineers, Post Office Box 4970, Jacksonville, FL 
32232-0019, Phone: (904) 232-3206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: None.

    Dated: February 22, 2005.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 05-4178 Filed 3-3-05; 8:45 am]
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