[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 111 (Friday, June 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33884-33885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11498]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Revised General Reevaluation Report/
Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (RGRR/SEIS) for the 
Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park, Tamiami Trail 
Feature

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 
intends to

[[Page 33885]]

prepare a Draft Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(DSEIS) for the Tamiami Trail feature of the Modified Water Deliveries 
to Everglades National Park (MWD) project in Miami-Dade County. The 
study is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Everglades National Park (ENP), the Florida Department of 
Transportation, and the South Florida Water Management District.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Moulding, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Planning Division, Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, 
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019, by e-mail, [email protected], or 
by telephone at 904-232-2286.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Authorization: The MWD project in South Florida was authorized 
by the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989. 
Prior to the current study, a Final GRR/SEIS on the project was 
coordinated with the public in December 2003. The document was 
withdrawn without a Record of Decision because additional information 
on costs and benefits required a revision of plan formulation and 
evaluation.
    b. Project Scope: The primary goal of the MWD project is to improve 
water deliveries to ENP from the Central and Southern Florida project. 
The Tamiami Trail feature involves means to convey water south under 
Tamiami Trail, U.S. Highway 41, into Northeast Shark River Slough of 
ENP. Specific Objectives include passing peak MWD flows under the 
highway in as natural a way as practicable without adversely affecting 
the roadbed and public safety.
    c. Preliminary Alternatives: The previously examined alternatives 
will be reevaluated in light of new hydrologic modeling that indicates 
the need for a higher design water elevation, greater construction 
costs resulting from increases in market costs of material, concerns 
for public safety, and the need to raise the profile of any portion of 
the road that would not be bridged.
    d. Issues: The RGRR/SEIS will consider impacts on health and 
safety, aesthetics and recreation, cultural resources, socio-economic 
resources, hydrology, water quality, ecosystem habitat, fish and 
wildlife resources, threatened and endangered species, and construction 
costs.
    e. Scoping: As the nature of the issues have not changed since the 
previous document was issued, no additional scoping is planned.
    f. Public Involvement: Public workshops may be held over the course 
of the study; the exact location, dates, and times will be announced in 
public notices and local newspapers. A Public meeting will be held 
after release of the Draft RGRR/SEIS; the exact location, date, and 
times will be announced in a public notice and local newspapers.
    g. Coordination: The proposed action is in accordance with the Fish 
and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA) of 1958 and the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) of 1973. The coordinating agencies include the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Everglades National Park, the Florida Fish and 
Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of 
Transportation, and the South Florida Water Management District.
    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 and the National Historic 
Preservation Act.
    i. Agency Role: As cooperating agency, Everglades National Park 
will provide extensive information and assistance on the resources to 
be impacted and alternatives.
    j. DSEIS Preparation: The integrated draft RGRR, including a DSEIS, 
is currently estimated for publication in August 2005.

    Dated: June 3, 2005.
Stuart J. Appelbaum,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 05-11498 Filed 6-9-05; 8:45 am]
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