[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58592-58593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8476]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement on Rock Mining in Wetlands in the Lake Belt Region of Miami-
Dade County, FL

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army corps of Engineers (Corps) Jacksonville District 
intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) 
to evaluate potential impacts of further rock mining within wetlands in 
western Miami-date county, FL. The original EIS, The Rock Mining-
Freshwater Lakebelt Plan Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, 
issued in May 2000 focused on the potential impacts of a 50-year mining 
plan within the Lake Belt area. After evaluating the EIS, the Corps 
issued a Record of Decision and permits that allowed mining within a 
smaller, 10-year plan in April 2002. The Corps decision was challenged 
in United States District Court and the Court's Order on Motions for 
Summary Judgement was issued on March 22, 2006 as part of Case No. 03-
23427-CIV-HOEVELER, United States District Court Southern District of 
Florida. The decision instructed the Corps to engage in additional 
analyses of rock mining in the Lake Belt region. Accordingly, the Corps 
is preparing this SEIS.

DATES: The Corps plans to hold a public scoping meeting on October 19, 
2006 at 7 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Miami Dade Fire Rescue 
Headquarters, 9300 NW 41st Street, Doral, FL 33178. (786) 331-5000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Leah Oberlin, (561) 472-3506.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: a. Project background and Authorization. The 
Corps examined the potential impacts of rock mining activities with a 
50-year life under the Miami-Dade County Lakebelt Plan (Lakebelt Plan), 
as accepted by the Florida Legislature in Section 373.4149, Florida 
Statutes (F.S.). The Corps participated in the committee of agency and 
industry representatives created in 1992 by the Florida Legislature, 
prepared an EIS, and participated in a technical review and advisory 
group formed by the Working Group for the Restoration of the South 
Florida Ecosystem. While the original EIS reviewed a 50-year plan for 
rock mining, the Corps issued Department of the Army (DA) authorization 
to ten rock mining companies on April 11, 2002 authorizing 10 year of 
mining activities over a 5,712 acre area. Mining under the 10-year 
permits has been underway for four years.
    b. Need or Purpose. The purpose of the proposed action is to 
continue to provide high-quality construction grade limestone to the 
construction industry in Florida. The Corps recognizes that there is a 
public and private need for this product. The purpose of the proposed 
SEIS is to evaluate the environmental effects of alternatives to meet 
these requirements while protecting the aquatic environment.
    c. Prior EAs, EISs. In May 2000, the Corps produced a Final 
Programmatic EIS for rock mining in the Lake Belt Region considering a 
50-year mining plan. This SEIS will update and supplement that EIS and 
will also evaluate alternatives for present and possible future mining 
operations.
    d. Alternatives. An evaluation of alternatives, including a ``No 
Action'' alternative and rock mining in other areas both inside and 
outside of Miami-Dade County and/or Florida will be done. The SEIS will 
analyze reasonable alternatives to obtaining construction grade 
limestone and other limestone products to meet the identified purpose 
and need. Alternatives will be determined through scoping, but are 
expected to vary according to location, timing, and breadth of mining, 
in addition to a ``no action'' alternative.
    e. Issues. In addition to updating and supplementing the 
information from the 2000 EIS, the following issues have been 
identified for analysis in the SEIS. This list is preliminary and is 
intended to facilitate public comment on the scope of the SEIS. The 
SEIS will consider the effects on Federally listed threatened and 
endangered species, essential fish habitats, health and safety, 
conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, 
wetlands (and other aquatic resources), historic properties, fish and 
wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, 
navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply 
and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber 
production, mineral needs, considerations and property ownership, and, 
in general, the needs and welfare of the people, and other issues 
identified through scoping, public involvement, and interagency 
coordination. At the present time, our primary environmental focus will 
be on endangered species (including but not limited to possible effects 
on the wood stock and the Eastern indigo snake), the loss of wetland 
functions and value, mitigation (including but not limited to the 
available of land for acquisition in Pennsucco and other mitigation 
options), drinking water well field protection (including but not 
limited to possible contaminants including benzene, cryptosporidum, and 
giardia), groundwater seepage to the east (including but not limited to 
possible impacts to resources of Everglades National Park), and surface 
water quality.
    We expect to better define the issues of concern and define the 
methods that will be used to evaluate those issues through the scoping 
process.
    f. Scoping Process. CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) require an 
early and open process for determining the scope of an EIS and for 
identifying significant issues related to the proposed action. The 
public will be involved in the scoping and evaluation process through 
advertisements, notices, and other means. At a minimum, all parties who 
have expressed interest in the Lake Belt Rock Mining Permits will be 
given the opportunity to participate in this process. Federal, state 
and local agencies, and other interested groups will also be involved. 
Meetings to address discrete issues or parts or functions of the study 
area may be called. 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 scope of the SEIS.
    A public scoping meeting is scheduled for (see DATES and 
ADDRESSES). The Corps will provide additional notification of the 
meeting time and location through newspaper advertisements and other 
means. Following a short presentation on the planned SEIS, verbal and 
written comments on the scope of the SEIS will

[[Page 58593]]

be accepted. A transcript of verbal comments will be generated to 
ensure accuracy. A Spanish language translator will be available. To 
submit comments on the scope of the Lake Belt SEIS or to request copies 
of materials related to this effort as they become available to the 
public, contact: Ms. Leah Oberlin, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Regulatory Division, Palm Beach Gardens Regulatory Office, 4400 PGA 
Boulevard, Suite 500, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 33410, by e-mail at 
[email protected], or by telephone at (561) 472-3506. 
Comments or requests for information can also be submitted on the Lake 
Belt SEIS Web site at http://www.lakebeltseis.com. The Corps will 
consider all comments for the scope of the SEIS received by November 
17, 2006.
    g. Public Involvement. The Corps invites Federal agencies, American 
Indian Tribal Nations, state and local governments, and other 
interested private organizations and parties to attend the public 
scooping meeting and to comment on the scope of the planned Lake Belt 
SEIS.
    h. Coordination. The proposed action is being coordinated with a 
number of Federal, state, regional, and local agencies including but 
not limited to the following: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Enviormental Protection Agncy, Florida 
Department of Environmental Protection, State Historic Preservation 
Officer, South Florida Water Management District, Miami-Dade County, 
and Everglades National Park, and other agencies as identified in 
scoping, public involvement, and agency coordination.
    i. Other Environmental Review and Consultation. The proposed action 
will involve an evaluation for compliance with all applicable 
guidelines pursuant to section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act. This 
review will involve a detailed evaluation of alternatives to the 
ongoing rock mining in the Lake Belt area, which is not a water 
dependent activity.
    j. Agency Role. The Corps will provide extensive information and 
assistance on the resources to be impacted, mitigation measures, and 
alternatives. Although the Corps does not plan to invite any Federal 
agencies to be cooperating agencies, we expect to receive input and 
critical information from the U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency, the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal, state, and local 
agencies.
    k. Draft Lake Belt SEIS Preparation. It is estimated that the SEIS 
will be available to the public on or about May 2007. At least one 
additional public meeting will be held at that time, during which the 
public will be provided the opportunity to comment on the Draft SEIS 
before its becomes final.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-8476 Filed 10-3-06; 8:45 am]
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