[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3117-3118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-280]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Combined Structural and Operational Plan, Broward and Miami-Dade 
Counties, 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) for the Combined Structural and Operational Plan (CSOP) for the 
Central and Southern Florida Project, WCA-3A and B and the South Dade 
Conveyance System. The study is a cooperative effort between the Corps, 
Everglades National Park (ENP), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 
and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).

[[Page 3118]]

CSOP is an integrated structural and operational plan for two 
modifications of the Central and South Florida (C&SF) Project: the 
Modified Water Deliveries to ENP (MWD) Project and the Canal-111 (C-
111) Project. The objective of CSOP is to define the operations for 
these projects in a manner consistent with their respective project 
purposes.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning Division, 
Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ernest Clarke at (904) 232-1199 or 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: a. Authorization: The MWD General Design 
Memorandum (GDM) and EIS was completed 1992, in response to the ENP 
Protection and Expansion Act of 1989. The C-111 General Reevaluation 
Report (GRR) with integrated EIS was approved in 1994 and the C-111 
project was authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 1996.
    b. Study Area: The study area is located in Broward and Miami-Dade 
Counties, FL, and includes Water Conservation Area 3, ENP and other 
areas designated in previous Corps' reports: 1992 MWD GDM and 1994 C-
111 GRR.
    c. Project Scope: The objective of CSOP is to define the operations 
for the MWD and C-111 projects in a manner consistent with their 
respective purposes. The primary goal of the MWD project is to 
construct structural modifications to the original C&SF project and 
define their operations to allow for ecosystem restoration through 
improved water deliveries to Shark River Slough in ENP. The primary 
goal of the C-111 project modifications is to allow the restoration of 
habitat in Taylor Slough and the eastern panhandle of ENP through new 
water management operations. Refinements to the authorized structural 
improvements for the C-111 project are being addressed in a separate 
engineering report. The scope of the current effort includes developing 
the evaluating alternative plans for achieving MWD and C-111 project 
goals.
    d. Alternatives: Alternatives to be discussed involve various ways 
to convey water through the C&SF system. Alternatives will involve 
alteration of the management of existing C&SF features as well of 
structural modifications to MWD features that have been congressionally 
authorized but not built. The evaluation of the alternatives and 
selection of a recommended plan will be documented in the DEIS. The 
alternative plans will be reviewed under provisions of appropriate laws 
and regulations, including the Endangered Species Act, Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act, Clean Water Act, and Farmland Protection 
Policy Act.
    e. Issues: The DEIS will address the following issues: the relation 
between this project and related projects including MWD, C-111, IOP, 
and 8.5 SMA; impacts to aquatic and wetland habitats; water flows; 
hazardous and toxic waste; water quality; flood protection; aesthetics 
and recreation; fish and wildlife resources, including protected 
species; cultural resources; and other impacts identified through 
scoping, public involvement and interagency coordination.
    f. Public Involvement: A scoping meeting is not anticipated. 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. DSEIS Preparation: The DEIS is expected to be available for 
public review in the 3rd quarter of CY 2007.

Branda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-280 Filed 1-23-07; 8:45 am]
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