[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 97 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28843-28844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11111]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Scoping for Preparing an Environmental Impact Analysis 
of a Proposed Pilot Project at Everglades National Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Scoping for preparing an environmental impact 
analysis of a proposed pilot project at Everglades National Park.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
that public scoping is being initiated for an environmental impact 
analysis process to evaluate the use of swales placed downstream of 
existing culverts for improving water flows under Tamiami Trail (U.S. 
41) into Northeast Shark Slough, Everglades National Park (Park). The 
purpose of this scoping effort is to identify environmental issues and 
potential alternatives to be addressed in the environmental impact 
analysis. The NEPA analysis will begin with the preparation of the 
Environmental Assessment (EA). As the project moves forward and if the 
National Park Service (NPS) determines that this project is likely to 
result in significant impacts to the human environment, the EA will be 
converted to an Environmental Impact Statement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Everglades National Park Protection and 
Expansion Act of 1989, 16 U.S.C. 410r-5 et seq., (Expansion Act) 
expanded the boundaries of the Park to include approximately 109,000 
acres (Expansion Area) south of the Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade County, 
Florida. The Expansion Act directs the NPS to preserve the Park's 
outstanding natural features, and enhance and restore its ecological 
values and natural hydrologic conditions. The Expansion Act also 
authorized the Modified Water Deliveries (MWD) Project, whose purpose 
is to improve water deliveries within the Park and restore the natural 
hydrologic conditions to the extent practicable.
    One of the objectives of the MWD Project is to improve the 
conveyance of water to the Expansion Area, which will require 
modifications to Tamiami Trail and associated culverts under the 
roadway. In this regard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) is 
preparing the 2008 Limited Reevaluation Report to assess potential 
roadway modifications, including alternatives such as constructing 
bridges, adding culverts, and installing swales downstream of existing 
culverts.
    Recent modeling done by the USACOE suggests that constructing 
bridges and adding culverts may improve water flow to the Expansion 
Area. However, the efficacy of placing swales downstream of existing 
culverts as a measure to improve hydrologic conveyance remains 
questionable. In addition, the potential environmental impacts caused 
by swale construction must be addressed. Therefore, the Park believes 
it is appropriate to assess the potential effects of swale construction 
in a comprehensive manner by means of a pilot project.
    The purpose of the pilot project is to test whether constructing 
spreader swales downstream of two existing culverts will improve water 
flow into the Northeast Shark Slough. Test results should enable a 
realistic assessment of the degree of improved hydrologic conveyance 
provided by the swales when compared to the conveyance capacity of the 
existing culverts. In addition, test results are expected to assist in 
determining the relative ecological benefits of swales and the 
environmental impacts associated with their construction and use.

DATES: Written comments regarding the proposed project must be 
postmarked no later than 30 days from the publication of this notice. 
As part of this scoping effort, a public workshop will be held in 
Miami-Dade County to solicit public input about the proposed project. 
Notification of the workshop will be announced in the newspaper Miami 
Herald and through the NPS Planning

[[Page 28844]]

Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to National Park 
Service, Attention Pat Kenney, Denver Service Center, Planning 
Division, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225-0287. Comments may 
also be submitted via the PEPC Web site using the links provided below. 
General information about the proposed project is available at the 
office of the Superintendent, Everglades National Park, 40001 State 
Road 9336, Homestead, Florida 33034. Additionally, interested persons 
may view the PEPC Web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov, then select 
``Everglades NP'' from the drop down box, then ``Proposed Spreader 
Swales Pilot Test,'' and ``Open for Public Comment.''
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent's Office, at 305-242-
7707, or [email protected].

    Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is contained 
in 40 CFR 1506.6.

    The responsible official for this notice is the Acting Regional 
Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street, 
SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: May 8, 2008.
Art Frederick,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E8-11111 Filed 5-16-08; 8:45 am]
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