[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32681-32682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12985]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Stormwater Treatment Areas in Everglades 
Agricultural Area Located in Palm Beach and Hendry Counties, FL

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(Draft EIS) has been completed and is available for review and comment.

DATES: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
we have filed the Draft EIS with the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) for publication of their notice of availability in the 
Federal Register. The EPA notice officially starts the 45-day review 
period for this document. It is the goal of the USACE to have this 
notice published on the same date as the EPA notice. However, if that 
does not occur, the date of the EPA notice will determine the closing 
date for comments on the Draft EIS. Comments on the Draft EIS must be 
submitted to the address below under Further Contact Information and 
must be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday, 
July 21, 2008.
    Scoping: Scoping Meetings were held in West Palm Beach, FL, and 
Belle Glade, FL, on July 25th and 26th, respectively, to gather 
information for the preparation of the Draft EIS. Public notices were 
posted in Broward, Palm Beach and Hendry County newspapers, and e-
mailed and air-mailed to current stakeholder lists with notification of 
the public meetings and requesting input and comments on issues that 
should be addressed in the Draft EIS.
    A public meeting for this Draft EIS will be held on Wednesday, June 
25, 2008, from 6 to 9 p.m. at University of Florida, Institute of Food 
and Agricultural Sciences, Everglades Research and Education Conference 
Center, 3200 E. Palm Beach Road, Belle Glade, FL 33430. The purpose of 
this public meeting is to provide the public the opportunity to 
comment, either orally or in writing, on the Draft EIS. Notification of 
the meeting will be announced following same format as the Scoping 
Meetings announcements.

ADDRESSES: The Draft EIS can be viewed online at http://

[[Page 32682]]

www.saj.usace.army.mil/regulatory/index.htm. Copies of the Draft EIS 
are also available for review at the following libraries:

Belle Glade Branch Public Library, 530 S. Main Street, Belle Glade, FL 
33430, Palm Beach County Main Library, 3650 Summit Blvd., W. Palm 
Beach, FL 33406,
Clewiston Public Library, 120 W. Osceola Ave., Clewiston, FL 33440,
Pahokee Branch Public Library, 525 Bacom Point Rd., Pahokee, FL 33476,
Legislative Library, 701 The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300,
Glades County Public Library, P.O. Box 505, Riverside Dr., Moorehaven, 
FL 33471,
South Bay Public Library, 375 SW. 2nd Ave., South Bay, FL 33493.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tori White, Section Chief, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, 4400 PGA Boulevard, 
Suite 500, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410, Telephone: 561-472-3517, 
Fax: 561-626-6971.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The South Florida Water Management District 
(SFWMD) proposes to construct and operate stormwater treatment areas 
(STAs) on Compartments B and C of the Everglades Agricultural Area in 
Palm Beach and Hendry Counties, Florida. Compartment B STA will consist 
of approximately 6,700 acres of effective treatment area, and will be 
operated in close coordination with the existing STA 2 to assist in the 
phosphorus reduction capability of this STA, which discharges into 
Water Conservation Area (WCA) 2A. The SFWMD also proposes that the 
Compartment B STA be used to receive flows that otherwise would be 
directed to STA 1W and STA 1E assuming there is capacity in the 
existing canals. The Compartment C STA will consist of approximately 
6,200 acres of effective treatment area, and will be operated in close 
coordination with existing STA 5 and STA 6 to assist in the phosphorus 
reduction capability of these two STAs, which discharge into WCA 3A and 
Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area. As proposed, the project would 
impact approximately 7,591 acres and 5,918 acres of jurisdictional 
wetlands and other waters of the United States associated with the 
construction of Compartments B and C, respectively. The SFWMD would 
need to obtain a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 404 
of the Clean Water Act from the USACE and an interim land use approval 
from Department of the Interior for construction of Compartments B and 
C which were purchased with federal funds for Everglades restoration. 
This Draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluates the environmental 
effects of 5 alternatives including the SFWMD's preferred alternative 
described above, 2 additional alternatives that utilize Compartments B 
and C but with a different operational regime for Compartment B, an 
alternative that includes other lands for construction of an STA to 
assist existing STA 1W and STA 1E, and the no action alternative.

    Dated: June 2, 2008.
Donald W. Kinard,
Deputy Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. E8-12985 Filed 6-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-AJ-P