[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 167 (Monday, August 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 44828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20912]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Second Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement to the Final EIS on Herbert Hoover Dike Major Rehabilitation 
and Evaluation Report, Reaches 2 and 3 (Belle Glade to Moore Haven), in 
Palm Beach, Hendry, and Glades Counties, FL

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Herbert Hoover Dike is the levee and water control system that 
provides flood protection to communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee. 
The purpose of this project is to evaluate rehabilitation solutions for 
Reaches 2 and 3 of the dike so that the authorized level of flood 
protection can be provided to reduce the risk of a catastrophic failure 
or breach of the embankment. Reaches 2 and 3 of the HHD extend for 
approximately 27 miles between an area west of Belle Glade, Palm Beach 
County to east of Moore Haven, Glades County, FL. On July 8 2005, the 
Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued a 
Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the Major 
Rehabilitation actions proposed for Herbert Hoover Dike (HHD), Reach 1. 
On September 23, 2005, a Record of Decision was signed adopting the 
preferred alternative as the Selected Plan for Reach 1.
    The preferred plan described in the draft SEIS for the MRR Reaches 
2 and 3 was based on the Reach 1 preferred plan. However, as designs 
were optimized during development of the plans and specifications for 
Reach 1, it became apparent that a cutoff wall in combination with a 
seepage berm would not work for all of Herbert Hoover Dike. The 
alternative for Reaches 2 and 3 will be a combination of a cutoff wall 
with a seepage berm and a relief feature such as a Relief Trench, Soil 
Replacement Wedge, Relief Wells, Drainage Feature, or Sand Columns. The 
specific features selected and dimension of the features will be site 
specific, dependent on the local geology and site conditions along 
Reaches 2 and 3. This study is a cooperative effort between the Corps 
and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Angela Dunn at (904) 232-2108 or 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. The proposed action will be the selected plan described in the 
July 2005 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) with the 
additional actions of: Extending construction along Reaches 2 and 3 of 
the levee and implementing the landside rehabilitation features as 
needed based on geology and adjacent land factors. The proposed action 
will not affect the Regulation Schedule for Lake Okeechobee. Land may 
have to be acquired outside of the existing right-of-way (ROW) and this 
SEIS will account for any impacts that result due to acquisition of 
additional real estate.
    b. The preferred plan design will be optimized according to the 
local geology and site conditions along Reaches 2 and 3. The features 
that may be part of the preferred plan include: Cutoff Wall, Seepage 
Berm, Relief Trench, Soil Replacement Wedge, Relief Wells, Sand Column 
and Drainage Feature.
    c. A scoping letter will be used to invite comments on alternatives 
and issues from Federal, State, and local agencies, affected Indian 
tribes, and other interested private organizations and individuals. A 
Scoping Letter describing the proposed project and soliciting comments 
was sent to government agencies, non-governmental agencies, Indian 
Tribes and the interested public on August 10, 2006. A scoping meeting 
is not anticipated.
    d. A public meeting will be held after release of the Draft SEIS; 
the exact location, date, and times will be announced in a public 
notice and local newspapers.
    e. A Major Rehabilitation Evaluation Report (MRR) was approved by 
Congress in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2000 that 
addressed the need to repair the aging dike.
    f. Draft SEIS Preparation: The 2nd DSEIS is expected to be 
available for public review in the first quarter of CY 2010.

    Dated: August 19, 2009.
Kenneth R. Dugger,
Acting Chief, Environmental Branch.
[FR Doc. E9-20912 Filed 8-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P