[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17132-17133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7598]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction for South Ponte Vedra Beach, 
Vilano Beach, and Summer Haven Beach Reaches, St. Johns 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, Jacksonville District, 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 
evaluation of the feasibility of providing hurricane and storm damage 
reduction (HSDR), and related purposes to the shores of St. Johns 
County, Florida. In cooperation with St. Johns County, the study will 
evaluate alternatives that will maximize HSDR while minimizing 
environmental impacts within three reaches designated critically eroded 
by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP): (1) South 
Ponte Vedra Beach (R84-R110/5 miles), (2) Vilano Beach (R110-R122/2.5 
miles) and (3) Summer Haven Beach (R197-R209/2.3 miles).

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

[[Page 17133]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul M. DeMarco, by e-mail 
[email protected] or by telephone at 904-232-1897.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Proposed Action. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962 gave the 
Secretary of the Army broad authorization to survey coastal areas of 
the United States and its possessions in the interest of beach erosion 
control, hurricane protection and related purposes, provided that 
surveys of particular areas would be authorized by appropriate 
resolutions (Pub. L. 87-874, Section 110). As a result, portions of the 
St. Johns County shoreline experiencing severe erosion were studied 
extensively. The St. Johns County, Florida General Reevaluation Report 
(GRR) (USACE 1998), recommended beach nourishment along St. Augustine 
Beach. Initial fill was completed in January 2003.
    Authority for the proposed study is House Resolution 2646 adopted 
June 21, 2000. A Reconnaissance Report completed in March 2004, by the 
Corps, concluded based on preliminary findings, there was a federal 
interest in pursuing HSDR for the Vilano Beach and Summer Haven Beach 
reaches. Subsequent to the completion of that report, South Ponte Vedra 
Beach experienced severe erosion, was designated as a critically eroded 
beach by FDEP, and therefore added to the scope of the Federal study.
    b. Alternatives. Project's alternatives include no action and 
various levels of protection along approximately 9.8 miles of coastal 
shoreline along three reaches designated as critically eroded areas. In 
addition to various levels of beach nourishment and periodic 
renourishment, the Corps will consider other management measures such 
as nearshore placement of sand, breakwaters, submerged artificial reef, 
groins, revetments, seawalls, dunes/vegetation, change to the Coastal 
Construction Control Line, relocation of structures, moratorium on 
construction, establish a no-growth program, relocation of structures, 
flood proofing of structures, and condemnation of structures with land 
acquisition.
    c. Scoping Process. The scoping process as outlined by the Council 
on Environmental Quality has been and will continue to be utilized to 
involve Federal, State, and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and 
other interested persons and organizations. Scoping letters were sent 
to the appropriate parties requesting their comments and concerns on 
August 17, 2005, for the Summer Haven and Vilano Beach reaches of the 
study area. After that time, FDEP designated the South Ponte Vedra 
Reach as critically eroding. A second scoping letter was sent out on 
September 16, 2008, to include the South Ponte Vedra Reach in the study 
area. Initial comments and concerns have been received. Any additional 
persons and organizations wishing to participate in the scoping process 
should contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the above address.
    Significant issues to be analyzed in the DEIS would include effects 
on Federally listed threatened and endangered species, and Essential 
Fish Habitat. Other issues would be health and safety, water quality, 
aesthetics and recreation, fish and wildlife resources, cultural 
resources, and socio-economic resources. Issues identified through 
scoping and public involvement thus far include loss of land and 
property due to erosion, lack of protection from hurricanes, loss of 
recreational beach, concern over impacts to sea turtles and shore birds 
from renourishment, concern over impacts to benthic organisms from 
mining and fill, concern over protecting surfing spots and the revenue 
they generate, concern over wasting Federal tax dollars, too much time 
since the first studies without positive results, and concern that 
revetments and seawalls harm sea turtle nesting.
    Any proposed action would be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and with the State 
Historic Preservation Officer. The NMFS Habitat Conservation Division 
(HCD) has accepted cooperating agency status on the study.
    Any proposed action would also involve evaluation for compliance 
with guidelines pursuant to section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act; 
application (to the State of Florida) for Water Quality Certification 
pursuant to section 401 of the Clean Water Act; certification of state 
lands, easements, and rights of way; and determination of Coastal Zone 
Management Act consistency. The FDEP Bureau of Beaches and Coastal 
Systems (BBCS) has also accepted cooperating agency status on the 
study.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the non-Federal sponsor, St. 
Johns County, would provide extensive information and assistance on the 
resources to be impacted and alternatives.
    d. Scoping Meetings. Public scoping meetings could be held. Exact 
dates, times, and locations would be published in local papers.
    e. Agency Role. As the cooperating agency, NMFS HCD and FDEP BBCS 
will provide information and assistance on the resources to be 
impacted, mitigation measures and alternatives. Other agencies having 
either regulatory authority or special expertise may also be invited to 
become a cooperating agency in preparation of the EIS. Specifically, as 
a Federal agency with jurisdiction to manage resources available on the 
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), the U.S. Minerals Management Service 
would be invited should potential borrow areas be identified within 
Federal waters (outside the 3-mile State statutory limit).
    f. Draft Environmental Impact Statement Availability. The study 
schedule is dependent upon Congressional funding and the current 
estimate is for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement to be 
available on or after 2012.

    Dated: March 25, 2010.
Eric P. Summa,
Chief, Environmental Branch.
[FR Doc. 2010-7598 Filed 4-2-10; 8:45 am]
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