[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13102-13103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5253]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
St. Lucie South Beach and Dune Restoration Project located in St. Lucie 
County, Florida

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
    Cooperating Agency: The Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, 
Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) is a cooperating federal agency 
having jurisdiction by law because the proposed federal action includes 
potential future use of beach compatible sand originating from the 
outer continental shelf.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

DATES: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
we have filed the FEIS 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 FEIS. Comments on the FEIS must be submitted to the 
address below under FOR FURTHER CONTACT INFORMATION and must be 
received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday, April 16, 
2012.
    Scoping: A Scoping Meeting was held in Ft. Pierce, FL on May 19th, 
2010 to gather information for the preparation of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). A Public notice was posted in a 
St. Lucie County newspaper, and mailed to current stakeholder lists 
with notification of the public meetings requesting input and comments 
on issues that should be addressed in the DEIS.
    DEIS and Public Comment. The Notice of Availability of the DEIS was 
published June 3 2011, with a comment period ending 5 p.m. July 18, 
2011. A public comment meeting was held June 29, 2011 at the St. Lucie 
County government offices. After receiving public comments, the USACE 
reviewed all relevant comments and concerns. After the comment period, 
the DEIS was revised to be the FEIS in order to address the comments 
and concerns, or to include additional requested information. On 
January 5, 2012, the applicant revised its preferred alternative to an 
alternative with fewer adverse environmental effects on nearshore 
hardbottom.

ADDRESSES: The FEIS is available online on the Jacksonville District 
Web site at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Divisions/Regulatory/interest.htm. Printed copies of the FEIS are also available for public 
review at the following locations:
    1. St. Lucie County Administration Building, 2300 Virginia Ave., 
Fort Pierce, FL 34982.
    2. St. Lucie County Ft. Pierce Branch Library 101 Melody Lane, Fort 
Pierce, 34950.
    3. St. Lucie County Lakewood Park Branch Library 7605 Santa Barbara 
Drive, Fort Pierce, 34951.
    4. St. Lucie West Library J Building, 500 NW. California Blvd., 
Port St. Lucie, 34986,
    5. USACE Palm Beach Gardens Regulatory Office, 4400 PGA Boulevard, 
Suite 500 Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project is being reviewed under 
Department of the Army permit application number SAJ-2009-03448(IP-
GGL). The primary Federal involvement associated with the Proposed 
Action is the dredging and discharge of fill within navigable waters of 
the United States pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 
U.S.C. 1344) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 
U.S.C. 403).
    Proposed Action: The project is located on South Hutchinson Island 
in St. Lucie County and is approximately 3.4 miles in length. The 
project coincides approximately with Florida Department of 
Environmental Protection Shoreline Monuments R-98 to R-115+1,000 ft, 
the St. Lucie/Martin County line. The northern limit of the project is 
approximately 16,000 feet south of the Hutchinson Island Nuclear Plant. 
The project was proposed by the St. Lucie County Erosion District 
(applicant) to stabilize the beach and dune to protect essential upland 
infrastructure, upland property, expand turtle nesting habitat, and 
increase recreational opportunities. The applicant's preference is to 
utilize a hopper dredge to obtain 485,900 cubic yards of beach 
compatible sand from a borrow area approximately 3.0 miles offshore of 
St. Lucie County. The hopper dredge would deliver the sand by hydraulic 
pumping onto the project beach. The applicant has stated the project 
was anticipated to adversely affect approximately 1.57 acre of near-
shore hard bottom habitat. The impacts include: 0.55 acres of near-
shore hard bottom habitat through direct burial,

[[Page 13103]]

0.02 acres of impacts associated with temporary pipeline placement, and 
1.0 acre of temporary construction-related turbidity impacts. The 
proposal is for new major construction seeking federal authorization, 
and the USACE is required to prepare an EIS when significant 
environmental effects on the human environment are anticipated for 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FEIS 
states the purpose and need for the Proposed Action and the identified 
reasonable alternatives that may achieve the project purpose. The 
alternatives include the no-action alternative, and six other 
alternatives including the applicant's Proposed Action. Each of the 
alternatives identified in the FEIS include varying degrees of 
hardbottom impacts associated with beach and/or dune fill with and 
without stabilizing structures (T-head groins). The EIS process also 
provides opportunity for stakeholder involvement in order for the USACE 
to render an informed final decision on the applicant's proposal. The 
USACE's decision will be to authorize, modify, or deny the applicant's 
Proposed Action.

Donald W. Kinard,
Chief, Regulatory Division, Jacksonville District.
[FR Doc. 2012-5253 Filed 3-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P