[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60384-60385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24417]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Florida Keys Coastal Storm Risk Management Study

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to prepare a Feasibility 
Study with an integrated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
evaluate environmental impacts from reasonable project alternatives to 
protect nearshore areas of Monroe County, Florida, from hurricanes and 
other storms with their associated wind, storm surge, and coastal 
flooding.

DATES: Scoping comments are due by December 9, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit NEPA scoping comments to Ms. 
Kathy Perdue, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Norfolk District, Fort Norfolk, 803 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510 or via 
email: [email protected]. The project title and the 
commenter's

[[Page 60385]]

contact information should be included with submitted comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kathy Perdue, (757) 201-7218.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicable laws and regulations are section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and Section 
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, 16 
U.S.C. 470f as implemented by Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 
regulations (36 CFR part 800). The study authority is Public Law 84-71 
of 1955 which authorizes examination and survey of the coastal and 
tidal areas of the eastern and southern United States, with particular 
reference to areas where severe damages have occurred from hurricane 
winds and tides.
    The primary problem is the vulnerability of critical 
infrastructure: the U.S. Route 1 corridor, and local development and 
population centers, to storm damage from major storms. Coastal flooding 
is exacerbated by Relative Sea Level Change, which also amplifies storm 
surge due to higher waters. These trends are expected to continue and 
worsen without intervention. Measures being considered include 
structural, nonstructural and natural and nature-based features such as 
road stabilization, buyouts/elevations of buildings, dry and wet flood-
proofing of buildings, early warning systems, mangrove restoration, and 
living shorelines.
    USACE is the lead federal agency and Monroe County is the non-
federal sponsor for the study effort. The Feasibility Study/EIS will 
address the primary problem of the increasing storm damage and flooding 
occurring and expected to increase in the area by studying all 
reasonable alternatives and determine the Federal interest in cost-
sharing for those alternatives.
    As required by Council on Environmental Quality's Principles, 
Requirements and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources 
Implementation Studies, all reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
Federal action that meet the purpose and need will be considered in the 
EIS. The Study Area consists of all of the Florida Keys, a 123-mile-
long chain of islands extending into the Gulf of Mexico to the southern 
tip of Florida. Several alternatives are currently being considered, 
including a no action alternative and various combinations of 
structural measures, nonstructural measures, and natural and nature 
based features for reducing risks and damages caused by coastal storms 
in the Study Area in Monroe County, Florida.
    Scoping/Public Involvement. Two public NEPA scoping meetings were 
held in Monroe County. On September 11, 2019, from 5 p.m.--7 p.m. at 
the Key Largo Board of County Commissioners Room, Murray Nelson 
Government Center, 102050 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037. A second 
public meeting was held on September 12, 2019, at the Key West 
Commission Room, Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, Key 
West, Florida 33040. Federal, state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, 
and the public are invited to provide scoping comments to identify 
issues and potentially significant effects to be considered in the 
analysis.

Diana M. Holland,
Major General, U.S. Army, Commander, South Atlantic Division.
[FR Doc. 2019-24417 Filed 11-7-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P