[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 2804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1457]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Jacksonville District, Jacksonville FL; Intent To Prepare a Draft
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for the Central and
Southern Florida (C&SF) Project Comprehensive Review Study.
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps), along with the South Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD), intends to prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (DPEIS) for the feasibility phase of the C&SF Project
Comprehensive Review Study. The DPEIS will be done commensurate with
the development of a comprehensive plan that addresses the water
resource needs of south Florida through a re-examination of the design
of the original C&SF Project, authorized in 1948 to provide flood
control, water supply and other purposes to central and southern
Florida.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questiosn about the proposed action and DPEIS can be answered by: Mark
Ziminske, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville,
Florida 32232-0019; Telephone 904-232-1786.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a. Authorization
The C&SF Project Comprehensive Review Study is authorized by
Section 309(1) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 and two
resolutions of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, United
States House of Representatives, dated September 1992. These
authorizations direct the Corps to re-examine the design of the C&SF
Project to determine if modifications should be made to the project in
the interest of improving environmental quality, water supply, and
Everglades and Florida Bay ecosystems, while meeting the overall water
resource needs in the study area.
b. Study Area
The Study area includes the entire C&SF Project with the exception
of the Upper St. Johns River Basin, which is a separate hydrologic
basin, not part of the Everglades ecosystem. Contained within the study
area are: All or part of Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, Glades,
Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola,
Palm Beach, PolK, and St. Lucie Counties, Florida.
c. Project Features and Scope
The Comprehensive Review Study will develop an overall C&SF Project
initial comprehensive plan and develop the tools necessary to evaluate
the effects of this plan, with particular attention to features
specific to Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA),
the Water Conservation Areas (WCAs), Everglades National Park, Big
Cypress National Preserve, the Lake Okeechobee Service Area, the Lower
East Coast Service Area, and Native American tribal lands. The major
components to be studied include: Alternatives for conveying water
through the EAA, and modifying ground water levels to control soil
subsidence; water storage in the Everglades headwaters to include Lake
Okeechobee, the EAA, the WCAs, and Water Preserve Areas (WPAs);
alternatives to reduce wildlife habitat fragmentation within natural
areas; and alternative water regulation schedules for Lake Okeechobee
and the WCAs. Further, concepts to capture and store excess surface
water in WPAs located along the eastern boundary levees of the WCAs by
backpumping surface water that is normally released to tide via the
C&SF Project canal system will be investigated.
There is an extensive effort by Federal, State and local
governments in central and southern Florida to restore the natural
Kissimmee--Lake Okeechobee--Everglades system. Much of this effort
depends a great deal on the findings, recommendations and ultimate
direction resulting from the Comprehensive Review Study. Therefore, it
is envisioned that a conceptual plan will be identified early in the
study process to provide a framework as the Corps, SFWMD, and other
agencies and the public articulate the ultimate comprehensive plan.
d. Scoping
The scoping process as outlined by the Council on Environmental
Quality will be utilized to involve Federal, State, and local agencies,
affected Indian Tribes, and other interested private organizations and
parties. A scoping letter will be sent to interested Federal, State and
local agencies, interested organizations and the public, requesting
their comments and concerns regarding issues they feel should be
addressed in the DPEIS. Interested persons and organizations wishing to
participate in the scoping process should contact the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers at the address above. Significant issues anticipated
include concern for: maintenance of flood protection and water supply,
water quality, wetlands, fish and wildlife, recreation and aesthetics,
historical and cultural resources, groundwater recharge, and threatened
and endangered plant and animal species. Public meetings will be held
over the course of the study, the exact location, dates, and times will
be announced in public notices and local newspapers.
e. It is estimated that the DPEIS will be available to the public
in November 1999.
George M. Strain,
Assistant Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 96-1457 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
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