[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 200 (Monday, October 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 56200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27058]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (DSEIS) for the Upper St. Johns River Basin Restoration,
Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area Project, Brevard County, Florida
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps), and the St. Johns River Water Management District intend to
prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) on
the feasibility of implementing a plan for the Upper St. Johns River
Basin, Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area (TFMCA) Project in Brevard
County, Florida.
ADDRESSES: Questions about the proposed action and DSEIS should be
addressed to Ms. Lizabeth R. Manners, U.S. Army Engineer District, P.O.
Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019; Telephone 904-232-3923.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a. The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper St. Johns
River Basin (USJRB) Project was published in 1985. The entire project
area is located in Brevard, Indian River, Okeechobee, and Osceola
counties and is approximately 1,659 square miles in area. The Three
Forks Marsh Conservation Area (TFMCA) Project is one component of the
USJRB Project. TFMCA is approximately 14,000 aces in size and located
entirely within Brevard County.
The largest portions of the TFMCA include the following:
approximately 2,000 acres of mixed herbaceous marsh; approximately
1,900 acres of sawgrass; approximately 1,900 acres of pastureland;
approximately 1,800 acres of mixed sawgrass/sedge marsh; and
approximately 1,500 acres of primrose willow. Other vegetative
communities are present in smaller portions.
Under the original General Design Memorandum and EIS, the plan
called for the TFMCA to be hydrologically connected via levee gaps to
the St. Johns Marsh Conservation Area (SJMCA). However, recent survey
data has revealed significant subsidence in the TFMCA. If the origin
plan is implemented, then overdrainage of the SJMCA would occur. In
addition, a design modification is needed at two structures (S-96-B and
S-96-C) currently discharging into the SJMCA. The TFMCA project would
address these two concerns while providing for the main project purpose
of flood control and secondary purposes of environmental protection,
water quality, and water supply.
Alternatives which will be evaluated in the SEIS include the
proposed TFMCA Diversion plan. Under the proposed alternative water
deliveries through S-96-B and S-96-C which are currently discharged
into the SJMCA would be divided. Water leaving the St. Johns Water
Management Area would be discharged through S-96-B directly into the
southern portion of TFMCA. Water from the Blue Cypress Marsh
Conservation Area would be discharged through S-96-C directly into the
southern portion of SJMCA. A discharge canal, extending from S-96-B to
the northern deepwater portion of TFMCA, would have a low berm
constructed along its eastern edge to prevent water from directly
entering the emergent marsh portions of TFMCA. Because of subsidence
and the amount of water that would be delivered into TFMCA, the lower
reaches of the TFMCA would be impounded. Water would flow from TFMCA
into SJMCA through a proposed weir and structure S-257. Additional
plans may be identified and evaluated during the SEIS process.
Potential environmental resources and issues to be evaluated in the
SEIS include project impacts on:
Fish and wildlife resources
Wetlands and habitat values
Conversion of habitat types
Water quality
Endangered or threatened species
Historical or archaeological resources
Aesthetics
Nuisance and exotic plant species
Because of the magnitude and duration of this project the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and St. Johns River Water Management District have
determined that a SEIS should be prepared for the Project pursuant to
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
b. Scoping: The scoping process as outlined by the Council on
Environmental Quality will be utilized to involve Federal, State, and
local agencies; and other interested persons and organizations. Earlier
this year a letter was sent to ``interested Federal, State, local
agencies and interested parties requesting comments and concerns
regarding issues to consider during the study. Responses to this letter
helped identify the potential environmental impacts listed in paragraph
a. above. Additional comments are welcome and may be provided to the
above address. Public meetings may be held in the future. Exact dates,
times and locations will be published in local papers.
c. It is estimated that the DSEIS will be available to the public
by the spring of 2000.
Dated: October 1, 1999.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 99-27058 Filed 10-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-AJ-M
