[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 29630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13888]
[[Page 29630]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (SEIS) on Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National
Park, Florida
AGENCY: U.S. Army corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The congressionally authorized Modified Water Deliveries to
Everglades National Park (Mod Waters) project consists of structural
modifications and additions to the existing Central and Southern
Florida project required to improve water deliveries for ecosystem
restoration of the Park. The June 1992 Final Environmental Impact
Statement on the Mod Waters project-induced an evaluation of a plan
element consisting of structural features to mitigate project-induced
flooding in a residential area in the East Everglades called the 8.5
Square Mile Area (SMA). In 1998, the local sponsor of the project, the
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), responded to a Florida
Governor's Commission recommendation to evaluate other alternatives and
requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) modify the
authorized project to provide for a total buy-out of the area in lieu
of the authorized flood mitigation plan. Additionally, the National
Park Service recently stated that the 1992 authorized flood mitigation
plan is not consistent with long term restoration of Everglades
National Park. The proposed total buy-out of the 8.5 SMA will be
addressed as a locally preferred option (LPO) in a Supplement to the
Mod Waters Final Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box
4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232; Attn: Mr. Elmar Kutzbach, 904/232-
2325.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The action proposed by the SFWMD is for a
plan of total purchase of all private property within the 8.5 SMA to be
substituted for the 1992 Federally authorized plan of constructing
structural features to prevent the additional flooding in the 8.5 SMA
that is expected when the Mod Waters project is fully operational (the
flood mitigation plan).
2. Alternatives to be discussed include the LPO, the Federally
authorized plan, and various water management structural configurations
for the 8.5 SMA.
3. A Scoping letter and public Scoping Meeting will be used to
invite comments on alternatives and issues from Federal, State, and
local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested private
organizations and individuals.
4. The Draft SEIS will analyze issues related to loss of unique
farm lands, water quality degradation endangered species protection,
urban development impacts, agricultural flood protection, Everglades
National Park ecosystem restoration, implementation time, potential
impacts on other project features, and direct and secondary costs for
construction, operation and maintenance, land management, and
acquisition for each alternative plan.
5. The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
have been identified as Cooperating Agencies under the lead of the
Corps for preparation of the SEIS.
6. The alternative plans will be reviewed under provisions of
appropriate laws and regulations, including the Endangered Species Act,
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Clean Water Act, and Farmland
Protection Policy Act.
7. A Scoping meeting will be held in Homestead, Florida at the
Miami-Dade County Extension Office. The date and time will be announced
in the Scoping letter.
8. The Draft SEIS is expected to be available for public review in
the 4th quarter CY 1999.
Mary V. Yonts,
Alternate U.S. Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-13888 Filed 6-1-99; 8:45 am]
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