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Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the C-111 Spreader Canal Western Project Located in Miami-Dade Counties, FL

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

PDF Version (2 pp, 46K, About PDF)

[Federal Register: July 20, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 137)]
[Notices]
[Page 35167-35168]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jy09-40]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the
C-111 Spreader Canal Western Project Located in Miami-Dade Counties, FL

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
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
(EIS) has been completed and is available for review and comment.

DATES: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
we have filed the Final EIS 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 30-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 Final EIS. Comments on the Final EIS must be
submitted to the address below under Further Contact Information and
must be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday,
August 17, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The Final EIS can be viewed online at 
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Divisions/Regulatory/InterestItems.htm.
Exit Disclaimer Copies of the Final EIS are also available for review at the
following libraries: Miami-Dade Public Library, Homestead Branch, 700 N.
Homestead Blvd., Homestead, FL 33030. Miami-Dade Public Library, Main
Branch, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Alisa Zarbo, Project Manager, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, 4400 PGA Boulevard,
Suite 500, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410, Telephone: 561-472-3516,
Fax: 561-626-6971.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The South Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD) proposes to construct the C-111 Spreader Canal Western Project
in Miami-Dade County. The project addresses the need to restore
ecosystem function in Taylor Slough and Florida Bay within the
Everglades National Park, the adjacent Southern Glades, the Model Land,
and other associated wetlands and estuarine systems. The SFWMD
anticipates that this proposed project will become an authorized
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) project, and that it
will receive credit for the early construction of this proposed project
as the local sponsor. This Final EIS builds upon the draft Project
Implementation Report (PIR)/EIS that has already been released to the
public under the CERP and the Regulatory program. As such, this EIS
includes numerous discussions of compliance with CERP requirements.
While not critical to the Department of the Army permit decision, this
information provides more context than a typical EIS and also details
about USACE planning policy.
    The C-111 Spreader Canal Western Project is essential to achieving
restoration of Taylor Slough and downstream areas within the affected
areas in the Everglades National Park, the Model Land and the Southern
Glades area, and plays an integral role in meeting the CERP system-wide
ecosystem restoration goals and objectives. Structural and operational
changes will be implemented to improve the quantity, timing, and
distribution of water delivered to Florida Bay via Taylor Slough, as
well as improve hydroperiods within the wetlands of the Southern Glades
and Model Land. Hydroperiods and hydropatterns within the wetlands of
the Southern Glades and Model Land will be improved by the construction
of a new operable water control structure in the lower C-111 Canal,
incremental operational changes at existing structure S-18C, changes in
operations at the existing S-20 structure, construction of a plug at
existing structure S-20A, and the installation of ten earthen plugs in
the C-110 Canal. As a result of the construction and operation of the
C-111 Spreader Canal Western project, approximately 200.73 acres (in
total) of wetlands and waters of the United States would be permanently
impacted and 39.98 acres (in total) of wetlands and waters of the
United States would be temporarily impacted as a result of the
placement of fill material, excavation, and/or flooding. In addition,
approximately 149.26 acres of atypical wetlands (agricultural) would be
impacted by excavation, then inundated with water. The SFWMD would need
to obtain a U.S. Department of the Army permit from the USACE pursuant
to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This final Environmental Impact
Statement evaluates the environmental effects of seven alternatives,
including the

[[Page 35168]]

SFWMD's preferred alternative and the No Action Alternative.

    Dated: July 10, 2009.
David Hobbie,
Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. E9-17167 Filed 7-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-AJ-P

 
 

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