[Federal Register: September 10, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 175)]
[Notices]
[Page 57413-57414]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10se02-56]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements
Program
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) intends to prepare a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program
involving the planning, design and construction of wastewater treatment
systems to improve water quality within the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary. This program is a cooperative effort between the
Corps (lead Federal agency) and the South Florida Water Management
District (non-Federal sponsor).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Cintron, 904-232-1692,
Environmental Branch, Planning Division, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville,
Florida 32232-0019 or e-mail at: Barbara.B.Cintron@
saj02.usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under authority of Public Law 106-554,
Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, Related
Agencies Appropriations Act of 2001, Section 109 and Conference Report
H.R. 4577, the Corps is authorized to provide technical and financial
assistance to carry out projects for the planning, design and
construction of treatment works to improve the water quality of the
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The marine ecosystem of the
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is dependent on acceptable water
quality to maintain fragile aquatic habitats. However, as population
and tourism within the Keys have increased over the years, improvements
in wastewater treatment and management practices have not kept pace
with this growth. Ongoing research has suggested that this trend has
resulted in a significant degradation of water quality in canals and
nearshore waters surrounding the Florida Keys and that nutrients from
waterwater are one of the major contributors to the decline of the
water quality. This, in turn, is prompting the proposal to improve
sewage treatment practices throughout the Florida Keys. According to
the Monroe County Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan, approximately 23,000
private onsite systems and 250 small wastewater treatment plants are
currently operating throughout the Florida Keys. It is estimated that
the onsite systems contribute 4.88 million gallons per day (mgd) of
wastewater and the treatment plants contribute an additional 2.40 mgd
of wastewater. Many of these onsite systems and treatment plants
provide minimal nutrient removal. The primary objective of the Florida
Keys Water Quality Improvements Program is to improve wastewater
management practices throughout the Florida Keys and satisfy the
existing and future needs for the community. Several wastewater master
plans have been prepared for Monroe County and other municipalities
within Monroe County that the Corps plans to utilize as the base for
the planning component of the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement
Program. These wastewater master plans recommend that existing onsite
systems located in lower density areas of the Florida Keys be upgraded
or replaced with onsite wastewater nutrient reduction systems. The
wastewater master plan also recommended the construction of 12
community wastewater collection and treatment systems and five regional
systems. Five of the 12 community systems would feature interim
treatment plants that over time would be phased into larger regional
treatment systems. In addition to the new systems and extension of the
existing systems, the plans recommend that 17 existing facilities
continue to operate and upgrade their treatment processes to meet the
best available technology/advanced wastewater treatment standards. The
estimated cost to implement these master plans is approximately $500
million.
Alternatives: Alternatives to be considered include (1) no action,
or continued reliance on septic tanks and cesspits for wastewater
treatment, or (2) the proposed action involving the implementation of
wastewater master plans prepared for Monroe County and various
municipalities within Monroe County.
Issues: The EIS will consider water quality impacts on the Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary, preservation of coral reefs, impacts to
protected species, shore protection, health and safety, aesthetics and
recreation, fish and wildlife resources, cultural resources, socio-
economic resources, and other impacts through scoping, public
involvement, and interagency coordination.
Scoping: A copy of this notice will be sent to interested parties
to initiate the scoping process, which will involve Federal, State,
County and municipal agencies and other interested parties and
organizations. All parties are invited to participate in the scoping
process by identifying any additional concerns on issues, alternatives,
procedures, and other matters related to the scoping process.
Public Involvement: We invite the participation of affected
Federal, State, and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other
interested private organizations and parties. The Corps plans to hold
two sets of public meetings associated with the planning component of
the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements Program.
Coordination: The proposed action is being coordinated with U.S.
Fish and
[[Page 57414]]
Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service under
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, with the FWS under the Fish
and Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the State Historic Preservation
Officer.
Other Environmental Review and Consultation: The proposed action
would involve evaluation for compliance with guidelines pursuant to
Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act; application (to the State of
Florida) for Water Quality Certification pursuant to Section 401 of the
Clean Water Act; certification of state lands, easements and rights-of-
way; and determination of Coastal Zone Management Act consistency.
Agency Role: As the non-Federal sponsor, the South Florida Water
Management District will provide extensive information and assistance
coordinating local units of government and with the identification of
resources to be impacted, mitigation measures, alternatives and
prioritization of program components.
DEIS Preparation: It is estimated that the Draft EIS will be
available to the public for review by January 2003. The Corps plans to
post the Draft EIS on the environmental documents page of the
Jacksonville District's Web Site (http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/pd/env-
doc.html.)
George M. Strain,
Acting Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 02-23004 Filed 9-9-02; 8:45 am]
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