[Federal Register: March 28, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 60)]
[Notices]
[Page 15157-15158]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28mr03-53]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Caloosahatchee River Aquifer Storage and Recovery Pilot Project Located
Southwest of LaBelle on the Berry Groves Property, Hendry County, FL
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 an integrated Pilot Project Design Report
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Caloosahatchee
River Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Pilot Project. The study is a
cooperative effort between the Corps and the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD), which is also a cooperating agency for
this DEIS. This project will determine the feasibility of using ASR
technology for water storage in the Caloosahatchee River basin as part
of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program. It will also
collect scientific data to address the uncertainties associated with
the ASR technology and for future optimization and design studies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Susan Conner, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Planning Division, Environmental Branch, PO Box 4970,
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019, or by telephone at 904-232-1782.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a. Authorization: The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of
2000 (Pub. L. 106-541) was enacted in December 2000. Title VI of WRDA
2000 approved the Comprehensive Plan, provided authorization of an
initial suite of projects, and included a number of other provisions
including outreach and periodic reports to Congress. The Caloosahatchee
ASR pilot project was authorized by Section 601(b)(2)(B) of WRDA 2000.
b. Project Scope: The pilot project will determine the feasibility
of ASR technology for water storage at the site, the water quality
characteristics of source waters, native subsurface waters and
recovered waters and appropriate water treatment requirements, and
recommend operational goals for a full scale ASR project within the
Caloosahatchee River basin. The pilot project includes the construction
of one ASR well into the Floridan Aquifer with a capacity of 5 million
gallons per day, a source water collection system that will supply
water to the ASR system, pre-injection and post recovery water
treatment facilities, and other associated piping and treatment
systems.
Operational plans for the test pilot are to collect surface water,
treat to drinking water standards, and inject water into the Floridan
Aquifer System (FAS) for a minimum of two cycle tests. Each cycle test
includes a period of water storage followed by a period of recovery and
discharge. Recovered water will be monitored and treated prior to
discharge into surface water.
c. Preliminary Alternatives: Formulation of alternative plans will
involve the selection of collection well configuration, water treatment
technologies, investigation of intake and discharge sites, and
investigation of best configuration of surface facilities of the
project.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluation of the pilot
project will include an evaluation of adverse environmental impacts,
including but not limited to, water quality, socio-economic,
archaeological and biological. In addition to adverse impacts, the
evaluation will also focus on how well the plans perform with regard to
specific technologic performance measure.
d. Issues: The EIS will consider impacts on water quality,
ecosystem habitat, threatened and endangered species, health and
safety, aesthetics and recreation, fish and wildlife resources,
cultural resources, water availability, flood protection, and other
potential impacts identified through scooping, public involvement, and
interagency coordination.
e. Scoping: A scoping letter will be issued on March 2003 to
interested parties. In addition, all parties are invited to participate
in the scoping process by identifying any additional concerns on
issues, studies needed, alternatives, procedures, and other matters
related to the scoping process. As there have already been meetings
held on the ASR technology and the related C-43 Reservoir Project,
there is no plan for a public scoping meeting at this time.
f. Public Involvement: We invite the participation of affected
Federal, State and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other
interested private organizations and parties.
g. Coordination: The proposed action is being coordinated with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries
Service under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, with the FWS
under the Fish and
[[Page 15158]]
Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the State Historic Preservation
Officer.
h. 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 right of
ways, and determination of Coastal Zone Management Act consistency.
i. Agency Role: As cooperation agency, non-Federal sponsor, and
leading local expert, SFWMD will provide information and assistance on
the resources to be impacted and alternatives.
j. DEIS Preparation: The integrated Pilot Project Design Report,
including a DEIS, is currently estimated for publication in March 2006.
Dated: March 12, 2003.
James C. Duck,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 03-7501 Filed 3-27-03; 8:45 am]