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[Federal Register: March 1, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 39)]
[Notices]               
[Page 9188]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01mr10-53]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

 
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Everglades Restoration Transition Plan--Phase 1

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 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Everglades Restoration Transition Plan (ERTP)--Phase 1. The ERTP will 
supersede the 2006 IOP for the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow which 
currently regulates operations for Central & South Florida (C&SF) 
project features in the south Dade area. The ERTP Phase 1 aims to 
implement operational flexibilities based on multi-species management. 
This project is ``phase 1'' in anticipation of subsequent operational 
modifications that will be needed to move towards Everglades 
restoration. Development of the plan will include evaluation of 
relevant new species information and hydrological data. The ERTP Draft 
EIS will evaluate the anticipated affects of implementation of 
operations to support the recommendations of the U. S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS) Biological Opinion.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning Division, 
Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, FL, 32232-0019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Susan Conner at 904-232-1782 or 
e-mail at Susan.l.Conner@.usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Background--In 1999, the FWS issued a Final Biological Opinion 
for the Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park Project 
(MWD Project), the C-111 Project, and the Experimental Water Deliveries 
to Everglades National Park Project. FWS concluded that the operations, 
if continued, would likely jeopardize the continued existence of the 
endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow and adversely modify its critical 
habitat. In response, the Corps implemented an Interim Structural and 
Operational Plan (ISOP) in March 2000, followed by the Interim 
Operating Plan (IOP) in July 2002. These operations were designed to 
protect the sparrow pending completion of construction of the MWD 
Project and the C-111 Project. Because of the urgency to implement IOP 
in time for the next sparrow breeding season, the IOP Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was completed prior to conclusion 
of modeling that supported the selected plan. Pursuant to a March 2006 
order by the United States District Court for the Southern District of 
Florida, the Corps prepared a supplement to the IOP FEIS. The 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), which was completed 
in December 2006, updated the IOP FEIS with modeling for the selected 
alternative and actual data collected since the May 2002 FEIS. The IOP 
was intended to be continued until the completion of the MWD project. 
However, Modified Water Deliveries project has not been fully 
completed, the IOP Biological Opinion will expire in November 2010, and 
new scientific information pertaining to listed wildlife species has 
become available.
    b. Scoping--A scoping letter was sent to invite comments on ERTP--
Phase I from Federal, State, and local agencies, affected Indian 
Tribes, and other interested private organizations and individuals. The 
scoping letter was sent out in December 2009. That scoping period 
closed on February 1, 2010. Based on those comments and team analysis 
to date, USACE has determined that an EIS is appropriate. Subsequently, 
scoping comments will be accepted for 30 days past the date of this 
NOI.
    c. Coordination and Public Involvement: The Corps will serve as the 
lead Federal agency in the preparation of the Draft EIS. The Corps is 
in close coordination with the FWS. The Corps intends to coordinate 
and/or consult with an interagency team of Federal, State and Local 
agencies as well as affected Indian Tribes during scoping and 
preparation of the Draft EIS.
    d. Other Environmental Review and Consultation: The proposed action 
would involve evaluation for compliance with the Endangered Species 
act. The USACE will be submitting a Biological Assessment to the FWS 
and the FWS will prepare a Biological Opinion. All other applicable 
Environmental regulations will be complied with and reviews will be 
completed.
    e. Draft EIS Preparation: The Draft EIS is expected to be published 
in June 2010.

    Dated: February 17, 2010.
Eric Summa,
Chief, Environmental Branch.
[FR Doc. 2010-4116 Filed 2-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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