U.S. Department 

of Homeland Security 

United States 

Coast Guard 

Mr. Alex Gonzalez 

Corporate Development Manager 

Florida East Coast Industries 

2855 LeJeune Road - 4th Floor 

Coral Gables, FL 33134 

Dear Mr. Gonzalez: 

Commander 

Seventh Coast Guard District 

909 SE 151 Ave Rm 432 

Miami, FL 33131-3050 

Staff Symbol: (dpb) 

Phone: (305) 415-6989 

Fax: (305) 415-6763 

Email: Evelyn.Smart@uscg.mil 

16211/FL 

Serial #: 2292 

1 May 2013 

We have completed our navigability determinations and jurisdictional findings across various 

waterways crossings where you are proposing to double track the existing FEC Railroad corridor 

between Orlando and Miami, Florida to accommodate the All Aboard Florida Passenger Rail 

Service. 

Coast Guard Bridge Permits will be required for the proposed project across the following 

waterways. You should plan on navigational clearances not less than those provided by the existing 

downstream bridges. In order to determine the exact clearance requirements for existing and prospective 

navigation, you are encouraged to consult with waterway users early in your design process. This needs 

analysis should help avoid unnecessary delays in the bridge permitting process: 

1. Proposed FEC RR Bridge across the St. Johns River parallel to the Martin Anderson Beach 

Line Expressway (toll road - State Road. 528). 

2. Proposed double tracking across the Hillsboro Canal, FEC Milepost 326.58 near Deerfield 

Beach, Broward County, FL 

The Coast Guard's decision on navigational adequacy is necessarily part of the permit approval process. 

We will consider any information you provide, the comments responding to the public notice we issue 

after receiving your application, and all other available information in making this decision. 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is the federal lead agency for the National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA) process and the Coast Guard will act as a cooperating agency. The Coast Guard will 

be reviewing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed project and will forward 

comments to FRA regarding our area of jurisdiction (navigable waters of the United States and 

navigation). 
Enclosed for your use in applying for a Coast Guard bridge permit is a Bridge Permit Application Guide. 

If you have any further questions, please contact me at (305) 415-6989. 

Encl: Permit Application Guide 

Sincerely, 

Environmental EL~ Protection Specialist 

By direction of the Commander 

Seventh Coast Guard District 

Copy: Catherine Dobbs, Transportation Industry Analyst, USDOT, Federal Railroad 

Administration 

Commanding Officer, USCG Sector Jacksonville 

Commanding Officer, USCG Sector Miami 

Charlene Stroehlen, P .E., AMEC Environment and Infrastructure 
U.S. Department 

of Homeland Security 

United States 

Coast Guard 

Mr. Alex Gonzalez 

Corporate Development Manager 

Florida East Coast Industries 

2855 LeJeune Road- 4th Floor 

Coral Gables, FL 33134 

Dear Mr. Gonzalez: 

Commander 

Seventh Coast Guard District 

909 SE 151 Ave Rm 432 

Miami, FL 33131-3050 

Staff Symbol: (dpb) 

Phone: (305) 415-6989 

Fax: (305) 415-6763 

Email: Evelyn.Smart@uscg.mil 

16211/FL 

Serial#: 2291 

1 May 2013 

We have completed our navigability determinations and jurisdictional findings across yarious 

waterways where you are proposing to double track the existing FEC Railroad corridor between 

Orlando and Miami, Florida to accommodate the All Aboard Florida Passenger Rail Service. 

The following waterways have been exempt from obtaining Coast Guard Bridge Permits: 

1. Horse Creek, FEC Milepost 187.3 7 near Palm Shores, Brevard County, FL 

2. Goat Creek, FEC Milepost 202.59 near Malabar, Brevard County, FL 

3. Moore Creek (a.k.a. Moores Creek), FEC Milepost 241.27 near Fort Pierce, St. Lucie 

County, FL 

4. Haney Creek (Unnamed Creek), FEC Milepost 259.95 near North River Shores, Martin 

County, FL 

5. Salerno Creek (Unnamed Tributary), FEC Milepost 266.58 near Port Salerno, Martin 

County, FL 

6. Unnamed Tributary to Manatee Pocket, FEC Milepost 266.86 near Port Salerno, Martin 

County, FL 

7. North Fork of Middle River, FEC Milepost 337.91 near Oakland Park, Broward County, FL 

8. South Fork of Middle River, FEC Milepost 338.52 near Oakland Park, Broward County, 

FL 

9. Oleta River, FEC Milepost 353.74 near North Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, FL 

Our decision is based on the fact that these waterways, at and upstream of the bridge sites are not 

actually navigated other than by logs, log rafts, rowboats, canoes, and small motorboats. In such 

cases, the clearances provided for high water stages are considered adequate to meet the 

reasonable needs of navigation (Title 33 Code ofFederal Regulations Part 115.70). Future 

bridge projects along the same waterway will have to be independently evaluated before they 

may be considered for Advance Approval. 

The fact that Coast Guard bridge permits are not required for the above mentioned waterways 

does not relieve you of the responsibility for compliance with the requirements of any other 

federal state, or local agency who may have jurisdiction over any aspect of the project. 
Although the proposed project will not require bridge permits, other areas of Coast Guard 

jurisdiction apply. The following must be met: 

a. At no time during the bridgework will the waterways be closed to navigation without the 

prior notification and approval of the Coast Guard. 

b. This office shall be notified 60 days prior to the actual commencement of construction. 

The 60 day notification shall be provided to Mr. Michael Lieberum at (305) 415-6744 

email Michael.b.lieberum@uscg.mil so that appropriate announcements may be prepared 

for lour Local Notice to Mariners publication. 

c. Upon completion of design and finalization of the locations, the Seventh Coast Guard 

District Bridge Branch shall be contacted regarding approval of lights and other signals 

that may be required under 33 CFR 118. Approval of said lighting or waiver of it shall be 

obtained prior to construction. 

d. The lowest portion of the superstructures of the bridge across these waterways should 

clear the 1 00-year flood height elevation, if feasible. Coordinate with the Federal 

Emergency Management Administration if this is not possible. 

e. Upon completion of construction, the bridge owner shall submit "as built" drawings (8 

1/2 X 11 ")showing clearances through all of the bridges listed above and sufficient data 

to allow this office to prepare completion reports. Also submit 8 ~ X 11" photos of the 

completed bridges for our bridge files and database. 

The National Ocean Service (NOS) of the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration 

(NOAA) is responsible for maintaining the navigation charts of U.S. waters; therefore they must 

be notified of this proposed work. You must notify our office upon completion of the activity 

approved in this letter. Your notification of completion must include as-built drawings, which 

certifies the locations and clearances of the bridges that were constructed. This information will 

be sent to NOS upon receipt of the completion reports enclosed. 

If you have any further questions, please contact me at (305) 415-6989. 

Encl: Completion Report Forms 

Sincerely, 

Environmental 

LYNProtection ~ Specialist 

By direction of the Commander 

Seventh Coast Guard District 

Copy: Catherine Dobbs, Transportation Industry Analyst, USDOT, Federal Railroad 

Administration 

Commanding Officer, USCG Sector Jacksonville 

Commanding Officer, USCG Sector Miami 

Charlene Stroehlen, P.E., AMEC Environment and Infrastructure 
U.S. Department 

of Homeland Security 

United States 

Coast Guard 

Mr. Alex Gonzalez 

Corporate Development Manager 

Florida East Coast Industries 

2855 LeJeune Road - 41

h Floor 

Coral Gables, FL 33134 

Dear Mr. Gonzalez: 

Commander 

Seventh Coast Guard District 

909 SE 1

51 Ave Rm 432 

Miami, FL 33131-3050 

Staff Symbol: (dpb) 

Phone: (305) 415-6989 

Fax: (305) 415-6763 

Email: Evelyn.Smart@uscg.mil 

16211/FL 

Serial #: 2293 

1 May 2013 

We have completed our navigability determinations and jurisdictional findings across various 

waterways where you are proposing to double track the existing FEC Railroad corridor between 

Orlando and Miami, Florida to accommodate the All Aboard Florida Passenger Rail Service. 

The following waterway has been exempt from obtaining a Coast Guard Bridge Permit: 

1. Arch Creek, FEC Milepost 356.53 near North Miami, Miami-Dade County, FL 

Our examination indicates that there is sufficient factual support for concluding that the Arch 

Creek is navigable waters of the United States for purposes of general Coast Guard jurisdiction. 

However, we have found that the waterway at the proposed project location falls under the Coast 

Guard Authorization Act of 1982. A formal Coast Guard bridge permit will not be required for 

the proposed bridge project across Arch Creek. 

The fact that a Coast Guard bridge permit is not required for the proposed project across Arch 

Creek does not relieve you of the responsibility for compliance with the requirements of any 

other federal state, or local agency who may have jurisdiction over any aspect of the project. 

Although the proposed project will not require a bridge permit, other areas of Coast Guard 

jurisdiction apply. The following must be met: 

a. At no time during the bridgework will the waterway be closed to navigation without the 

prior notification and approval of the Coast Guard. 

b. This office shall be notified 60 days prior to the actual commencement of construction. 

The 60 day notification shall be provided to Mr. Michael Lieberum at (305) 415-6744 

email Michael.B.Lieberum@uscg.mil so that appropriate announcements may be 

prepared for lour Local Notice to Mariners publication. 

c. Upon completion of design and finalization of the location, the Seventh Coast Guard 

District Bridge Branch shall be contacted regarding approval of lights and other signals 

that may be required under 33 CFR 118. Approval of said lighting or waiver of it shall be 

obtained prior to construction. 
d. Upon completion of construction, the bridge owner shall submit "as built" drawings (8 

1/2 X 11 ")showing clearances through all of the bridges listed above and sufficient data 

to allow this office to prepare completion reports. Also submit an 8 Y2 X 11" photo of the 

completed bridge for our bridge files and database. 

The National Ocean Service (NOS) of the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration 

(NOAA) is responsible for maintaining the navigation charts of U.S. waters; therefore they must 

be notified of this proposed work. You must notify our office upon completion of the activity 

approved in this letter. Your notification of completion must include as-built drawings, which 

certifies the location and clearance of the bridge that is constructed. This information will be 

sent to NOS upon receipt of the completion report enclosed. 

We have completed our review of the various waterway crossings for the proposed project and 

found that the waterways listed below at the proposed sites are not considered navigable waters 

of the United States for purposes of Coast Guard Bridge permittingjurisdiction. Therefore, 

Coast Guard bridge permits will not be required for: 

1. Manatee Creek, FEC Milepost 267.3 near Port Salerno, Martin County, FL 

2. Tributary to Manatee Creek, FEC Milepost 267.7 near Port Salerno, Martin County, FL 

We have made these determinations because of our understanding that Manatee Creek and the 

Tributary to Manatee Creek at the proposed locations are: 

a. Not subject to tidal influence; 

b. Not used, either by itself or in connection with other waterways, for substantial 

interstate or foreign commerce; and 

c. Not susceptible to such use, either m their natural condition or by reasonable 

improvement. 

If you have any further questions, please contact me at (305) 415-6989. 

Sincerely, ~ 

(= YNSMART 

Environmental Protection Specialist 

By direction of the Commander 

Seventh Coast Guard District 

Copy: Catherine Dobbs, Transportation Industry Analyst, USDOT, Federal Railroad 

Administration 

Commanding Officer, USCG Sector Miami 

Charlene Stroehlen, P.E., AMEC Environment and Infrastructure