(MP 352.74) Sand/Shell (mangrove) (removal)
bottom; mutton snapper Juvenile (mangrove) 1300
Planktonic spiny lobster larvae (planktonic) (trimming)
ink shrimy Postlarvae/juvenile; subadults
P P (sand/shell bottom)
goliath grouper juvenile (mangrove) 650 N/A
Mangrove; | grey snapper Postlarvae/juvenile; adult (trimming)
Arch Creek Mud/Sand (mangrove)
(MP 356.53) Bottom: mutton snapper, Juvenile (mangrove) 500
* spiny lobster larvae (planktonic)
Planktonic ink hn Postlarvae/juvenile; subadults
Pink shrimp (sand/shell bottom)

This letter initiates consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service on EFH as
required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996. The
proposal would impact approximately 2.0 acres of habitat type utilized by various life stages of
federally managed species listed above. Our initial determination is that the proposed action
would not have a substantial adverse impact on EFH or Federally managed fisheries as described
in Table 1 above. This determination is supported the Essential Fish Habitat Assessment
completed by the applicant and included as Attachment 1. The Corps has reviewed the EFH
Assessment and concurs with its findings. The applicant has completed a functional assessment
and proposed compensatory loss to off-set unavoidable impacts to trust resources. Our final
determination relative to project impacts and the need for additional mitigation measures is
subject to review by and coordination with your office.

Please advise if you agree with the above determination or provide a written request for
additional information. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact
Andrew Phillips at the letterhead address, by telephone at 321-504-3771 extension 14, or by
electronic mail at andrew.w-phillips@usace.army.mil.

Sincerely,

Trene Sadowski
Chief, Cocoa Permits Section

Copy Furnished w/o enclosure: (electronically)

FRA; Mary Hassell



DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT CORPS OF ENGINEERS
400 HIGH POINT DRIVE, SUITE 600
COCOA, FLORIDA 32926

FS
stares 01

September 18, 2013

REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF

North Permits Branch
Cocoa Permits Section
SAJ-2012-01564(SP-AWP)

Mr. Miles M. Croom

Assistant Regional Administrator

Southeast Regional Office, Habitat Conservation
NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

Dear Mr. Croom:

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is currently developing an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for a privately-proposed project by All Aboard Florida to provide reliable and
convenient intercity passenger rail transportation between Orlando and Miami, Florida, by
maximizing use of existing transportation corridors. This transportation service would offer a
safe and efficient alternative to automobile travel on the Interstate-95 corridor (1-95), add
transportation capacity within that corridor and encourage connectivity with other modes of
transportation, all without governmental operating subsidies. Because the project may impact
waters of the United States within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
the Corps has agreed to be a cooperating agency in the development of the EIS. As a cooperating
agency; the Corps has assumed responsibility for completing consultation with the National
Marine Fisheries Service for the proposed EIS. A draft EIS is expected to be published in the
Federal Register in October 2013.

The applicant’s preferred alternative for the North/South corridor occurs within the right-of-
way of the existing Florida East Coast Railroad from Miami to Cocoa, Florida and proposes
improvements at fifteen (15) distinct locations within the project footprint. These improvements
are listed in the table below.


Table 1

Compensatory

. Approximate | Impacts to mitigation
Nameand Mile aA Habitat | Fish Species Life Stages tapes? | maustoves | (Mitigation
(sq uare feet) feet Bank Credit
Horse Creek Sand, Shell spiny lobster larvae (planktonic)
ottom, se che Post larvae/juvenile, subadults 17 NIA N/A
(MP 187.37) planktonic pink shrimp (sand/shell bottom)
Goliath Juvenile (mangrove)
grouper
postlarvae/juvenile (mangrove,
Grey snapper mud
Mangrove, bottom); adult (mangrove)
Goat Creek mud, sand Mutton juvenile (mangrove; mud/sand
(MP 202.59) | — bottom, snapper bottom) 3500 35 8.0005
planktonic [_ Spiny lobster Tarvae (planktonic)
Brown shrimp Post larvae/juvenile; subadults
(mud/sand bottom)
. . Post larvae/juvenile; subadults
White shrimp (mud/sand bottom)
mutton snapper juvenile (mud/sand bottom)
North Canal Sand spiny lobster larvae (planktonic)
01 ‘anal . Post larvae/juvenile; subadults
(MP 223.70) potion, brown shrimp (mud/sand bottom) 1200 NA N/A
planktonic hite shri Post larvae/juvenile; subadults
vee some (mud/sand bottom)
grey snapper postlarvae/juvenile (mud bottom)
mutton snapper juvenile; subadults
South Canal Mud/sand : ({mud/sand bottom
(MP 230.03) bottom, spiny lobster larvae (planktonic) 2300 N/A N/A
. planktonic Brown shrimp Post larvae/juvenile; subadults
(mud/sand bottom)
White shrimp larvae (planktonic)
goliath grouper juvenile (mangrove)
Post larvae/juvenile (mangrove;
grey snapper mud
Mangrove, bottom); adult (mangrove)
Moore’s Creek mud/sand mutton snapper Post larvae/juvenile; subadults 1100 70 NA
(MP 241.27) | bottom, one (mud/sand bottom) (trimming)
planktonic |__spiny lobster larvae (planktonic)
brown shrimp Post larvae/juvenile; subadults
(mud/sand bottom)
white shrimp larvae (planktonic)
goliath grouper juvenile (mangrove)
Post larvae/juvenile (mangrove;
grey snapper mud
Mangrove, bottom); adult (mangrove) 80
Unnamed Creek | sand/shell | mutton snapper larvae (mangrove) 2500 (removal) 0.0009
(MP 259.95) bottom, spiny lobster Post larvae/juvenile; subadults 700 .
planktonic (mud/sand bottom) (trimming)
brown shrimp Post larvae/juvenile; subadults
(mud/sand bottom)

Pink shrimp

postlarval/juvenile, subadults



(sand/shell bottom)

goliath grouper juvenile (mangrove)
Postlarvae/juvenile (mangrove);
Srey snapper adult (mangrove) 37
Unnamed Mangrove; mutton snapper larvae (mangrove) ee
a an . larvae removs
qian 2 Bottom; spiny lobster (planktonic) 931 0.0005
: Planktonic | .own shrimp | Postlarvae/juvenile; subadults 285
P
(mud/sand bottom) (trimming)
White shrimp | Postlarvaeljuvenile; subadults
(mud/sand bottom)
oliath grouper juvenile (mangrove)
Postlarvae/juvenile
grey snapper (mangrove/mud bottom); adult 230 (non
Mangrove; - _ (mangrove) mangrove
Unnamed juvenile (mangrove; mud/sand wetland
Tributary 1 (MP MuaiSand mutton snapper bottom) 3400 removal) 0.0029
266.86) Plankton --Sviay lobster Tarvae (planktonic)
onic : Post larvae/juvenile; subadults 950
Brown shrimp
(mud/sand bottom) (trimming)
White shrimp | Postarvacljuvenile; subadults
(mud/sand bottom))
Mutton juvenile (mangrove; mud/sand
snapper bottom)
Tributary to Sand Spiny lobster larvae (planktonic)
Manatee Creek Bottom; Brown shrimy Postlarvae/juvenile; subadults 1200 N/A N/A
2 (MP 267.34) | Planktonic P (mud/sand bottom)
White shrimp | Postlarvaefjuvenile; subadults
(mud/sand bottom))
Mutton juvenile (mangrove; mud/sand
snapper bottom)
Tributary to Sand Spiny lobster larvae (planktonic) 2olnon
Manatee Creek | Bottom; | sim ghrimn | Postlarvaeljuvenile; subadults 2300 wetland 0.0227
1 (MP 267.70) | Planktonic P (mud/sand bottom) 1
White shrimp | Posarvacrjuvenite; subaduls removal)
(mud/sand bottom))
goliath grouper {juvenile (mangrove)
; / Mangrove; | grey snapper ens adult
Hillsboro River | Sand/Shell fr 3200 66 WA
(MP 326.58) bottom: mutton snapper Juvenile (mangrove) (trimming)
> spiny lobster larvae (planktonic) trinamin
Planktonic > Post larvae/juvenile; subadults
pink shrimp (sand/shell bottom)
goliath grouper juvenile (mangrove)
. Postlarvae/juvenile; adult
N. Fork of Mangrove: grey snapper (mangrove) 200
Middle River bottom: mutton snapper Juvenile (mangrove) 5600 (removal) 0.0029
(MP 337.91) i" spiny lobster larvae (planktonic)
Planktonic a Post larvae/juvenile; subadults
Pink shrimp (and/shell bottom)
goliath grouper {juvenile (mangrove)
. Postlarvae/juvenile; adult
S.Forkot | Sash | ome (mangrove) (removal)
Middle River bottom: mutton snapper fvenile (nana) 6700 200 0.0006
P 338.52 3, spiny lobster larvae (planktonic) aaee
mm > | Planktonic -“PES Postlarvae/juvenile; subadults (trimming)
pink shrimp (sand/shell bottom)
Oleta River Mangrove; goliath grouper juvenile (mangrove) 2600 75 0.0011

grey snapper

Postlarvae/juvenile; adult