[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 102 (Friday, May 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25765-25766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12507]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Feasibility Study and Environmental 
Impact Statement for Everglades National Park (Park) To Evaluate 
Modifications to the Tamiami Trail

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), that the NPS is preparing a Feasibility Study and EIS to 
``evaluate the feasibility of additional bridge length, beyond that to 
be constructed pursuant to the Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades 
National Park Project (16 U.S.C. 410r-S), including a continuous 
bridge, or additional bridges or some combination thereof, for the 
Tamiami Trail (United States Highway 41) to restore more natural water 
flow to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay and for the purpose of 
restoring habitat within the Park and the ecological connectivity 
between the Park and the Water Conservation Areas'' (2009 Omnibus 
Appropriations Act). The NPS is the lead agency on this federal action; 
however, the NPS has requested the United States Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACOE) be a cooperating agency on this effort, with the 
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) providing technical assistance.

DATES: Written comments regarding the proposed project must be 
postmarked no later than 30 days from the publication of this Notice of 
Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register. As part of this process, public 
workshops will be held to solicit public input about the proposed 
project. The date, time, and location of the public workshops will be

[[Page 25766]]

announced in the newspaper Miami Herald and through the NPS Planning, 
Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: National Park 
Service, Attention Pat Kenney, Denver Service Center, Planning 
Division, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225-0287. Comments may 
also be submitted via the PEPC Web site using the links provided below. 
General information about the proposed project is available at the 
office of the Superintendent, Everglades National Park, 40001 State 
Road 9336, Homestead, Florida 33034. Additionally, interested persons 
may view the PEPC Web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov, then select 
``Everglades NP'' from the drop down box.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so. We will always make submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives of or officials of organizations or businesses, 
available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan B. Kimball Superintendent, 
Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, 40001 SR 9336, Homestead, 
FL 33034 or by telephone at 305-242-7800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Authorization: This project is authorized under the 2009 Omnibus 
Appropriations Act.
    b. Project Scope: The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act directs the 
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the NPS, to immediately 
``evaluate the feasibility of additional bridge length, beyond that to 
be constructed pursuant to the Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades 
National Park Project (16 U.S.C. 410r-S), including a continuous 
bridge, or additional bridges or some combination thereof, for the 
Tamiami Trail (United States Highway 41) to restore more natural water 
flow to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay and for the purpose of 
restoring habitat within the Park and the ecological connectivity 
between the Park and the Water Conservation Areas.''
    Specific Objectives include:
    <bullet> Provide for substantial increases in flows under the 
Tamiami Trail to Northeast Shark River Slough in the Park in order to 
restore the natural resources and processes in the park.
    <bullet> Remove obstructions to sheet flow between Water 
Conservation Area 3 and the Park.
    <bullet> To the extent practicable, restore ecological conditions 
in Park.
    <bullet> Ensure compatibility with other pre-Comprehensive 
Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and future CERP projects.
    <bullet> Identify seepage management requirements associated with 
the recommended plan.
    c. Preliminary Alternatives: The previously examined alternatives 
in the 2005 Revised General Reevaluation Report will be reevaluated and 
modified. In addition, the environmental, engineering, real estate, and 
cost estimates will be revised.
    d. Issues: The Integrated Feasibility Study/EIS will consider 
impacts on health and safety, aesthetics and recreation, cultural 
resources, socio-economic resources, hydrology, water quality, 
ecosystem habitat, fish and wildlife resources, threatened and 
endangered species, and construction costs.
    e. Scoping: In order to develop a realistic plan, NPS will seek 
input from other resource and technical agencies and stakeholders, 
including the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Seminole Tribe of 
Florida and Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma, the South Florida Water 
Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida 
Department of Environmental Protection, State Historic Preservation 
Office (SHPO) and the FHWA. The final recommended plan will take into 
consideration the Integrated Schedule developed with the policy 
guidance of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and will 
be consistent with the National Academy of Sciences recommendations for 
Incremental Adaptive Restoration. The Park, as the project lead, will 
be responsible for completion of the final report, including all 
technical analyses and NEPA requirements. This scope may be amended by 
the agreement of the parties.
    f. Public Involvement: Public scoping meetings and workshops will 
be held over the course of the study; the exact locations, dates, and 
times will be announced in public notices and local newspapers. Public 
meetings will be held after release of the Draft EIS; the exact 
locations, dates, and times will be announced in a public notice and 
local newspapers.
    g. Coordination: The proposed action is in accordance with the Fish 
and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 and the Endangered Species Act of 
1973. The coordinating agencies include the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, South Florida Water 
Management District, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Seminole 
Tribe of Florida, Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma, USACOE, and FHWA.
    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, the National Historic 
Preservation Act, and any other applicable law.
    i. Agency Role: As a cooperating agency, the USACOE will provide 
extensive information and assistance updating the environmental, 
engineering, real estate, and cost/benefit analyses for all 
alternatives.
    j. EIS Preparation: The draft Integrated Feasibility Study/EIS is 
currently estimated for publication in March 2010.

    Authority:  The authority for publishing this notice is 
contained in 40 CFR 1506.6.

    Dated: May 5, 2009.
Art Frederick,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12507 Filed 5-28-09; 8:45 am]
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