Notice2023-08522
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir Section 203 Study, Highlands County, Florida
Primary source
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Published
April 24, 2023
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentEngineers Corps
Abstract
The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessment for the North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir Section 203 Study that is being conducted by the Non-Federal Interest, the SFWMD. The SFWMD is beginning preparation of a feasibility study pursuant to section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, as amended, for submission to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)). The Corps intends to support the ASA(CW) review of the SFWMD's study by preparing a NEPA assessment concurrent with the SFWMD feasibility study and prior to the ASA(CW)'s review. The SFWMD Section 203 feasibility study will be for Component A, a 200,000 acre-foot above ground storage reservoir to capture water from the Kissimmee River prior to it flowing into Lake Okeechobee, to pull water in from Lake Okeechobee during high water levels, and to take in basin flows. The purpose of the study is to document anticipated improvements to the quantity, timing, and distribution of water flows to help manage lake levels and improve lake ecology by detaining water during wet periods for later use in the dry periods and to enhance water supply reliability to realize the benefits envisioned in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The purpose of the associated NEPA is to complete the Federal compliance requirements related to the Section 203 study for use by the Non-Federal Interest in completing the Section 203 Report.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 78 (Monday, April 24, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24777-24778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08522]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir Section 203 Study,
Highlands County, Florida
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) North
of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir (also known as the ``Lake
Okeechobee Component A Reservoir (LOCAR) Section 203 Study''),
Highlands County, Florida.
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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) intends to prepare a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
assessment for the North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir Section
203 Study that is being conducted by the Non-Federal Interest, the
SFWMD. The SFWMD is beginning preparation of a feasibility study
pursuant to section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)
of 1986, as amended, for submission to the Assistant Secretary of the
Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)). The Corps intends to support the
ASA(CW) review of the SFWMD's study by preparing a NEPA assessment
concurrent with the SFWMD feasibility study and prior to the ASA(CW)'s
review. The SFWMD Section 203 feasibility study will be for Component
A, a 200,000 acre-foot above ground storage reservoir to capture water
from the Kissimmee River prior to it flowing into Lake Okeechobee, to
pull water in from Lake Okeechobee during high water levels, and to
take in basin flows. The purpose of the study is to document
anticipated improvements to the quantity, timing, and distribution of
water flows to help manage lake levels and improve lake ecology by
detaining water during wet periods for later use in the dry periods and
to enhance water supply reliability to realize the benefits envisioned
in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The purpose of
the associated NEPA is to complete the Federal compliance requirements
related to the Section 203 study for use by the Non-Federal Interest in
completing the Section 203 Report.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted by May 24, 2023. A scoping
meeting will be held on April 27, 2023.
ADDRESSES: To ensure the Corps has sufficient time to consider public
input in the preparation of the Draft EIS, scoping comments should be
submitted by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f0bcbfb3b1a2b08583919395de91829d89de9d999c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="105c5f5351425065637173753e71627d693e7d797c">[email protected]</span></a> or by surface mail to U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Planning and Policy Division, Environmental
Branch, 701 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Ehlinger at 904-232-1665 or
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#65292a2624372510160406004b0417081c4b080c09"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cd0d3dfddcedce9effdfff9b2fdeef1e5b2f1f5f0">[email protected]</span></a>. Additional information is also available
at <a href="http://www.sfwmd.gov/LOCAR">www.sfwmd.gov/LOCAR</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Everglades ecosystem, including Lake Okeechobee,
encompasses a system of diverse surface water and wetland landscapes
that are hydrologically and ecologically connected across more than 200
miles from north to south and across 18,000 square miles of southern
Florida. In 2000, the U.S. Congress authorized the Federal government,
in partnership with the State of Florida, to embark upon a multi-
decade, multi-billion-dollar Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
(CERP) to further protect and restore the remaining Everglades
ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region.
CERP involves modification of the existing network of drainage canals
and levees that make up the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project
by implementation of 68 project components. Since CERP was approved,
progress has been made in the planning, design, construction, and
operation of south Florida ecosystem restoration projects. To enable
further progress, additional storage north of Lake Okeechobee located
in the Kissimmee River Region is critically important for benefits to
Lake Okeechobee, such as improved water levels, lake ecology, and
additional required water storage and water supply as identified in the
C&SF Project Comprehensive Review Study Final Integrated Feasibility
Report and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Yellow Book
1999) component A. There is an ongoing effort in the implementation of
CERP to identify opportunities to restore the quantity, quality,
timing, and distribution of flows into Lake Okeechobee. Water inflows
into Lake Okeechobee greatly exceed outflow capacity; thus, many times
there is too much water within Lake Okeechobee that needs to be
released to ensure the ecological integrity of the lake, which affects
the estuaries that receive the water. Lake levels that are too high or
too low, and inappropriate recession and ascension rates, can adversely
affect native vegetation and fish and wildlife species that depend upon
the lake for foraging and reproduction. The volume and frequency of
undesirable freshwater releases to the east and west lowers salinity in
the estuaries, severely impacting oysters, seagrasses, and fish.
Additionally, high nutrient levels adversely affect in-lake water
quality, estuary habitat, and habitat throughout the greater
Everglades.
Proposed Action: The objectives of the LOCAR study are to develop a
plan to improve the quality, quantity, timing, and distribution of
water entering Lake Okeechobee; provide for better management of lake
water levels; reduce
[[Page 24778]]
damaging releases to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries; and
improve system-wide operational flexibility.
Alternatives: The study will identify, evaluate, and recommend to
decision makers an appropriate and coordinated solution for additional
above ground storage of 200,000 acre-feet to capture water from the
Kissimmee River prior to it flowing into Lake Okeechobee, to pull water
in from Lake Okeechobee during high water levels, and to take in basin
flows. Alternatives will include no action and alternatives that
include several reservoir footprints and associated improvements,
levees, pump stations, water control structures, emergency overflow and
recreational features. By this Notice, the public is invited to
identify potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to
the proposed action.
Summary of Expected Impacts: Long-term beneficial and adverse
impacts are expected. Adverse impacts are expected from conversion of
habitat that may be used by certain threatened and endangered species
(for example, the crested caracara, Florida grasshopper sparrow,
bonneted bats, and Florida panther) to reservoir storage and other
components. Significant beneficial impacts to Lake Okeechobee and the
Northern Estuaries are expected from the additional 200,000 acre-feet
of water storage north of Lake Okeechobee. Therefore, an EIS is being
proposed.
Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements: The proposed
project will be reviewed for compliance with laws that would be
applicable to a Federal project, including but not limited to the
following: the Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act,
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act,
Farmland Protection Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act.
NEPA Schedule: The Draft Environmental Impact Assessment is
expected to be available for public review in fall 2023. A 45-day
public review period will be provided for interested parties and
agencies to review and comment on this draft document. All interested
parties are encouraged to respond to this notice and provide a current
address if they wish to be notified of the Draft EIS circulation. A
Record of Decision would be approved and signed no earlier than 30 days
after the published Final EIS.
Public Involvement and Scoping: A scoping letter will be used to
invite comments from Federal, State, and local agencies; affected
Federally recognized Native American groups; and other interested
private organizations and individuals. A scoping meeting will be held
on April 27, 2023, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 8:00
p.m. at the Indian River State College Dixon Hendry Campus, 2229 NW 9th
Ave., Okeechobee, Florida 34972. The formal portion of the workshop
will begin at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. respectively. Following the
scoping meeting, individuals who have not already submitted their
comments should submit them within 30 days of publication of this
Notice for consideration in the draft Section 203 report/environmental
documentation by either email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#410d0e0200130134322022246f20332c386f2c282d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bef2f1fdffecfecbcddfdddb90dfccd3c790d3d7d2">[email protected]</span></a> or mail to U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Planning and Policy Division, Environmental
Branch, 701 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207.
Daniel H. Hibner,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2023-08522 Filed 4-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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