Scoping Report Environmental Impact Statement

Scoping Report Environmental Impact Statement To Construct Stormwater Treatment Areas on Compartments B and C of the Everglades Agricultural Area, Florida Prepared by: Tetra Tech EC, Inc. 1901 South Congress Ave, Suite 270 Boynton Beach, FL 33426 September 2007 Compartments B&C EIS—Scoping Report Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 1.2 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 3.0 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................... 1-1 PURPOSE OF SCOPING.......................................................................................... 1-2 PUBLIC NOTICES AND DISTRIBUTION OF NOTICES..................................... 2-1 ADVERTISEMENT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS IN NEWSPAPERS ....................... 2-2 GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION LETTERS.................. 2-2 PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS .............................................................................. 2-3 PUBLIC COMMENTS.............................................................................................. 2-3 SCOPING PROCESS SUMMARY................................................................................. 2-1 COMMENT ANALYSIS.................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 REVIEW AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SCOPING COMMENTS .................. 3-1 3.2 COMMENT ISSUE ................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.1 Water Resources/Water Supply 3-1 3.2.2 Biological and Natural Resources 3-2 3.2.3 Cultural and Archeological Resources 3-2 3.2.4 Socioeconomics 3-2 3.2.5 Other 3-2 3.3 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EIS ........................................................................... 3-3 Appendices APPENDIX A: Federal Register Notice APPENDIX B: Newspaper Advertisements, Media Release, and E-mail Announcement APPENDIX C: Public Stakeholder, Agencies and Indian Tribe Mailing List and Mailer APPENDIX D: Agency Consultation Letters APPENDIX E: Public Scoping Meeting Handouts and Displays APPENDIX F: Public Scoping Meeting Attendance and Oral Comment Rosters APPENDIX G: Scoping Comments by Issue Area APPENDIX H: Original Scoping Comments List of Tables Table 2-1. Table 2-2. Table 3-1. Newspaper Public Notice Advertisement Publication Information..................... 2-2 Media Outlets That Received Press Release........................................................ 2-2 Issues Identified During Scoping Process............................................................ 3-1 Tetra Tech i September 2007 ECART Plus B&C EIS—Scoping Report Tetra Tech ii September 2007 ECART Plus B&C EIS—Scoping Report 1.0 INTRODUCTION The United States Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District (USACE) conducted public scoping meetings in July 2007 to initiate an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the effects of a proposed action---to convert approximately 13,740 acres of publicly owned, primarily agricultural lands to additional stormwater treatment areas (STAs) in Compartments B and C of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in Palm Beach and Hendry Counties, Florida. The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS, which contained the dates of public scoping meetings, was released on July 11, 2007 (Appendix A). Public stakeholders, appropriate federal, state, and local agency representatives and federally recognized Indian tribes were contacted through mail as part of the scoping process. The purpose of the scoping process was to solicit input to help identify all relevant issues that should be addressed in the EIS. This scoping report contains the details and a summary of the public scoping meetings. The appendices contain all the comments received by U.S mail, e-mail, comment cards, and oral comments given to a court reporter at the scoping meetings. Comments were received during the public scoping meetings, and one e-mail and one letter were received following the meetings. 1.1 BACKGROUND The USACE, Jacksonville District, will be receiving a permit application for a U.S. Department of Army permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to construct STAs on parcels of land identified as Compartments B and C of the EAA. This scoping report presents and summarizes the issues that the USACE will consider for the proposed additional STAs in Compartments B and C. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), scoping meetings were announced to federal, state, and local agencies and officials; federally recognized Indian tribes; stakeholders; and other interested parties to determine the scope of issues to be addressed and to identify the significant issues related to the proposed action. The EIS is intended to be used by the USACE as the NEPA environmental document that will support their decision to issue, issue with conditions, or deny a permit for placement of dredge/fill material in Waters of the United States for construction of the STAs on these parcels of land. The purpose of the project is to reduce nutrient loads of stormwater and runoff from the EAA and nutrient concentrations in water distributed into the Everglades Protection Area (EPA) from Lake Okeechobee to facilitate meeting legal requirements of the Everglades Forever Act and requirements set forth in the Consent Decree in United States v. South Florida Water Management District. Compartment B and C STAs are being constructed to meet the legal requirements of the Everglades Forever Act (Long-Term Plan) and the Everglades phosphorus criterion, and as a result will meet the intent of the Consent Decree. The State committed to Tetra Tech 1-1 September 2007 ECART Plus B&C EIS—Scoping Report provide water of a sufficient quantity and quality needed to preserve and restore the unique flora and fauna of the Everglades National Park and the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge. The SFWMD completed the EAA Regional Feasibility Study in 2005, which evaluated additional treatment needed in order to reduce phosphorus loads to the EPA. The Notice of Intent (Appendix A) provides a detailed Background and Purpose and Need for the proposed project. 1.2 PURPOSE OF SCOPING Under NEPA, all agencies are mandated to consider all environmental impacts for federal projects and federal rules. It requires agencies to cooperate with other federal agencies, and state and local governments, and to involve public stakeholders or citizens. NEPA created the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which publishes NEPA regulations 1 . CEQ regulations 40 CFR § 1501.7, require that there shall be an early and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying significant (and nonsignificant) issues related to the proposed action. All persons and organizations that have a potential interest in the proposed action, including federal, state and local agencies; appropriate federally recognized Indian tribes; interested stakeholders; and minority, low-income, or disadvantaged populations are urged to participate in the NEPA environmental analysis process. Public participation opportunities are guided by CEQ regulations, which include: 1) Notice of Intent, 2) scoping, 3) minimum 45-day public review of draft EIS, 4) public meeting on draft EIS, and 5) minimum 30-day public review of the final EIS. Throughout this process, the public may obtain information on the status and progress of the EIS by contacting Ms. Tori White, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, 1400 Centrepark Boulevard, Suite 750, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, telephone (561)472-8888, email at tori.white@usace.army.mil, or by fax at (561)683-2418. Council on Environmental Quality, Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Act, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508. 1 Tetra Tech 1-2 September 2007 ECART Plus B&C EIS—Scoping Report 2.0 SCOPING PROCESS SUMMARY The USACE conducted two scoping meetings as an effort to help identify significant issues and data gaps and to assist in evaluating the alternatives, identifying other alternatives, and analyzing the potential impacts. The USACE will consider the results of the scoping process to develop a range of alternative actions, including the No Action Alternative, to implementing the proposed action. The overall scoping process consisted of the following elements: • • • Developing a Public Participation Plan, in accordance with NEPA, as guidance for conducting outreach to the public Publishing and announcing public scoping meetings in the Federal Register Distributing a public notice announcing public scoping meetings and locations to newspapers; federal, state, and local agencies and officials; stakeholders; and other interested parties Distributing a press release to media outlets Sending agency and tribal consultation letters by mail Holding two public scoping meetings to inform the public about the proposed action and to solicit oral and written comments on the issues that should be addressed in the EIS Reviewing and categorizing oral and written comments to be evaluated in the draft EIS • • • • 2.1 PUBLIC NOTICES AND DISTRIBUTION OF NOTICES The scoping process was initiated when the NOI to prepare an EIS for the proposed buildout of Compartments B and C for STA’s was published on July 11, 2007. The NOI provided information regarding the proposed action purpose and need, background, alternatives to be evaluated, and geographic locations of the project sites. The NOI included information to encourage public involvement and solicit comments regarding the proposed action by providing public scoping meeting dates, times and locations, and also provided point of contact information at the USACE to submit comments and receive additional information. Scoping meeting notices were prepared and included information on the proposed action, as well as the dates and locations of the public scoping meetings (Appendix B). The notices were sent via U.S. mail to the project mailing list (Appendix C), which included federal agencies, state agencies, appropriate federally recognized American Indian tribes, local agencies and officials, stakeholders, and other interested parties. The mailing list was prepared using several lists of interested parties from an existing electronic mailing list provided by the SFWMD and the USACE. Notification was sent out to more than 2,500 people on the Corporate Communications "CERPPROJECTSPROGRAM@evergladesplan.org" e-notification list, which includes interested parties who have signed up to receive notifications on the www.evergladesplan.org Tetra Tech 2-1 September 2007 ECART Plus B&C EIS—Scoping Report Web site or at previous USACE public meetings. List members include a broad spectrum of interested parties including private individuals; local, county, state, and federal government and agencies; businesses; educational institutions; elected officials at all levels; and special interest groups. Additionally, the public scoping meetings and request for comments were announced on the USACE Jacksonville District Web site at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/pao/hotTopics/compartmentB-C_EIS.htm. As other interested parties are identified, they will be added to the mailing list, which will be updated continuously throughout the development and finalization of the EIS. Anyone requesting information regarding the EIS will be added to the mailing list. Persons who attended the public scoping meetings or other meetings have been added to the list. 2.2 ADVERTISEMENT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS IN NEWSPAPERS Scoping meeting notices were published in several newspapers with distribution throughout the proposed action area (Table 2-1). A press release was also sent to local media outlets, as detailed in Table 2-2. Table 2-1. Newspaper Public Notice Advertisement Publication Information Date of Publication July 12 and 19, 2007 July 11 and 18, 2007 July 12 and 19, 2007 July 12 and 19, 2007 July 12 and 19, 2007 Publication Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach Post The Sun The Clewiston News Glades County Democrat Location Broward County, Florida Palm Beach County, Florida Hendry County, Florida Hendry County, Florida Hendry County, Florida Table 2-2. Media Outlets That Received Press Release Name WPTV – 5 WPEC – 12 WFLX – 29 Okeechobee News Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Post County Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach, Florida Okeechobee, Florida Broward, Florida Palm Beach, Florida 2.3 GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION LETTERS The USACE mailed a consultation letter to the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on July 5, 2007 (Appendix D). In the letter, the USACE invited the DOI to become a cooperating agency on the EIS. By letter dated July 26, 2007, the DOI accepted cooperating agency status (Appendix D). A separate interagency scoping meeting was deemed not necessary, and instead combined with the public scoping meetings, due to early agency involvement via an EIS kickoff meeting in February 2007. Agencies were notified of the public Tetra Tech 2-2 September 2007 ECART Plus B&C EIS—Scoping Report scoping meetings through the public notification process described in Sections 2.1 and 2.2, as well as through e-mail and in person at monthly interagency coordination meetings by the USACE (Tori White). 2.4 PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS Public scoping meetings were held in the evening in Palm Beach and Hendry Counties on the dates and locations listed below: • • July 25, 2007 – South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, Florida July 26, 2007 - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Belle Glade, Florida These venues were chosen on the basis of accessibility of the public throughout the primary regions affected by the proposed action. An open house format was used at each meeting. Thirteen information stations with displays and handouts (Appendix E) were available for viewing. Subject matter experts from the USACE and environmental consultants were staffed at each station to provide information regarding the proposed action to meeting attendees, and to solicit comments from them. The stations presented information on the proposed action, alternatives, environmental and cultural resources, socioeconomic effects, water resources, and the NEPA process. In addition, a welcome station, media station, and court reporter station were available to provide information and accept oral and written comments. Approximately seven stakeholders attended the scoping meeting located West Palm Beach and six stakeholders in Belle Glade. Attendees were welcomed at the entrance and asked to sign in (Appendix F). The attendees were provided a brochure (Appendix E) and were given instructions for viewing the displays and providing their comments. Comment cards were available at each of the stations for the attendees to fill out and place in the comment form repository. 2.5 PUBLIC COMMENTS Written comments were accepted in person at the public scoping meetings or by U.S mail, e-mail or fax. A court reporter was also available at each meeting to accept oral comments (Appendix H). Comments were requested by August 27, 2007, and were to be addressed to Ms. Tori White, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, 1400 Centrepark Boulevard, Suite 750, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, telephone (561)472-8888, e-mail at tori.white@usace.army.mil, or by fax at (561)683-2418. Appendix G contains all scoping comments received through August 27, 2007 by issue area. Appendix H contains a copy of each original public comment by e-mail and comment card, and oral comments submitted at the meetings. Tetra Tech 2-3 September 2007 ECART Plus B&C EIS—Scoping Report 3.0 COMMENT ANALYSIS The scoping process resulted in the submission of 12 comments by individuals and 1 government agency. The USACE received comments by U.S. mail, written and oral comments at the scoping meetings, and e-mail. The 12 comments were broken out by issue areas, which are described below. 3.1 REVIEW AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SCOPING COMMENTS Each comment was reviewed and sorted into five issue categories, which are described in Table 3-1 and Appendix G. Many of the individual comments addressed more than one issue, which is reflected in Table 3-1. Table 3-1. Issues Identified During Scoping Process Issue Water Resources/Water Supply Biological and Natural Resources Cultural and Archeological Resources Socioeconomics (including Recreation) Other (includes Land Use/Acquisition) Number received 10 6 1 5 5 3.2 COMMENT ISSUE The following sections expand on specific concerns identified in the public scoping comments for each of the issue categories. 3.2.1 Water Resources/Water Supply The largest percentage of comments pertained to water resources, supply and flow. While all agree that STAs are beneficial and additional treatment is necessary to reduce phosphorus loads, some expressed concern that the existing STAs are undersized and inadequate to meet the treatment needs, and if the proposed STAs will be utilized to handle Lake Okeechobee water as well as runoff then they may be undersized. It was suggested to examine what treatment components could be added to Compartments B and C in the future. One of the 10 comments expressed concern with diverting water from the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), noting that there could be adverse consequences from this action. Two comments suggested evaluation of a flow-way alternative to investigate a more natural conveyance and treatment of water delivered from Lake Okeechobee through parts of the EAA, to the Everglades. Comments also suggested that the individual and joint water budgets be analyzed to determine if Compartment B and C are of sufficient size to have the capacity to handle Lake Okeechobee water in addition to field runoff. One comment suggests evaluating the capacity of the Tetra Tech 3-1 September 2007 ECART Plus B&C EIS—Scoping Report SFWMD’s rock pits to detain Lake releases for later treatment and delivery to the Everglades as opposed to sending it east and west where it may pose a threat to estuaries. Another comment expressed concern with the water storage being too deep. An evaluation of the intention of the water storage and how fast it will be released needs to be addressed. 3.2.2 Biological and Natural Resources All comments were consistent with preventing negative impacts to biological and natural resources. Three of the six comments addressed the conservation and addition of marshes to benefit waterfowl, maintaining and restoring habitat, and increasing and recreating natural habitat for native species. Also, if Compartments B and C are used by the Florida panther, corridors must be available for panthers to move through. Negative impacts to the Refuge from the proposed action must be addressed. The USFWS has prepared a draft document estimating the water needs of the Refuge. The final document is anticipated to be complete prior to the completion of the EIS, and will be utilized for the EIS in evaluating the environmental impacts. 3.2.3 Cultural and Archeological Resources One comment was received for this issue area, and it addressed preserving any archeological resources. 3.2.4 Socioeconomics Recreation was addressed in four of the five comments received. Many of the comments stated the EIS should evaluate the unmet recreation demands of fishing, hunting, kayaking, and wildlife viewing. One of the comments stated that public access and recreation is an Everglades culture and provides economic benefit to the Everglades community. The EIS should provide conceptual plans for recreation in the Compartments as part of the evaluation of the proposed action. 3.2.5 Other Land Use Of the five comments received, all addressed land use and land acquisition. The comments were consistent with utilizing and purchasing more land for STA use. Climate One comment stated that the EIS should address local, regional, and state plans to respond to the anticipated climatic response resulting from the land use change and STA operation. Tetra Tech 3-2 September 2007 ECART Plus B&C EIS—Scoping Report 3.3 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EIS Most of the comments that were received regarding the proposed action were in favor of the inclusion and evaluation of the alternatives initially offered. All comments will be assessed and considered both individually and collectively, and will be responded to according to NEPA guidance (40 CFR § 1503.4). Based on the information available, and comments received from the public and a federal agency, recommendations include: address the issues that have been raised; consider additions to the alternatives to be evaluated; and continue to obtain all relevant documents, studies, models and other information to prepare the draft EIS. Tetra Tech 3-3 September 2007 Public Meeting Report Draft Environmental Impact Statement To Construct Stormwater Treatment Areas on Compartments B and C of the Everglades Agricultural Area, Florida Prepared for: U.S, Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District 4400 PGA Blvd, Suite 500 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Prepared by: Tetra Tech EC, Inc. 1901 South Congress Ave, Suite 270 Boynton Beach, FL 33426 August 2008 Compartments B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 PURPOSE OF PUBLIC MEETING.......................................................................... 1-2 2.0 PUBLIC MEETING PROCESS SUMMARY ............................................................... 2-1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 3.0 PUBLIC NOTICES AND DISTRIBUTION OF NOTICES..................................... 2-1 ADVERTISEMENT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS IN NEWSPAPERS ....................... 2-2 GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION LETTERS.................. 2-2 PUBLIC MEETING .................................................................................................. 2-3 PUBLIC COMMENTS.............................................................................................. 2-3 COMMENT ANALYSIS.................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 REVIEW AND ORGANIZATION OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ..................... 3-1 3.2 COMMENT ISSUE ................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.1 Alternatives 3-1 3.2.2 Biological and Natural Resources 3-2 3.2.3 Socioeconomics 3-2 3.2.4 Other 3-2 3.3 AGENCY and PUBLIC COMMENTS BY US MAIL ............................................. 3-2 3.4 FINAL EIS PREPARATION .................................................................................... 3-3 Appendices APPENDIX A: Federal Register Notice of Availability APPENDIX B: Meeting Notice to: Newspaper Advertisements, Media Release, and E-mail Announcement APPENDIX C: Public Stakeholder, Agencies and Indian Tribe Mailing List and Mailer APPENDIX D: Agency Consultation Letters APPENDIX E: Public Meeting Brochure and Displays APPENDIX F: Public Meeting Attendance and Oral Comment Rosters APPENDIX G: DEIS Comment Matrix and Original Public Meeting Comments APPENDIX H: DEIS Presentation List of Tables Table 2-1. Table 2-2. Table 3-1. Newspaper Public Notice Advertisement Publication Information..................... 2-2 Media Outlets That Received Press Release........................................................ 2-2 Issues Identified During Public Meeting ............................................................. 3-1 Tetra Tech i June 2008 Compartment B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report Tetra Tech ii August 2008 Compartment B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report 1.0 INTRODUCTION The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District conducted a public meeting on June 25, 2008 on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which evaluates the effects of a proposed action---to convert approximately 13,740 acres (will be updated to 12,390 for Final EIS, due to further designs that became available after the DEIS was published) of publicly owned, primarily agricultural lands to additional stormwater treatment areas (STAs) in Compartments B and C of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in Palm Beach and Hendry Counties, Florida. The Notice of Availability (NOA) to prepare an EIS, which contained the date of public meeting, was released on June 10, 2008 (Appendix A). Public stakeholders, appropriate federal, state, and local agency representatives and federally recognized Indian tribes were contacted through mail as part of the DEIS notification process. The purpose of the public meeting was to provide information contained in the DEIS and collect comments on relevant issues that should be addressed in the Final EIS. This report contains the details and a summary of the public meeting. The appendices contain all the comments received by U.S mail, e-mail, comment cards, and oral comments given to a court reporter at the public meetings. 1.1 BACKGROUND The USACE, Jacksonville District, has received permit applications from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) requesting a U.S. Department of Army permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to construct STAs on parcels of land identified as Compartments B and C of the EAA. This report presents the public meeting process and the comments and issues that were addressed by the stakeholders at the DEIS public meeting. These comments will be considered for evaluation and will be included as an appendix in the Final EIS. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the DEIS public meeting was announced to federal, state, and local agencies and officials; federally recognized Indian tribes; stakeholders; and other interested parties to identify the significant issues related to the proposed action and collect public comment on the DEIS. The Final EIS is intended to be used by the USACE as the NEPA environmental document that will support their decision to issue, issue with conditions, or deny a permit for placement of dredge/fill material in Waters of the United States for construction of the STAs on these parcels of land. The project purpose as described by the SFWMD is to utilize Compartments B and C to increase the treatment capacity of the existing ECP STAs in order to further reduce phosphorus levels in stormwater runoff entering the Everglades Protection Area (EPA) from the EAA and other water basins by building STAs on SFWMD-owned lands. The project will provide an interim step in meeting water quality standards. Compartment B and C STAs are being constructed to help Tetra Tech 1-1 August 2008 Compartment B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report reduce nutrient concentrations in water delivered to the EPA such that discharges of water to the EPA comply with legal requirements. The project will provide an interim step in meeting water quality standards to address excess phosphorus entering the EPA. The SFWMD completed the EAA Regional Feasibility Study in 2005, which evaluated additional treatments needed in order to reduce phosphorus loads to the EPA. The Notice of Availability (Appendix A) provides a detailed Background and Purpose and Need for the proposed project. 1.2 PURPOSE OF PUBLIC MEETING Under NEPA, all agencies are mandated to consider all environmental impacts for federal projects and federal rules. It requires agencies to cooperate with other federal agencies, and state and local governments, and to involve public stakeholders or citizens. NEPA created the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which publishes NEPA regulations 1 . CEQ regulations 40 CFR § 1501.7, require that there shall be an early process to determine the scope of issues to be addressed and open process throughout the preparation of the EIS for identifying significant (and non-significant) issues related to the proposed action. All persons and organizations that have a potential interest in the proposed action, including federal, state and local agencies; appropriate federally recognized Indian tribes; interested stakeholders; and minority, low-income, or disadvantaged populations are urged to participate in the NEPA environmental analysis process. Public participation opportunities are guided by CEQ regulations, which include: 1) Notice of Intent, 2) scoping, 3) minimum 45-day public review of draft EIS, 4) public meeting on draft EIS, and 5) minimum 30-day public review of the final EIS. Throughout this process, the public may obtain information on the status and progress of the EIS by contacting Ms. Tori White, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, 4400 PGA Boulevard, Suite 500, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410, telephone (561)472-3517, email at tori.white@usace.army.mil, or by fax at (561)626-6917. Council on Environmental Quality, Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Act, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508. 1 Tetra Tech 1-2 August 2008 Compartment B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report 2.0 PUBLIC MEETING PROCESS SUMMARY The USACE conducted a public meeting in Belle Glade, FL as an effort to collect comments on the DEIS from stakeholders to help identify significant issues and data gaps in the Draft EIS. The USACE will consider the comments collected and all comments will be included in the appendix of the DEIS as well as the public administrative record. The DEIS public meeting process consisted of the following elements: • • • • • • Publishing and announcing public meeting and DEIS availability in the Federal Register Distributing a public notice announcing public meeting and location to newspapers; federal, state, and local agencies and officials; stakeholders; and other interested parties Distributing a press release to media outlets Sending agency and tribal consultation letters by mail Holding one public meeting to inform the public about the proposed action and to solicit oral and written comments on the issues that should be addressed in the EIS Reviewing and categorizing oral and written comments to be evaluated in the Final EIS 2.1 PUBLIC NOTICES AND DISTRIBUTION OF NOTICES The DEIS NOA was issued on June 10, 2008 and provided information regarding the availability of the DEIS, the proposed action purpose and need, background, alternatives evaluated, and geographic locations of the project sites. The NOA included information to encourage public involvement and solicit comments regarding the DEIS by providing the public meeting date, time and location, and also provided point of contact information at the USACE to submit comments and receive additional information. Public meeting notices were prepared and included information on the proposed action, as well as the date and location of the public meeting (Appendix B). The notices were sent via U.S. mail to the project mailing list (Appendix C), which included federal agencies, state agencies, appropriate federally recognized American Indian tribes, local agencies and officials, stakeholders, and other interested parties. The mailing list used for the public scoping meeting in July 2007 was updated and included several lists of interested parties from an existing electronic mailing list provided by the SFWMD and the USACE. Notification was sent out to more than 2,500 people on the Corporate Communications "CERPPROJECTSPROGRAM@evergladesplan.org" e-notification list, which includes interested parties who have signed up to receive notifications on the www.evergladesplan.org Web site or at previous USACE public meetings. List members include a broad spectrum of interested parties including private individuals; local, county, state, and federal government and agencies; businesses; educational institutions; elected officials at all levels; and special interest groups. Tetra Tech 2-1 August 2008 Compartment B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report Additionally, the public meeting and request for comments on the DEIS were announced on the USACE Jacksonville District Web site at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/pao/hotTopics/compartmentB-C_EIS.htm. Persons who attended the public scoping meetings or other meetings have been added to the stakeholder list and were notified of DEIS availability. Stakeholders that requested copies of the EIS received either a hard or electronic copy. 2.2 ADVERTISEMENT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS IN NEWSPAPERS Public meeting notices were published in several newspapers with distribution throughout the proposed action area (Table 2-1). A press release was also sent to local media outlets, as detailed in Table 2-2. Table 2-1. Newspaper Public Notice Advertisement Publication Information Date of Publication June 12 and 18, 2008 June 12 and 18, 2008 June 12 and 19, 2008 June 12 and 19, 2008 June 12 and 19, 2008 Publication Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach Post The Sun The Clewiston News Glades County Democrat Location Broward County, Florida Palm Beach County, Florida Hendry County, Florida Hendry County, Florida Hendry County, Florida Table 2-2. Media Outlets That Received Press Release Name WPTV – 5 WPEC – 12 WFLX – 29 Okeechobee News Miami Herald Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Post County Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach, Florida Okeechobee, Florida Miami, Florida Broward, Florida Palm Beach, Florida 2.3 GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION LETTERS The USACE mailed a consultation letter to the Department of Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on July 5, 2007 (Appendix D). In the letter, the USACE invited the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to become a cooperating agency on the EIS. By letter dated July 26, 2007, the USFWS accepted cooperating agency status (Appendix D). A separate interagency scoping meeting was deemed not necessary, and instead combined with the public scoping meetings, due to early agency involvement via an EIS kickoff meeting in February 2007. Agencies were notified of the public meeting through the public notification process described in Sections 2.1 and 2.2, as well as through e-mail and in person at monthly interagency coordination meetings by the USACE (Tori White). Tetra Tech 2-2 August 2008 Compartment B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report The USACE mailed a consultation letter on July 1, 2008 to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida to request government to government consultation on the EIS, including Draft and Final EIS. 2.4 PUBLIC MEETING One public meeting was held in the evening in Hendry County on June 25, 2008 at the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Belle Glade, Florida. The venue was chosen on the basis of accessibility of the public throughout the primary regions affected by the proposed action. A formal public presentation (Appendix H) was given by the USACE and Tetra Tech EC, Inc. (Tt) on the DEIS. In addition, an open house format was used before and after the presentation to provide additional information regarding the DEIS and facilitate comments from stakeholders. Seven information stations with displays (Appendix E) were available for viewing. Subject matter experts from the USACE and environmental consultants from Tt were staffed at each station to provide information regarding the proposed action and the DEIS to meeting attendees, and to solicit comments from them. The stations presented information on the proposed action, alternatives, environmental and cultural resources, socioeconomic effects, water resources, and the NEPA process, as well as a map of the affected environment. In addition, a welcome station and court reporter station were available to provide information and accept oral and written comments. Approximately nineteen stakeholders attended the public meeting, which included federal and state agencies and Tt staff. Attendees were welcomed at the entrance and asked to sign in (Appendix F). The attendees were provided a brochure (Appendix E) and were given instructions for viewing the displays and providing their comments. Comment cards were available at each of the stations for the attendees to fill out and place in the comment form repository. 2.5 PUBLIC COMMENTS Written comments were accepted in person at the public meeting or by U.S mail, e-mail or fax. A court reporter was also available at the meeting to accept oral comments (Appendix G). Comments were requested by July 21, 2008, and were to be addressed to Ms. Tori White, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, 4400 PGA Boulevard, Suite 500, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410, telephone (561)472-3517, e-mail at tori.white@usace.army.mil, or by fax at (561)626-6971. Appendix G contains a comment matrix with all comments received at the public meeting and by mail through July 21, 2008 and July 28, 2008. Appendix G contains a copy of each original public comment, collected orally by the court reporter or comment card, which was submitted at the public meeting. Tetra Tech 2-3 August 2008 Compartment B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report 3.0 COMMENT ANALYSIS The DEIS public meeting commenting process resulted in the submission of 2 comments, 1 written and 1 oral, by individuals who were in attendance. The USACE also received comments by U.S. mail which is discussed in Section 3.3 and included in the comment matrix (Appendix G). 3.1 REVIEW AND ORGANIZATION OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS Each comment collected at the public meeting was reviewed and sorted into four issue categories, which are described in Table 3-1 and can also be found in Appendix G. The individual comments addressed more than one issue, which is reflected in Table 3-1. Table 3-1. Issues Identified During Public Meeting Issue Alternatives Biological and Natural Resources Socioeconomics Other (includes Land Use/Acquisition) Number received by issue 2 1 2 2 3.2 COMMENT ISSUE The following sections expand on specific concerns identified in the public comments for each of the issue categories. 3.2.1 Alternatives Alternatives were discussed in two of the six comments received. The first comment addressed Alternative E, which entails constructing a separate STA on 10,137 acres of land adjacent to STAs 1E and 1W rather than STAs on the Compartment B and C lands. The comment stated that although Alternative E is a good option, it should nevertheless be delayed pending the conclusion of negotiations with the U.S. Sugar Corporation for the purchase of its holdings in the Everglades Agricultural Area. The second comment received was regarding Alternative B. This Alternative is SFWMD’s Preferred Alternative, which consists of constructing STAs within the full build-out of Compartments B and C. Full build-out of the Compartment B STA would primarily assist STA 2 by treating water from the North New River Canal (NNRC) Basin. Construction of the Compartment C STA would expand the treatment capacity of STA 5 and STA 6. The comment regarding this alternative simply stated that the alternative is to be preferred and can be quickly implemented. Tetra Tech 3-1 August 2008 Compartment B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report 3.2.2 Biological and Natural Resources URS conducted surveys for wetland jurisdiction, wildlife, and threatened and endangered species for USACE and SFWMD in 2007. Observed or expected occurances of threatened and endangered species were recorded and documented. The geographic regions considered in the analysis of threatened and endangered species and designated critical habitat include the EAA; Lake Okeechobee; St. Lucie River Estuary; the Indian River Lagoon; Caloosahatchee River Estuary; the Acme Basin B-Section 24; and WCAs 1, 2A, and 3A. The only public comment regarding the issue of listed species questioned what the negative impacts would be to two specific federally-listed species (the snail kite and the wood stork) once the desired reductions in phosphorous levels was attained as a result of the project implementation. 3.2.3 Socioeconomics The first comment for this issue area expressed concern for the future of the sugar mill. It was suggested that, as a result of the implementation of Alternative E, the sugar mill would loose 2030% of the sugar cane production/ processing, thereby putting the sugar mill out of business. The second comment was made in regards to the removal of the only rice mill in the area. It was stated that rice is considered a highly beneficial crop and that it is currently in short supply in the U.S market. The comment also included that there is currently no other place in the area where rice growers can get their rice processed. Consequently, it was suggested that socioeconomic impacts of the proposed actions should be better analyzed. 3.2.4 Other Land acquisition was addressed in two comments during the public meeting. The first comment stated that the rock, which underlies the property near the Alternative E area, is the most valuable rock in the state of Florida. The comment expressed concern about the fact that if this rock was not paid for during the land acquisition, then Florida taxpayers would inevitably be responsible for the high prices. The last comment regarding land acquisition addressed the fact that it would not be acceptable if the 11,000 acres of land were purchased at $5,000-$10,000 an acre. 3.3 AGENCY and PUBLIC COMMENTS BY US MAIL Numerous comments on the DEIS were submitted by different government agencies between June 21, 2008 until July 28, 2008. The U.S. Department of the Interior, the Florida Department of Transportation, Audubon of Florida, Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, the Florida Sugar Cane League, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Seminole Tetra Tech 3-2 August 2008 Compartment B&C EIS—DEIS Public Meeting Report Tribe of Florida were amongst these agencies. The South Florida Water Management District, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council also submitted comments on the DEIS. These comments are organized into a comment matrix available in Appendix G and are being reviewed and considered for incorporation in the Final EIS by the USACE. 3.4 FINAL EIS PREPARATION Comments received on the DEIS will be assessed and considered both individually and collectively, and will be responded to according to NEPA guidance (40 CFR § 1503.4). Based on the information available, and comments received from the public and agencies, recommendations include: address the issues that have been raised and continue to obtain all relevant documents, studies, models and other information to prepare the Final EIS. Tetra Tech 3-3 August 2008 A Duda & Sons A Duda & Sons Apelgren Corporation Atlantic Sugar Association Boyers Agricultural Services, Inc. Dairy Farmers Inc. Duda Farm Fresh E.L. Pope & Sons Ed Barber & Associates Florida Citrus Mutual Florida Crystals Corp. Florida Cyrstals Corporation Florida Farm Bureau Federation Florida Farm Bureau Federation Florida Sugar Cane League Flo-sun Inc. Gulf Citrus Growers Hooker Jones Forms Hudley Farms Indian River Citrus League JEM Farms JET Farms JT Boynton Farms Kenedy Farms King Ranch Lewis Friend Farms Lewis Friend Farms Oasis Tree Farm Okeelanta Corporation Okeelanta Corporation Osceola Farms Pacific Tomato Growers Ltd. Pro Farms RC Hatton Farms Roth Farms Sci-Acra, Inc. Sem-Chi Rice Products SN Knight & Sons South Florida Agricultural Council Southern Garden Groves Corporation Stein Sugar Farms Sugar Cane Growers Corporation of Florida Sugar Cane Growers Corporation of Florida Flo-Sun Research Department Government & Community Affairs Ed Craig Mark John Hamilton Bartoshuk Sodders Fanjul Art Drew Norman Ed Darling Duda Pope Barber Michael Mayann Charles John Lorenz Gosa Shinn Dunkelman P.O. Box 208 P.O. Box 788 P.O. Box 200 26400 County 880 1824 West Canal St S. 166 Lookout Place, Suite 100 PO Box 2015 P.O. Box 697 P.O. Box 838, Hwy 228 South P.O. Box 89 One N. Clematis St, Suite 200 P.O. Box 86 5700 SW 34th Street Assistant Director P.O. Box 690342 PO drawer 1208 1 N Clematis St, Ste 200 P.O. Box 1319 1109 NE 31st St P.O. Box 309 P.O. Box 519, 7925 SW 20th St PO box 250 P.O. Box 1370 135 Bacom Point Rd 1797 Bacon Point Rd P.O. Box 1210 460 State Market Road P.O. Box 119 P.O. Box 677 P.O. Box 86 P.O. Box 86 P.O. Box 679 9500 Country Rd 858 P.O. Box 579 P.O. Box 220 P.O. Box 1300 P.O. Box 1689 P.O. Box 1097 P.O. Box 730 P.O. Box 86 111 Ponce de Leon Ave P.O. Box 2075 Belle Glade LaBelle Pahokee Belle Glade Belle Glade Maitland Belle Glade Pahokee MacClenny Lakeland West Palm Beach South Bay Gainsville Vero Beach Clewiston West Palm Beach LaBelle Bell Glade Loxahatchee Vero Beach Loxahatchee Loxahatchee Pahokee Pahokee Bell Glade Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee South Bay South Bay Pahokee Immokalee Pahokee Pahokee Belle Glade Belle Glade Loxahatchee Belle Glade LaBelle Clewiston Belle Glade FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL 33430 33975 33476 33430 33430 32751 33430 33476 32063-0838 33802 33401 33493 32608 32969-0342 33440-1208 33401-5551 33975 33430 33470 32961-0519 33470 33470 33476 33476 33430 33476 33476 33476 33493 33493 33476 34142 33476 33476 33430 33430 33470 33430 33935 33440 33430-7075 33401 33430-0666 John Phil John Shannon Wayne Paul Lewis Craig Matthew Raul Carlos Ed Paul Paul Rick Joseph René Tom Hudley Strazzulla McKinstry Thompson Boynton Grouse Friend Korbly Capone Perdomo Rionda English Orsenigo Allen Roth Orsenigo Gonzalez Jones Fritz David Barbara Stein Goodlett Mediema 330 Clematis St., Suite 270 West Palm Beach P.O. Box 666 Belle Glade Sugar Farms Cooperative Twin H Farms Modesto Kammy Ulloa Holt P.O. Box 408 3019 SR15 Director of Communications 111 Ponce de Leon Ave P.O. Box 910 Community 1029 North Lakeside Drive Planner 1833 Southeast Hideaway Circle 2507 Calloway Rd, Suite 103 PO Box 16914 2101 North East 55th court 1450 Merrihue Dr 1130 17th St NW One Waterfowl Way 5120 SW 170 2nd Ave P.O. Box 1213 22951 SW 190 Ave 1331 Palmetto Ave, Suite 110 444 Brickle Ave, Suite 850 460 Hwy 436 1101 Audubon Way Tavernier Science Center, 115 Indian Mound Trail 311 Franklin Rd 13918 61st Lane North 329 Emerson Circle 7407 Southern Blvd P.O. Box 20051 P.O. Box 6870 2252 SW 22nd Cir. 606 Pines Rd 700 and Biltmore Way, Suite 407 244-A Westward Drive 115 Lameraux Rd 4303 Barbridge Road 500 Lake Ave. #102 298 NW 11th St P.O. Box 2620 444 Brickle Ave, Suite 850 Loxahatchee Belle Glade FL FL 33470 33430 US Sugar Corp. (USSC) W.E. Schelechter & Sons 1000 Friends of Florida 1000 Friends of Florida Audobon of Florida Audubon Society of the Everglades Broward County Sierra Club Collier County Conservancy Defenders of Wildlife Ducks Unlimited Everglades Coordinating Council Everglades Foundation Everglades Protection Society, Inc. Florida Audubon Florida Audubon Society Florida Audubon Society Florida Audubon Society Florida Audubon Society Florida Native Plant Society Florida Sportsman Conservation Association Florida Sportsman Conservation Association Florida Sportsman Conservation Association Florida Sportsman Conservation Association Florida Wildlife Federation Friends of Lake Okeechobee Friends of the Everglades Friends of the Everglades Friends of the Everglades Lake Region Audubon Society Loxahatchee Group Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group Sierra Club Arthur R. Marshall Foundation National Audubon Society Judy Bill Joanne Doug Eric Rosa Roderick John Sanchez Schelechter Davis Coward Draper Durando Tirrell Fitch Clewiston Belle Glade Lake Worth Port St. Lucie Tallahassee West Palm Beach Fort Lauderdale Naples Washington Memphis Davie Hobe Sound Miami Winter Park Miami Cassleberry Maitland Tavernier West Palm Beach West Palm Beach Palm Springs West Palm Beach West Palm Beach Tallahassee Okeechobee Palmyra Miami Miami Springs Winter Haven West Palm Beach Lake Worth Boca Raton Palm Beach Miami FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL DC TN FL FL FL FL FL FL 33440 33430 33460 34952 32303 33416 33308-3111 33942 20036 38120 33331-1223 33475 33170 32789 33131 32707-4939 32751 33070 33405 33412 33416 33413 33146-0051 32314 34974 17078 33134 33166 33884 33406-6411 33460 33432 33480 33131 Albert Nathaniel Bryan Reed Director Secretary President Barbra Jean Powell Clay Jacquelyn Herbert Charles Jerry Cynthia Brian Byron Doug Bishop Manley Carroll John Juanita Joseph John Drew Elaine John Mark Henderson Cohen Kale, Ph.D. Lee Lorenz. Ph.D Plockelman Jones Maharrey Sharp Wright Fuller Head Childe Greene Podgor Koch Martin Usherson Marshall Kraus FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL PA FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL National Audubon Society National Parks Conservation Association National Wildlife Federation Natural Resources Defense Council Ridge Audubon Society Save the Manatee Save the Manatee Sierra Club The Conservancy- CollierCounty The Everglades Foundation The Florida Biodiversity Project The Nature Conservancy The Wilderness Society (Miami) Tropical Audubon Society Trust for Public Lands Airboat Association of Florida Caloosahatchee River Citizen's Assoc. Caloosahatchee River Citizen's Assoc. Florida Cattlemen's Association Marine Industries Association of Florida Okeechobee Waterway Association Pahokee Marina St. Lucie River Initiative Trail Glades Bassmasters United Waterfowlers Delta Waterfowl Foundation Army Corps Of Engineers Army Corps Of Engineers Army Corps Of Engineers Army Corps Of Engineers Army Corps Of Engineers Army Corps Of Engineers Army Corps Of Engineers Army Corps Of Engineers Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Jerome Sara Andrew Brad Fran Judith Kay John Thomas Brian Robert Karsten Brenda Dave Lorenz Fain Schock Sewell Stallings Vallee Gates Fitch VanLent, Ph.D Scherf Benedick Rist Marshall Balman 115 Indian Mountain Trail Tavernier FL FL GA NY FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL ND FL FL FL FL FL FL FL 33070 33021 30309 10011 33827 34101-8776 32751 33129 450 N Park Rd Hollywood 1330 W. Peachtree St, Ste Atlanta 475 40 W. 20th St, 11th Floor P.O. Box 148 P.O. Box 8776 500 N. 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Affairs Regional Environmental 75 Spring St. SW, Room Clearance Officer 600-C Atlanta GA 30303-3388 Jay Joan Dennis Gelderman Lawrence Duke Superintendent P.O. Box 663 Washington, D.C. 11200 SW 8th St, OE Bldg, Room 148 Miami 2514 Highsmith Landing Lane Jacksonville 6075 Stirling Rd Hollywood 20044-0663 FL FL FL 33199 322226 33024 DOI DOI Nicholas Sam Aumen Hamilton 10216 Lee Rd Regional Director 1875 Century Blvd. Boynton Beach Atlanta FL FL 33437-4796 30345-3301 DOI Rolf Olsen Refuge Manager 10216 Lee Rd Boynton Beach FL 33437-4796 DOI Matthew Harwell 1339 20th St Vero Beach FL 32960-3559 DOI Paul Souza Field Supervisor 1339 20th St Vero Beach FL 32960-3559 DOI Arturo Torres SFWMD Liaison 3110 SW 9th Ave Fort Lauderdale FL 33315 DOI DOI DOI DOI DOI DOI Dan Jonathan Don Kimball Deason Jodry May Nunez Piccirilli Superintendent Director 40001 State Road 9336 1849 C St NW, MS2340 1849 C St NW, MS2340 11200 SW 8th St, FIU,SERC, OE Bldg, Rm 165 1875 Century Blvd. Homestead Washington Washington Miami Atlanta Atlanta FL DC DC 33034-6733 20240 20240 33199 South FL. Ecosystem Rest. Task Force USFWS Office of Federal Assistance USFWS Office of Federal Assistance Greg Fernando Mike GA GA 30345-3301 30345-3301 Chief, Federal Assistance 1875 Century Blvd. Environmental Protection Agency Region IV Philip MancusiUngaro Chief NEPA Compliance Section 61 Forsyth St, SW Atlanta GA 30303-3104 Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency Region IV Office of Federal Activities, NEPA Program Office Chris Hoberg Anne Veronica Eric Norton Miller Director Fasselt Hughes 61 Forsyth St, SW 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. Northwest, 2251, Room 7209 400 N Congress Ave, Ste 120 701 San Marco Blvd. Ariel Rios bldg, S Oval Lobby, Mail Code 2252-A, Room 7241,1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 500 C St SW, room 714 Atlanta GA 30303-3104 Washington West Palm Beach Jacksonville DC FL FL 20460 33401 32207 Environmental Protection Agency Federal Emergency Management Administration Federal Emergency Management Administration Federal Emergency Management Administration Federal Highway Administration House Of Representatives House Of Representatives Office of Federal Activities, NEPA Compliance Division, EIS Filing Section Insurance & Mitigation Division Robert Gregg Hargrove Chappell May Davidson John Klein Hastings Director Washington Washington Atlanta Atlanta DC DC GA GA FL FL FL 20460 20472 30341 30341 32303 33401 33407 Region IV Philip Region IV, Insurance & Todd Mitigation Division Jim District 22 District 23 Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Section Habitat Conservation Division National Marine Fisheries Service, SE Regional Office, Protected Resources Division Senator Senator Ron Alcee Reg Director Reg Director Division Administrator Representative Representative State Soil Scientist Assistant Regional Administrator 1371 Peachtree St NE 3003 Chamblee-Tucker Road 545 John Knox Rd, Ste 100 Tallahassee 625 N Flagler Drive West Palm Beach 5725 Corporate Way, Suite 208 West Palm Beach Department of Agriculture Deanna Anderson 2614 NW 43rd St Gainesville FL 32606-6611 NOAA Miles Croon 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg FL 33701 NOAA United States Senate United States Senate Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services David Mel Bill Bernhart Martinez Nelson Assistant Regional Administrator Senator Senator 9721 Executive Center Drive North/263 13th Ave S. St. Petersburg 800 Douglas Rd, Suite 148 Coral Gables 500 Australian Ave, Suite West Palm Beach, 125 Florida 3125 Conner Blvd., room 269 3128 Conner Blvd., Rm 171, C28 3301 Gun Club Rd FL FL FL 337022449/33701 33134 33401 Charles John Linda Bronson Folks McCarthy Commissioner Tallahassee Tallahassee West Palm Beach FL FL FL 32399-1650 32399 33406 Department of Environmental Protection Department of Environmental Protection Department of Environmental Protection Department of Environmental Protection Department of Environmental Protection Department of Environmental Protection Mike Div. of Water Res. Mgmt & Env Planning FL Coastal Mgmt Program State Clearinghouse FL St. Clearinghouse Wetlands Resource Mgmt. Dianne Sally Lauren James Janet Sole Crigger Mann Milligan Quinn Llewellyn Secretary Director Program Administrator Director 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 47 400 N. Congress Ave, Suite 200 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS47 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS47 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 49 2600 Blairstone Road Tallahassee West Palm Beach Tallahassee Tallahassee Tallahassee Tallahassee FL FL FL FL FL FL 32399-3000 33401 32399-2400 32399 32399 32399-3000 Department of State Department of Environmental Protection Div of Hist. Resources, State Historic Fred Preservation Office Gaske Director of Ecosystem Projects RA Grey Building, 500 S Bronough St, Room 402 Tallahassee FL 32399-0250 Greg Division of Water Resource Management, Water Quality Standards & Special Shelly Projects Program Ernie Dist. 4, Planning & Env. Mgmt. District 1, SW Area Office Env, Mgmt. Office District 1 Everglades Protection and Restoration Director Amie Larry Robert Elizabeth Joe Ken Charlie Environmental Protection Committee District 82 District 76 District 77 District 78 District 84 District 85 Williams William Garrett Denise Richard Priscilla Shelley Knecht 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 45 Tallahassee FL 32399 Department of Environmental Protection. Department of Environmental Protection. Department of Transportation Department Of Transportation Department Of Transportation Department Of Transportation Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Governor House of Representatives House of Representatives House of Representatives House of Representatives House of Representatives House of Representatives House of Representatives Yaun Marks Goddeau Slayback Crim Serdynski Walsh Haddad Christ Trudi Snyder Richter Grimsley Machek Taylor Vana Governor Chair Representative Representative Representative Representative Representative Representative 2600 Blair Stone Road, M. S., 3560 2600 Blair Stone Road, M. S., 3560 3400 West Commercial Blvd. P.O. Box 1030 605 Suwannee St, MS 37 P.O. Box 1030 255 154th Ave 620 S. Meridian St. The Capital, 400 S. Monroe St 402 S. Monroe St, Room 220 2400 S. Federal Hwy, Suite 250 3301 East Tamiami Trail, Ste 203 205 S. Commerce Ave, Ste B 5341 W. Atlantic Ave, Ste 3004 1 E. 11Th St, Suite 410 1280 N. Congress Ave, Suite 100 Tallahassee Tallahassee Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers Tallahassee Fort Myers Vero Beach Tallahassee Tallahassee Tallahassee Stuart Naples Sebring Delray Beach Riviera Beach West Palm Beach FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL 32399-3000 32399-3000 33309-3421 33902 32399 33902 32968-9041 32399-1600 32399-0001 32399-1300 34994-4590 34112-4961 33870-3604 33484-8102 33404-6921 33409 House of Representatives House of Representatives Legislative Library South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District District 86 District 88 Maria Lorts Sachs Susan Ellison Bucher Cheri Representative Representative Head Librarian 203 NE 1st Ave 2240 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 102 400 S Monroe St, Room 701 The Capitol Delray Beach West Palm Beach Tallahassee FL FL FL 32399-1300 33409 32399-1300 Everglades Restoration Kenneth Public Information Executive Office Executive Office Renée Paul John Brenda CERP Project Mgmt. Environmental Resourse Compliance Matt Ammon DeSantis Dumars Maloy Mills Morrison Stacy Myers Executive Office Thomas Interagency Modeling José Center Palm Beach Service Center Fred Olliff Otero Rapach Everglades Restoration Tom Teets Deputy Executive 2301 Center Park West, Director MS7110 Outreach Specialist 3301 Gun Club Road 3301 Gun Club Road, MS 1110 Chief Financial 3301 Gun Club Road, MS Chief Executive 4110 3301 Gun Club Road, MS7410 Lead Project 3301 Gun Club Road, MS Manager 7630 Lead Environmental 3301 Gun Club Road Analyst Assistant Executive 3301 Gun Club Road, MS Director 1110 3301 Gun Club Road, Section Leader MS4910 3301 Gun Club Road, MS1690 Director Program Implementation 2301 Center Park West, Manager MS7110 Deputy Executive Director Chief Environmental Scientist Executive Director Inspector General 3301 Gun Club Road, MS6111 West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach FL FL FL FL FL FL 33316 33406 33406 33406 33406 33406 West Palm Beach FL 33406 West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach FL FL FL 33406 33406 33406 West Palm Beach FL 33316 Corporate Resources Sandra Turnquest West Palm Beach FL 33406 Everglades Restoration Paul Executive Office Office of Inspector General Office of General Counsel CERP Project Mgmt. Lake Okeechobee Division Carol John Sheryl Dewey David Warner Wehle Williams Wood Worth Unsell 2301 Center Park West, MS7110 3301 Gun Club Road, MS1110 3301 Gun Club Road, MS1310 3301 Gun Club Road, General Counsel MS1410 3301 Gun Club Road, Division Director MS7630 3301 Gun Club Road, Division Director MS7630 Assistant Deputy Executive 2301 Center Park West, Director MS7110 West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach FL FL FL FL FL FL 33316 33406 33406 33406 33406 33406 South Florida Water Management District Acceler8 Tommy Strowd West Palm Beach FL 33316 South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District Finance & Administration CERP Planning Aaron Lawrence Basinger Gerry Department Director Department Director 3301 Gun Club Road 3301 Gun Club Road, MS 7610 West Palm Beach West Palm Beach FL FL 33406 33406 South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District Corporate Resources office of Board & executive services HR Solutions Assistant Deputy Executive 3301 Gun Club Road, Director MS6111 Administrative Assistant, Senior 3301 Gun Club Road Department 3301 Gun Club Road, Director MS6510 Chief Information 3301 Gun Club Road, Officer MS6310 Assistant Deputy Executive 3301 Gun Club Road Director Deputy Executive 3301 Gun Club Road, Director MS5100 3301 Gun Club Road, Director MS1160 Legislative Affairs Representative 3301 Gun Club Road Department Director 3301 Gun Club Road Assistant Deputy 3301 Gun Club Road, Executive MS4410 Director Deputy Executive 3301 Gun Club Road, Director MS4110 Media Resources Specialist 3301 Gun Club Road 400 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St, Room Senator 404 400 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St, Room 406 400 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St, Room Senator 312 400 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St, Room 324 West Palm Beach FL 33406 Sandra Lourdes Gomez Ramos West Palm Beach West Palm Beach FL FL 33406 33406 Info Technology Sharon Trost West Palm Beach FL 33406 South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District Operations and Maintenance Operations and Maintenance Policy and Legislative Affairs Policy and Legislative Affairs Procurement Dept. Larry Carter West Palm Beach FL 33406 George Ernie Horne Barnett West Palm Beach West Palm Beach FL FL 33406 33406 Elena Frank Bernardo Hayden West Palm Beach West Palm Beach FL FL 33406 33406 South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District Water Resources Management Terrie Bates West Palm Beach FL 33406 Water Resources Chip Merriam FL 33406 Media Relations Julie Greenberg West Palm Beach FL 33406 State Senate District 27 Dave Aronberg Greenacres FL 33463 State Senate District 25 Jeffrey Atwater Tallahassee FL 32399 State Senate District 28 Ken Pruitt Tallahassee FL 32399-1100 State Senate District 30 Ted Deutch " FL State Senate District 39 Board of Commissioners Board of Commissioners Public Library Hendry County Administration Hendry County Administration Public Library, Clewiston Commission Commission Office of Water Quality Board of Commissioners Board of Commissioners, District 5 Board of Commissioners, District 4 Board of Commissioners, District 6 Board of Commissioners, District 1 Board of Commissioners, District 2 Board of Commissioners, District 3 Board of Commissioners, District 7 Main Library Engineering Environmental Resources Management Legislative Delegation Office Larcenia Bullard 400 Senate Office Building, 404 S. Monroe St, Room Miami 218 FL FL FL FL FL FL 33143 Broward County Glades County Glades County Glades County Pam Wendell Robert Pam Brangaccio Taylor Geisler Brown KenningtonKorf O'neal Fraser Ballantyne Weberman Millar Weisman Administrator 115 S. Andrews Ave 500 Ave J. 500 Ave J. P.O. Box 505, Riverside Drive Fort Lauderdale Moore Haven Moore Haven Moore Haven 33301 33471 33471 33471 Hendry County Hendry County Hendry County Martin County Martin County Martin County Palm Beach County Judi Wayne John Duncan Lee Paul Robert Assistant County 165 S. Lee St., Suite A Administrator County Administrator P.O. Box 1760 Labelle Labelle FL FL FL FL FL FL FL 33975 33935-1760 33440 34996 34996 34996 33402-1989 Administrator Chair Manager County Administrator 120 West Osceola Ave. Clewiston 2401 SE Monterey Rd Stuart 2401 SE Monterey Rd Stuart 2401 SE Monterey Rd Stuart P.O. Box 1989, 301 N. Olive Ave West Palm Beach P.O. Box 1989, 301 N. Olive Ave West Palm Beach P.O. Box 1989, 301 N. Olive Ave West Palm Beach P.O. Box 1989, 301 N. Olive Ave West Palm Beach P.O. Box 1989, 301 N. Olive Ave West Palm Beach P.O. Box 1989, 301 N. Olive Ave West Palm Beach P.O. Box 1989, 301 N. Olive Ave West Palm Beach P.O. Box 1989, 301 N. Olive Ave West Palm Beach 3650 Summit Blvd. West Palm Beach West Palm Beach Palm Beach County Burt Aaronson Commissioner FL 33402-1989 Palm Beach County Mary McCarty Commissioner FL 33402-1989 Palm Beach County Jess Santamaria Commissioner FL 33402-1989 Palm Beach County Karen Marcus Commissioner FL 33402-1989 Palm Beach County Jeff Koons Commissioner FL 33402-1989 Palm Beach County Robert Kanjian Commissioner FL 33402-1989 Palm Beach County Palm Beach County Palm Beach County Addie Bob George Greene Davidson Webb Commissioner FL FL FL 33402-1989 33406 33411 Cpunty Engineer 2330 N Jog Road Palm Beach County Palm Beach County Richard Ed Walesky Chase Director 2300 N Jog Road, 4th Floor West Palm Beach 301 N. Olive Ave, 1st floor West Palm Beach FL FL 33411 33401 Palm Beach County Palm Beach County Parks And Recreation Water Resources Library System, Bell Glade Branch Public Library Library System, Southbay Dennis Kenneth Eschelman Todd Manager 2700 6th Ave South Lakeworth P.O. Box 1989, 301 N. Olive Ave West Palm Beach FL FL 33461 33402 Palm Beach County Palm Beach County Barbara Phyllis Oeffner Lilley 530 S. Main St. Branch Manager 375 SW 2nd Ave Mayor/Board of Commissioners Seat B City Manager Director Bell Glade South Bay FL FL 33430 33493 Belle Glade Belle Glade Belle Glade Belle Glade Belle Glade Belle Glade Belle Glade Clewiston Clewiston Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee South Bay South Bay South Bay South Bay South Bay South Bay Southbay West Palm Beach West Palm Beach Florida Inland Navigation District Indian Trail Improvement District Lake Worth Drainage District Lake Worth Drainage District City Clerk's Office City Clerk's Office Water Resources City Clerk's Office Chamber Of Commerce City Clerk's Office City Clerk's Office City Commission City Commission City Commission City Commission Don William Ken Mary Garrett Underwood Robinson Kendall Vice Mayor Executive Director Brenda Bunting Commissioner, Gwendolyn Asia-Williams Seat E Sanchez, Commissioner, Ph.D. Seat A Ray Wendell Johnson City Manager Mali Chamness Mayor Allie Biggs Commissioner McEntire Commissioner Gary Crawford Commissioner Henry JP Sasser Mayor Keith Babb Vice Mayor Lillie Latmore City Manager municipal complex, 110 SW Ave E Municipal Complex, 110 Southwest Ave. E. 2055 W. Canal St Municipal Complex, 110 Southwest Ave. E. 450 S. Main St. 110 Martin Luther King Boulevard W 110 Martin Luther King Boulevard W 1150 W. Ventura Ave 300 E. Sugarland Hwy 171 N. Lake Ave 171 N. Lake Ave 171 N. Lake Ave 171 N. Lake Ave 171 N. Lake Ave 171 N. Lake Ave 115 E. Main St. 335 SW 2nd Ave 335 SW 2nd Ave 335 SW 2nd St 335 SW 2nd Ave 335 SW 2nd Ave 335 SW 2nd Ave 335 SW 2nd Ave 200 2nd St P.O. Box 3506 1314 Marcinski Ave 13476 61st Street, North 13081 Military Trail 13081 Military Trail Bell Glade Belle Glade Bell Glade Belle Glade Bell Glade Bell Glade Bell Glade Clewiston Clewiston Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee Pahokee South Bay South Bay South Bay South Bay South Bay South Bay South Bay West Palm Beach West Palm Beach Jupiter West Palm Beach Delray Beach Delray Beach FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL 33430 33430 33430 33430 33430 33430 33430 33440 33440 33476-1861 33476-1861 33476-1861 33476-1861 33476-1861 33476-1861 33476-1805 33493 33493 33493 33493 33493 33493 33493 33401 33402-3506 33477-9498 33412 33484-1105 33484-1105 Chamber of Commerce Clarence Esther Joe Shirley Tony John Anthony Berry Kyles WalkerTurner Smith Wilson Mayor Vice Mayor Commissioner Commissioner City Manager Commissioner City Commission City Commission City Commission Chamber of Commerce Public Utilities Ray Kenneth Gail Jay Patrick Bill Liberti Rearden Byrd Foy Martin Winters Engineering Director Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council Treasure Coast Planning Council Everglades Agricultural Area Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Muscogee (Creek) Nation Poarch Band of Creek Indians Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Seminole Tribe of Florida Seminole Tribe of Florida Seminole Tribe of Florida, AH-TAHTHI-KI Museum Broward County League Of Women Voters Florida League of United Latin American Citizens Florida Alliance of Retired Americans South Florida American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Organizations Economic Council of Palm Beach County Dept. of Bio. Sciences Florida International University David Michael John Joette Dexter Steve Billy Joyce Robert Burr Busha Schelechter Lorion Leighton Terry Cypress Bear Thrower Chairman Executive Director Protection District 1926 Victoria Ave 301 East Ocean Blvd., Suite 300 P.O. Box 373, SR715 7700 N Kendall Drive, Suite 303 7700 N Kendall Drive, Suite 303 PO Box 440021, Tamiami Station PO Box 440021, Tamiami Station P.O. Box 580 8511 Jack Springs Road P.O. Box 1498 6073 Stirling Rd 6073 Stirling Rd HC61, Box 21-A 202 SW 63rd Ave Fort Myers Stuart Belle Glade Miami Miami Miami Miami Okmulgee Altmore Wewoka Hollywood Hollywood Clewiston Plantation FL FL FL FL FL FL FL OK AL OK FL FL FL FL 33901 34994 33430 33216 33216 33144 33144 74447 36502 74884 33024-2198 33024-2198 33440 33317 Water Resources Enosh Kelly Haney Craig Tepper Mitchell Cypress Bill Steele Principal Chief Director Chairman THPO Brent Tony Wilkes Fransetta National Executive Director President 2000 L Street NW, Suite 610 Washington 127731 W Forest Hill Blvd., Ste 211 Wellington DC FL 20036 33414 Karen Woodson Dean 7910 NW 25th St, Suite 201 Miami 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 950 West Palm Beach 11200 SW 8th Street Miami FL FL FL 33122 33401-2375 33199 Nova Southeastern University, Env & Shepard Broad Law land use Law Center Center St. Thomas University University of Florida Barron Collier Companies, Government Affairs Government Affairs Carney Environmental Consulting Services E. F. Gaines Surveying Services, Inc. Environmental & Land-Use Law Center Inc. EPJV Florida Power and Light Company Florida Power and Light Company Richard Fred Richard Tom Stephen Elizabeth Lisa Zafar Grosso Light Raid Jones Carney Gains Interlandi Hyres Executive Director and General Counsel 3305 College Ave. 16401 NW 37th Ave PO Box 111564 Director President Fort Lauderdale Miami Gardens Gainsville FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL 33314 33054 32611 34105 33143 33919 33403 32207 33170 33408 2600 Golden Gate Parkway Naples 6435 SW 85th St. 8481 Yorkshire Lane Miami Fort Myers Lake Park Jacksonville Goulds Juno Beach Regional Counsel Environmental Services Florette Department Braun Principal Environmental 330 US Highway 1, Suite 3 701 San Marco Blvd. 9700 SW 344th St 700 University Blvd., P.O. Box 14000 GCDC Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Interested Individuals Landers & Parsons LBFH, Inc LGS, Inc MacVicar, Federico & Lamb, Inc. Pahokee Marine South Dade Land Corporation Autrie Virginia Clayton Rosa Rosa Robin John Wayne Joseph Geraldine John Martha Ron Philip Howard Leah Thomas James MooreWilliams Barnett Diebel Durando Durando Fail Geddie Nelson Padgor Shelton Sugden Musgrove Smolla Parsons Searcy Schad MacVicar Humble Vice President 401 SW 2nd St 4241 SW 10th court 113 20th St, route 4 10308 heritage Farms Rd 1340 SW Ave C Pl 8040 Bellamah Court Northeast P.O. Box 16061 244-A Westward Drive 1340 Southwest Ave C. Place 524 S. Andrews Ave, #102n 2432 Edgewater Drive 12025 SE Laurel Lane 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 1105 2029 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 600 3634 North Flagler Drive 4524 W. Gun Club Rd, Ste. 201 190 Northlake Drive P.O. Box 1569 Belle Glade Miami Okeechobee Lake Worth Belle Glade Albuquerque West Palm Beach Miami Springs Belle Glade Fort Lauderdale West Palm Beach Hobe Sound West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach West Palm Beach Pahokee Homestead FL FL FL FL FL FL NM FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL 33430 33165 34974 33467 33430 87110 33416 33166 33430 33301 33406 33455 33401 33409 33407 33415 33476 33030 Public Meeting Draft Environmental Impact Statement June 25, 2008 To Construct Stormwater Treatment Areas on Compartments B and C of the Everglades Agriculture Area US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Presentation Outline NEPA • Public Input • Environmental Impact Statement Proposed Action • Purpose and Need • Alternatives • Affected Environment • Environmental Effects US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 Requires agencies to consider the impact of a federal action on the human environment A federal action includes projects which involve: • Federal Permits • Federal Funds • Federal Construction Council on Environmental Quality oversees NEPA regulations (40 CFR § 1500) US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Purpose of DEIS Public Meeting NEPA Public Comment Guidelines (40 CFR § 1502.9): Facilitate public input and comments on the Draft EIS for preparation of the Final EIS. US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) • Required for projects that involve significant impacts to the human environment • Involves interagency coordination and scoping • Prescribed format and content for document preparation • Prescribed process and timetable US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC EIS Process Overview • Proposed Action Formulated – Notice of Intent • Scoping • Preparation of Draft EIS • • • • • • • Internal Agency Review and Filing of Draft EIS with EPA Public Review of Draft EIS Public Meeting and Commenting Period Preparation of Final EIS Internal Agency Review and Filing of Draft EIS with EPA Record of Decision (ROD) Mitigation and Monitoring US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC EIS Schedule • Public Meeting - June 25, 2008 • DEIS Commenting Period (46 days) June 6 to July 21 • Preparation of Final EIS and Internal Agency Review – July 21 to November 3 • Filing of Draft EIS with EPA (30 days) – November 28 to December 29 • Record of Decision (ROD) – January 5, 2009 US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Proposed Action The SFWMD proposes to convert publicly owned, primarily agricultural lands into stormwater treatment areas (STA) US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Project Need • Water flowing from the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) to the Everglades Protection Area (EPA) exceeds state water quality standards and has degraded downstream habitats. • Proposed project to construct STAs to assist existing STAs to improve water quality US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Project Purpose Reduce the nutrient concentrations in water delivered to the EPA from storm water runoff and Lake Okeechobee discharges. This is an interim step in meeting water quality standards. US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Objectives and Goals • Improve the phosphorus removing performance of existing and planned STAs • Greater operational flexibility to direct and balance STA loads and flows • Add redundancy to the existing STA facilities • Minimize the potential for STA overloading and free up capacity to allow treatment of Lake Okeechobee discharges US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Alternatives • Alternative A: Represents the study area water budget in 2010 without project action • Action Alternatives Alternative B, C, D, and D-1: Considers the build-out of Compartments B and C • Action Alternative E: Considers other lands adjacent to STAs 1E and 1W for construction of additional STAs US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Action Alternatives A, B, C, D and D-1 Comparison • Similarities – Evaluate approximately 12,900 acres of additional treatment areas in the full build-out of Compartments B and C – The physical configuration and operational protocol for Compartment C • Differences – The protocol for capturing and treating the various inflow sources for Compartment B US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Action Alternative B – SFWMD Preferred Alternative • Compartment B Primary Purpose – To treat North New River Canal Basin runoff with the EAA A-1 capturing only that runoff that cannot be treated by Compartment B • Additional Operational Advantages – Allows EAA A-1 and STA 3/4 to be utilized for Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases • Compartment B Excess Treatment Capacity – Uses excess surplus capacity to treat water that would otherwise go to STA 2 US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Action Alternative C • Compartment B Primary Purpose – To treat North New River Canal Basin runoff not captured by the EAA A-1 Reservoir • Additional Operational Advantages – N/A • Compartment B Excess Treatment Capacity – N/A US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Action Alternative D • Compartment B Primary Purpose – To treat North New River Canal Basin with the EAA A-1 Reservoir capturing runoff not treated by Compartment B Additional Operational Advantages – Allows EAA A-1 and STA 3/4 to be utilized for Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases Compartment B Excess Treatment Capacity – Treat diversions from EAA A-1 and Lake Okeechobee – Keeps extra treatment capacity of Compartment B available for whatever uses are determined useful or beneficial • • US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Action Alternative D-1 • Compartment B Primary Purpose – To provide additional water quality treatment for improved performance of the EAA A-1 • Additional Operational Advantages – Free up capacity of STA 3/4 or provide a direct link to WCA 3A and distribute water from Compartment B into WCA 3A through other appropriate structures • Compartment B Excess Treatment Capacity – Treat diversions from EAA A-1 and Lake Okeechobee US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Action Alternative E • Considers 10,137 acres of other lands adjacent to STAs 1E and 1W for construction of additional STAs – Assist STA 1W in treating Hillsboro and West Palm Beach Basin runoff prior to discharge into the Refuge (WCA 1) – Assist STA 1W and 1E to keep water in the Basin for the Refuge – Assist in treating Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases sent to tide through the C-51, C-44 and C-43 canals US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Map of Affective Environment US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Environmental Effects • Water Quality, Hydrology, Vegetation, Fish and Wildlife, T&E, Recreation Resources , Cultural Resources, Socioecomonic, Land Use, Transportation and Facilities US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated Water Quality Effects Alternative Area STA 2, 3/4, 5, & 6 STA 1E and 1W, & the Refuge WCA 2A WCA 3A A B C Large P decrease in all STAs No change N o c h a n g e Minimal increase in P inputs Large increase in P inputs D E No change Large P decrease in STAs & Refuge No change No change Large decrease in P inputs Northern Estuaries No change Potential decrease in phosphorus inputs from reduced Lake Okeechobee releases No change Rotenberger WMA Large decrease in P inputs Notes: Alternatives A-D based on modeling efforts (Gorforth 2007) and Alternative E Based on new STA adjacent to STA 1E and 1W US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated Surface Water Hydrology Effects Alternative Area Lake Okeechobee A B Increase in water released to A-1 C Slight increase in water released to A-1 D Increase in water released to A-1 E ???? STA 2, 3/4, 5, and 6 STA 1E and 1W N o c h a n g e Minimal decrease in water inflows to each STA No change No change Decrease in water inflows to STA 1E and STA 1W Minimal decrease in water inflows No change No change The Refuge WCA 2A WCA 3A Northern Estuaries No change Large increase in water inflows Large decrease in water inflows Decrease in freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee No change Decrease in freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee with strong potential for even greater reductions. NoTETRA TECH EC, INC change RotenbergerUS Army Corps of Engineers ® WMA Decrease in water inflows Anticipated Vegetation Effects Alternative Effects A B C D E Direct Conversion of typical and atypical wetlands to STAs Indirect Improvement in vegetation from improved timing, frequency, and quantity of water as a result of other projects Minor negative effects within Rotenberger WMA. Potential major negative effects within WCAs 2-A and 3-A Similar to Alternative B, but with the potential for additional improvements to aquatic vegetative communities in the Northern Estuaries, and potential for enhanced dry-season deliveries of water to WCA 3A and Everglades National Park. US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated Fish and Wildlife Effects Alternative A Direct Conversion of typical and atypical wetland habitat to active agriculture Improvement in habitat quality within the project affected regions from improved timing, frequency, and quantity of water as a result of other projects B C D E Conversion of typical and atypical wetland habitat to STAs with emergent and submerged aquatic vegetation Indirect Minor benefits to fish and aquatic wildlife habitats within Rotenberger WMA. Potential major negative effects on fish and wildlife habitat within WCAs 2-A and 3-A Same as Alternative B, with the potential for additional improvements to the Northern Estuaries, and potential for enhanced dry-season deliveries of water to WCA 3A and Everglades National Park. US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated T & E Effects Birds Audubon Crested Caracara Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow Alternative A B C D E No impact to preferred foraging or nesting habitat No impact due to distance of project from suitable habitat Conversion of 5,223 acres potential foraging habitat within Compartments B and C footprint to agriculture. Potential negative indirect impacts to habitats within the northern portions of WCA 2A and 3A. Conversion of 5,223 acres potential foraging habitat within Compartments B and C footprint to STAs with emergent and submerged aquatic vegetation Potential negative indirect impacts to habitats within the northern portions of WCA 2A and 3A. Conversion of 5,223 acres potential foraging habitat within Compartments B and C footprint to STAs with emergent and submerged aquatic vegetation Assumed to be the same as other alternatives with comparable conditions. Assumed to be the same as other alternatives with comparable TETRA TECH conditions. EC, INC Everglade Snail Kite Conversion of 5,223 acres potential foraging Woodstork habitat within Compartments B and C footprint to US Army Corps of Engineers ® agriculture. Anticipated T & E Effects Cont. Alternative Fish A Opossum pipefish B C D E Improvement in habitat quality and migratory ability expected from improved timing, frequency, and quantity of freshwater releases to the northern estuaries as a result of other projects Additional diversions of freshwater Lake releases would further improve habitat in northern estuaries and upstream habitats Smalltooth Sawfish Foraging habitat quality (seagrass and mangrove habitat) expected to improve from better timing, frequency, and quantity of freshwater releases to the northern estuaries resulting from other projects Additional diversions of freshwater Lake releases would further improve habitat in northern estuaries. US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated T & E Effects Cont. Alternative Mammals A West Indian Manatee B C D E Improvement in foraging habitat (seagrass) quality in Additional diversions of the northern estuaries from better timing, freshwater Lake releases frequency, and quantity of freshwater releases to would further improve habitat the northern estuaries as a result of other projects in northern estuaries No direct or indirect impact No direct impact to preferred or long-term panther habitat within the Build-out footprints. Overall conversion of potential ranging and resting habitat abd 317 acres potential foraging habitat (scrub/shrub wetlands) will be off set by the preservation of 101,066 acres of land within primary and other panther zones from CERP Band 1/Accelerate projects Florida Panther US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated T & E Effects Cont. Alternative Plants A Johnson’s Seagrass B C D E Enhanced seagrass habitat from improvements in timing, frequency, and quantity of freshwater releases to the northern estuaries resulting from other projects Additional diversions of freshwater Lake releases to STA 3/4 afforded by the Build-out would further improve habitat. Okeechobee Gourd Enhancement of habitat expected from hydrology improvements resulting from other projects* US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated Recreational Resource Effects Alternative Effects Direct A No change to Recreational opportunities or facilities B C D E Assumed to be the same as other alternatives with comparable conditions. Increased public access for limited recreational facilities and opportunities in Compartments B and C Indirect No change in water management practices that influence recreational opportunities or facilities US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated Cultural Resource Effects Alternative Assessed Resource Aesthetic Resources A Continued to have local landscape dominated by current condition B C D E Shift from terrestrial landscape (agricultural, dry areas) to wetland (water) landscape. Cultural Resources Potential degradation Potential future erosion of of three NRHPtwo NRHP-eligible sites eligible sites and and several other sites several sites that that contain human contain human remains as a result of resources due to exposure to increased encroaching water flow during farming activities. extreme weather events. Assumed to be the same as other alternatives with comparable conditions. US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated Socioeconomic Effects Alternative A Population/demographics and Economic conditions Disadvantaged Populations No impact B C D E No impact Shot term impacts during construction US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC Anticipated Effects Cont’ Alternative Assessed Resource Transportation, Utilities and Public Infrastructure Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste A No changes to regional transportation, utilities and infrastructure Potential exists for the use/release of petroleum and/or agricultural chemicals. Conversion of wetlands and inactive agricultural lands to active agricultural lands B C D E Negligible short-term impacts on roadways from construction traffic Potential exists for the release of petroleum or other chemicals during construction activities. Inundation could pose a threat to foraging/wading avian in areas that may contain contamination. Land Use Land use patterns Conversion of 13,740 acres of inactive agriculture lands to STAs Assumed to be the same as other alternatives with comparable conditions. Assumed to be the same as other alternatives with comparable TETRA TECH EC, INC conditions. Inconsistent with the Framework Agreement Consistency with land use plans and policiesArmy Corps of Engineers ® US Closing Date for Comments: July 21, 2008 Send comments to: Tori White US Army Corps Of Engineers 4400 PGA Blvd., Suite 500 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Telephone: 561-472-3517 Fax: 561-626-6971 Email: tori.white@usace.army.mil (note updated from Scoping Meetings) US Army Corps of Engineers ® TETRA TECH EC, INC