Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Palm Beach County, Florida, Beach Erosion Control Project

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

(SEIS) for the Palm Beach County, Florida, Beach Erosion Control

Project

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for

the Palm Beach County Shore Protection Project. The SEIS concerns the

Ocean Ridge Segment of the project. The authorized project provides for

the restoration and periodic nourishment of a section of beach starting

at the south jetty of South Lake Worth Inlet and extending south 1.6

miles. The nourishment of the Ocean Ridge segment will provide

protection to beachfront properties from wave damage and beach erosion.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District,

Environmental Branch, Planning Division, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville,

Florida 32232-0019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Michael Dupes, (904) 232-1689.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The Beach Erosion Control Project for

Palm Beach County, Florida, was authorized on 23 October 1962, by

Public Law 87-874. A General Design Memorandum (GDM) and Final

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Palm Beach County was

published in April 1987. The FEIS addressed the alternative methods of

accomplishing the project goals and the impacts associated with those

alternatives. The project sponsor is the County of Palm Beach. A

Supplemental Design Memorandum and SEIS are currently being prepared

for the Ocean Ridge segment to discuss the specific location of the

borrow area and because several alternative design modifications to the

authorized project are being considered. Environmental considerations

will include the potential presence of historic and archeological

resources, aesthetics, endangered or threatened species, and adjacent

marine habitats.

2. Scoping: The scoping process will involve Federal, State, county

and municipal agencies, and other interested persons and organizations.

A scoping letter (December 7, 1993) has been sent to interested

Federal, State, county and municipal agencies requesting their comments

and concerns. Any persons and organizations wishing to participate in

the scoping process should contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at

the address given in this notice. Significant issues that are

anticipated include concern for offshore hard bottom communities,

fisheries, water quality, sea turtles and sea turtle nests.

Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) during

the development of the FEIS indicated that historical and

archaeological resources may be present in the project area. Further

coordination with the SHPO will occur during the preparation of the

SEIS.

3. Coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the

National Marine Fisheries Service will be accomplished in compliance

with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Coordination required by

applicable Federal and State laws and policies will be conducted. Since

the project will require the discharge of material into waters of the

United States, the discharge will comply with the provisions of section

404 of the Clean Water Act as amended.

4. SEIS Preparation: It is estimated that a draft SEIS will be

available to the public in June 1994.

Kenneth L. Denton,

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 94-2361 Filed 2-2-94; 8:45 am]

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