Notice of Intent To Prepare a Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement for Everglades National Park (Park) To Evaluate Modifications to the Tamiami Trail, 25765-25766 [E9-12507]
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mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 102 / Friday, May 29, 2009 / Notices
to help meet growing demand in the
western United States, and enhance
domestic energy security.
The Southwest Area Transmission
Group—a regional transmission
planning organization—identified a
need for the project. Its importance is
demonstrated by the abundance of
proposed projects that have submitted
interconnection requests to transmission
owners within the proposed project
area, and the potential for renewable
energy sites within the SunZia project
area. Additional transmission would be
required to support development of
potential renewable energy projects in
Arizona and New Mexico. In addition,
the requirement of each State to meet
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
and national interests in energy,
demonstrate the need for the proposed
project.
The proposed transmission line route
and alternatives developed through the
NEPA process would cross BLM lands
in Arizona and New Mexico, as well as
State and private lands. To the extent
feasible, the proposed route would use
existing transmission line corridors and
designated utility corridors located on
Federal land. One of the 500 kV
transmission lines would be constructed
and operated as an alternating current
(AC) facility. SunZia may construct and
operate the other proposed transmission
lines as either AC or direct current (DC).
The SunZia transmission lines would
interconnect with planned substations
along the route. Equipment additions
and modifications would be required at
each of the interconnecting substations.
Engineering studies would determine
those requirements as part of the
project. A right-of-way of up to 1,000
feet in width and a lease-term of 50
years would be required to construct,
operate, and maintain the transmission
lines, structures and appurtenances. If
constructed, the project would be in
operation year-round, transporting
electrical power to major substation
hubs in Arizona and New Mexico. The
project would have a bi-directional
transmission capacity of approximately
3,000 megawatts or greater of electrical
power.
The proposed project would take
approximately three years to construct
and would likely be constructed in
phased segments with an in-service date
of 2013. Specific acreages of access
roads and temporary work areas would
be determined through the NEPA
process and project design.
In Arizona, approximately 43 miles of
the proposed route would cross public
land administered by the Safford and
Tucson BLM Field Offices. In New
Mexico, approximately 128 miles of the
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17:24 May 28, 2009
Jkt 217001
proposed route would cross public land
administered by the BLM Las Cruces
District Office and BLM Socorro Field
Office. The proposed route would pass
in the general vicinity of the following
locations:
Arizona: Coolidge, San Manuel, Safford,
Willcox, Bowie, and San Simon; and
New Mexico: Lordsburg, Deming, Hatch,
Derry, Arrey, Truth or Consequences,
San Antonio, Bingham, Ancho, and
Carrizozo.
The BLM is the lead Federal agency for
the NEPA analysis process and
preparation of the EIS. Cooperating
agencies identified at this time could
include: The Bureau of Reclamation, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New
Mexico State Land Office, and the
Arizona State Land Department. Other
State and local governments will be
invited to participate in the process, and
consultation will occur with local, State,
and tribal governments.
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to determine relevant issues
that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives, and guide the process for
developing the EIS. At present, the BLM
has identified the following preliminary
issues: The potential effects of the
proposed action on wildlife habitat,
plants, and animals including
threatened, endangered, and sensitive
species, visual resources, National
Historic Trails and related viewsheds;
Native American traditional cultural
properties and sacred places; soils/water
from surface disturbing activities; local
and regional socioeconomic conditions;
consistency with local government land
use plans; and future reclamation/
mitigation from transmission line
construction or location. The BLM
encourages the public to send comments
concerning the project as proposed,
other feasible alternative locations,
possible mitigation measures, and any
other information relevant to the
proposed action.
Authorization of this proposal may
require amendments to one or more
RMPs. By this notice, the BLM is
complying with requirements in 43 CFR
1610.2(c) to notify the public of
potential RMP amendments, predicated
on the findings of the EIS. If RMP
amendments are necessary, the BLM
will integrate the RMP process with the
NEPA process for this project.
Your input is important and will be
considered in the public scoping
process. All comment submittals must
include the commenter’s name and
street address. Comments including the
names and addresses of the commenter
will be available for public inspection at
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25765
the above offices during business hours
(7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or any other
personal identifying information in your
comment, be advised that your entire
comment, including your personal
identifying information, may be
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your comment to
withhold from public review your
personal identifying information, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
William Merhege,
Acting Deputy State Director, Lands and
Resources.
[FR Doc. E9–12512 Filed 5–28–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Feasibility Study and Environmental
Impact Statement for Everglades
National Park (Park) To Evaluate
Modifications to the Tamiami Trail
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, in
accordance with the provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),
that the NPS is preparing a Feasibility
Study and EIS to ‘‘evaluate the
feasibility of additional bridge length,
beyond that to be constructed pursuant
to the Modified Water Deliveries to
Everglades National Park Project (16
U.S.C. 410r-S), including a continuous
bridge, or additional bridges or some
combination thereof, for the Tamiami
Trail (United States Highway 41) to
restore more natural water flow to
Everglades National Park and Florida
Bay and for the purpose of restoring
habitat within the Park and the
ecological connectivity between the
Park and the Water Conservation Areas’’
(2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act).
The NPS is the lead agency on this
federal action; however, the NPS has
requested the United States Army Corps
of Engineers (USACOE) be a cooperating
agency on this effort, with the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA)
providing technical assistance.
DATES: Written comments regarding the
proposed project must be postmarked
no later than 30 days from the
publication of this Notice of Intent
(NOI) in the Federal Register. As part of
this process, public workshops will be
held to solicit public input about the
proposed project. The date, time, and
location of the public workshops will be
E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM
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mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
25766
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 102 / Friday, May 29, 2009 / Notices
announced in the newspaper Miami
Herald and through the NPS Planning,
Environment, and Public Comment
(PEPC) Web site https://
parkplanning.nps.gov.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be addressed to: National Park Service,
Attention Pat Kenney, Denver Service
Center, Planning Division, P.O. Box
25287, Denver, Colorado 80225–0287.
Comments may also be submitted via
the PEPC Web site using the links
provided below. General information
about the proposed project is available
at the office of the Superintendent,
Everglades National Park, 40001 State
Road 9336, Homestead, Florida 33034.
Additionally, interested persons may
view the PEPC Web site: https://
parkplanning.nps.gov, then select
‘‘Everglades NP’’ from the drop down
box.
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so. We will always make
submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as
representatives of or officials of
organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan
B. Kimball Superintendent, Everglades
and Dry Tortugas National Parks, 40001
SR 9336, Homestead, FL 33034 or by
telephone at 305–242–7800.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a. Authorization: This project is
authorized under the 2009 Omnibus
Appropriations Act.
b. Project Scope: The 2009 Omnibus
Appropriations Act directs the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the NPS,
to immediately ‘‘evaluate the feasibility
of additional bridge length, beyond that
to be constructed pursuant to the
Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades
National Park Project (16 U.S.C. 410r-S),
including a continuous bridge, or
additional bridges or some combination
thereof, for the Tamiami Trail (United
States Highway 41) to restore more
natural water flow to Everglades
National Park and Florida Bay and for
the purpose of restoring habitat within
the Park and the ecological connectivity
between the Park and the Water
Conservation Areas.’’
Specific Objectives include:
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:24 May 28, 2009
Jkt 217001
• Provide for substantial increases in
flows under the Tamiami Trail to
Northeast Shark River Slough in the
Park in order to restore the natural
resources and processes in the park.
• Remove obstructions to sheet flow
between Water Conservation Area 3 and
the Park.
• To the extent practicable, restore
ecological conditions in Park.
• Ensure compatibility with other
pre-Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan (CERP) and future
CERP projects.
• Identify seepage management
requirements associated with the
recommended plan.
c. Preliminary Alternatives: The
previously examined alternatives in the
2005 Revised General Reevaluation
Report will be reevaluated and
modified. In addition, the
environmental, engineering, real estate,
and cost estimates will be revised.
d. Issues: The Integrated Feasibility
Study/EIS will consider impacts on
health and safety, aesthetics and
recreation, cultural resources, socioeconomic resources, hydrology, water
quality, ecosystem habitat, fish and
wildlife resources, threatened and
endangered species, and construction
costs.
e. Scoping: In order to develop a
realistic plan, NPS will seek input from
other resource and technical agencies
and stakeholders, including the
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida,
Seminole Tribe of Florida and Seminole
Tribe of Oklahoma, the South Florida
Water Management District, the Florida
Department of Transportation, Florida
Department of Environmental
Protection, State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO) and the FHWA. The final
recommended plan will take into
consideration the Integrated Schedule
developed with the policy guidance of
the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration
Task Force and will be consistent with
the National Academy of Sciences
recommendations for Incremental
Adaptive Restoration. The Park, as the
project lead, will be responsible for
completion of the final report, including
all technical analyses and NEPA
requirements. This scope may be
amended by the agreement of the
parties.
f. Public Involvement: Public scoping
meetings and workshops will be held
over the course of the study; the exact
locations, dates, and times will be
announced in public notices and local
newspapers. Public meetings will be
held after release of the Draft EIS; the
exact locations, dates, and times will be
announced in a public notice and local
newspapers.
PO 00000
Frm 00070
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
g. Coordination: The proposed action
is in accordance with the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 and
the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
The coordinating agencies include the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, South
Florida Water Management District,
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida,
Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole
Tribe of Oklahoma, USACOE, and
FHWA.
h. Other Environmental Review and
Consultation: The proposed action
would involve evaluation for
compliance with guidelines pursuant to
Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act,
the National Historic Preservation Act,
and any other applicable law.
i. Agency Role: As a cooperating
agency, the USACOE will provide
extensive information and assistance
updating the environmental,
engineering, real estate, and cost/benefit
analyses for all alternatives.
j. EIS Preparation: The draft
Integrated Feasibility Study/EIS is
currently estimated for publication in
March 2010.
Authority: The authority for publishing
this notice is contained in 40 CFR 1506.6.
Dated: May 5, 2009.
Art Frederick,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region,
National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9–12507 Filed 5–28–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–70–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAZ9120000 L12200000 AL0000
6100.241A0]
State of Arizona Resource Advisory
Council Meeting
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Arizona Resource
Advisory Council Meeting.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act of 1972, the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Land Management (BLM), Arizona
Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will
meet on June 25, 2009, at the BLM
National Training Center located at 9828
North 31st Avenue in Phoenix from 8
a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Morning agenda
items include: Review and approval of
the March 26, 2009, meeting minutes for
E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM
29MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 102 (Friday, May 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25765-25766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12507]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Feasibility Study and Environmental
Impact Statement for Everglades National Park (Park) To Evaluate
Modifications to the Tamiami Trail
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), that the NPS is preparing a Feasibility Study and EIS to
``evaluate the feasibility of additional bridge length, beyond that to
be constructed pursuant to the Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades
National Park Project (16 U.S.C. 410r-S), including a continuous
bridge, or additional bridges or some combination thereof, for the
Tamiami Trail (United States Highway 41) to restore more natural water
flow to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay and for the purpose of
restoring habitat within the Park and the ecological connectivity
between the Park and the Water Conservation Areas'' (2009 Omnibus
Appropriations Act). The NPS is the lead agency on this federal action;
however, the NPS has requested the United States Army Corps of
Engineers (USACOE) be a cooperating agency on this effort, with the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) providing technical assistance.
DATES: Written comments regarding the proposed project must be
postmarked no later than 30 days from the publication of this Notice of
Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register. As part of this process, public
workshops will be held to solicit public input about the proposed
project. The date, time, and location of the public workshops will be
[[Page 25766]]
announced in the newspaper Miami Herald and through the NPS Planning,
Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site https://parkplanning.nps.gov.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: National Park
Service, Attention Pat Kenney, Denver Service Center, Planning
Division, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225-0287. Comments may
also be submitted via the PEPC Web site using the links provided below.
General information about the proposed project is available at the
office of the Superintendent, Everglades National Park, 40001 State
Road 9336, Homestead, Florida 33034. Additionally, interested persons
may view the PEPC Web site: https://parkplanning.nps.gov, then select
``Everglades NP'' from the drop down box.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so. We will always make submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives of or officials of organizations or businesses,
available for public inspection in their entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan B. Kimball Superintendent,
Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, 40001 SR 9336, Homestead,
FL 33034 or by telephone at 305-242-7800.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a. Authorization: This project is authorized under the 2009 Omnibus
Appropriations Act.
b. Project Scope: The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act directs the
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the NPS, to immediately
``evaluate the feasibility of additional bridge length, beyond that to
be constructed pursuant to the Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades
National Park Project (16 U.S.C. 410r-S), including a continuous
bridge, or additional bridges or some combination thereof, for the
Tamiami Trail (United States Highway 41) to restore more natural water
flow to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay and for the purpose of
restoring habitat within the Park and the ecological connectivity
between the Park and the Water Conservation Areas.''
Specific Objectives include:
Provide for substantial increases in flows under the
Tamiami Trail to Northeast Shark River Slough in the Park in order to
restore the natural resources and processes in the park.
Remove obstructions to sheet flow between Water
Conservation Area 3 and the Park.
To the extent practicable, restore ecological conditions
in Park.
Ensure compatibility with other pre-Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and future CERP projects.
Identify seepage management requirements associated with
the recommended plan.
c. Preliminary Alternatives: The previously examined alternatives
in the 2005 Revised General Reevaluation Report will be reevaluated and
modified. In addition, the environmental, engineering, real estate, and
cost estimates will be revised.
d. Issues: The Integrated Feasibility Study/EIS will consider
impacts on health and safety, aesthetics and recreation, cultural
resources, socio-economic resources, hydrology, water quality,
ecosystem habitat, fish and wildlife resources, threatened and
endangered species, and construction costs.
e. Scoping: In order to develop a realistic plan, NPS will seek
input from other resource and technical agencies and stakeholders,
including the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Seminole Tribe of
Florida and Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma, the South Florida Water
Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO) and the FHWA. The final recommended plan will take into
consideration the Integrated Schedule developed with the policy
guidance of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and will
be consistent with the National Academy of Sciences recommendations for
Incremental Adaptive Restoration. The Park, as the project lead, will
be responsible for completion of the final report, including all
technical analyses and NEPA requirements. This scope may be amended by
the agreement of the parties.
f. Public Involvement: Public scoping meetings and workshops will
be held over the course of the study; the exact locations, dates, and
times will be announced in public notices and local newspapers. Public
meetings will be held after release of the Draft EIS; the exact
locations, dates, and times will be announced in a public notice and
local newspapers.
g. Coordination: The proposed action is in accordance with the Fish
and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 and the Endangered Species Act of
1973. The coordinating agencies include the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, South Florida Water
Management District, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Seminole
Tribe of Florida, Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma, USACOE, and FHWA.
h. Other Environmental Review and Consultation: The proposed action
would involve evaluation for compliance with guidelines pursuant to
Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act, the National Historic
Preservation Act, and any other applicable law.
i. Agency Role: As a cooperating agency, the USACOE will provide
extensive information and assistance updating the environmental,
engineering, real estate, and cost/benefit analyses for all
alternatives.
j. EIS Preparation: The draft Integrated Feasibility Study/EIS is
currently estimated for publication in March 2010.
Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is
contained in 40 CFR 1506.6.
Dated: May 5, 2009.
Art Frederick,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12507 Filed 5-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
