Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study, 34383 [2019-15292]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 34383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15292]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility 
Study

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent/NEPA Scoping meeting and public comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to prepare a Feasibility 
Study with an integrated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
evaluate environmental impacts from reasonable project alternatives to 
protect low-lying and flood-prone areas of Miami-Dade County, Florida, 
from hurricanes and other coastal storms with their associated wind, 
storm surge, and coastal flooding.

DATES: Scoping comments may be submitted until August 23, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit NEPA scoping comments to Ms. 
Carissa Agnese, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Norfolk District, Fort Norfolk, 803 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510 or via 
email: [email protected]. The project title and the 
commenter's contact information should be included with submitted 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carissa Agnese, (757) 201-7752.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicable laws and regulations are section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). The study 
authority is Public Law 84-71, which authorized the examination and 
survey of the coastal and tidal areas of the eastern and southern 
United States, with particular reference to areas where severe damages 
have occurred from hurricane winds and tides. The primary problem is 
that existing protection is not adequate to prevent excessive storm 
damage and flooding from occurring during major coastal storms. Coastal 
flooding is worsening due to climate change induced sea level rise, 
which is also amplifying storm surge height. These trends are expected 
to continue and worsen due to sea level rise accelerating over time, a 
trend already observed in recent decades. Measures being considered 
include ringwalls, floodwalls, storm surge barriers, buyouts/elevations 
of buildings, wet and/or dry flood-proofing of buildings, relocating 
structures and utilities, and nature-based features potentially 
including mangrove restoration, oyster and/or coral reef restoration, 
and seagrass restoration.
    USACE is the lead federal agency and Miami-Dade County will be the 
non-federal sponsor for the study. The Study/EIS will address the 
primary problem of the increasing storm damage and flooding occurring 
and expected to increase in the area by studying all reasonable 
alternatives and determine the Federal interest in cost-sharing for 
those alternatives.
    As required by Council on Environmental Quality's Principles, 
Requirements and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources 
Implementation Studies all reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
Federal action that meet the purpose and need will be considered in the 
EIS. These alternatives will include no action and a range of 
reasonable alternatives for protecting the shoreline and structures in 
Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Susan L. Conner,
Chief, Planning and Policy, Norfolk District USACE.
[FR Doc. 2019-15292 Filed 7-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P