Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir Section 203 Study, Highlands County, Florida, 24777-24778 [2023-08522]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24777-24778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08522]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir Section 203 Study, 
Highlands County, Florida

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) North 
of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir (also known as the ``Lake 
Okeechobee Component A Reservoir (LOCAR) Section 203 Study''), 
Highlands County, Florida.

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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps) intends to prepare a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
assessment for the North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir Section 
203 Study that is being conducted by the Non-Federal Interest, the 
SFWMD. The SFWMD is beginning preparation of a feasibility study 
pursuant to section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 
of 1986, as amended, for submission to the Assistant Secretary of the 
Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)). The Corps intends to support the 
ASA(CW) review of the SFWMD's study by preparing a NEPA assessment 
concurrent with the SFWMD feasibility study and prior to the ASA(CW)'s 
review. The SFWMD Section 203 feasibility study will be for Component 
A, a 200,000 acre-foot above ground storage reservoir to capture water 
from the Kissimmee River prior to it flowing into Lake Okeechobee, to 
pull water in from Lake Okeechobee during high water levels, and to 
take in basin flows. The purpose of the study is to document 
anticipated improvements to the quantity, timing, and distribution of 
water flows to help manage lake levels and improve lake ecology by 
detaining water during wet periods for later use in the dry periods and 
to enhance water supply reliability to realize the benefits envisioned 
in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The purpose of 
the associated NEPA is to complete the Federal compliance requirements 
related to the Section 203 study for use by the Non-Federal Interest in 
completing the Section 203 Report.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by May 24, 2023. A scoping 
meeting will be held on April 27, 2023.

ADDRESSES: To ensure the Corps has sufficient time to consider public 
input in the preparation of the Draft EIS, scoping comments should be 
submitted by email to [email protected] or by surface mail to U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Planning and Policy Division, Environmental 
Branch, 701 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Ehlinger at 904-232-1665 or 
email at [email protected]. Additional information is also available 
at www.sfwmd.gov/LOCAR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The Everglades ecosystem, including Lake Okeechobee, 
encompasses a system of diverse surface water and wetland landscapes 
that are hydrologically and ecologically connected across more than 200 
miles from north to south and across 18,000 square miles of southern 
Florida. In 2000, the U.S. Congress authorized the Federal government, 
in partnership with the State of Florida, to embark upon a multi-
decade, multi-billion-dollar Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan 
(CERP) to further protect and restore the remaining Everglades 
ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region. 
CERP involves modification of the existing network of drainage canals 
and levees that make up the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project 
by implementation of 68 project components. Since CERP was approved, 
progress has been made in the planning, design, construction, and 
operation of south Florida ecosystem restoration projects. To enable 
further progress, additional storage north of Lake Okeechobee located 
in the Kissimmee River Region is critically important for benefits to 
Lake Okeechobee, such as improved water levels, lake ecology, and 
additional required water storage and water supply as identified in the 
C&SF Project Comprehensive Review Study Final Integrated Feasibility 
Report and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Yellow Book 
1999) component A. There is an ongoing effort in the implementation of 
CERP to identify opportunities to restore the quantity, quality, 
timing, and distribution of flows into Lake Okeechobee. Water inflows 
into Lake Okeechobee greatly exceed outflow capacity; thus, many times 
there is too much water within Lake Okeechobee that needs to be 
released to ensure the ecological integrity of the lake, which affects 
the estuaries that receive the water. Lake levels that are too high or 
too low, and inappropriate recession and ascension rates, can adversely 
affect native vegetation and fish and wildlife species that depend upon 
the lake for foraging and reproduction. The volume and frequency of 
undesirable freshwater releases to the east and west lowers salinity in 
the estuaries, severely impacting oysters, seagrasses, and fish. 
Additionally, high nutrient levels adversely affect in-lake water 
quality, estuary habitat, and habitat throughout the greater 
Everglades.
    Proposed Action: The objectives of the LOCAR study are to develop a 
plan to improve the quality, quantity, timing, and distribution of 
water entering Lake Okeechobee; provide for better management of lake 
water levels; reduce

[[Page 24778]]

damaging releases to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries; and 
improve system-wide operational flexibility.
    Alternatives: The study will identify, evaluate, and recommend to 
decision makers an appropriate and coordinated solution for additional 
above ground storage of 200,000 acre-feet to capture water from the 
Kissimmee River prior to it flowing into Lake Okeechobee, to pull water 
in from Lake Okeechobee during high water levels, and to take in basin 
flows. Alternatives will include no action and alternatives that 
include several reservoir footprints and associated improvements, 
levees, pump stations, water control structures, emergency overflow and 
recreational features. By this Notice, the public is invited to 
identify potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to 
the proposed action.
    Summary of Expected Impacts: Long-term beneficial and adverse 
impacts are expected. Adverse impacts are expected from conversion of 
habitat that may be used by certain threatened and endangered species 
(for example, the crested caracara, Florida grasshopper sparrow, 
bonneted bats, and Florida panther) to reservoir storage and other 
components. Significant beneficial impacts to Lake Okeechobee and the 
Northern Estuaries are expected from the additional 200,000 acre-feet 
of water storage north of Lake Okeechobee. Therefore, an EIS is being 
proposed.
    Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements: The proposed 
project will be reviewed for compliance with laws that would be 
applicable to a Federal project, including but not limited to the 
following: the Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act, 
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, 
Farmland Protection Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act.
    NEPA Schedule: The Draft Environmental Impact Assessment is 
expected to be available for public review in fall 2023. A 45-day 
public review period will be provided for interested parties and 
agencies to review and comment on this draft document. All interested 
parties are encouraged to respond to this notice and provide a current 
address if they wish to be notified of the Draft EIS circulation. A 
Record of Decision would be approved and signed no earlier than 30 days 
after the published Final EIS.
    Public Involvement and Scoping: A scoping letter will be used to 
invite comments from Federal, State, and local agencies; affected 
Federally recognized Native American groups; and other interested 
private organizations and individuals. A scoping meeting will be held 
on April 27, 2023, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 8:00 
p.m. at the Indian River State College Dixon Hendry Campus, 2229 NW 9th 
Ave., Okeechobee, Florida 34972. The formal portion of the workshop 
will begin at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. respectively. Following the 
scoping meeting, individuals who have not already submitted their 
comments should submit them within 30 days of publication of this 
Notice for consideration in the draft Section 203 report/environmental 
documentation by either email to [email protected] or mail to U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Planning and Policy Division, Environmental 
Branch, 701 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207.

Daniel H. Hibner,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2023-08522 Filed 4-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P