Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers July 3, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Jacksonville District, has received two permit applications for Department of the Army permits under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. 1344) from the Town of Palm Beach (Town) and Palm Beach County (County) to discharge fill in Waters of the United States for the purpose of shoreline stabilization. The two projects being considered and their Department of the Army file numbers are the Town of Palm BeachReach 8 South (SAJ-2005-07908) and the Palm Beach CountyCentral Palm Beach County Comprehensive Erosion Control (SAJ-2008-04086). The projects overlap (i.e. had proposed the discharge of fill in the same location) along approximately 2,000 linear feet from approximately R-132 to R-134 (see Location for further information) when initially submitted and now abut one another. The Corps determined that the proposed beach nourishment projects are connected actions and is evaluating the environmental effects of these connected actions together. The primary Federal involvement associated with the Proposed Activities is the discharge of fill within Waters of the United States and the construction of low profile groins within Navigable Waters of the United States. The proposed project site is a beach situated directly adjacent to extensive hardbottom resources and experiences year-round recreational usage. The Proposed Activities may result in localized shoreline accretion or erosion on the adjacent beach segments and potential adverse effects on federally listed species. Issuance of Federal authorizations for the Proposed Activities would constitute a ``Major Federal Action.'' The Corps is preparing an EIS in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to identify and assess the effects of the Proposed Action and its alternatives, including the No Action Alternative, in order to provide a basis for rendering an informed decision on the proposed project. The Corps' decision will be to either issue, issue with modifications, or deny Department of the Army permits for the Proposed Action. The Draft EIS (DEIS) is intended to be sufficient in scope to address federal, state, and local requirements and environmental issues concerning the Proposed Action and permit reviews.