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Everglades National Park (replace kayak/canoe access)

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Miami-Dade County. Everglades National Park. Homestead, Florida. PROJECT PURPOSE: Basic: The basic project purpose is kayak/canoe access. Overall: The basic project purpose is kayak/canoe access in Everglades National Park.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: This district has received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. §403) as described below:

APPLICANT: Everglades National Park Attn: Michael Jester 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034

WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The project would affect waters of the United States associated with Everglades National Park, in the Flamingo Area. The project sites are in several locations at existing canoe launches.

Please note that Noble Hammock East has been removed from the project footprint.

Directions to the site are as follows: From the Florida Turnpike, proceed south until the terminus. Make a right and head west on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street). Make a left on SW 192 Avenue. Make a right on SW 376 Street which becomes 9336 (Ingraham Highway). Follow the road into the entrance of Everglades National Park.

APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES:

Please note that Noble Hammock East has been removed from the project footprint.

PROJECT PURPOSE: Basic: The basic project purpose is kayak/canoe access. Overall: The basic project purpose is kayak/canoe access in Everglades National Park.

EXISTING CONDITIONS: The wetland system consists of a freshwater/saltwater system. The onsite vegetation consists of a red mangrove/buttonwood fringe. The existing area surrounding the project area consists of Everglades National Park.

PROPOSED WORK: The applicant seeks authorization to remove and replace five canoe/kayak launches in the Flamingo District of Everglades National Park. The five launches are at the Hells Bay Canoe Trailhead, the east and west ends of the Noble Hammock Canoe Trail, and at the Homestead Canal and the Buttonwood Canal on the Bear Lake Canoe Trail. Each canoe/kayak launch has a wood dock. All docks will be replaced with similar structures. The water level at each site varies about 1.5 feet during the winter season so the new docks will be stepped to accommodate different water levels. The size of the docks will increase in order to provide ADA accessibility. The existing docks will be completely removed including all existing pilings. New 4 x 4 wood piles with the structure and decking will be installed in accordance with the attached site plans.

Compensatory Mitigation: The applicant has provided the following explanation why compensatory mitigation should not be required: Vegetation removal will be minimal at most locations and trimming is proposed at the two Noble Hammock sites.

CULTURAL RESOURCES: The Corps is not aware of any known historic properties within the permit area. By copy of this public notice, the Corps is providing information for review. Our final determination relative to historic resource impacts is subject to review by and coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer and those federally recognized tribes with concerns in Florida and the Permit Area.

Endangered Species:The Corps has determined the proposed project will have “no effect” on the Florida Bonneted Bat as the proposed project is for pile-supported structures over water.

West Indian Manatee: The Corps has determined the project “may affect but is not likely to adversely affect” the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) or its designated critical habitat.

American Crocodile: The Corps has determined the proposed project the project “may effect” the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and its critical habitat.

Smalltooth Sawfish and Swimming Sea Turtles: The Corps has determined the proposed project the project “may affect but is not likely to adversely affect” green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and their critical habitat, hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), and the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) and their critical habitat.

Federally Listed Corals: The Corps has determined the project will have “No effect” on elkhorn and staghorn corals (Acropora palmata, Acropora cervicornis) and their designated critical habitat and the 5 listed coral species found in Dade-County: pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus), lobed star coral (Orbicella annularis), mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata), knobby star coral (Orbicella franksi), and rough cactus coral (Mycetophyllia ferox).

Johnson’s Seagrass: The Corps has determined that the project will have “no effect” Johnson’s seagrass (Halophila johnsonii) designated critical habitat and would have “no effect” on Johnson’s seagrass (Halophila johnsonii).

The Corps will request U.S. Fish and Wildlife/National Marine Fisheries Service concurrence with these determinations pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

Essential Fish Habitat (EFH): This notice initiates consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service on EFH as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996. The proposal would impact approximately 750 square feet of open water/red mangrove fringe utilized by various life stages of the snapper-grouper complex. Our initial determination is that the proposed action would not have a substantial adverse impact on EFH or Federally managed fisheries in Everglades National Park/Florida Bay. Our final determination relative to project impacts and the need for mitigation measures is subject to review by and coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service.

NOTE: This public notice is being issued based on information furnished by the applicant. This information has not been verified or evaluated to ensure compliance with laws and regulation governing the regulatory program. The jurisdictional line has not been verified by Corps personnel.

AUTHORIZATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES: Water Quality Certification may be required from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and/or one of the state Water Management Districts.

COMMENTS regarding the potential authorization of the work proposed should be submitted in writing to the attention of the District Engineer through the Miami Permits Section, 9900 Southwest 107th Avenue, Miami, FL 33176, within 15 days from the date of this notice.

The decision whether to issue or deny this permit application will be based on the information received from this public notice and the evaluation of the probable impact to the associated wetlands. This is based on an analysis of the applicant's avoidance and minimization efforts for the project, as well as the compensatory mitigation proposed.

QUESTIONS concerning this application should be directed to the project manager, Megan Clouser at the letterhead address, by electronic mail at Megan.L.Clouser@usace.army.mil, or by telephone at 305-526-7182.

IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES: Coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Marine Fisheries Services, and other Federal, State, and local agencies, environmental groups, and concerned citizens generally yields pertinent environmental information that is instrumental in determining the impact the proposed action will have on the natural resources of the area.

EVALUATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including cumulative impacts thereof; among these are conservation, economics, esthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historical properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food, and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. Evaluation of the impact of the activity on the public interest will also include application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, EPA, under authority of Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act or the criteria established under authority of Section 102(a) of the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972. A permit will be granted unless its issuance is found to be contrary to the public interest.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other Interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this determination, comments are used to assess impacts to endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT CONSISTENCY: In Florida, the State approval constitutes compliance with the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan. In Puerto Rico, a Coastal Zone Management Consistency Concurrence is required from the Puerto Rico Planning Board. In the Virgin Islands, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources permit constitutes compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Plan.

REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING: Any person may request a public hearing. The request must be submitted in writing to the District Engineer within the designated comment period of the notice and must state the specific reasons for requesting the public hearing.

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