Corps hosts combined public meeting for Miami-Dade Back Bay and Miami-Dade County Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Studies

Published Nov. 29, 2018
Renourished Miami-Dade County Beach

Miami-Dade County Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study will investigate alternatives to reduce storm damage along the coast.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a combined National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public scoping meeting Wednesday December 5 for both the Miami-Dade County Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study and the Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study to better serve members of the public and stakeholders with a common interest in both projects, and will accept public scoping comments for both projects until January 9, 2019.

“Scoping” is the step at the beginning of the NEPA process when the public is invited to participate in identifying issues, alternatives, and potentially significant effects to be considered in the analysis. The information gathered at scoping meetings and during the public comment period will aid in determining the scope of the NEPA analysis and any potentially significant issues. The NEPA process will also identify alternatives and information needed to evaluate alternatives, and will help the Corps identify and eliminate from detailed study any issues that are not significant or that have been covered by prior environmental review.

Members of the public and stakeholders are invited to learn more about the projects and provide input to both teams at the combined NEPA Public Scoping Meeting. The format of the meeting will be an open-house that will include informational poster boards and a presentation beginning at 4:30 p.m. The public can attend any time during the meeting hours (4 to 7 p.m.) and staff from both project teams will be available to answer questions and receive written comments from the public.

Combined NEPA Public Scoping Meeting
Miami-Dade County Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study and Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study
4 to 7 p.m. December 5, 2018
Miami Dade County Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) Training Room
701 NW 1st Court
Miami, FL 33136
** The site has MetroRail access and public parking across the street from the meeting location.

The study authority for the Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study is Public Law 84-71, June 15, 1955 which authorizes an 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 purpose of the project is to reduce potential damages caused by coastal storms and improve human safety and coastal resiliency in the Miami-Dade County Back Bay. Potential measures being considered include but are not limited to the following: structural alternatives (such as tidal gates and backflow preventers), non-structural alternatives (such as flood proofing, relocation, and elevation of structures), and natural and nature-based features (such as mangrove plantings, reefs, and wetland plantings).

Alternatives for the Miami-Dade County Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study may include, but are not limited to, beach nourishment, dune construction and vegetation planting, groins, breakwaters, revetments, and non-structural alternatives such as relocation of vulnerable structures. Issues that are anticipated include concern for marine communities, water quality and sedimentation associated with dredging operations, sand availability, sea level rise, threatened and endangered species, and cultural, commercial and recreational resources.

Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study (Miami-Dade Back Bay)www.saj.usace.army.mil/MiamiDadeBackBayCSRMFeasibilityStudy/
Written scoping comments regarding the Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study should be submitted to Carissa Agnese at Carissa.R.Agnese@usace.army.mil no later than January 9, 2019.

Miami-Dade County Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study (beaches)
www.saj.usace.army.mil/MiamiDadeCountyCSRMFeasibilityStudy/
Written scoping comments regarding the Miami-Dade County Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study should be submitted to CESAJ_MiamiDadeCSRM@usace.army.mil no later than January 9, 2019.

We welcome your views, questions, comments, concerns and suggestions. The Corps believes these studies will benefit significantly from public involvement and encourages participation in the NEPA scoping process.


Contact
Erica Skolte
561-340-1527
561-801-5734 (cell)
Erica.A.Skolte@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-083