JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- USACE Jacksonville announces the publication of a proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) for Duval County, Florida Shore Protection Project, Duval County, Florida, for public review and comment.
The documents evaluate selecting a sand source for continued use of up to 2.1 million cubic yards of material for each periodic or emergency renourishment event for the beach and sand dune nourishment of the Duval County, Florida, Shore Protection Project (SPP). The Duval County SPP encompasses the renourishment of approximately 10 miles of Atlantic shoreline in Duval County extending from the St. Johns River to the Duval-St. Johns County boundary.
The Preferred Alternative under consideration provides for the continued use of Borrow Area Shoal S, for which NEPA analysis was conducted in 2015. The new draft SEA supplements information contained in previous NEPA documents completed for this project and examines potential effects from continued dredging of sand from the borrow area.
The study area lies approximately 6.5 to 8.5 miles east of Jacksonville Beach, within federal waters located 8 to 10 miles southeast of the St. Johns River entrance on the Outer Continental Shelf, where approximately 3.6 million cubic yards of beach compatible sand have been identified. USACE has requested the use of up to 2.1 million cubic yards of material for each periodic or emergency re-nourishment event at the Duval County SPP until the borrow area is depleted.
Anticipated dredging intervals are expected to recur every 5 years; however, more frequent dredging could occur in the event of emergency renourishment requirements. Emergency event intervals could range between one and four years after planned renourishment efforts.
The public and all interested parties are encouraged to review the proposed FONSI, Draft SEA and associated appendices on the Jacksonville District’s Environmental Planning webpage –
https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-Offices/Planning/Environmental-Branch/Environmental-Documents/.
On that page, scroll down to click on the “+” next to “Duval,” which will open a collection of documents. Scroll down to “Duval County Beach Erosion Control Project” to find the “Duval County Shore Protection Project, Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment” documents dated June 26, 2023.
Comments will be accepted for review and consideration for a 30-day period. They may be submitted via email to David.K.Weinstein@usace.army.mil or via U.S. Postal Service to:
Dr. David Weinstein
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
PD-EC, Planning Division
701 San Marco Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Comments must be received by close of business July 26, 2023, for consideration.
For more information concerning USACE studies and projects, please visit www.saj.usace.army.mil.