JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In January 2026, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District (USACE), issued a Notice of Availability for the draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) to support the Interim Operations Plan for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) A-2 Stormwater Treatment Area (STA).
Additionally, Jacksonville District held two public meetings in February 2026 to receive comments. Subsequently, the finding was supported by a NEPA analysis contained in the SEA. Formal consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act was completed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, culminating in a Biological Opinion on March 23, 2026. The Interim Operations Plan for the Central Everglades Planning Project A-2 Stormwater Treatment Area was approved on July 1, 2026.
The A-2 STA is a feature within the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Phase of the CEPP. The purpose of CEPP is to improve the quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of water flows to the northern estuaries, Water Conservation Area 3, Everglades National Park, and Florida Bay while increasing water supply for municipal, industrial, and agricultural users.
The purpose of the A-2 STA Interim Operations Plan, which updates the CEPP Project Operating Manual (POM), is to provide operating criteria for A-2 STA infrastructure as a federal project feature, after the A-2 STA initial vegetation grow-in period and prior to completion of the CEPP EAA Reservoir. Conducting interim operations for the A-2 STA would achieve incremental CEPP benefits while the EAA reservoir is under construction.
During interim operations, the A-2 STA will be used to treat Lake Okeechobee water sent south according to the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) regulation schedule and delivered to the A-2 STA via the Miami Canal. The A-2 STA treatment cells will be operated to distribute flows and water levels within the STA to optimize the removal of phosphorus.
Additionally, the A-2 STA may also receive water from EAA Reservoir construction dewatering. Prior to the completion of the EAA reservoir construction, a subsequent POM update and NEPA evaluation will be performed to integrate A-2 STA operations with the EAA Reservoir and other CERP and non-CERP infrastructure.
The SEA, FONSI, and Interim Operations Plan for CEPP A-2 STA are available for review on the Jacksonville District's environmental planning website under Palm Beach County, and then scroll down to the last entry and click any of the blue links to access A-2 STA documents: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-Offices/Planning/EnvironmentalBranch/Environmental-Documents/
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