TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: This district has received a complete modification request proposing the modification of an existing mitigation bank pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1344) as described below:
APPLICANT: EarthMark Southwest Florida Mitigation, LLC
Mr. Jerome Ryan
Post Office Box 6219900
Oviedo, Florida 32762-1990
LOCATION: The project site, known as Big Cypress Mitigation Bank Phase I-V (BCMB I-V), is located approximately 12 miles northeast of the intersection of Interstate 75 and State Road 29, adjacent to the Hendry County – Collier County border, in Sections 26 and 35, Township 48 South, Range 31 East, Hendry County, Florida.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES – Latitude: 26.271164°
Longitude: -81.183066°
MODIFICATION SUMMARY: This Public Notice is issued to advertise the requested revisions to the final Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI) approved on May 24, 2000. Pursuant to 33 CFR 332.8(d)(4), the Corps has posted a full copy of the BCMB I-V MBI Modification online so that it is available for review by the public. The MBI Modification may be downloaded from the Regulatory In-Lieu Fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS) at web address: https://ribits.usace.army.mil.
Once on the RIBITS homepage, select "Jacksonville" from the "ALL DISTRICTS" drop down menu located in the lower left corner of the screen. Once the district filter has been selected, click on the “Banks & ILF Sites” link located in the Navigation box (upper left corner). This will generate a list of projects, scroll down the list and click on the Big Cypress MB, Phase I-V” link. On this page, click on the "Cyber Repository" link located on the menu bar above the General Information box, then click on the MODIFICATION folder to access the MBI Modification associated with the project.
If you are unable to access the web address, a copy of the MBI Modification is available upon request to the project manager listed at the end of this public notice.
MODIFICATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The proposed MBI Modification includes updated target habitat maps, revised credit determination table to reflect the changes to target habitat locations and acreage, revised credit release schedule to reflect the updated potential credit amount, updated exotic and nuisance vegetation cover success criteria for the final level of success, updated monitoring plan, updated cost estimates, updated financial assurance documents, and an updated Management Plan.
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.
Comments regarding the proposed mitigation bank should be submitted in writing to the District Engineer at the address below within 30 days from the date of this notice.
If you have any questions concerning this proposed project, you may contact Ms. Amy Thompson by electronic mail at Amy.D.Thompson@usace.army.mil, by fax at 904-232-1904, or by telephone at 904-232-3974 or at the following address:
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT CORPS OF ENGINEERS
P. O. BOX 4970
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32232-0019
IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES: Preliminary review of this application indicates that an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. 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. By means of this notice, we are soliciting comments on the potential effects of the project on threatened or endangered species or their habitat
EVALUATION: After the end of the comment period, the district engineer will review all comments received and make an initial determination as to the potential of the proposed project to provide compensatory mitigation for activities authorized by Department of the Army permits. That determination 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. Factors relevant to the proposal will be considered including 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.
The 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 proposed activity. All comments received will be considered by the Corps during the formulation of the initial determination of potential for the proposed activity.
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.