TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received an application to modify the Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI) for an existing wetland mitigation bank pursuant to the 2008 Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources regulations (33 CFR Part 332) as described below:
APPLICANT: Buckeye Florida, L.P.
One Buckeye Drive
Perry, FL 32347
LOCATION: The proposed project modification is for the 6,745-acre San Pedro Bay Mitigation Bank (SPMB), located approximately 7 miles northeast of Perry, within Sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of Township 3 south, and Range 8 east, Taylor County, Florida.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES: Latitude: 30.2259°N
Longitude: -83.4888°W
PROJECT SUMMARY: Pursuant to 33 CFR 332.8(d)(4), the Corps has posted the SPMB modification request online so that it is available for review by the public. This document 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 “San Pedro Bay” link. On this page, click on the "Cyber Repository" link located on the menu bar above the General Information box, then click on the “MBI” folder to access the document “MBI Modification Request” associated with the SPMB project.
If you are unable to access the web address, a copy of the proposed modification is available upon request to the project manager listed at the end of this public notice.
PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The applicant seeks authorization to modify the existing SPMB MBI. Specific requested modifications include:
• Sponsor/Banker name change.
• Reduction of credits to those already released.
• Revision of the monitoring work plan consistent with the reduction in credits.
ECOLOGICAL SUITABILITY OF THE SITE: Prior to Corps authorization of the site as a wetland mitigation bank, the property had been utilized for silviculture activities. The project site is still an active wetland mitigation bank.
ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF THE BANK: The SPMB was authorized by the Corps on October 23, 2002. The project site is still an operational wetland mitigation bank with Phases I and II active. Wetland restoration/enhancement activities have not yet been initiated in Phase III; the last phase in this bank. Long-term management activities will remain in place in order to ensure the sustainability of SPMB. In addition, the Sponsor will still be required to maintain financial assurances to ensure long-term management of the SPMB.
PROPOSED SERVICE AREA: The Sponsor is not proposing a change to the Mitigation Service Area (MSA).
CULTURAL RESOURCES: The proposed modifications are not expected to have any direct or indirect impact to cultural resources. Project review will, however, include review of the proposal for any potential impact to cultural resources.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: The site will be reviewed for potential critical habitat and presence of endangered species. The findings will be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service.
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT (EFH): It is unlikely that essential fish habitat is present onsite, however, the project proposal will be coordinated with the pertinent federal agencies to minimize the risk for any potential impact to EFH.
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.
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.
COMMENTS: Comments regarding the proposed modifications should be submitted in writing to the District Engineer at the address below within 30 days from the date of this notice.
The evaluation pertaining to whether or not the proposed modification will affect the existing provision of compensatory mitigation for activities authorized by issued Department of the Army permits will be based on the information contained in the modification request, received from this public notice and obtained during an inspection of the project site.
If you have any questions concerning this proposed project, you may contact Ms. Marie L. Huber by electronic mail at Marie.L.Huber@usace.army.mil, by fax at 904-232-1904, or by telephone at 904-232-1683 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 continue 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 and review of the proposed project modifications.