TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. §403) as described below:
APPLICANT: Mote Marine Laboratory
c/o Erich Bartels
24244 Overseas Highway
Summerland Key, FL 33042
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The project would affect waters of the United States associated with the Atlantic Ocean. The project site is located within Federal open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 5.5 nautical miles Southeast from the coast of Key Largo and 1.5 nautical miles South of Grecian Rocks natural coral reef, off Key Largo, in the Florida Keys, Monroe County, Florida. (See enclosed Vicinity Map & Coordinates).
Directions to the site are as follows: The project site is only accessible by boat offshore of the shoreline of Key Largo, in the Atlantic Ocean side, Monroe County, at the enclosed central latitude and longitude.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES: Latitude: 25.082867° North
Longitude: -80.312653° West
FOUR CORNER GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES:
Corner 1 (NE): Latitude: 25.083183° North
Longitude: -80.312301° West
Corner 2 (SE): Latitude: 25.082553° North
Longitude: -80.312301° West
Corner 3 (SW): Latitude: 25.082552° North
Longitude: -80.313008° West
Corner 4 (NW): Latitude: 25.083182° North
Longitude: 80.313002° West
Lat/Long coordinates will be provided on the ORM2 summary page. Use this block to provide a brief narrative description of where the work in waters of the United States (WoUS) is located, i.e., name of waterbody and location in relation to an intersection. For unnamed waters, provide location in relation to nearest named water. A site map may also be referenced and attached.
PROJECT PURPOSE:
Basic: The basic project purpose is to install temporary structures for coral propagation for marine restoration, research, and habitat enhancement.
Overall: The overall project purpose is to install a temporary open water coral nursery for the purpose of coral propagation for restoration, enhance of the marine environment and to conduct research in open waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Monroe County, Florida.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: The project site is located within open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The project site is referred to as “Mote-Key Largo Coral Nursery” site. The proposed Mote- Key Largo coral nursery site is approximately 1.21 acres on size. The project site sea-bottom consists of a sand composition and has an average water depth of 25’-30’. No natural occurring corals, hardbottom or seagrass were identified within the project area (see enclosed images). The project site is within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) boundaries. The Mote-Key Largo coral nursery site has been permitted by FKNMS under #FKNMS-2021-171 and #FKNMS-2021-172.
PROPOSED WORK: The applicant seeks authorization for a 10-year permit to establish an open water coral nursery site for the purpose of coral propagation. The proposed overall footprint for the Mote-Key Largo Coral Nursery site will not exceed 1.21 acres. Specifically, the proposed work consists of the temporary deployment of a maximum of 400, suspended off the bottom, coral “trees” structures and 50, seafloor secured, coral modules at any one given time over the duration of the Corps authorization, 10 years. A variety of different coral species are proposed to be grown at this site, including ESA-listed species such as Acropora cervicornis, Acropora palmata, Orbicella faveolata, and Orbicella annularis. Other species proposed to be grown on-site include massive/boulder species including, but not limited to Montastraea cavernosa, Pseudodiploria strigosa, Pseudodiploria clivosa and Diploria labyrinthiformis. Both branching and massive/boulder species will be maintained using both structures suspended off the bottom on coral “trees”, as well as deployed on the sandy seafloor on PVC/concrete “modules” in order to facilitate different stages of the propagation process as well as to spread the risk from various factors that can impact corals growing within the nursery. Additionally, the applicant seeks authorization to install a maximum of 12 grazer (crab) cages, for in-situ grow-out of Caribbean King Crab (Maguimithrax spinosissimus). Each cage will be a maximum of 8 ft. long x 4 ft. high x 4 ft. wide and constructed from 1.5” (internal) diameter schedule 40 PVC pipe filled or partially filled with Type II Portland cement. The cages will be wrapped in either 0.25”, 0.38”, or 0.5” mesh size heavy aquaculture plastic mesh affixed to the PVC frame with heavy duty plastic cable ties. Each cage will feature a hinged section on top to serve as an access point that will be secured with heavy monofilament (1000 lbs test) and aluminum bolt snaps/carabiner clips. Each cage will feature three 8’ x ½” diameter lengths of rebar along each long side – six total per cage – which will be driven 36” into the seafloor such that the bottom of the cage is no less than 12” off the seabed. Immediately adjacent to each rebar leg, a 36” sand/screw or “duckbill” anchor (with 36” 1000 lb. monofilament tether) will be driven 36” into the seafloor and used further secure each leg with a 3/8” twisted polypropylene (trap) line around the bottom frame rail of the cage structure. These twisted poly lines will be affixed to the rebar legs using cable ties to avoid any entanglement risks. Each cage will sit no less than 12” off the seafloor and vertical clearance above each cage will range 20-25 feet. All structure shall be placed in sand sea bottom only. In addition to the aforementioned proposed structures, the applicant proposes to install eight (8) nursery border marker buoys and three (3) subsurface vessel moorings (see enclosed exhibits). All structures shall be removed at the end of the project and the site shall be restore to pre-construction conditions. The project is further described on the enclosed project exhibits and supplemental documents (13-pages).
AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION INFORMATION – The applicant has provided the following information in support of efforts to avoid and/or minimize impacts to the aquatic environment:
Due to the nature of the work, the applicant could not avoid conducting the proposed work within waters of the United States. The deployment of coral nursery structures is proposed on areas of sandy bottom only, areas that do not support hard bottom, corals or seagrass. Furthermore, the project has been designed to maintain safe navigability by maintaining a clearance between MLW and the top of any of the proposed structures. The project has been designed in a manner not to result on the aggregation of material or discharge of any fill material that would alter the sea-bottom.
No materials will be dredged or discharged as a result of the proposed work.
COMPENSATORY MITIGATION – The applicant is not proposing mitigation because they are not proposing any dredge or fill of surface waters and all water impacts are temporary, waters will be restored to pre-disturbance following completion of the activity. Furthermore, the proposed activities should result in net increases in aquatic resource functions and services.
CULTURAL RESOURCES: The Corps is aware of recorded historic resources within or adjacent to the permit area and is evaluating the undertaking for effects to historic properties as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This public notice serves to inform the public of the proposed undertaking and invites comments including those from local, State, and Federal government Agencies with respect to historic resources. Our final determination relative to historic resource impacts may be subject to additional coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer, those federally recognized tribes with concerns in Florida and the Permit Area, and other interested parties.
ENDANGERED SPECIES:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has determined the project may affect but is not likely to adversely affect (“MANLAA”) the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) and would not adversely modify its designated critical habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has given concurrence with this determination pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. No further coordination with the FWS is required.
The Corps has determined the proposed project may affect but is not likely to adversely affect (“MANLAA”) the Swimming green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and their designated critical habitat, hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), kemps ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus), Giant manta rays, smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), Oceanic Whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), Acorpora sp. and its designated critical habitat, and corals species; (Dendrogyra cylindrus, Orbicella annularis, Orbicella faveolata, Orbicella franksi, Mycetophyllia ferox) species. A no effect determination was reached on smalltooth sawfish critical habitat. The Corps will request National Marine Fisheries Service concurrence with these determinations pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT (EFH): This notice initiates consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service on EFH as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996. The proposal would impact approximately 1.21 acres of sand submerged sea bottom utilized by various life stages of marine species. Our initial determination is that the proposed action would not have a substantial adverse impact on EFH or Federally managed fisheries in the Florida Keys. Our final determination relative to project impacts and the need for mitigation measures is subject to review by and coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
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. The jurisdictional line has not been verified by Corps personnel.
AUTHORIZATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES: Authorization from other government agencies may be required.
COMMENTS regarding the potential authorization of the work proposed should be submitted in writing to the attention of the District Engineer through the Miami Permits Section, 9900 Southwest 107th Avenue, Suite 203, Miami, Florida, 33176, within 30 days from the date of this notice (i.e. on or before May 18th, 2022).
The decision whether to issue or deny this permit application will be based on the information received from this public notice and the evaluation of the probable impact to the associated wetlands. This is based on an analysis of the applicant's avoidance and minimization efforts for the project, as well as the compensatory mitigation proposed.
QUESTIONS concerning this application should be directed to the project manager, Gletys Guardia-Montoya at the letterhead address, by electronic mail at Gletys.Guardia-Montoya@usace.army.mil, or by telephone at 305-526-2515.
IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES: 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.
EVALUATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision 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. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including cumulative impacts thereof; among these are 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 US Army Corps of Engineers (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 impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this determination, comments are used to assess impacts to endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT CONSISTENCY: In Florida, the State approval constitutes compliance with the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan. In Puerto Rico, a Coastal Zone Management Consistency Concurrence is required from the Puerto Rico Planning Board. In the Virgin Islands, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources permit constitutes compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Plan.
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.