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: Scott Sansone
3979 Eugene Road
Big Pine Key, Florida 33043
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The project would affect waters of the United States associated with the Florida Bay. The project site is located at 3979 Eugene Road legally described as BK 18 LT 2 PORT PINE HEIGHTS 1ST ADD BIG PINE KEY, Section 5, Township 66 South, Range 29 East, Big Pine Key, Florida 33043 (RE# 00291080-000000, MM±30-Ocean).
Directions to the site are as follows: Follow U.S. Highway 1 south from Miami to approximately MM± 30 and turn right on Key Deer Boulevard. Turn left on Kyle Boulevard then left on No Name Road, then left on Mills Road. Turn left on Eugene Road and the project is located on the left side.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES: Latitude 24.727103°
Longitude -81.397072°
PROJECT PURPOSE:
Basic: Provide improved safe moorage.
Overall: Provide improved safe moorage in Big Pine Key, Florida.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: The proposed project is located within a partially developed subdivision on the end of a manmade canal that flows into Florida Bay. The properties around the proposed project location are a mix of single family homes and vacant lots. The shoreline of the canal a mixture of seawalls and undeveloped with mangroves. The shoreline in the project footprint is stabilized with a concrete seawall. The uplands consist of a manicured lawn and a single-family home. There were no mangroves, seagrasses, or corals observed within the project footprint.
PROPOSED WORK: The applicant seeks authorization to install a boatlift.
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:
A turbidity curtain will be in place for the duration of the in-water work.
COMPENSATORY MITIGATION – The applicant has offered the following compensatory mitigation plan to offset unavoidable functional loss to the aquatic environment:
If mitigation is required by the Army Corps of Engineers, the appropriate mitigation will be determined with a UMAM and payment made to Keys Restoration Fund. If mitigation is required by the D.E.P. they propose payment to the Everglades Mitigation Bank.
CULTURAL RESOURCES:
The Corps 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:
Key Deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium): Potential impacts to the aforementioned species and its habitat were evaluated using the respective FWS Species Assessment Guides (SAGs) dated 29 July 2013. The project is located in Big Pine Key or No Name Key. Use of the SAGs resulted in the following sequential determination: A > B (1)- refer to HCP. The project is located within the developed land classification and supports an existing residence. The project purpose is for recreational purposes. The applicant does not propose any fencing. Based on the information provided above the project is located within the boundaries of the Service’s Biological Opinion (BO) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for issuance of new flood insurance policies in potentially suitable habitat for federally listed species in Monroe County, Florida (Service Consultation Code: 2006-F-1005; Service 2010; FEMA BO) and complies with the HCP. The FEMA BO evaluated the effects of activities on several species within the Florida Keys, including but not limited to the indigo snake, LKMR, Key deer and silver rice rat. Take associated with this project for the indigo snake, LKMR, Key deer, and silver rice rat shall be addressed during consultation with Monroe County under the FEMA BO. As such, this project falls within the scope of activities evaluated; consequently, additional consultation for these species is not needed.
Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri): Potential impacts to the aforementioned species and its habitat were evaluated using the respective FWS Species Assessment Guides (SAGs) dated 29 July 2013. The project is located in Big Pine Key or No Name Key. Use of the SAGs resulted in the following sequential determination: A > B (1)- refer to HCP. The project is located within the developed land classification and is for repair and/or replacement of an existing structure with no removal of vegetation proposed. The cat brochure will be attached to the DA permit. Based on the information provided above the project is located within the boundaries of the Service’s Biological Opinion (BO) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for issuance of new flood insurance policies in potentially suitable habitat for federally listed species in Monroe County, Florida (Service Consultation Code: 2006-F-1005; Service 2010; FEMA BO) and complies with the HCP. Replacement Residential Structures – those structures existing, legally established residential units as of the date the HCP are not considered new development nor shall on-site replacement be considered to have any H impact. The FEMA BO evaluated the effects of activities on several species within the Florida Keys, including but not limited to the indigo snake, LKMR, Key deer and silver rice rat. Take associated with this project for the indigo snake, LKMR, Key deer, and silver rice rat shall be addressed during consultation with Monroe County under the FEMA BO. As such, this project falls within the scope of activities evaluated; consequently, additional consultation for these species is not needed.
Silver rice rat (Oryzomys palustris natator): Potential impacts to the silver rice rat were evaluated using the Silver Rice Rat (Oryzomys palustris natator) Species Key, dated 29 July 2013, and resulted in the following sequential determination: A > E (2), “may affect, but not likely to adversely affect.” This determination is partially based on the applicant being provided with the cat brochure. The Corps received programmatic concurrence from the FWS for projects that have a NLAA determination; therefore, no incidental take will occur and no further consultation with the FWS is required.
West Indian (Florida) manatee (Trichechus manatus): Since the proposal by the applicant is for in-water construction, potential impacts to the endangered West Indian manatee were evaluated using Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, and the State of Florida Effect Determination Key for the Manatee in Florida, April 2013 (Key). Use of the Key resulted in the sequence A > B > C > G > N > O > P(4), “may affect, not likely to adversely affect”, where no further consultation with the Service is necessary. This determination is based on the applicant following the standard Manatee construction conditions for the proposed activity, which are reiterated as special conditions of the verification letter. Pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, no further consultation with the Service is required.
American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus): The project is located within American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) consultation area. According to the 28 October 2014 American Crocodile Key, the property does not support suitable nesting habitat for the crocodile as the shoreline is densely vegetated and/or hardened. Use of the Key resulted in the sequence #2. Therefore, the Corps has reached a “may affect not likely to adversely affect” determination on the American crocodile and its suitable nesting habitat. No further consultation with the FWS is required for the American crocodile.
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) and Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii): According to the Multi species recovery plan the aforementioned species do not breed in Florida, but may winter in Florida. The PCEs for the species are found in geographically dynamic coastal areas that support intertidal beaches and flats (between annual low tide and annual high tide), and associated dune systems and flats above annual high tide. The project site is not within optimal habitat for these species as the project is located within a canal system or dredged channel. Based on information available a no effect determination has been reached on these species and its native habitat. No further consultation 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), hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), and Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) species. A no effect determination was reached on Acorpora sp. and its designated critical habitat, loggerhead sea turtle and smalltooth sawfish critical habitat, and corals species; (Dendrogyra cylindrus, Orbicella annularis, Orbicella faveolata, Orbicella franksi, Mycetophyllia ferox). The Corps will request National Marine Fisheries Service concurrence with this determination 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 2- square feet of submerged bottom habitat utilized by various life stages of marine life. 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.
Navigation: The proposed structure is not located in the vicinity of a federal navigation channel.
SECTION 408: The applicant will not require permission under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 USC 408) because the activity, in whole or in part, would not alter, occupy, or use a Corps Civil Works project.
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.
COMMENTS regarding the potential authorization of the work proposed should be submitted in writing to the attention of the District Engineer through the Florida Keys Permits Section, 4400 PGA Boulevard, Suite 500, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410 within 30 days from the date of this notice.
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, Jason Sweeney, in writing at the Florida Keys Permits Section, 4400 PGA Boulevard, Suite 500, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410; by electronic mail at jason.t.sweeney@usace.army.mil; by facsimile transmission at (561) 626-6791; or, by telephone at (305) 619-0675.
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.