TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received a complete modification request proposing the modification of an existing in-lieu fee (ILF) program pursuant to the 2008 Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources regulations (33 CFR Part 332) as described below:
SPONSOR: Northwest Florida Water Management District
81 Water Management Drive
Havana, Florida 32333
LOCATION: The project, identified as Ward Creek West (SAJ-2012-02235) is an ILF project included within the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) ILF Mitigation Program (SAJ-2011-00287). The Ward Creek West ILF project is located 0.25 mile west of SR-79, in Section 36, Township 2 South, Range 17 West, Section 1, Township 3 South, Range 17 West, Section 6, Township 3 South, Range 16 West, and Sections 31 and 32, Township 2 South, Range 16 West, in Bay County, Florida.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES: Latitude: 30.270049°
Longitude -85.887027°
BACKGROUND: This Public Notice is issued to advertise a requested modification to the NWFWMD ILF Mitigation Program Instrument. The NWFWMD is proposing to remove the Ward Creek West ILF project from the NWFWMD ILF Mitigation Program and terminate restoration activities at the site. The NWFWMD is proposing to transfer the existing compensatory mitigation obligations from Ward Creek West to Sand Hill Lakes Mitigation Bank through the obligation of Sand Hill Lakes Mitigation Bank credits and vacate all remaining mitigation credits at Ward Creek West.
MODIFICATION SUMMARY: A full copy of the proposed modification to the NWFWMD ILF Mitigation Program Instrument is available for review on the Regulatory In-lieu Fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS) at the following web address:
https://ribits.ops.usace.army.mil/ords/f?p=107:2
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 “ILF-NWFWMD-Ward Creek West” 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 proposed modification of the NWFWMD ILF Mitigation Program Instrument.
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.
NOTE: This public notice is being issued based on information furnished by the sponsor. This information has not been verified or evaluated to ensure compliance with laws and regulation governing the regulatory program.
COMMENTS: Comments regarding modification of the NWFWMD ILF Mitigation Program Instrument should be submitted in writing to the District Engineer at the address below within 30 days from the date of this notice.
QUESTIONS concerning this proposal should be directed to the project manager, Daniel Irick, in writing at the Mitigation Programs Team, 41 North Jefferson Street, Suite 301, Pensacola, Florida 32502; by electronic mail at daniel.l.irick@usace.army.mil; or, by telephone at (850)433-8860.
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: After the end of the comment period, the district engineer will review all comments received and make a determination regarding the proposed modification of the NWFWMD ILF Mitigation Program Instrument.
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 modification. All comments received will be considered by the Corps during the formulation of the determination for the proposed modification.
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.