Specifications

Section 9 Summary of Coordination and Environmental Compliance
EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006
9-1
9.0 SUMMARY OF COORDINATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPLIANCE
9.1 SCOPING AND DRAFT EIS
A Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
EAA Storage Reservoir was published in the Federal Register Volume 67, No. 36
on February 22, 2002. A scoping letter for the EAA Storage Reservoir project
was mailed on July 16, 2002, to over 150 recipients, including federal, state, and
local agencies; Native American Tribes; private organizations; and, interested
parties to solicit their views, comments, and information about resources, study
objectives, alternatives, and important features within the Study Area. In
addition, the following activities have taken place to involve the public in the
planning process:
• Establishment of a website (www.evergladesplan.org) to provide
information and communication paths.
• Submission of scoping letter to identified Project stakeholders providing a
description of the EAA Storage Reservoir project and identifying points of
contact for more information or registering concerns.
• Two public workshops were conducted in Spanish and English at Belle
Glade in August 2001 and January 2003.
• A series of PDT meetings (that were open to the public) were held within
50 miles of the Study Area.
• A Project Overview of the EAA Storage Reservoir at the South Florida
• Water Management District Governing Board Meeting in October 2005.
• Miscellaneous public workshops and Water Resource Advisory Committee
Meetings in November and December of 2005 on project features.
• Individual project overview meetings with Florida Power and Light and
Florida Department of Transportation in 2005.
• Individual project overview meetings with local 298 Districts, agricultural
interests and government agencies in November and December 2005.
Information developed from NEPA scoping and outreach processes and other
sources were used in project planning to identify problems and opportunities
associated with the EAA Storage Reservoir project. Many of the issues are
related to the conflict between encroaching human development and the natural
environment. Public comments generally supported the projects goals and
objectives, but expressed concern over the length of the project schedule. There
was public skepticism over the cost effectiveness of storage reservoirs over
storing water in Lake Okeechobee or the Water Conservation Areas because of
increased evaporation and seepage from the reservoirs. Suggestions were also
put forth by the public on investigating alternative approaches to restoring